I vividly remember the first time I held the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in a crowded Apple Store. It felt less like a tablet and more like I was holding a piece of glass siding from a skyscraper. Huge. Unwieldy. Slightly terrifying.
But then I opened a digital comic.
Everything changed. If you’ve been lurking on Reddit or tech forums lately, you’ve probably seen the constant debate: is reading on iPad Pro 12.9 a luxurious dream or an ergonomic nightmare? Honestly, it’s a bit of both. Most people will tell you it’s "too big" for books, but they’re usually thinking about reading a beach thriller in one hand while sipping a margarita. They aren't thinking about the sheer joy of a full-sized PDF or a two-page manga spread.
The "Big Tablet" Problem Nobody Mentions
Let's be real: this thing is a beast. At nearly 1.5 pounds (and that's before you slap a case on it), the 12.9-inch model isn't something you hold aloft like a Kindle Paperwhite. You don't "hold" this iPad; you deploy it.
If you try to read a standard EPUB novel in the Kindle app while lying on your back, you’re playing a dangerous game of "will this break my nose if I drop it?" Spoiler: it might. The ergonomics of reading on iPad Pro 12.9 require a shift in mindset. You need a kickstand. Or a pillow. Or a very sturdy lap.
The weight distribution is the sneaky part. Because it's so thin—especially the newer M4 models which are ridiculously slim—it feels denser than it looks. Users often find that the 11-inch model is the "sweet spot" for casual reading, but the 12.9-inch is for the power readers. We're talking academics, comic buffs, and people who treat magazines like high art.
Why Comics and PDFs Win on the Big Screen
This is where the 12.9-inch version absolutely crushes the competition.
If you're a comic book fan, the 11-inch iPad forces you to zoom. You’re constantly pinching and sliding to read the dialogue bubbles. On the 12.9-inch display, a standard American comic page is rendered at almost exactly its original physical size. It’s glorious.
- Manga: You can actually read two-page spreads in landscape mode without squinting.
- Academic Papers: Most PDFs are designed for A4 or Letter paper. The 12.9-inch screen is basically a digital sheet of A4.
- Magazines: Apps like Texture or Apple News+ look like high-gloss print.
I talked to a friend who uses his for sheet music. He said going back to a smaller screen felt like trying to read a billboard through a keyhole. For him, the size isn't a bug; it’s the primary feature.
The OLED and Mini-LED Dilemma
We need to talk about your eyes.
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Apple moved to Tandem OLED with the latest M4 models, and before that, it was the Liquid Retina XDR (Mini-LED). Both are stunning. They offer "true blacks," which makes reading in Dark Mode a spiritual experience. The text just floats in a void.
But there's a catch: PWM.
Pulse Width Modulation is how these screens control brightness by flickering the light on and off really fast. Most people don't notice it. However, about 10% of the population gets massive headaches or eye strain from it. If you’re one of the "lucky" few who are sensitive to flicker, reading on iPad Pro 12.9 for three hours straight might leave you feeling like you’ve been staring at a strobe light.
The older M2 12.9-inch model used Mini-LED, which had a very high flicker frequency (around 6400Hz), making it generally easier on the eyes than the newer OLED versions which pulse at a much lower 480Hz. It’s a weird technical regression for a small group of users. If you get "screen headaches," you might actually prefer the older LCD-based 11-inch Pro or an iPad Air.
The Paper-Like Fix
A lot of people swear by matte screen protectors like Paperlike. They do make the screen feel less "surgical" and more like a book. They also kill the glare.
But be warned: they can slightly blur the crispness of the text. It’s a trade-off. Do you want the sharpest pixels possible, or do you want a surface that doesn't reflect your own face back at you while you're trying to enjoy a mystery novel?
Personally? I find the "Nano-texture" glass option on the high-end M4 models to be the ultimate solution, though it costs a fortune. It diffuses light without the "rainbow effect" of cheap plastic films.
Reading Apps: Beyond the Kindle
Everyone knows the Kindle app. It’s fine. It’s basic. But on a pro-level device, you should probably be using pro-level apps.
- Panels: If you read comics, this is the gold standard. It handles CBR and CBZ files with a level of polish that makes the Comixology app look like a relic.
- LiquidText: This is for the students and researchers. It lets you "scrunch" a PDF to see two different sections at once and pull excerpts into a side workspace. On the 12.9-inch screen, you actually have enough room to do this without feeling cramped.
- Libby: Don't pay for books if you don't have to. Connect your library card and get those magazines for free. The layout on the big iPad is perfect for The New Yorker or National Geographic.
- Marvin 3: It’s an older app, but for DRM-free EPUBs, the customization is still unmatched.
Is It Actually Practical?
Kinda. It depends on where you read.
If your primary reading spot is a desk, a cafe table, or propped up on a "Flipy" pillow in bed, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the best reading device ever made. Period. The sheer real estate allows for Split View, so you can have your book on the left and a note-taking app like Obsidian or Goodnotes on the right.
But if you’re a commuter? If you’re standing on a train or sitting in a cramped airplane seat? It's a nightmare. It's too big to be discreet. You feel like you're holding a cafeteria tray.
I’ve seen people argue that the iPad Mini is the only "real" reading iPad. They aren't wrong for prose. For a Stephen King novel, the Mini is king. But you can't read a technical manual or a lavishly illustrated art book on a Mini without feeling like you're missing half the detail.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
If you’ve decided to go big, don't just wing it.
First, get a case with a varied angle stand. The Apple Smart Folio is okay, but something like the Zugu case gives you more stable angles for reading at a table.
Second, dive into your settings. Turn on True Tone. It adjusts the white balance to match the light in your room, making the screen look less like a flashlight and more like paper.
Third, use Screen Distance. It’s a feature in iOS that uses the FaceID camera to tell you when you’re holding the iPad too close to your face. With a screen this big, it’s easy to let it creep toward your nose, which is a one-way ticket to Myopia City.
Reading on iPad Pro 12.9 isn't about portability. It’s about immersion. It’s for the moments when you want the world to disappear and the page to be the only thing you see. Just... maybe keep a wrist brace handy if you plan on holding it one-handed.