iPad 11 Review: Still the iPad Most Need

The Missing Home Button

For years, the Home button was an iPad constant, a physical anchor for navigation. But with the transition to a full-screen interface, Apple made the bold move to eliminate it, opting for gesture-based controls. This change, while visually appealing, has sparked considerable debate among users. Many find the absence of the Home button a source of frustration, citing challenges with app switching and the overall intuitiveness of the new system.

App Switching Woes

One of the most common complaints surrounding the lack of a Home button centers on app switching. Apple’s gesture-based app switching, which involves swiping up from the bottom of the screen, isn’t always reliable. Gizmoposts24 readers have reported instances where the gesture is ignored, leading to confusion and wasted time. This unreliability becomes particularly problematic for users who frequently switch between multiple apps, such as those working on complex projects or multitasking throughout the day.

As one Gizmoposts24 reader lamented, “I personally swipe up from the bottom and it ignores me 70% of the time. I swipe up 1-3x more and if I didn’t swipe far enough, it takes me to the app switcher or the Dock. This happens even on my Home button-equipped iPads so I suppose I’m just ‘not swiping correctly.’ After doing this 30x a day for 3.5 years, that’s 38,325 times I’ve had to deal with app switching failing on me.” This experience highlights the frustration that even seemingly small inconsistencies in gesture recognition can cause over time.

Alternative Navigation: The Home Bar

To address the loss of the Home button, Apple introduced the Home bar, a translucent line at the bottom of the screen that serves as a shortcut to the Home screen. While the Home bar offers a way to access the home screen, it hasn’t entirely alleviated the concerns raised by users. Some find the Home bar less intuitive and convenient than a physical button, particularly when navigating with one hand.

Furthermore, the Home bar can sometimes disappear, requiring users to adjust their grip or re-engage with the gesture to access it. This inconsistency can lead to further frustration and disrupts the flow of work.

Living with the 11-inch iPad

Beyond the Home button, the 11-inch iPad presents other challenges for users accustomed to traditional design elements. The decision to eliminate the headphone jack, for instance, has sparked controversy, forcing users to rely on adapters for wired headphones. While many have embraced wireless audio solutions, some find the lack of a headphone jack inconvenient, particularly when using over-ear noise-canceling headphones.

The USB-C Conundrum

The shift to USB-C for charging and connectivity is a move toward industry standardization, but it has drawbacks for users who invested in a collection of 3.5mm headphone jacks. As one Gizmoposts24 reader noted, “Since there’s no headphone jack, I must use a USB-C adapter because virtually no one makes over-ear noise-canceling headphones these days and in my experience, BT introduces a lag. This means I can’t use headphones and charge simultaneously (maybe there’s a third-party adapter which I don’t have but still, we didn’t need to spend MORE money for this functionality before) and the adapter has a tendency to fall out.” This reliance on adapters adds extra cost and hassle for users, potentially impacting their overall experience.

Orientation Quirks

The 11-inch iPad’s large screen size can also present challenges when it comes to orientation. While some apps are designed to be orientation-independent, others are not. This can lead to awkward handling and a less-than-ideal user experience, particularly when using the iPad in different environments or for specific tasks. As one reader pointed out, “Since iPad Air is a virtually featureless slab, I somehow manage to pick it up wrong 75% of the time. I go to press the volume button and it’s on the other side and I have to carefully rotate the (as Apple calls it) ‘sheet of glass’ 180º or my thumb is over the camera or if I have the TouchID active, then I have to hunt around the edge for the Top button.” This lack of tactile feedback and consistent orientation can contribute to user frustration and hinder productivity.

The Desire for a Smaller Option

Despite its strengths, the 11-inch iPad may not be the ideal solution for every user. Many Gizmoposts24 readers yearn for a smaller iPad model, such as a Mini, that combines portability with the power of Apple’s latest processors. A smaller iPad would be particularly appealing to those who travel frequently or who need a device that can be easily carried in a pocket or bag. As one reader stated, “I really miss a Mini update… The Mini 6 was a welcome upgrade after the dearth of previous, really mediocre ones, but is now again woefully behind. And there is a lot of applications an iPad Mini would benefit from at least the M1, preferably M2 or faster. Photo and video editing while travelling, for one. The Mini is an ideal size for travel photography, and always has been in my backpack when travelling, often even for hiking – I wouldn’t bring a laptop when hiking through the Caucasus or Balkans for example, but the Mini was the ideal mix of light enough and big enough to research and plan map routes, find local public transport quirks, et cetera, especially with something like a $10 30-day unlimited data local SIM. I wouldn’t want to do that just on the phone’s small screen. I could even do photo selects and edit RAWs* from my camera on it on a journey home or stuff it casually into a traditional coat pocket. Try that with a bigger one…” The absence of a Mini iPad in the current lineup leaves a gap in Apple’s product portfolio, potentially alienating users who value portability and power in a smaller form factor.

* (ETA) I used Lightroom and other apps to edit RAW photos even way back on iPad Mini 3 (soo sloooow!), so M1 or M3 would be really helpful there. The last one’s A15 ain’t so bad, but even the basic M1 Air has nearly double the speed of A15’s Mini, and with current 40+ megapixel cameras, every bit counts – and there is always the fear of A15 not getting OS updates anymore even this year.