Choosing between the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro M4 comes down to how you'll actually use it day-to-day.

11-Inch: The Portable Champion

Perfect for:

• Reading books and articles
• Note-taking and sketching
• Travel and commuting
• One-handed use
• Casual browsing and media

Trade-offs:

• Cramped Magic Keyboard experience
• Less screen real estate for multitasking
• Smaller canvas for detailed artwork

13-Inch: The Productivity Powerhouse

Perfect for:

• Laptop replacement scenarios
• Professional creative work
• Video editing and complex tasks
• Better Magic Keyboard experience
• Multitasking with Stage Manager

Trade-offs:

• Less portable (132g heavier)
• $200+ more expensive
• Too large for comfortable handheld reading

The Decision Framework

Choose 11-inch if: You want the classic iPad experience—portable, versatile, perfect for reading and light work. Great for students and casual users.

Choose 13-inch if: You're replacing a laptop or doing serious creative work. The larger screen and better keyboard make productivity tasks much more pleasant.

Bottom line: Both have identical performance and features. The 11-inch is better as a tablet, the 13-inch is better as a laptop replacement.

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is frustratingly complex: it depends entirely on what you do for work.

Where the iPad Pro M4 Excels

Creative workflows: Photo editing, digital art, video editing, music production, and presentations work beautifully. Apps like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Procreate are genuinely desktop-class.

Content consumption: Reading, research, media consumption, and note-taking are actually better on iPad than traditional laptops.

Portable productivity: Email, documents, and basic business tasks work well, especially with the Magic Keyboard.

Where It Falls Short

Traditional computing: No true file system, limited multitasking, and software restrictions make complex workflows frustrating.

Development work: Programming, terminal access, and developer tools are severely limited.

Browser limitations: Some web apps don't work properly due to Safari restrictions.

Multiple monitors: External display support is limited compared to real laptops.

The Bottom Line

If your work revolves around creative apps, media, and basic productivity, the 13-inch iPad Pro M4 with Magic Keyboard can absolutely replace a laptop.

If you need traditional desktop software, complex file management, or development tools, you'll still need a MacBook Pro alongside your iPad.

Pro tip: Many professionals use both—iPad for creative work and travel, MacBook for heavy lifting.

Here's some frustrating news if you're upgrading: your Apple Pencil 2nd generation won't work with the iPad Pro M4. At all.

Why This Happened

Apple moved the front camera from the side to the top of the iPad (which is great for video calls), but this completely messed up where the Apple Pencil charges and connects. It's not just a software issue—the physical design changed.

Your Options (None Great)

If you want to use a stylus with your new iPad Pro M4, you'll need to buy:

Apple Pencil Pro ($129) - The full-featured replacement with squeeze controls and haptic feedback

USB-C Apple Pencil ($79) - A cheaper option, but you lose pressure sensitivity and wireless charging

The Frustrating Reality

This means upgrading to the iPad Pro M4 costs more than you think. Even if you already have a perfectly good Apple Pencil 2, you're spending another $79-$129 just to keep drawing and taking notes.

Apple didn't provide any trade-in programs or discounts to ease this transition, which feels pretty rough for loyal customers who've invested in the ecosystem.

Silver Lining?

The Apple Pencil Pro genuinely has some cool new features if you spring for it. But it's still annoying to be forced into this purchase when your current pencil works perfectly fine—just not with your shiny new iPad.