Should You Buy the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro Over the 11-inch Model?

Is the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro worth the extra $300 compared to the 11-inch version?

In this article, we will compare every aspect of these two iPads: usability, performance, display quality, speakers, and more. By the end, you’ll know exactly which iPad Pro is the best choice for you.

Key Takeaways

• Usability: Both iPads are lighter and thinner, with the 13-inch model being surprisingly usable for handheld gaming.
• Display: Both models use the same Tandem OLED technology, offering bright and vivid screens.
• Keyboard & Trackpad: The 13-inch model offers a larger, more comfortable keyboard and trackpad.
• Speakers: The 13-inch has better, louder, and more balanced speakers.
• Performance: Minimal difference in performance, but the 13-inch handles heat better for longer tasks.
• Battery Life: The 11-inch model has better battery life.

Comfort & Usability

Both iPads have been made thinner and lighter. The 13-inch version, in particular, feels noticeably thinner and easier to handle. For handheld gaming, the new 13-inch iPad Pro is surprisingly comfortable, despite its larger size. It’s about a quarter pound lighter, making longer gaming sessions less fatiguing. However, the 11-inch iPad remains the go-to for extended handheld use due to its lighter weight.

Screen Real Estate

The 13-inch model offers 25% more screen space due to its larger size and different aspect ratio. This is particularly beneficial for productivity tasks like video and photo editing, where more of the timeline and editing tools are visible. However, for watching movies, the difference isn’t as significant, especially with ultrawide videos.

Display Quality

Both iPads use the same Tandem OLED technology, delivering incredible brightness and color accuracy. The displays are equally bright and even, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

Magic Keyboard & Trackpad

When paired with the new Magic Keyboard, the 13-inch iPad Pro offers a significantly better typing experience. The larger keyboard features full-sized keys, and the trackpad is almost the same size as that on a 13-inch MacBook Air. While the 11-inch keyboard is perfectly usable, the larger 13-inch setup is more comfortable for extensive typing sessions. However, the 13-inch setup is bulkier, making it less convenient for use in tight spaces like airplane tray tables.

Camera Differences

Both iPads have identical front-facing camera hardware, but the 13-inch model positions the camera slightly higher, offering a more pleasing angle for video calls.

Apple Pencil Usability

Both iPads support the new Apple Pencil Pro. The 11-inch model is more comfortable for note-taking due to its lighter weight, while the 13-inch offers a larger canvas, which is preferred for drawing.

Speaker Comparison

Despite being thinner, the 13-inch iPad Pro boasts better speakers with more volume, better bass, and a more balanced sound. The 11-inch model’s speakers are good, but the 13-inch clearly excels in audio quality.

Performance Comparison

Both iPads feature the same M4 chip, resulting in minimal performance differences. In Geekbench tests, the 13-inch scored slightly higher in single-core and multi-core performance, but the difference is negligible. Both models handle demanding games and productivity tasks with ease.

Thermal Throttling

The 13-inch iPad Pro handles heat better during extended tasks. In the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test, the 13-inch model maintained higher performance over 20 minutes, showing an 11% improvement in sustained frames per second compared to the 11-inch model.

Productivity Apps

In Lightroom, both iPads perform similarly with only minor differences in export times. For video editing, the extra screen real estate of the 13-inch model provides a better overview of the timeline and editing tools, but the actual export performance is nearly identical.

Battery Life

Despite the larger size, the 13-inch iPad Pro has a smaller battery than its predecessor, while the 11-inch model has a slightly increased battery capacity. Tests show that the 11-inch iPad consistently offers better battery life.

Conclusion: Which M4 iPad Should You Buy?

• 13-inch iPad Pro: Ideal if you plan to use it as your main computing device, especially for typing and productivity. The better speakers, larger keyboard, and superior thermal management justify the extra cost.
• 11-inch iPad Pro: Best for those who need a lighter, more portable device. It’s perfect for handheld use, has better battery life, and offers the same performance at a lower cost.

In summary, if you need a more robust setup for productivity and multimedia, the 13-inch iPad Pro is worth the investment. For portability and value, the 11-inch iPad Pro is the smarter choice. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!