What’s the Best iPad Screen Size: Should You Go 11-inch or 13-inch?

Apple iPad is greater than ever. Previously, when choosing iPad, you only need to consider storage capacity and cellular capabilities. Now, like iPad Pro, you can also choose between screen sizes. I have received a conflicting reader e -mail from whether the 13 -inch model is a better choice for watching movies. The short answer? no. The largest iPad does not necessarily mean a better screen for video consumption.

I recently moved to iPad Air (2025) of Air (2025) from Air iPad 11 inch (2020), and made me realize that both tablets are made for different use cases. If you are confused about the appropriate screen size for the next iPad Air or iPad Pro, here is a collapse dependent on my experience.

See the proportion of the width to the height, not the size of the width

IPad Air and IPad Pro in 13 inches size contains a 4: 3 high percentage, while 11 -inch models are 16:11 screen. Therefore, this is not translating an additional inch on the largest iPad directly into a better experience to watch movies.

Most films are manufactured in 21: 9, while standard videos on platforms like YouTube are usually in 16: 9. These formats look better on a 16:11 screen, with less letters (thick black borders at the top and bottom) compared to 4: 3.

If you are buying a 13 -inch iPad Air or iPad PRO to watch movies or videos, I recommend 11 inches instead. The largest iPad devices are better for productivity and creative work, but when it comes to videos, they add more black bars than giving you a larger screen to the content. As a result.

When should you buy iPad Air or 13 -inch iPad Pro?

IPad 13 -inch devices are perfect for creativity who need larger fabric. If you are a digital artist who uses Apple Pencil Pro, large iPad devices give you more space for application options (such as Lightroom, Final Cut Pro) and a wide area for photo editing or videos. Additional real estate on the screen is more comfortable and comfortable for creative work.

It also works better with the magic keyboard. In addition, it is easy to manage iPados 18 features such as Manager Stage Manager and Multitsing Multitsing on a larger screen. If you use Stage Manager in multiple tasks while tracking Slack or Teams, the larger screen will best serve you.

The 13 -inch iPads also offers excellent secondary offers for Mac. When needed, you can pick up this external screen and follow your work while moving because it works as a functional operating system. It is not a substitute for laptop, but if you want to do any laptop -style work on your iPad, the 13 -inch model is the way to go.

It is worth noting that the 13 -inch iPad Air also features a brighter screen at 600 Nits, making it a better companion if you work outside cafes or common spaces.

When should you buy iPad Air or 11 -inch iPad Pro?

The 11 -inch model for video consumption and tasks focusing on tablet such as browsing, online shopping and reading. Basically, anything you usually do on your iPhone-but you want a larger screen to facilitate-IPAD 11 inch.

It also works great for creativity who want to be transferred. Although 13 inches are not completely huge, if you are already traveling with a laptop and you want to add another device to your creative workflow, the iPad 11 inch achieves the right balance.

Personally, I prefer to download an 8 -inch iPad Mini, along with my laptop for reading and browsing. But if you want the first iPad for the video, the 11 -inch models are your best bet. You can associate it with a magic keyboard to process text, but the experiment will not be quite good as in the larger model.

When should you buy an 8 -inch iPad Mini?

The iPad Mini features a width rate to 3: 2 (1.52: 1 to be accurate). It is my favorite tablet and I consider it a perfect mix of transportation and jobs. If the main tasks include web browsing, responding to emails or reading e -books, then the iPad Mini is your best tablet.

While we were talking about the iPad that focuses on the video and how to compare watching movies on the 13-inch screen for 11 inches, the iPad Mini is made for a different audience-those who want a first reading disk. I also use it to edit photos in Lightroom, and performs a good performance of most tasks. In addition, it supports the Apple Pencil Pro, making it a great carcinogenic fabric.

The size of an incredibly friendly friend and does not add the largest part to my country equipment. I carry it on trips loaded with Kindle books, save chrome pages, and more to read while moving or flights. If you are after the most protected iPad, this is one to get it.

What is the best iPad?

The comparison covers screen sizes except for iPad Air and iPad Pro devices. The choice comes between those after I discovered any iPad for you in general. If you are not sure, check the best iPad devices in the 2025 menu to help you make a decision.

However, the primary iPad (2025) with a 11 -inch screen may be the best choice for most people. It provides a great offer, a lot of energy with a A16 slide group, and now comes with the basic storage capacity (128 GB). It does not support Apple Intelligence, but for the time being, these features are not changing life on other iPad devices as well. If you want an iPad that only works, this one delivers.

A brief collapse that IPad is more than not dependent on the size of the screen –

• 13 inch iPad Air/Pro: For those who want the iPad for creativity and productivity. The magic keyboard works better with this.
• 11 inch iPad/Air/ProIPAD first video with a view ratio to 16:11 for the best experience watching a movie on the iPad. It also works well for creative work.
• 8 inch iPad miniFor those who primarily want a laptop tablet for browsing and reading. It is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, so you get a vibrant creative fabric as well.

Ultimately, the selection between 8 inches, 11 -inch and 13 -inch screen sizes is due to the workflow and priorities. The largest is not always better, depending on what you will use in your iPad.