I’ve discovered an uncomfortable truth about iPad sizing: no matter which one you pick, you’ll want the other.

Last year, I bought the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro after weeks of deliberation, multiple store visits, and an unhealthy amount of YouTube research. Now that M5 versions are out, I’m eyeing the 13-inch—not because I chose wrong, but because there IS no right choice.

The Context Problem

In my last iPad video, I argued that your other devices play a huge role in which iPad makes sense. When I had a 13-inch MacBook Air and 24-inch Studio Display, the 11-inch iPad felt perfectly positioned in my lineup. Need a bigger screen? Use the laptop. Need even more space? Sit at the desk.

But now I have a 14-inch MacBook Pro, which has possibly opened up space for a slightly larger iPad in my workflow.

The Use Case Dilemma

Here’s where it gets interesting. If you use the iPad as an iPad—meaning primarily as a tablet—the 11-inch is the clear winner. It’s cheaper, easier to hold, lighter to carry, and you no longer compromise on specs with the smaller model. Apple finally got that right.

But I use my iPad glued to the Magic Keyboard 99% of the time. This is where the complications begin.

The 11-inch with Magic Keyboard is cramped. As a 6-foot-tall person, that might even be an understatement. It’s unstable on the couch and can look downright ridiculous at times when I’m trying to work comfortably. This is exactly why I keep wanting the 13-inch.

The Upgrade That Isn’t

Here’s the frustrating part: the 13-inch costs $300 more at baseline for...a slightly larger, yet somehow more awkward display. You don’t get a bigger battery. You don’t get better specs. Just more screen.

And not even the right KIND of more screen. The 3:4 aspect ratio means you gain minimal horizontal space—which would be the key reason to upgrade, especially now with proper windowing support in iPadOS 26. Instead, you get extra height that’s closer to a laptop than a tablet, but isn’t particularly useful for side-by-side apps like Calendar and Reminders.

I also considered the cellular upgrade, but Verizon’s prices are absurd. I can manage the occasional iPhone tethering for the few times a year I actually need connectivity on the go. The nano-texture display tempted me too, but Apple bizarrely locks it behind the 1TB and 2TB models, which completely destroys the value proposition compared to a MacBook.

The Verdict (For Now)

After several more trips to the Apple Store, I still can’t hit the buy button. The 13-inch is a solid device, but it’s not enough of an upgrade to justify ditching my basically-new 11-inch. I’d lose money on the trade and still not have something that fully replaces my laptop.

The perfect iPad doesn’t exist. But if you’re asking for my wishlist? Give me a 12-inch iPad Pro with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio and battery life that actually exceeds 10 hours.

What size iPad do you have—and more importantly, do you wish you’d picked the other one?

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