My perfect iPad is actually the Macbook Air. Even for things like reading a book before going to bed, I prefer the Macbook, because the screen stays upright on its own. (Without having to hold it or buying a stand.)
I truly hate the tech UA-camr standard voice, exaggerated fake enthusiasm, empty jargon (like “screen real estate”, “daily driver” or “fingerprint magnet”) and overall lack of originality. Thank you for not making use of none of that shit.
As an individual with a disability, I absolutely agree with you. I’ve had two different 12.9 inch iPad pros I tried to make them work but they were just too big so this year I went for the M4 11 inch iPad Pro. it is an absolute revelation for me. The size is absolutely perfect for me and I will never go back to a bigger iPad and I absolutely love the Oled display.
Agreed I only went to the 12.9 because it had the mini led. I was hoping that Apple would bring parity to the screen tech and ran back to the 11 inch when they finally did
After the iPad Pro released I took advantage of the sale prices on an M1 iPad Air 5 and the Logitech Combo case. More than meets my needs as a companion to my M3 Pro MBP --- I'm happy.
I've had both sizes and I'm with you, I really love the M4 11". I need an agile device that works fluidly and well in a multitude of environments and spaces and the M4 11" does. The software works for me. Looks like a lot to like with the Galaxy too! Thanks!
Last iPad I “kitted out” was the 10.5 2017 Pro (loved that design btw. In gold and white!). That keyboard ultimately didn’t see much wear because any time I wanted to input a lot I reached for the Macbook instead. Much due to needing a more advanced and versatile OS in such situations. Now I know that as the “third pillar”, its properties is best weighed against how good it is as an actual tablet. It makes sense to me that they put some focus on making the 13” more lightweight, for example. That’s how a good “electronic newspaper” device should feel in the hand.
Hi I did the same Sold my iPad Pro m1 12 9 and bought a iPad Pro M 4 512 go ( for the durability in the future) In fact , I realised I use much more my 11 one than my 12,9 And I hesitated a long time for 13 or 11 inches before buying No regrets ! Thanks to you Eric
I really enjoyed your conversation about your galaxy usage versus ipad. I teach as well and I have always wanted “one tablet to do it all” and your comments opened me up to a new work flow ideas. I can’t decide between the 11 inch air or pro. For me, face ID is where I am struggling, which is part of the user experience which you speak so eloquently at the start.
I love the 13” size for watching video at home, but appreciate the portability of the 11”. So I bought the entry-level 13” Pro and a discounted base M1 iPad Air for travel. That was only $350. I love that I don’t have to worry too much about damaging it or losing it. I also got a tiny USB-C thumb drive to put extra video on for long trips. I haven’t had any regrets about this combo.
For me the important features of the iPad are the screen, magic keyboard, cellular modem and FaceID. I use my iPad primarily for watching video content so a 12.9” HDR screen is a priority. My secondary use is Outlook and Teams for work (12.9” screen, cellular modem, magic keyboard and FaceId). The magic keyboard, celluar modem and 12.9” screen are now available with the Air but FaceID is not. So for me the larger Pro model is what I need. OLED would be nice but I already have the M1 model which is good enough for my needs.
Being a PC gamer who's so used to high refresh rates, and more importantly, one who will absolutely turn down graphics settings to hit higher refresh rates, it's now gotten to the point where I'm shopping for an iPad, and my only options are either the new pros, or a used last gen pro because of the higher refresh rate. The 120hz is almost the primary feature for me.
I use my iPad primarily for illustration/vector artwork using ProCreate and Affinity Designer, so the 13" pro with the base amount of storage is perfect for me. Plus the bigger screen is nice for emulating video games on Retroarch, and watching videos. A bit pricy for me but it's a tax write-off since I use it for work, so it's worth it. I didn't get the same wave of disappointment when I started using mine, since I upgraded from the 2018 version.
I love my iPad Pro 11” m4 but I still can’t stop wanting an s9 ultra. Edit to update: I returned it and got the ultra and I am loving it so much! I am all about a bigger bright amoled screen. It feels plenty portable to me even though it’s big it’s not like I can’t carry it and it feels less heavy than the iPad Air 13 M2.. It’s much better for split screen doing two different things. I’m having a lot of fun on it.
Great breakdown from your experiences to analyze your personal use case for the “right iPad” for you. I think so many people don’t take the time to do this.
I actually went with a 512GB iPad Pro 13” and exchanged it for the 1TB iPad Pro 13” specifically for the 8GB additional RAM and extra performance core. Procreate and Final Cut limit layers and features requiring the 16GBs of RAM. Optimized games like Resident Evil Village will only allow you to optimize the graphics and framerate with the 16GB model. Assasins Creed Mirage will only run consistently without crashing or frame drops if you have the additional RAM. Well-optimized games I’ve found just run better with the additional RAM. If you keep tabs open in the background with Safari they will stay open. There were just minor annoyances I ran into which made me regret not going with the 1TB. 99% of the Users will never care enough but it made a difference for me as I plan on keeping my devices for years to come.
I have been using a 2018 11" iPad Pro since 2019 and it still works like a charm! After getting the M1 Pro 14" MacBook Pro I find it's perfect for the companion role. I have no desire to upgrade this until maybe the iPad Mini or Air gets the OLED displays. And who knows maybe the rumored cheaper Vision headset will be able to take over that role when the time comes to upgrade. It'd be so cool to use the Apple Pencil with the Vision headset to write on an actual piece of paper instead of glass
My perfect is 13 inch pro as when I go out of house I don’t carry my MacBook Pro, so while I use both MacBook and iPad, it is only one at a time, and therefore need the 13 inch size to work as a MacBook replacement for many many tasks that iPad does better than MacBook like reading, annotation, note taking, entertainment, etc
I did a very similar buy. I had used a M2 13” for a year after owning numerous 11 inch iPads from the original. My wife wanted my M2 13” so I decided to upgrade to the M4 13”, but decided to return it and get the 11 inch. Yes, I loved the big screen but messed the lightness and ease of taking the 11 inch on the go. It’s my computer on the go everyday as I work from my truck in the field everyday. I certainly could make do with an Air, but the OLED screen is really nice, plus the speaker sound is better. I have also always had a cellular model because of how it is instantly connected without the iPhone tether, which is important to me because I am working remotely everyday.
Great video. I love how well CG describes the experience and his thoughtful choice of words. The 11" seems like the perfect size for most use cases but the part which gives me heartburn is viewing letter size PDFs. Traditional iPads would often squish PDFs making them uncomfortable to read without zooming in and out. Maybe the answer as evidenced here is to have a seperate device for the special use case.
I know this feeling well 😆 I got the 13" M4 and although it really is epic, the larger size was just kinda bugging me for portability due to its size, weight and me being weak as a mofo. So I went back to Apple today and swapped for the Space Black 11" M4 and had cellular as well, paired with the white Magic Keyboard it is just so nice. No massive change to screen size watching video's due to the screen aspect ratio on the 11" so I'm well impressed 👍🏻 The keyboard is taking a bit of getting used to as the trackpad is far shorter in height and keys are more compressed together.
The keyboard does take a short period of adjustment, as you have to be precise with the small punctuation keys, but I’ve been surprised at how accurately I’m typing. Apple does seem to have done a good job. The smaller trackpad is a sacrifice though.
As an iPad early adopter from 2nd gen, to air, to 2018 pro and now the m4, size has never been a debate, 1 1 inch is the perfect size, and as a previous owner of the 11 air and the 12 MacBook (I still have those and use them from time to time) this iPad is the perfect machine, I’ll give everything just for have apple give us macOS when connected to the Magic Keyboard, give us the option but keep iPadOS. As a tablet is phenomenal, and as a full MacOS should be amazing. The lack of the proper os and missing the air and MacBook, the surface go 3 was an amazing purchase, but as a tablet it lack so many things. Great video as always
I rarely write comments, but this is a great video. I am struggling so much between iPad Pro, Air -- and actually no iPad at all! I never owned one, but I had a Surface Pro back in the day and miss the tablet features on my macbook air. When I replaced my surface I REALLY needed a replacement for the laptop part, but the iPad would be something on top, which is why I dont REALLY need it. At the same time I just love the new screen and I like to buy stuff, which has just gotten a new design (like the Macbook M2 Air 2 years ago, eventhough the M1 was the better value), because I know, that it will largely stay the same for years to come. But to be honest its weird to buy an "accessory" for my Macbook which costs around the same amount as the Macbook itself. Such a hard decision
I did the same thing, twice too. I ending up returning the m4 11 inch for the Air m2 and aside from the weight, Face ID and the awesome keyboard it's too similar for me. I am please with the iPad Air m2.
I had a bit of a tussle myself. First, I was seduced by the POWER of the M4 iPad Pro...but... I took a step back and finally went with the (still available) base iPad Air 5th gen M1. Priced NEW at 399 USD, It was the right unit at the right price. Even the relatively smallish 64GB storage did not "disqualify" it. As an "advanced user" but a non-creative, I rarely store large files or other downloads on any portable device. It's mainly a consumption/general task machine and I can hardly consider the M1 a dated chipset for those purposes. I look forward to a good 3+ years of solid use. Frankly, I am looking forward to "upgrading" my M1 Mini to a future M4 variant. That's a more practical matter.
I went the exact same direction with the iPad Air 5 base model at the same price, and it exceeds all of my needs. I just purchased the Combo Touch keyboard case on sale from Amazon, and I'm very happy with that too.
Thanks for excellent content! I'm using my 11" iPad Pro M2 for all my devops and sysadmin tasks, but I need Ctrl key in lower left corner of keyboard, so I always take with me a normal BT keyborad, my trusty Keychron K1SE. It really hurts me as a person, to see all those companies that forgot where Ctrl key should be. When Apple make lower left corner Ctrl an option for Magic Keyboard, I'll buy it immediately.
Comforting to know that I am not alone in the world with this thought process. Great insights and explanation of your thinking. The most important thing you said was "arguably the 12" MacBook". To me it was the best MacBook/Laptop ever made. And it is my current tech dilemma. Replacing it with something current. But I still am having difficulty pulling the trigger on the 11" iPad Pro. Why purchase a M4 11" when you can have a 13". I think this way even after I gave away my 12.9" to my brother, and told myself that the 11" would be the replacement. Months later I stumble upon your video and I've made up my mind. Thank you! Pulling the trigger today! LOL
Got a mini 4. Going for mini 6 refurbished as soon as one is available in Space Grey...which, knowing my luck will be one day before they release the mini 7!
I got the 13 M4. If you get rid of the keyboard or don’t buy one, you tend to appreciate it more. I only put it on the Magic Keyboard now when I’m traveling in the states and don’t want to have to depend on one WiFi. If the MacBook Air or pro had the ability for cellular I would never really need an IPad. Unless it’s going to be you only device get the 11 inch and save your money, or just get a previous gen. The iPad 13 is to expensive for what it can do and you can do the same with an air.
I don’t really see why Apple doesn’t put cellular on the Air. It could be e-SIM so they don’t need to change the chassis. I expect some bean counter in Apple’s corporate office has realised that some of the iPad market would disappear…
I too bought the 11 inch M1 iPad pro maxed out with 2TB and 5G in the hopes Apple will make it a credible main computer. Instead of doing that, they’re playing games with the EU law to sabotage alternative app stores that might fix some of their arbitrary software limitations.
Great video! I also have the iPad Pro 512GB, but I did go for the 13 inch, and it is absolutely phenomenal for my photo editing tasks as well! But I’m also on a budget, and I’m coming from the iPad Pro 10.5 inch from 2015, so I also wanted to future proof my purchase since I’ll likely use the same thing for the next 10 years. I did not go for the Apple keyboard since I’m on a budget and that’s WAY too expensive, but also I want better protection from small bumps and hits on the corners and sides, so I am picking up an ESR keyboard case that is almost the same as the Apple version.
Ha we had a weirdly similar experience. I ordered the 1TB 13" Pro with keyboard on the day it was announced. It arrived and before I had even finished installing my apps I knew I had made a mistake. I tried to make it work and to make myself love it for a week but I just couldn't so I ended up exchanging it for a 512GB 11" Pro with keyboard and I am so much happier with it. I use my iPad as a single task device rather than a multiple purpose computer. What I mean by that is I use it for when I am doing something that doesn't require me to have multiple windows and desktops on the go to get stuff done. I have one or sometime two apps in split screen open and that's it. I don't try and use it to replace my MacBook Pro nor do I want it to. They each have their place. I find I can focus better on that single task with an iPad than I can with macOS. I know it is just a mental thing and I could easily just fullscreen/split screen on my MBP as well but I always end up getting pulled off task with all the other stuff going on when I am using my Mac. The iPad limits me _in a good way_ and I like that. One final note is that after a few weeks it is pretty clear to me I did waste some money getting the iPad Pro over the iPad Air considering how I use it but not much I can do about that now. I plan to keep this iPad as long as possible which going by my last iPad is going to be about 7 years so I am not going to beat myself up too much of wasting a bit of money spread out over that kind of time frame. I would highly recommend anyone looking at getting an iPad Pro to check out the Air first though as I am confident for 9 out of 10 people the Air is the more sensible choice.
I have one question: Did you own an iPad Air in the past and don't you think that the 120hz is just so much better in day to day use vs the 60hz of the Air? I am struggling a lot to decide between the devices. From a power perspective (m2 vs m4) and use case (reading, taking notes etc.) I know, that the Air is enough. Its just that I am a little bit of tech-nerd and I don't know wether I would always have the thought in the back of my mind, wheter the OLED + 120hz would be just so much better or not. Would like to hear you input
@@SnowcrasherLP I will be totally honest. I bought the Pro for the screen. The Air is more than powerful enough for my needs but the 120Hz OLED screen on the M4 is just too nice to pass up. I allow myself these silly indulgences as I don't spend money on much else, don't drink, etc. 😂 So I justify it that my "vice" is spending more than I really should on a shinny gadget every 4 or 5 years rather than nice wine/whiskey 😁 So I say treat yourself Snowcrasher!
@@SnowcrasherLP Just as long as you can afford it and don't like take it out on credit or anything I say go for something nice now and then if you can.
It’s the apps that make more difference and make even Android fans go for the iPad. Playstore is a joke filled with anti viruses, ram optimizers and cache cleaners with thousands of cheep replica. No pro apps like on the AppStore. For browsing, office, media consumption that would work, but not for pro and creative work or audio and video editing, photography. Even pro games are much less, less optimized to the big screen, poorer GfX and take longer time to get released, if they did! Then reliability, longevity, support, echo system, features like continuity, universal control, sidecar, airdrop, etc. No, cache, malware, RAM problems. And the list goes on and on.
I just bought both M4 iPads. I just couldn’t decide which one I liked best so I bought both the 13in and 11in 😂. The 13in I use more like a computer next to my MacBook Pro and the 11in I use more like an iPad for note taking.
Logic Pro is not a Pro audio app, it doesn't support AU audio plugins - most people serious about composing film scores or popular songs will use better sounds than the stock plugins in Logic. So any projects you have on your Mac you cannot really edit on the iPad...
@@ConstantGeekery Apparently, Mothca’s matte screen protector comes “close,” so it is a good alternative to not having to pay for 1TB. I’ve used it on my phones, but never my iPad. I have used Paperlike before. It’s good for texture, but the light diffusion and reflective qualities are not that close in videos I’ve seen comparing it to nano texture.
I really appreciate this video, thank you. I bought the 11” myself, along with the pencil and keyboard. I returned it, as I really do love my mini so much, and it only made a number of experiences smoother than my mini. I’m still tempted by the 11-inch, as above all else, I really liked the brightness and clarity of the screen. The 120hz is a welcome bonus also. If they made a mini pro with even a mini LED screen, heck it could even be 60hz - I just want the brightness above all else. I like being able to study outside (being a nerd I don’t get much time to do that!) So I may be getting the 11” again, alongside my mini (nothing can ever take the mini away from me!) - this time without the keyboard (initially), but still get the new pencil. The other mistake I made previously was getting the space black model. It looked awesome, but I much prefer the natural aluminium look. Thank you for this video - you’ve helped put some puzzle pieces together in my head, and reaffirmed lots of things!
Great video. Interesting journey. I think the iPad is incredibly versatile, meeting the needs of toddlers, pilots, digital artists, or construction site managers. I've watched your videos for years and have never thought of you as a fanboy but more of a "resentful enthusiast" of Apple devices. You're a successful business owner and, judging by your videos, a brilliant software engineer/designer. You don’t need Apple. Your loathing of Apple is so obvious at times it puzzles me-why not just stick to Windows and Android? Life is too short.
I probably use Windows almost as much as macOS. We use Mac (and Linux) in our business because, for us, the total cost of ownership is lower than Windows and PC hardware. Because I use so many different machines, I appreciate the tight integration of Apple products. And whilst I’d love to switch to Android for my phone, my family has been in the Apple ecosystem for a while now and it would be painful to leave. Historically, I’ve always been a switcher - a couple of years on this, then a couple on that - but Apple just edges it for me. I detest the company, but I quite like its products!
I’m actually in the rather odd position of using two iPad Pros: the new 13 inch M4 and the 2018 12.9. Although I don’t get the benefit of universal control, which I have really enjoyed using with the 2018 iPad and a Macbook (which has now gone to my son for university), I find that for my use case (academic research and writing and then content consumption), the M4 and the magic keyboard paired with the 2018 Pro and a magic trackpad and iCloud is a great combination. If my 2018 stops working, I will probably just replace that with a standard iPad and keep the setup.
Great video, again! Thanks. In my thinking the iPad is a flat out iPhone with a giant screen. And it should be used as that. For heavy tasks I always would prefer a MacBook. For me the iPad software is a kind of lackie and half done software.
One terabyte of storage on my M2 because I wanted the additional ram for future proofing. I’m thinking that Apple intelligence is going to prove that I did help myself to a little future profane with 16 gigs of ram.
I have an old iPad 6 that I will get rid of. I haven’t used a tablet in so long. Games on iPadOS are stupidly pay to win. Would love an iPad Pro with pencil to draw though.
Just ordered an iPad Pro 11" M4 512 GB with cellular, a Magic Keyboard, and a Pencil Pro. The last one I owned was a 6th gen with wifi and a Logitech keyboard (sans touchpad) and a 1st gen Apple pencil. I wasn't impressed and gave it to my wife who uses it to this day. Recently I wanted to work on a Numbers worksheet with her and used that iPad on which I couldn't get Numbers running and as a diagnostic step updated the iPadOS to current and 52 apps. The thing was pretty glacial and it all took forever, after which I determined that Numbers had been corrupted and I had to delete and reinstall Numbers. Using that cramped Logitech keyboard was awful and I determined that I wanted a more modern iPad. I'm hoping _this_ will turn out to be my perfect iPad (and I can't _wait_ to see that screen). I have high hopes for Apple Intelligence which should run on this, my 16 Pro Max (after I buy it), and my MacBook Pro M1 Max - but _not_ my daily driver which is a 2020 iMac 5K.
I love ipad gen 10 I got the cellular model with wifi . It's thin I can do everything I need to for work on there the magic keyboard is super useful. I also use it for media consumption as well . I don't even use my Mac book pro that much anymore I find myself using the tenth gen in place of it.
I think it was the Power Mac G3 (blueberry) that killed Apples willingness to provide colors on “Professional” devices. Apple: “You don’t want color? You will never get color! EVER!”
I chose the Purple iPad Air 13 The Ipad air 13 with the pencil is more pro for my professional needs. mainly because of the touch button ID. The 13 inch screen is essential. better speakers, better screen, pro motion, m4 chip and Face ID, are unnecessary marketing fluff. For functional media consumption the features of the air are excellent. Having to raise the screen to unlock it from a desk or table is just plain irritating. for research and writing the iPad air is an excellent professional work tool.
I kind of whittle it down to the features that I want which leads me to the Pro 11ish inch size but not for the screen refresh rate. I can’t see 120hz, it’s probably a disability like being partly color blind. Anyway I like the Face ID more than the Touch ID so that really narrows my choices down. Choose my storage option and color (not much choice there, I wish they had more colors) Black it is I guess, select cellular and that’s it. $1700 please. (I think I’ll wait a while)
They certainly are not cheap once specced up. If you’re not worried about HDR, the previous small Pro models had the standard LCD panel. Both the M1 and M2 versions might be available from Apple’s Refurbished store, or discounted new from some retailers. Could get the spec you want with a decent saving?
I have been looking into getting an iPad, but my workflow is mainly on Adobe Mac apps, so it would be a personal device, I think the iPad is ever-seeking purpose.. I love the idea of it, no doubt. Great video, Dave!
I was excited to watch to see what you had to say, but for almost four minutes into the video you talked only about yourself, and I didn’t come here for that. I quit watching. It’s important to get to the point sooner, and leave out what pertains only to you.
So, on a video with “finding MY perfect iPad” in the title, where I clearly explain in the intro that this is MY experience… you expect me to not talk about my experience? OK 👍🏻
@@ConstantGeekery Yes - but in what seemed like forever, you never got there. That’s why I commented so that you might better understand your viewers and provide tangibility quicker. My advice is good advice.
@dennyup you are entitled to your view and it’s impossible to please everyone. However, the like ratio is over 96%, which is true of pretty much all my content, and there are comments from viewers who found it helpful. I have to make content that is true to me and the majority of my audience, with the knowledge that it won’t be for everyone.
@constantgeekery thank you for sharing your personal experience. I loved the points you made about the iPads. Recently I returned an iPad Air 11inch M2. It was non-responsive to touch, overheating, and the battery drained faster than my iPad Mini 2021 that was doing the same activity. I have been watching numerous videos about the iPads and found yours to be helpful. Many say the iPad Pro is “too much” for an average user, but your comments about the OLED swayed me. Thanks for the honest review. I subscribed because of it.
My perfect iPad is actually the Macbook Air. Even for things like reading a book before going to bed, I prefer the Macbook, because the screen stays upright on its own. (Without having to hold it or buying a stand.)
I’m just trying to decide between these two , and your points sway me to the air
@@graham1155 If you don't need to write, or if touchscreen is not important for you, then macbooks are better for you than ipad.
@@lezhilo772 thanks for replying, I’m swaying towards a 13” 16Gb air
What part of iPad talk you didn’t get?
Point of an iPad is holding it on one hand and having touch screen
I truly hate the tech UA-camr standard voice, exaggerated fake enthusiasm, empty jargon (like “screen real estate”, “daily driver” or “fingerprint magnet”) and overall lack of originality.
Thank you for not making use of none of that shit.
And the biggest buzzword in all of the tech universe: Productivity… I hate that friggin’ word now! 😂
As an individual with a disability, I absolutely agree with you. I’ve had two different 12.9 inch iPad pros I tried to make them work but they were just too big so this year I went for the M4 11 inch iPad Pro. it is an absolute revelation for me. The size is absolutely perfect for me and I will never go back to a bigger iPad and I absolutely love the Oled display.
Agreed I only went to the 12.9 because it had the mini led. I was hoping that Apple would bring parity to the screen tech and ran back to the 11 inch when they finally did
I also bought an 11-inch iPad Pro with 512-GB capacity, and I'm quite happy with it. I didn't get the magic keyboard though.
I bought the keyboard 3 years ago and now it’s just a space filler….barely used it
After the iPad Pro released I took advantage of the sale prices on an M1 iPad Air 5 and the Logitech Combo case. More than meets my needs as a companion to my M3 Pro MBP --- I'm happy.
What a great story, I can totally imagine myself doing the same thing. Thank you for saving me a lot of money and driving back and forth.
My 2017 iPad Pro was falling apart, because it had had a battery replacement, so I sold it and got the 11” M1.
More than enough power for my needs.
I've had both sizes and I'm with you, I really love the M4 11". I need an agile device that works fluidly and well in a multitude of environments and spaces and the M4 11" does. The software works for me. Looks like a lot to like with the Galaxy too! Thanks!
Last iPad I “kitted out” was the 10.5 2017 Pro (loved that design btw. In gold and white!). That keyboard ultimately didn’t see much wear because any time I wanted to input a lot I reached for the Macbook instead. Much due to needing a more advanced and versatile OS in such situations.
Now I know that as the “third pillar”, its properties is best weighed against how good it is as an actual tablet. It makes sense to me that they put some focus on making the 13” more lightweight, for example. That’s how a good “electronic newspaper” device should feel in the hand.
Hi
I did the same
Sold my iPad Pro m1 12 9 and bought a iPad Pro M 4 512 go ( for the durability in the future)
In fact , I realised I use much more my 11 one than my 12,9
And I hesitated a long time for 13 or 11 inches before buying
No regrets !
Thanks to you
Eric
I really enjoyed your conversation about your galaxy usage versus ipad. I teach as well and I have always wanted “one tablet to do it all” and your comments opened me up to a new work flow ideas. I can’t decide between the 11 inch air or pro. For me, face ID is where I am struggling, which is part of the user experience which you speak so eloquently at the start.
I had the m2 air 13 and returned for an 11” pro just for oled and the lighter weight and I have to say I like Face ID better it’s so much faster
I love the 13” size for watching video at home, but appreciate the portability of the 11”. So I bought the entry-level 13” Pro and a discounted base M1 iPad Air for travel. That was only $350. I love that I don’t have to worry too much about damaging it or losing it. I also got a tiny USB-C thumb drive to put extra video on for long trips. I haven’t had any regrets about this combo.
For me the important features of the iPad are the screen, magic keyboard, cellular modem and FaceID. I use my iPad primarily for watching video content so a 12.9” HDR screen is a priority. My secondary use is Outlook and Teams for work (12.9” screen, cellular modem, magic keyboard and FaceId). The magic keyboard, celluar modem and 12.9” screen are now available with the Air but FaceID is not. So for me the larger Pro model is what I need. OLED would be nice but I already have the M1 model which is good enough for my needs.
Being a PC gamer who's so used to high refresh rates, and more importantly, one who will absolutely turn down graphics settings to hit higher refresh rates, it's now gotten to the point where I'm shopping for an iPad, and my only options are either the new pros, or a used last gen pro because of the higher refresh rate. The 120hz is almost the primary feature for me.
I can understand that. Once you’ve gotten used to something, it’s hard to go back.
I use my iPad primarily for illustration/vector artwork using ProCreate and Affinity Designer, so the 13" pro with the base amount of storage is perfect for me. Plus the bigger screen is nice for emulating video games on Retroarch, and watching videos. A bit pricy for me but it's a tax write-off since I use it for work, so it's worth it. I didn't get the same wave of disappointment when I started using mine, since I upgraded from the 2018 version.
I love my iPad Pro 11” m4 but I still can’t stop wanting an s9 ultra. Edit to update: I returned it and got the ultra and I am loving it so much! I am all about a bigger bright amoled screen. It feels plenty portable to me even though it’s big it’s not like I can’t carry it and it feels less heavy than the iPad Air 13 M2.. It’s much better for split screen doing two different things. I’m having a lot of fun on it.
most of everything you said is my dilemma in getting either the 11 or 13 inch iPad Pro. I'm glad i watched this video. Kudos
Great breakdown from your experiences to analyze your personal use case for the “right iPad” for you. I think so many people don’t take the time to do this.
I actually went with a 512GB iPad Pro 13” and exchanged it for the 1TB iPad Pro 13” specifically for the 8GB additional RAM and extra performance core.
Procreate and Final Cut limit layers and features requiring the 16GBs of RAM. Optimized games like Resident Evil Village will only allow you to optimize the graphics and framerate with the 16GB model. Assasins Creed Mirage will only run consistently without crashing or frame drops if you have the additional RAM. Well-optimized games I’ve found just run better with the additional RAM. If you keep tabs open in the background with Safari they will stay open. There were just minor annoyances I ran into which made me regret not going with the 1TB.
99% of the Users will never care enough but it made a difference for me as I plan on keeping my devices for years to come.
I have been using a 2018 11" iPad Pro since 2019 and it still works like a charm! After getting the M1 Pro 14" MacBook Pro I find it's perfect for the companion role. I have no desire to upgrade this until maybe the iPad Mini or Air gets the OLED displays. And who knows maybe the rumored cheaper Vision headset will be able to take over that role when the time comes to upgrade. It'd be so cool to use the Apple Pencil with the Vision headset to write on an actual piece of paper instead of glass
My perfect is 13 inch pro as when I go out of house I don’t carry my MacBook Pro, so while I use both MacBook and iPad, it is only one at a time, and therefore need the 13 inch size to work as a MacBook replacement for many many tasks that iPad does better than MacBook like reading, annotation, note taking, entertainment, etc
I did a very similar buy. I had used a M2 13” for a year after owning numerous 11 inch iPads from the original. My wife wanted my M2 13” so I decided to upgrade to the M4 13”, but decided to return it and get the 11 inch. Yes, I loved the big screen but messed the lightness and ease of taking the 11 inch on the go. It’s my computer on the go everyday as I work from my truck in the field everyday. I certainly could make do with an Air, but the OLED screen is really nice, plus the speaker sound is better. I have also always had a cellular model because of how it is instantly connected without the iPhone tether, which is important to me because I am working remotely everyday.
I also went with the 11 inch iPad Pro and it’s base configuration plus cellular. I think it’s a nice little combat computer laptop.
I returned mine after finding it not enough of an upgrade on my 2018 iPad Pro. Decided to wait until I can get nano-texture on the 256gb model.
Update: My 2018 died, so now I have a nano textured 11 inch. Very happy with it, but the cost of that screen was painful
Great video. I love how well CG describes the experience and his thoughtful choice of words.
The 11" seems like the perfect size for most use cases but the part which gives me heartburn is viewing letter size PDFs. Traditional iPads would often squish PDFs making them uncomfortable to read without zooming in and out. Maybe the answer as evidenced here is to have a seperate device for the special use case.
I know this feeling well 😆 I got the 13" M4 and although it really is epic, the larger size was just kinda bugging me for portability due to its size, weight and me being weak as a mofo. So I went back to Apple today and swapped for the Space Black 11" M4 and had cellular as well, paired with the white Magic Keyboard it is just so nice. No massive change to screen size watching video's due to the screen aspect ratio on the 11" so I'm well impressed 👍🏻 The keyboard is taking a bit of getting used to as the trackpad is far shorter in height and keys are more compressed together.
The keyboard does take a short period of adjustment, as you have to be precise with the small punctuation keys, but I’ve been surprised at how accurately I’m typing. Apple does seem to have done a good job. The smaller trackpad is a sacrifice though.
As an iPad early adopter from 2nd gen, to air, to 2018 pro and now the m4, size has never been a debate, 1 1 inch is the perfect size, and as a previous owner of the 11 air and the 12 MacBook (I still have those and use them from time to time) this iPad is the perfect machine, I’ll give everything just for have apple give us macOS when connected to the Magic Keyboard, give us the option but keep iPadOS. As a tablet is phenomenal, and as a full MacOS should be amazing. The lack of the proper os and missing the air and MacBook, the surface go 3 was an amazing purchase, but as a tablet it lack so many things.
Great video as always
The 13 inch is far superior over the 11. The 100 grams difference in weight are nearly unnoticeable. But the more of space for me very much.
I rarely write comments, but this is a great video. I am struggling so much between iPad Pro, Air -- and actually no iPad at all! I never owned one, but I had a Surface Pro back in the day and miss the tablet features on my macbook air. When I replaced my surface I REALLY needed a replacement for the laptop part, but the iPad would be something on top, which is why I dont REALLY need it. At the same time I just love the new screen and I like to buy stuff, which has just gotten a new design (like the Macbook M2 Air 2 years ago, eventhough the M1 was the better value), because I know, that it will largely stay the same for years to come. But to be honest its weird to buy an "accessory" for my Macbook which costs around the same amount as the Macbook itself. Such a hard decision
I did the same thing, twice too. I ending up returning the m4 11 inch for the Air m2 and aside from the weight, Face ID and the awesome keyboard it's too similar for me. I am please with the iPad Air m2.
I had a bit of a tussle myself. First, I was seduced by the POWER of the M4 iPad Pro...but... I took a step back and finally went with the (still available) base iPad Air 5th gen M1.
Priced NEW at 399 USD, It was the right unit at the right price. Even the relatively smallish 64GB storage did not "disqualify" it. As an "advanced user" but a non-creative, I rarely store large files or other downloads on any portable device. It's mainly a consumption/general task machine and I can hardly consider the M1 a dated chipset for those purposes. I look forward to a good 3+ years of solid use. Frankly, I am looking forward to "upgrading" my M1 Mini to a future M4 variant. That's a more practical matter.
I went the exact same direction with the iPad Air 5 base model at the same price, and it exceeds all of my needs. I just purchased the Combo Touch keyboard case on sale from Amazon, and I'm very happy with that too.
Thanks for excellent content!
I'm using my 11" iPad Pro M2 for all my devops and sysadmin tasks, but I need Ctrl key in lower left corner of keyboard, so I always take with me a normal BT keyborad, my trusty Keychron K1SE. It really hurts me as a person, to see all those companies that forgot where Ctrl key should be. When Apple make lower left corner Ctrl an option for Magic Keyboard, I'll buy it immediately.
I am still using a 11 inch iPad Pro M1 256GB cellular from 2021. It's perfect. Still not slowing down. Should last me at least another 2 years
Amazing video couldn’t agree more the 11 inch is just perfect ! Hope you’re enjoying it im going back to playing some vice city.
Comforting to know that I am not alone in the world with this thought process. Great insights and explanation of your thinking. The most important thing you said was "arguably the 12" MacBook". To me it was the best MacBook/Laptop ever made. And it is my current tech dilemma. Replacing it with something current. But I still am having difficulty pulling the trigger on the 11" iPad Pro. Why purchase a M4 11" when you can have a 13". I think this way even after I gave away my 12.9" to my brother, and told myself that the 11" would be the replacement. Months later I stumble upon your video and I've made up my mind. Thank you! Pulling the trigger today! LOL
Got a mini 4. Going for mini 6 refurbished as soon as one is available in Space Grey...which, knowing my luck will be one day before they release the mini 7!
I got the 13 M4. If you get rid of the keyboard or don’t buy one, you tend to appreciate it more. I only put it on the Magic Keyboard now when I’m traveling in the states and don’t want to have to depend on one WiFi. If the MacBook Air or pro had the ability for cellular I would never really need an IPad. Unless it’s going to be you only device get the 11 inch and save your money, or just get a previous gen. The iPad 13 is to expensive for what it can do and you can do the same with an air.
I don’t really see why Apple doesn’t put cellular on the Air. It could be e-SIM so they don’t need to change the chassis. I expect some bean counter in Apple’s corporate office has realised that some of the iPad market would disappear…
@@ConstantGeekerywe can get a iPad air with cellular here in Australia
@@Mark-yg5cd we were talking about the MacBook Air.
I too bought the 11 inch M1 iPad pro maxed out with 2TB and 5G in the hopes Apple will make it a credible main computer.
Instead of doing that, they’re playing games with the EU law to sabotage alternative app stores that might fix some of their arbitrary software limitations.
Great video! I also have the iPad Pro 512GB, but I did go for the 13 inch, and it is absolutely phenomenal for my photo editing tasks as well! But I’m also on a budget, and I’m coming from the iPad Pro 10.5 inch from 2015, so I also wanted to future proof my purchase since I’ll likely use the same thing for the next 10 years. I did not go for the Apple keyboard since I’m on a budget and that’s WAY too expensive, but also I want better protection from small bumps and hits on the corners and sides, so I am picking up an ESR keyboard case that is almost the same as the Apple version.
Ha we had a weirdly similar experience. I ordered the 1TB 13" Pro with keyboard on the day it was announced. It arrived and before I had even finished installing my apps I knew I had made a mistake. I tried to make it work and to make myself love it for a week but I just couldn't so I ended up exchanging it for a 512GB 11" Pro with keyboard and I am so much happier with it. I use my iPad as a single task device rather than a multiple purpose computer. What I mean by that is I use it for when I am doing something that doesn't require me to have multiple windows and desktops on the go to get stuff done. I have one or sometime two apps in split screen open and that's it. I don't try and use it to replace my MacBook Pro nor do I want it to. They each have their place. I find I can focus better on that single task with an iPad than I can with macOS. I know it is just a mental thing and I could easily just fullscreen/split screen on my MBP as well but I always end up getting pulled off task with all the other stuff going on when I am using my Mac. The iPad limits me _in a good way_ and I like that.
One final note is that after a few weeks it is pretty clear to me I did waste some money getting the iPad Pro over the iPad Air considering how I use it but not much I can do about that now. I plan to keep this iPad as long as possible which going by my last iPad is going to be about 7 years so I am not going to beat myself up too much of wasting a bit of money spread out over that kind of time frame. I would highly recommend anyone looking at getting an iPad Pro to check out the Air first though as I am confident for 9 out of 10 people the Air is the more sensible choice.
I have one question: Did you own an iPad Air in the past and don't you think that the 120hz is just so much better in day to day use vs the 60hz of the Air? I am struggling a lot to decide between the devices. From a power perspective (m2 vs m4) and use case (reading, taking notes etc.) I know, that the Air is enough. Its just that I am a little bit of tech-nerd and I don't know wether I would always have the thought in the back of my mind, wheter the OLED + 120hz would be just so much better or not. Would like to hear you input
@@SnowcrasherLP I will be totally honest. I bought the Pro for the screen. The Air is more than powerful enough for my needs but the 120Hz OLED screen on the M4 is just too nice to pass up. I allow myself these silly indulgences as I don't spend money on much else, don't drink, etc. 😂 So I justify it that my "vice" is spending more than I really should on a shinny gadget every 4 or 5 years rather than nice wine/whiskey 😁
So I say treat yourself Snowcrasher!
@@satysin630 funny, same situation with the "not drinking". well, you have some good points :D thank you
@@SnowcrasherLP Just as long as you can afford it and don't like take it out on credit or anything I say go for something nice now and then if you can.
We now also have Snapdragon Elite + Tablets and Laptops that compete well with Apple.
Hopefully that puts pressure on Apple to allow Mac apps to be run on M-series iPads. Although the EU will probably enforce that first.
It’s the apps that make more difference and make even Android fans go for the iPad. Playstore is a joke filled with anti viruses, ram optimizers and cache cleaners with thousands of cheep replica. No pro apps like on the AppStore.
For browsing, office, media consumption that would work, but not for pro and creative work or audio and video editing, photography. Even pro games are much less, less optimized to the big screen, poorer GfX and take longer time to get released, if they did!
Then reliability, longevity, support, echo system, features like continuity, universal control, sidecar, airdrop, etc.
No, cache, malware, RAM problems. And the list goes on and on.
I just bought both M4 iPads. I just couldn’t decide which one I liked best so I bought both the 13in and 11in 😂. The 13in I use more like a computer next to my MacBook Pro and the 11in I use more like an iPad for note taking.
I love this video idea, great content !
Logic Pro is not a Pro audio app, it doesn't support AU audio plugins - most people serious about composing film scores or popular songs will use better sounds than the stock plugins in Logic. So any projects you have on your Mac you cannot really edit on the iPad...
If you haven't done already or for awhile can you do a video on what apps you use on your iPad Pro?
Good suggestion - I’ll add it to my list 👍🏻
I did the exact same thing as you, but I ultimately settled on the 1TB 11" Pro so I could have the Nanotexture glass.
How are you finding the nano texture?
I have been enjoying it. You lose a touch of contrast, but the screen quality is far better than any matte screen protector one can put on it.
@@MeadowsWorkshop good to know 👍🏻
@@ConstantGeekery Apparently, Mothca’s matte screen protector comes “close,” so it is a good alternative to not having to pay for 1TB. I’ve used it on my phones, but never my iPad. I have used Paperlike before. It’s good for texture, but the light diffusion and reflective qualities are not that close in videos I’ve seen comparing it to nano texture.
I really appreciate this video, thank you. I bought the 11” myself, along with the pencil and keyboard. I returned it, as I really do love my mini so much, and it only made a number of experiences smoother than my mini. I’m still tempted by the 11-inch, as above all else, I really liked the brightness and clarity of the screen. The 120hz is a welcome bonus also. If they made a mini pro with even a mini LED screen, heck it could even be 60hz - I just want the brightness above all else. I like being able to study outside (being a nerd I don’t get much time to do that!)
So I may be getting the 11” again, alongside my mini (nothing can ever take the mini away from me!) - this time without the keyboard (initially), but still get the new pencil. The other mistake I made previously was getting the space black model. It looked awesome, but I much prefer the natural aluminium look.
Thank you for this video - you’ve helped put some puzzle pieces together in my head, and reaffirmed lots of things!
Great video. Interesting journey. I think the iPad is incredibly versatile, meeting the needs of toddlers, pilots, digital artists, or construction site managers. I've watched your videos for years and have never thought of you as a fanboy but more of a "resentful enthusiast" of Apple devices. You're a successful business owner and, judging by your videos, a brilliant software engineer/designer. You don’t need Apple. Your loathing of Apple is so obvious at times it puzzles me-why not just stick to Windows and Android? Life is too short.
I probably use Windows almost as much as macOS. We use Mac (and Linux) in our business because, for us, the total cost of ownership is lower than Windows and PC hardware. Because I use so many different machines, I appreciate the tight integration of Apple products. And whilst I’d love to switch to Android for my phone, my family has been in the Apple ecosystem for a while now and it would be painful to leave. Historically, I’ve always been a switcher - a couple of years on this, then a couple on that - but Apple just edges it for me. I detest the company, but I quite like its products!
I’m actually in the rather odd position of using two iPad Pros: the new 13 inch M4 and the 2018 12.9. Although I don’t get the benefit of universal control, which I have really enjoyed using with the 2018 iPad and a Macbook (which has now gone to my son for university), I find that for my use case (academic research and writing and then content consumption), the M4 and the magic keyboard paired with the 2018 Pro and a magic trackpad and iCloud is a great combination. If my 2018 stops working, I will probably just replace that with a standard iPad and keep the setup.
I’m making a video about the m1 iPad Pro to discuss why I think it’s worth a purchase vs the m4
Great video, again! Thanks. In my thinking the iPad is a flat out iPhone with a giant screen. And it should be used as that. For heavy tasks I always would prefer a MacBook. For me the iPad software is a kind of lackie and half done software.
I love this analysis, very fair and in depth
One terabyte of storage on my M2 because I wanted the additional ram for future proofing. I’m thinking that Apple intelligence is going to prove that I did help myself to a little future profane with 16 gigs of ram.
I have an old iPad 6 that I will get rid of. I haven’t used a tablet in so long. Games on iPadOS are stupidly pay to win. Would love an iPad Pro with pencil to draw though.
Just ordered an iPad Pro 11" M4 512 GB with cellular, a Magic Keyboard, and a Pencil Pro.
The last one I owned was a 6th gen with wifi and a Logitech keyboard (sans touchpad) and a 1st gen Apple pencil. I wasn't impressed and gave it to my wife who uses it to this day.
Recently I wanted to work on a Numbers worksheet with her and used that iPad on which I couldn't get Numbers running and as a diagnostic step updated the iPadOS to current and 52 apps. The thing was pretty glacial and it all took forever, after which I determined that Numbers had been corrupted and I had to delete and reinstall Numbers. Using that cramped Logitech keyboard was awful and I determined that I wanted a more modern iPad.
I'm hoping _this_ will turn out to be my perfect iPad (and I can't _wait_ to see that screen).
I have high hopes for Apple Intelligence which should run on this, my 16 Pro Max (after I buy it), and my MacBook Pro M1 Max - but _not_ my daily driver which is a 2020 iMac 5K.
iPad Pro m1 or m2. They go for about 500 in great condition. Thats by far the best option. All the features without the price.
I love ipad gen 10 I got the cellular model with wifi . It's thin I can do everything I need to for work on there the magic keyboard is super useful. I also use it for media consumption as well . I don't even use my Mac book pro that much anymore I find myself using the tenth gen in place of it.
I think it was the Power Mac G3 (blueberry) that killed Apples willingness to provide colors on “Professional” devices.
Apple: “You don’t want color? You will never get color! EVER!”
Would love to know what apps you use on your iPad. Would love a video on that.
Have added that to my ideas list, thank you 👍🏻
Excellent video. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it 😁
I chose the Purple iPad Air 13
The Ipad air 13 with the pencil is more pro for my professional needs. mainly because of the touch button ID. The 13 inch screen is essential. better speakers, better screen, pro motion, m4 chip and Face ID, are unnecessary marketing fluff. For functional media consumption the features of the air are excellent. Having to raise the screen to unlock it from a desk or table is just plain irritating. for research and writing the iPad air is an excellent professional work tool.
I lean to the most powerful because I dont wish for anything to hamper my time🎉
I kind of whittle it down to the features that I want which leads me to the Pro 11ish inch size but not for the screen refresh rate. I can’t see 120hz, it’s probably a disability like being partly color blind. Anyway I like the Face ID more than the Touch ID so that really narrows my choices down. Choose my storage option and color (not much choice there, I wish they had more colors) Black it is I guess, select cellular and that’s it. $1700 please. (I think I’ll wait a while)
They certainly are not cheap once specced up. If you’re not worried about HDR, the previous small Pro models had the standard LCD panel. Both the M1 and M2 versions might be available from Apple’s Refurbished store, or discounted new from some retailers. Could get the spec you want with a decent saving?
I have been looking into getting an iPad, but my workflow is mainly on Adobe Mac apps, so it would be a personal device, I think the iPad is ever-seeking purpose.. I love the idea of it, no doubt. Great video, Dave!
nice presentation sir
Thank you 😊
The watch takes it away!
Honestly ipad pro is way better. Than macbook AIR
Nahh you're not Daft. It's the Apple Propaganda at work.
You're missing out unless you upgrade. Gets the mind 2nd guessing.
nice video😂 very objetive decision
My goodness!
I was excited to watch to see what you had to say, but for almost four minutes into the video you talked only about yourself, and I didn’t come here for that. I quit watching. It’s important to get to the point sooner, and leave out what pertains only to you.
So, on a video with “finding MY perfect iPad” in the title, where I clearly explain in the intro that this is MY experience… you expect me to not talk about my experience? OK 👍🏻
I found the personal story to be a breath of fresh air. There are many other feature dump channels. Just go to one if that's all you're interested in.
@@ConstantGeekery Yes - but in what seemed like forever, you never got there. That’s why I commented so that you might better understand your viewers and provide tangibility quicker. My advice is good advice.
@dennyup you are entitled to your view and it’s impossible to please everyone. However, the like ratio is over 96%, which is true of pretty much all my content, and there are comments from viewers who found it helpful. I have to make content that is true to me and the majority of my audience, with the knowledge that it won’t be for everyone.
@constantgeekery thank you for sharing your personal experience. I loved the points you made about the iPads. Recently I returned an iPad Air 11inch M2. It was non-responsive to touch, overheating, and the battery drained faster than my iPad Mini 2021 that was doing the same activity. I have been watching numerous videos about the iPads and found yours to be helpful. Many say the iPad Pro is “too much” for an average user, but your comments about the OLED swayed me. Thanks for the honest review. I subscribed because of it.