Which iPad in 2024?
Discussion
I use a pro 11” with Magic Keyboard when travelling, great for all business stuff including Remote Desktop sessions but for some things like large spreadsheets, my pro 12.9 would be better. Downside to 12.9 is it’s heavier and as large as a MacBook Air which is probably more useful.
Both mine are M1 with 512Gb in the 12.9 and 1TB in the 11” - both very fast. 12.9 screen is brilliant but both have pro motion.
An iPhone pro max and the pro 11” iPad cover 99% of uses for me. The Magic Keyboard really is very good.
Both mine are M1 with 512Gb in the 12.9 and 1TB in the 11” - both very fast. 12.9 screen is brilliant but both have pro motion.
An iPhone pro max and the pro 11” iPad cover 99% of uses for me. The Magic Keyboard really is very good.
carlo996 said:
Looking at using one for movies, general things alongside work laptop whilst travelling on business. Pro 256Gb 12.9 is where my thoughts are now. Might add pen and keyboard, don't know. Is this the sweetspot or am I missing something?
Adding an iPad seems a bit superfluous in that scenario. I’d also add that the 12.9” iPad Pro is deceptively heavy. With a Magic Keyboard fitted it is close to the weight of my 16” MBP, and heavier than an Air.
Also iPadOS is pretty restrictive. It is perfectly fine for movies and things like Remote Desktop, etc but working with files is a real chore and it feels arbitrarily restrictive because otherwise it would encroach on the Mac lineup.
Also iPadOS is pretty restrictive. It is perfectly fine for movies and things like Remote Desktop, etc but working with files is a real chore and it feels arbitrarily restrictive because otherwise it would encroach on the Mac lineup.
Edited by Durzel on Monday 1st January 23:52
I’ve had a couple of 12.9 pro iPads but got rid of them as they’re too heavy and cumbersome.
I now have a MacBook Air, it’s much more powerful with macOS and full programs rather than iPad versions.
Also a standard mk9 iPad, you could pick them up on sale for £260 brand new which makes them a bargain. Being smaller and lighter it’s much better than the pro for portability.
I now have a MacBook Air, it’s much more powerful with macOS and full programs rather than iPad versions.
Also a standard mk9 iPad, you could pick them up on sale for £260 brand new which makes them a bargain. Being smaller and lighter it’s much better than the pro for portability.
I use a Pro as a laptop replacement quite often now, but that's because the way Company portal/One Drive and work VPN/Vmware is setup the iPad is actually easier to work from than a personal laptop. The screen, speed of the Pro is also better than the work supplied HP EliteBook, which isn't hard to do.
However even with the smart Flio keyboard the Pro is feels almost as heavy as the EliteBook, so I rarely carry both, it's one or the other. More often than not these days it's the EliteBook that's left- Infact I haven't opened the laptop since the start pre Xmas, the Pro has been used everyday.
I do really like using the pen too, when hooked up to a Dock its essentially like a Wacom tablet. Sadly iOS cannot do everything though, so the laptop has to still stay
.
However even with the smart Flio keyboard the Pro is feels almost as heavy as the EliteBook, so I rarely carry both, it's one or the other. More often than not these days it's the EliteBook that's left- Infact I haven't opened the laptop since the start pre Xmas, the Pro has been used everyday.
I do really like using the pen too, when hooked up to a Dock its essentially like a Wacom tablet. Sadly iOS cannot do everything though, so the laptop has to still stay
.I have the last of the pre M series 12.9" pro's which I bought mostly for web browsing, face book and you tube. picked it up on the Apple refurbished site for a bit of a discount when the M1 version came out and its been great. I don't have the keyboard but I do have the pencil.
It has progressed into my Macs traveling companion. It can be used as a second (albeit small) screen when away in hotels. I can sign documents using the Apple Pencil, no need to print, sign and scan. I use it to take notes from meetings using the Good Notes app which are then saved onto the cloud and accessible from the Mac or iPhone.
Out of all of my Apple devices it's the one that gets the most use.
It has progressed into my Macs traveling companion. It can be used as a second (albeit small) screen when away in hotels. I can sign documents using the Apple Pencil, no need to print, sign and scan. I use it to take notes from meetings using the Good Notes app which are then saved onto the cloud and accessible from the Mac or iPhone.
Out of all of my Apple devices it's the one that gets the most use.
Out of interest I checked out how side to side images look on the EliteBook versus iPad Pro. Looking at thing side by side, I think its pretty obvious now why I prefer to use the iPad more than the laptop, despite iOS limitations + enterprise level lockdown.
The screen on the larger iPad Pro is just beautiful, its not quite OLED level of the tops spec Samsung phones, but much better than most standard LED stuff, I don’t think the smaller iPad has the same screen? It’s a really accomplished device, just needs some more functionality in iOS to really allow maximum use of all the hardware Apple has cramped into the device.
The screen on the larger iPad Pro is just beautiful, its not quite OLED level of the tops spec Samsung phones, but much better than most standard LED stuff, I don’t think the smaller iPad has the same screen? It’s a really accomplished device, just needs some more functionality in iOS to really allow maximum use of all the hardware Apple has cramped into the device.
gangzoom said:
Out of interest I checked out how side to side images look on the EliteBook versus iPad Pro. Looking at thing side by side, I think its pretty obvious now why I prefer to use the iPad more than the laptop, despite iOS limitations + enterprise level lockdown.
The screen on the larger iPad Pro is just beautiful, its not quite OLED level of the tops spec Samsung phones, but much better than most standard LED stuff, I don’t think the smaller iPad has the same screen? It’s a really accomplished device, just needs some more functionality in iOS to really allow maximum use of all the hardware Apple has cramped into the device.
I have a similar HP work laptop. Looking now at used 5th gen 12.9 Pro's, but they are all at £800+. Mind you optioned up with keyboard and pen you're looking at almost double that new! Is there a new one out early next year?The screen on the larger iPad Pro is just beautiful, its not quite OLED level of the tops spec Samsung phones, but much better than most standard LED stuff, I don’t think the smaller iPad has the same screen? It’s a really accomplished device, just needs some more functionality in iOS to really allow maximum use of all the hardware Apple has cramped into the device.
I have an iPad Air 4 with a cracked screen just waiting on what likely comes in March.
I don't need the bigger screen as I have an MBA and a Surface Pro for "proper" use so if an M2 Air 6 comes along, that's likely the one I would choose. If discounts are good, Air 5 with M1 is also an option.
I would stick to this size as I have an Apple keyboard case and the screen size is idea for my needs.
I don't need the bigger screen as I have an MBA and a Surface Pro for "proper" use so if an M2 Air 6 comes along, that's likely the one I would choose. If discounts are good, Air 5 with M1 is also an option.
I would stick to this size as I have an Apple keyboard case and the screen size is idea for my needs.
I am still very happy with my M1 11" Pro and I doubt there will be any reason to upgrade it for years. I think I had my previous 10.5" Pro for about 6 years.
The Pro speakers are the key thing for me; they're towards each corner so give you a proper stereo effect no matter which way up you hold it, unlike the single end speakers on the Air. M1 chip should be quick enough for years. The one thing I've gone for both times and not really needed is the SIM slot; I've only bothered with that in order to make sure the GPS chip is built in because I just tether to use my phone's data anyway. But without the GPS chip an iPad is not so useful when using OS maps in the car etc. There is a market for an iPad with GPS but no cellular, IMO.
Plenty of times I've thought the 12.9" would be preferable when I've had two things open at once or watching a letterbox movie but on balance the size of the 11" is more convenient and I just move it a bit closer to my face
The Pro speakers are the key thing for me; they're towards each corner so give you a proper stereo effect no matter which way up you hold it, unlike the single end speakers on the Air. M1 chip should be quick enough for years. The one thing I've gone for both times and not really needed is the SIM slot; I've only bothered with that in order to make sure the GPS chip is built in because I just tether to use my phone's data anyway. But without the GPS chip an iPad is not so useful when using OS maps in the car etc. There is a market for an iPad with GPS but no cellular, IMO.
Plenty of times I've thought the 12.9" would be preferable when I've had two things open at once or watching a letterbox movie but on balance the size of the 11" is more convenient and I just move it a bit closer to my face
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