The announcement of the upgraded 4th generation of iPad Air has quickly caught the attention of the artist community. This is big news for digital artists – as they now have the option to get a top-of-the-line drawing experience without spending top dollars. iPad Air iPad Pro (11″) iPad Pro (12.9″) Screen size 10.9 Inches 11 Inches 12.9 Inches Dimension 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm Resolution 2360 x 1640 p 2388 x 1668 p 2732 x 2048 p Brightness 500 nits 600 nits 1000 nits Stylus Apple Pencil Apple Pencil Apple Pencil Processor A14 Bionic From the comparison we can see, in spite of a massive price difference – iPad Air has still got a very comparable display. The mini-LED backlight consist of thousands of small LEDs which can be controlled and turned on and off at will. Apple calls this faster refresh rate technology as “ProMotion display“. This faster refresh rate minimizes the stylus latency and improves the responsiveness of the Apple Pencil. As you can see in the footage above, the lines drawn by the Apple Pencil is instantly visible on a 120Hz screen.
On the other hand, if you want the smoothest possible drawing experience with minimum stylus latency, get the iPad Pro (Amazon).
If you are an artist and hang out in online art communities, you already know that – Apple Pencil is the most advanced stylus in the market.
Since both iPad Air and Pro are compatible with the same stylus, you won’t find any difference in the actual drawing performance. The Apple Pencil 2 magnetically sticks to the top edge of the tablet where it charges wirelessly.
Both iPad Pro and Air have appropriate wireless charging pads to enable this feature. Their compact form factor enables you to use easily use them in places such as bus and Airplane seats. The 12.9 inch iPad Pro on the other hand while being thin and compact, it is not as portable as the other two options.
In order to have a good drawing experience, your tablet should be powerful enough to handle large resolution project files with hundreds of layers and shouldn’t lag when using the heaviest of texture brushes.
iPad Air comes with a A14 Bionic processor which again works on a 5nm nodes and has 4 cores inside. Thes processors does not stutter when working with large resultion in powerful apps such as procreate. iPads, in general, are known for their long-lasting battery which can easily handle a full day of casual usage. Although the actual battery life depends on a lot of things including the screen size, resolution, and also apps you are using. Mind that the 12.9 inch iPad Pro has the largest battery capacity but it also has a larger screen requiring more power. More storage is always better, considering the huge amount of space occupied by image and video files these days.
Having a good camera is essential for artists as it allows you to take pictures of something that you are gonna paint later, right on your tablet. Speakers are one of the first compromises that budget-focused tablets make, but that is not the case with the iPad Air.
The TouchID sensor is conveniently located on the top right side of the tablet-like in older iPhones. For artists who are already in the Apple ecosystem and own a Mac computer, iPads can be a great add-on.
This is a very powerful tool that can be used to natively use apple pencil with your desktop-based drawing apps.
There is also a third part Sidecar alternative called AstroPad which is specifically catered towards artists and has better screen mirror capabilities.
– Wifi only, or Wifi+cellular Color – Space Gray, Silver, Green, Rose Gold, and Sky Blue With iPad Pro, you get multiple sizes and memory options but limited color choices
But if you are someone who can appreciate a larger screen and a bigger drawing area and willing to somewhat compromise with portability for that, the 12.9 inch iPad is a better choice. If you are getting these tablets for normal multimedia usage, the lack of ProMotion display is not that big of a deal. But when you are buying these devices as a drawing tablet, having and not having the 120Hz ProMotion display can be a deciding factor. Now as we mentioned before, the iPad Air with its 60 Hz screen is good enough and still provides the best drawing tablet in that price range.
But the iPad Pro with its ProMotion display feels smoother to draw and write on. If you ask us – our recommendation would be – “iPad Air is a good fit for hobbyists and casual artist who draws every once in a while.
But if you are a full-time artist, we would highly recommend you get the Apple iPad Pro (Amazon).” Other than the display, you should also keep in mind that the lower variant of the iPad Air comes with just 64Gb of onboard storage. With the iPad Air, even at this lower price, you are getting a tablet with identical display quality, comparable processor, support for the same stylus, and same accessories.
If you are someone who wants a good drawing experience while saving some cash, you should for sure go with the new iPad Air (Amazon).
We say this for one simple reason and that is – iPad Pro has a 120Hz display which will provide you a better pen experience, after all that what matters the most for an artist.
The best iPad for drawing in 2022
Deals on Apple products don’t exactly come around often, so if you’re in the market for an iPad, these sales are well worth taking advantage of. 01. iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M1, 2021) The best iPad for drawing overall Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 12.9-inch Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels Weight: 682g Dimensions: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: Apple M1 chip Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB Rear cameras: 12MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Premium screen + Superfast processor + Generous storage options Reasons to avoid – Big outlay
Unless you’re going to be doing a lot of professional drawing work, it is probably more computing and display power than you need, and in that case, a cheaper tablet on this list will likely prove to be the better choice. 02. iPad Pro 11-inch (M1, 2021) The best 11-inch iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 11-inch Resolution: 1668 x 2388 pixels Weight: 466g Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: Apple M1 chip Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB Rear cameras: 12MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Superfast processor + Generous storage + More portable than 12.9 version Reasons to avoid – Inferior screen to 12.9 version There are a few compromises made as well as the size of the screen – it’s not the fancy mini-LED version – though let’s not get carried away, it’s still excellent, with P3 wide colour gamut, an anti-reflective coating, True Tone and ProMotion. In our full review, we found that it struck a good balance between being a useful surface area while also keeping the tablet lightweight and portable enough to be used on the go.
The combination of a featherlight touch and top-end sensitivity means that drawing on the tablet just feels incredibly natural and smooth. If you want the speed of an iPad Pro and don’t need the luxurious screen spread of the biggest version, this is an outstanding choice. 03. iPad Mini (2021) The best iPad for drawing on the move Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 8.3 inch Resolution: 1488 x 2266 pixels Weight: 293-297g Dimensions: 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm OS: iPadOS 15 CPU: A15 Bionic Storage: 64/256GB Rear camera: 12MP Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at AO.com (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very portable + Lovely screen + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – Smaller screen not for everyone 04. iPad Air 5 (2022) Pro-like features for less Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 10.9-inch Resolution: 2350 x 1640 Weight: 461g Dimensions: 247.6×178.5×6.1mm OS: iPadOS 15.4 CPU: M1 Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear camera: 12 MP Front camera: 12 MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Same M1 chip as the 2021 Pros + Good-sized display + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – Some may prefer iPad Pro
That said it can’t compete with the levels of brightness of the Pro 12.9, and the 60Hz refresh rate (rather than 120Hz with the Pros) does mean it takes slightly longer for your drawing to appear on the screen. 05. iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) Save money on a 12.9 iPad with the previous generation Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 12.9-inch Resolution: 2732 x 2048 Weight: 639g Dimensions: 280.4 x 214.8 x 5.8 mm OS: iOS 13.4 CPU: A12Z Bionic Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB Rear cameras: 12 MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR scanner Front camera: 8 MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + High-res screen + Large display + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – Lacks M1 chip
The 2020 model lacks the Mini LED screen and the M1 chip of the current version, but it’s still a very powerful and capable device, and it doesn’t cost as much. So for example, if you’re looking to use some heavy-duty 3D software, and need the fastest processor possible; or are doing work where a high degree of colour accuracy is super-important, it might be worth investing the 2021 model.
For everybody else, though, the 2020 iteration is a great choice for digital drawing, with the exact same screen dimensions and high resolution (2732 x 2048) as its pricier successor, and support for the Apple Pencil 2. 06. iPad Air 4 (2020) The best value iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 10.9-inch Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels Weight: 458g Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: A14 Bionic Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear cameras: 12MP Front camera: 7MP Today’s Best Deals View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Laptops Direct (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent value + Good battery life + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – 60Hz screen response rate
And with strong levels of battery life, screen resolution and processor performance, and a couple of good cameras, this is the best value iPad for general use, too. 07. iPad 10.2-inch (9th Gen) The best cheap iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 1 Screen size: 10.2-inch Resolution: 1620 x 2160 pixels Weight: 487g (Wi-Fi only); 498g (Wi-Fi+cellular) Dimensions: 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm OS: iPadOS 15 CPU: Apple A13 Bionic Storage: 64/256GB Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals Preorder at Laptops Direct (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Good battery life + Excellent value Reasons to avoid – Basic tablet – Doesn’t support Apple Pencil 2
Apple gave its basic 10.2-inch iPad a refresh in 2021, upgrading the chipset for better performance and adding an improved selfie camera. This is also the first model in the 10.2-inch range to offer True Tone support, which is Apple’s technology that adjusts colour balance depending on the quality of light in the room.
The initial Apple Pencil is a fine stylus and does the job well enough, but the lack of built-in controls is a pain, as is the clumsy charging system.
08. iPad Mini (2019) The best iPad for drawing if you want a smaller screen on the cheap Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 1 Screen size: 7.9-inch Resolution: 1536 x 2048 pixels Weight: 304g Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: A12 Bionic Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear cameras: 8MP Front camera: 7MP Today’s Best Deals View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very portable + Excellent value Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t support Apple Pencil 2 – Less power than later models Processing power: Newer (and more expensive) iPads have faster processors, and are capable of handling more complex tasks without stutter or slowdown. Drawing is not the most intensive task that an iPad can perform, so this may well not be a factor – however, if you are working with super-high resolution files, then it’s going to be very important that your tablet can load and display them correctly.
Best iPad for artists 2022
iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch) The best tablet Apple’s ever made is great for artists Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Expansive 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion + Packs in Apple’s M1 chip + Improved cameras with Center Stage + Up to 16GB RAM + Supports 2nd-gen Apple Pencil Reasons to avoid – Pricey – Size might be too much for some – M1 chip limited by iPadOS The iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch display is a great canvas size for your art, whether you’re sketching, painting, or editing photos — that still lets you be mobile. In an iMore review, we noticed that the new Liquid Retina XDR display in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro offers incredible color accuracy and shows off HDR images and video in all of its glory. This is great when working with the Apple Pencil, as your strokes appear on the screen nigh-instantly, like a real piece of paper, and renders more fluidly than it would on other iPads.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro combines impressive power and a large, beautiful display in a top-notch mobile artistic tool. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is a 12MP Ultra Wide lens with a 122-degree field of view and ƒ/2.4 aperture with support for Portrait mode and more.
And to top it off, the new TrueDepth camera can be used for video calling with Center Stage, which uses the new resolution to digitally crop in and “follow” you as you move around in the frame. Center Stage works in pretty much every video calling app that you may use regularly, so it’s one of those built-in features and requires no additional setup.
The front-facing TrueDepth camera is a 12MP Ultra Wide lens with 122-degree field of view and ƒ/2.4 aperture with support for Portrait mode and more. The Pencil recognizes things like tilt and pressure applied to the tip and supports palm rejection. The Apple Pencil also has a small gesture area on its flat side, which you can double-tap to switch between your two most recent tools quickly. iPad Pro 2021 (11-inch) Almost as great as the 12.9-inch but more portable Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Also packs in M1 chip with up to 16GB of RAM + Smaller and lighter than 12.9-inch Pro + Face ID + Liquid Retina display with ProMotion + Support for 2nd-gen Apple Pencil Reasons to avoid – Still a bit pricey – Some might want a bigger display – Does not have the Liquid Retina XDR display of the 12.9-inch
The 11-inch still only has a regular Liquid Retina display, so the 12.9-inch edges it out just slightly in terms of HDR content, vibrant hues, and deepest blacks. It packs in M1 power in a smaller package, but you just don’t get the Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch version. iPad Air 5 (2022) A great balance of power and price Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A great balance of price and power + Reasonably large screen + Apple Pencil 2 support + Excellent display Reasons to avoid – No ProMotion display – No Face ID When reviewing the iPad Air 5, we concluded that the 10.9-inch screen offers decent real estate for drawing and painting, as well as an excellent portal for inspecting and editing your photos.
The biggest shock of the iPad Air 5 is what lies inside — the M1 chip, which has a fair bit of power behind it. iPad mini 6 (2021) The most compact iPad yet Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at AO.com (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + New 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display + Apple Pencil 2 support + Up to 256GB storage + A15 Bionic + Better cameras with Center Stage Reasons to avoid – More expensive than previous iteration – Only starts at 64GB iMore reviewed the iPad mini 6, and it’s our opinion that this model can’t be beat for convenient portability. This means flat edges, smaller bezels surrounding the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, USB-C charging, and no more Home button.
iPad mini 6 is perfect for travel, and it now has a redesigned bigger screen, Apple Pencil 2 support, and more. iPad 9th-Generation (2021) Great for tight budgets Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Plenty of space with a 10.2-inch display + The A13 Bionic is still great for the price + Supports first-generation Apple Pencil + Very affordable + Up to 256GB of storage Reasons to avoid – Starts with only 64GB – A13 outdated compared to other models – Only works with first-generation Apple Pencil
The A13 Bionic chip is still plenty powerful for basic drawing, sketching, watching videos, reading, writing, and much more. You get a beautiful 10.2-inch LCD Retina display that delivers incredibly sharp and detailed graphics and text with the iPad.
You’ll be able to seamlessly draw with tilt and pressure sensitivity, as well as palm rejection, so there won’t be any unwanted marks on your sketch. Plus, it packs in the beautiful new Liquid Retina XDR display, so you get the absolute best colors, and it is the best way to view HDR content.
From new features like tapping support on the Apple Pencil to the increased graphical power on the 8-core GPU compared to previous models, the latest iPad Pro is perfect for your artistic endeavors, no matter how demanding they are.
If the 12.9-inch size is a little too unwieldy for you, then the 11-inch iPad Pro is the second-best alternative — just know that it won’t have the Liquid Retina XDR display, but it still packs in the M1 chip and all the other goodies.
Best iPad for Procreate 2022
Our list of the 5+ Best iPads for Procreate will give you the tools you need to create incredible artwork from start to finish. Once you log into Apple’s App Store, you can download Procreate for about $10 (figures may differ based on location).
The best iPad for Procreate overall Display: 12.9-inch retina (2732 x 2048) | Processor: Apple M1 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours | Weight: 1.50 pounds | OS: iPadOS 14.5.1 The iPad Pro 12.9-inch is in itself already the best tablet you can spend your money on but for Procreate users, it’s like an extension of an artist’s hand.
Apple’s M1 processor chip powers the tablet and it’s overall performance can handle anything you want to run on it from Procreate to videos and everything in-between. Brilliant 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color A beautiful 10.2-inch Retina display provides incredible resolution to help every design you create look it’s absolute best. In terms of performance, while the M1 chip is noticeably absent, the A13 Bionic processor makes the iPad fast enough for all of your tasks from Procreate to Safari and everything in between. Pros Cons ➕ A13 processor ➖ Older design ➕ Headphone jack ➖ No USB-C support Learn More sponsored message
Latest Price on Amazon: Sale 2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB) – Space Gray Gorgeous 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone
Thankfully, the 11-inch version of the iPad Pro provides the same tech in a smaller size and more importantly, a lower price, making it an extremely amazing value.
While it uses a lot of the same tech that its bigger brother does, the 11-inch variation offers more customization with support for Apple’s Smart Folio and Magic Keyboard, which is great for those who like to write in addition to drawing. Drawing is easy with support for the Apple Pencil 2, allowing you to create whatever your imagination comes up with fluidly and with ease.
Pros Cons ➕ Desktop PC-level performance ➖ iPadOS doesn’t make use of M1’s power ➕ Good battery life ➖ Doesn’t come with an XDR display Learn More Latest Price on Amazon: Sale 2021 Apple 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi‑Fi, 128GB) – Silver Apple M1 chip for next-level performance Using the A14 Bionic processor, the iPad Air can handle multiple tasks with ease, so drawing in Procreate and switching back and forth to reference material is easy.
With support for the Magic Keyboard and 1st-gen Apple Pencil, you can turn the iPad Air into a workstation that will rival many laptops currently on the market. At a cheaper price point and with multiple colors available, the iPad Air is a great portable option for Procreate.
Pros Cons ➕ All screen design ➖ The selfie camera could be better ➕ Great range of color options ➖ Still not cheap Learn More Latest Price on Amazon: Sale 2020 Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) – Green (4th Generation) Stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color The True Tone display puts out a crisp resolution of 2048 x 1536 which only helps to add to the color accuracy being presented.
With support for the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, the overall size of the iPad will do nothing to hinder the creations that will flow easily. Pros Cons ➕ Great performance ➖ No multi-user option ➕ Long battery life ➖ More expensive than the previous model Learn More Latest Price on Amazon: Sale 2021 Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 64GB) – Space Gray 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and wide color
Display: 10.9-inch | Processor: Apple M1 chip with Neural Engine | RAM: 8GB | Storage: Up to 256GB | Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours | Weight: 1.0 pound | OS: iPadOS iPad Air 5th gen lets you work with Procreate with Liquid Retina display features and advanced technologies like True Tone, P3 wide color, and an anti-reflective coating in any manner. Pros Cons ➕It contains solid 12MP cameras ➖ iPad and its peripherals are expensive ➕It has a strong, sharp, and colorful display ➕8-core GPU with 2x faster graphics Sale 2022 Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) – Blue (5th Generation) 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide color, and an antireflective coating
However, there is still a belief that great art can only be created using an ultra-expensive laptop or PC and downloading Illustrator from Adobe. Procreate is an amazing tool that any artist, professional or amateur alike can use to bring their imagination to life.
The best iPad for drawing in 2022
Deals on Apple products don’t exactly come around often, so if you’re in the market for an iPad, these sales are well worth taking advantage of. 01. iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M1, 2021) The best iPad for drawing overall Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 12.9-inch Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels Weight: 682g Dimensions: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: Apple M1 chip Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB Rear cameras: 12MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Premium screen + Superfast processor + Generous storage options Reasons to avoid – Big outlay
Unless you’re going to be doing a lot of professional drawing work, it is probably more computing and display power than you need, and in that case, a cheaper tablet on this list will likely prove to be the better choice.
02. iPad Pro 11-inch (M1, 2021) The best 11-inch iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 11-inch Resolution: 1668 x 2388 pixels Weight: 466g Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: Apple M1 chip Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB Rear cameras: 12MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Superfast processor + Generous storage + More portable than 12.9 version Reasons to avoid – Inferior screen to 12.9 version
There are a few compromises made as well as the size of the screen – it’s not the fancy mini-LED version – though let’s not get carried away, it’s still excellent, with P3 wide colour gamut, an anti-reflective coating, True Tone and ProMotion. In our full review, we found that it struck a good balance between being a useful surface area while also keeping the tablet lightweight and portable enough to be used on the go.
The combination of a featherlight touch and top-end sensitivity means that drawing on the tablet just feels incredibly natural and smooth. If you want the speed of an iPad Pro and don’t need the luxurious screen spread of the biggest version, this is an outstanding choice.
03. iPad Mini (2021) The best iPad for drawing on the move Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 8.3 inch Resolution: 1488 x 2266 pixels Weight: 293-297g Dimensions: 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm OS: iPadOS 15 CPU: A15 Bionic Storage: 64/256GB Rear camera: 12MP Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at AO.com (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very portable + Lovely screen + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – Smaller screen not for everyone 04. iPad Air 5 (2022) Pro-like features for less Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 10.9-inch Resolution: 2350 x 1640 Weight: 461g Dimensions: 247.6×178.5×6.1mm OS: iPadOS 15.4 CPU: M1 Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear camera: 12 MP Front camera: 12 MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Same M1 chip as the 2021 Pros + Good-sized display + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – Some may prefer iPad Pro That said it can’t compete with the levels of brightness of the Pro 12.9, and the 60Hz refresh rate (rather than 120Hz with the Pros) does mean it takes slightly longer for your drawing to appear on the screen. 05. iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) Save money on a 12.9 iPad with the previous generation Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 12.9-inch Resolution: 2732 x 2048 Weight: 639g Dimensions: 280.4 x 214.8 x 5.8 mm OS: iOS 13.4 CPU: A12Z Bionic Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB Rear cameras: 12 MP, 10 MP, TOF 3D LiDAR scanner Front camera: 8 MP Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + High-res screen + Large display + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – Lacks M1 chip
The 2020 model lacks the Mini LED screen and the M1 chip of the current version, but it’s still a very powerful and capable device, and it doesn’t cost as much. So for example, if you’re looking to use some heavy-duty 3D software, and need the fastest processor possible; or are doing work where a high degree of colour accuracy is super-important, it might be worth investing the 2021 model. For everybody else, though, the 2020 iteration is a great choice for digital drawing, with the exact same screen dimensions and high resolution (2732 x 2048) as its pricier successor, and support for the Apple Pencil 2. 06. iPad Air 4 (2020) The best value iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2 Screen size: 10.9-inch Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels Weight: 458g Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: A14 Bionic Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear cameras: 12MP Front camera: 7MP Today’s Best Deals View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Laptops Direct (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent value + Good battery life + Supports Apple Pencil 2 Reasons to avoid – 60Hz screen response rate
And with strong levels of battery life, screen resolution and processor performance, and a couple of good cameras, this is the best value iPad for general use, too. 07. iPad 10.2-inch (9th Gen) The best cheap iPad for drawing Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 1 Screen size: 10.2-inch Resolution: 1620 x 2160 pixels Weight: 487g (Wi-Fi only); 498g (Wi-Fi+cellular) Dimensions: 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm OS: iPadOS 15 CPU: Apple A13 Bionic Storage: 64/256GB Rear camera: 8MP Front camera: 12MP Today’s Best Deals Preorder at Laptops Direct (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Good battery life + Excellent value Reasons to avoid – Basic tablet – Doesn’t support Apple Pencil 2 Apple gave its basic 10.2-inch iPad a refresh in 2021, upgrading the chipset for better performance and adding an improved selfie camera. This is also the first model in the 10.2-inch range to offer True Tone support, which is Apple’s technology that adjusts colour balance depending on the quality of light in the room. The initial Apple Pencil is a fine stylus and does the job well enough, but the lack of built-in controls is a pain, as is the clumsy charging system. 08. iPad Mini (2019) The best iPad for drawing if you want a smaller screen on the cheap Specifications Stylus support: Apple Pencil 1 Screen size: 7.9-inch Resolution: 1536 x 2048 pixels Weight: 304g Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm OS: iPadOS 14 CPU: A12 Bionic Storage: 64GB/256GB Rear cameras: 8MP Front camera: 7MP Today’s Best Deals View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very portable + Excellent value Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t support Apple Pencil 2 – Less power than later models
Processing power: Newer (and more expensive) iPads have faster processors, and are capable of handling more complex tasks without stutter or slowdown. Drawing is not the most intensive task that an iPad can perform, so this may well not be a factor – however, if you are working with super-high resolution files, then it’s going to be very important that your tablet can load and display them correctly.
iPad Pro vs iPad Air: Which Apple tablet is right for you?
With the new iPad Air 4 adopting the same fancy all-screen design language as the the Pro line up, the differences between the two aren’t as clear-cut. Both are extremely capable, so is the Air all the tablet you’ll need, or should you spend the extra to get the features and quality-of-life improvements that the iPad Pro brings?
Both iPad models have a single USB Type-C port, which means you can connect accessories to it easily, either directly or via a USB-C adapter (or even a hub): microphones, USB storage, 4K monitors, cameras for importing photos – it’s usefully flexible. And both iPad models are compatible with Apple’s brilliant (but expensive) Magic Keyboard, making either a worthy laptop replacement in certain situations.
The iPad Pro has better speakers than the iPad Air, with a tweeter and woofer configuration in all four corners, so however you hold it, it can create a sound balance with convincing stereo and good balance – the quality of these speakers is kind of mind-blowing, actually, given the size of device the sound is coming from. This gives you more flexibility when shooting, and can be useful for a range of extra needs, including scanning documents.
There’s also a LiDAR scanner as part of the rear camera array on the iPad Pro, which can accurately measure the distance from the iPad to objects in physical space, which makes for much more advanced and stable augmented reality applications. This has a lot of potential, depending on how apps can use it – decent motion capture and 3D scanning could be possible without any other equipment, for example.
In terms of size and sharpness, it’s so close to the 11-inch Pro that it makes effectively no odds which you choose in that regard. It’s extraordinarily difficult to make an iPad Pro stumble, and it’s possible to create huge multi-layered canvases in image apps, to edit 4K video (in certain formats) on multiple tracks without issue, and to have as many as four apps on-screen at the same time. It’s only when you get into some quite demanding needs that the iPad Pro may become a necessary option, though it can crop up in some unexpected ways: for example, popular Photoshop rival Pixelmator on iPad limits the maximum megapixel size of your file depending on the machine you’re using, and this will change depending on the number of layers you’re using as well as the size of the canvas. You clearly get a lot more headroom on the iPad Pro than the iPad Air – the issue when using the Air is that it’s hard to tell what balance of canvas size and layer use will turn out to be the upper limit for you.
When it comes to battery life, Apple rates all of its tablets for 10 hours of light use, and it’s easy to get this from both the Pro and the Air for web browsing, movie watching and similar. But you can expect high-res image editing, or prolonged 3D rendering, to reduce this pretty severely, just as it is with any laptop. Exactly how much depends on the app, but something that taxes both processor and GPU, such as high-end games, can bring it down to about half that.
The official options are Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro – which is, let us be clear, VERY expensive but very good – or the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard for iPad Air, which was produced in cahoots with Apple and is a much more reasonable price.
If so, then obviously you should get the Pro, but for anything more middle of the road, the Air is really just as fast – if you’ll mostly use it for viewing and some admin work on the go, there will be no meaningful performance difference. However, as we mentioned, the ways that the Air might hold you back are not always predictable, so the Pro is definitely the future-proof option.
Best iPad for artists 2022
iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch) The best tablet Apple’s ever made is great for artists Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Expansive 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion + Packs in Apple’s M1 chip + Improved cameras with Center Stage + Up to 16GB RAM + Supports 2nd-gen Apple Pencil Reasons to avoid – Pricey – Size might be too much for some – M1 chip limited by iPadOS The iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch display is a great canvas size for your art, whether you’re sketching, painting, or editing photos — that still lets you be mobile. In an iMore review, we noticed that the new Liquid Retina XDR display in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro offers incredible color accuracy and shows off HDR images and video in all of its glory. This is great when working with the Apple Pencil, as your strokes appear on the screen nigh-instantly, like a real piece of paper, and renders more fluidly than it would on other iPads. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro combines impressive power and a large, beautiful display in a top-notch mobile artistic tool. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is a 12MP Ultra Wide lens with a 122-degree field of view and ƒ/2.4 aperture with support for Portrait mode and more.
And to top it off, the new TrueDepth camera can be used for video calling with Center Stage, which uses the new resolution to digitally crop in and “follow” you as you move around in the frame. Center Stage works in pretty much every video calling app that you may use regularly, so it’s one of those built-in features and requires no additional setup. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is a 12MP Ultra Wide lens with 122-degree field of view and ƒ/2.4 aperture with support for Portrait mode and more. The Pencil recognizes things like tilt and pressure applied to the tip and supports palm rejection. The Apple Pencil also has a small gesture area on its flat side, which you can double-tap to switch between your two most recent tools quickly. iPad Pro 2021 (11-inch) Almost as great as the 12.9-inch but more portable Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Also packs in M1 chip with up to 16GB of RAM + Smaller and lighter than 12.9-inch Pro + Face ID + Liquid Retina display with ProMotion + Support for 2nd-gen Apple Pencil Reasons to avoid – Still a bit pricey – Some might want a bigger display – Does not have the Liquid Retina XDR display of the 12.9-inch
The 11-inch still only has a regular Liquid Retina display, so the 12.9-inch edges it out just slightly in terms of HDR content, vibrant hues, and deepest blacks. It packs in M1 power in a smaller package, but you just don’t get the Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch version. iPad Air 5 (2022) A great balance of power and price Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A great balance of price and power + Reasonably large screen + Apple Pencil 2 support + Excellent display Reasons to avoid – No ProMotion display – No Face ID
When reviewing the iPad Air 5, we concluded that the 10.9-inch screen offers decent real estate for drawing and painting, as well as an excellent portal for inspecting and editing your photos. The biggest shock of the iPad Air 5 is what lies inside — the M1 chip, which has a fair bit of power behind it. iPad mini 6 (2021) The most compact iPad yet Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Currys (opens in new tab) View at AO.com (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + New 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display + Apple Pencil 2 support + Up to 256GB storage + A15 Bionic + Better cameras with Center Stage Reasons to avoid – More expensive than previous iteration – Only starts at 64GB
iMore reviewed the iPad mini 6, and it’s our opinion that this model can’t be beat for convenient portability. This means flat edges, smaller bezels surrounding the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, USB-C charging, and no more Home button.
iPad mini 6 is perfect for travel, and it now has a redesigned bigger screen, Apple Pencil 2 support, and more. iPad 9th-Generation (2021) Great for tight budgets Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Plenty of space with a 10.2-inch display + The A13 Bionic is still great for the price + Supports first-generation Apple Pencil + Very affordable + Up to 256GB of storage Reasons to avoid – Starts with only 64GB – A13 outdated compared to other models – Only works with first-generation Apple Pencil The A13 Bionic chip is still plenty powerful for basic drawing, sketching, watching videos, reading, writing, and much more. You get a beautiful 10.2-inch LCD Retina display that delivers incredibly sharp and detailed graphics and text with the iPad.
You’ll be able to seamlessly draw with tilt and pressure sensitivity, as well as palm rejection, so there won’t be any unwanted marks on your sketch. Plus, it packs in the beautiful new Liquid Retina XDR display, so you get the absolute best colors, and it is the best way to view HDR content. From new features like tapping support on the Apple Pencil to the increased graphical power on the 8-core GPU compared to previous models, the latest iPad Pro is perfect for your artistic endeavors, no matter how demanding they are. If the 12.9-inch size is a little too unwieldy for you, then the 11-inch iPad Pro is the second-best alternative — just know that it won’t have the Liquid Retina XDR display, but it still packs in the M1 chip and all the other goodies.
iPad Pro or iPad Air for Drawing : ipad
I’m planning to buy an iPad with an Apple Pencil for drawing but I don’t really know which one to get.
Artist Review: iPad Air 5 (2022)
The tablet is available in five colours: Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Blue and Starlight. 10.9-inch Pad Air 5 (2022) 11-inch iPad Pro (2020) 11-inch M1 iPad Pro (2021) Display type IPS LCD at 60Hz IPS LCD at 120Hz IPS LCD at 120Hz Resolution 2360 x 1640 pixels 2388 x 1668 pixels 2388 x 1668 pixels Brightness 500 nits 600 nits 600 nits Processor M1 A12Z M1 Storage 64GB to 256GB 128GB to 1TB 128GB to 2TB RAM 8GB 6GB 8GB Camera 12MP, 12MP front 12MP, 10MP, 7MP front 12MP, 10MP, 12MP front Port USB-C USB-C Thunderbolt/USB 4 USB-C Thunderbolt/USB 4 Connection 5G 4G 5G Security Fingerprint unlock Face unlock Face unlock Apple Pencil 2nd generation 2nd generation 2nd generation Size 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm Weight 461g 471g 466g Battery life At least 9 hours At least 9 hours At least 9 hours Price From US $599 From US $799 From US $799 The base model US $599 iPad Air 5 with 64GB is tight on storage capacity. It’s clear that the refurbished 11-inch iPad Pro 2020 provides more value for your money as you can get more storage capacity, 120Hz refresh rate and the 4-way speakers.
Heck, it doesn’t even matter if the iPad Air 5 is using M100 processor because the drawing performance is similar. That’s unless you want to get a specific colour that only exists with the iPad Air 5, or you urgently need a tablet but there’s no stocks for the refurbished models.
The refurbished section on Apple’s website is only available in selected countries. The physical dimension is similar to the 11-inch iPad Pro but the bezels are slightly thicker since it’s a 10.9-inch vs 11-inch display in the same body.
The unit I purchased is Starlight which is this beautiful soft shiny subtle yellow.
The power button has a built-in fingerprint sensor which is fast and effective. I find it confusing that the buttons to adjust the volume would change (increase and decrease) depending on the orientation of the tablet. Even with a case added, this is a tablet I can hold comfortably in one hand while standing to draw.
I used to use matte screen protectors but I no longer do so because the anti-glare that diffuses reflections is too glaring for my eyes, and matte screen protectors affect image quality. iPad Air 5 supports Apple Pencil 2 which has a flat side that can attach to the tablet for charging and pairing. You can tap the side of Apple Pencil 2 for some shortcuts which will vary depend on the app you use. Drawing performance of iPad Air 5 and Apple Pencil 2 is fantastic.
It really comes down to how good the pen is and Apple Pencil has always been fantastic at drawing since it exists. Apple Pencil 2 supports tilt, pressure sensitivity and palm rejection.
You can draw a thin line easily without applying any pressure as long as the pen tip is touching the display. When drawing fast, there’s a small gap as the line is trying to catch up with the pen tip. E.g. laminated display, ProMotion 120Hz, storage capacity, RAM, processor.
128GB is a good amount to have but Apple does not offer that option because they want to push people to get 256GB and earn that extra $150. Android tablets actually have a good variety of drawing apps too, but Android lacks full-featured graphic design and vector apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Vectornator. Clip Studio Paint is great but it’s a subscription based app.
As mentioned earlier, while it’s a good tablet, as a budget conscious consumer and value hunter, I would recommend the refurbished 11-inch iPad Pro (2020) instead as it provides more value for money, especially for the 256GB model if you have the budget. In case you still want to buy the iPad Air 5, consider supporting me by getting the tablet through the Amazon affiliate links below.
Best iPad for Drawing and Artists in 2022
The most crucial specifications for any iPad artist are memory (RAM), storage, size, resolution, and battery. RAM, measured in gigabytes (GB), is a temporary type of memory used by your iPad to store data it’s working on at the moment so it can access them very quickly. Because of my illustration process, I like to work with many layers, and the newest iPad Pro gives me a lot of flexibility and doesn’t limit me when drawing. Screenshot: Iva’s iPad Pro 12.9 with 512GB storage and 8GB RAM allows for 116 layers in Procreate in size A4 at 300 DPI – Source: ©Art Side of Life Screenshot: Iva’s iPad Pro 12.9 with 512GB storage and 8GB RAM allows for 56 layers in Procreate in size A3 at 300 DPI – Source: ©Art Side of Life Now, storage, measured in gigabytes (GB) as well, doesn’t directly affect the drawing experience on your iPad.
I think the battery is only important if you, like me, like to draw on the go; in public transport, in a cafe, or on a hike, where you don’t have a readily available power outlet. My iPad Pro 12.9″ lasts for about 5-6 hours of drawing in Procreate before I need to recharge it or plug it into a power outlet!
When I think of Apple Pencil and my new iPad, I always think of one of the most memorable lines from the movie Forrest Gump: “we were like peas and carrots” 😊.
My Pick NEW Apple iPad Pro (12.9″, WiFi, 512GB) The best iPad for drawing and Procreate Apple M1 Processor for next-level performance :: 12.9-inch liquid retina display for superior color, contrast, and brightness :: Light and extremely strong :: Up to 10 hours battery life :: Early 2021 model Get it on Amazon With its stunning XDR Liquid Retina display, supported by the powerful M1 processor, and an impeccable overall design, this is the best art tablet on the market today. I suspect that Apple’s XDR (extended dynamic range) technology – which only the iPad Pro has – is the reason behind the 12.9’s incredibly accurate screen.
In actual use, this increase in visibility, accuracy, and expressiveness makes me work with so much more confidence and certainty, with less strain and more natural creative flow. I can work in greater detail, with more precision, and with much stronger and more effective control over colors and gradients, light and shadow, and even composition and relationships. Especially important to me as an artist is color accuracy – and the iPad Pro is as good as it gets in this regard – but all of these factors are ultra-important to me and my work every day.
I should also mention that the iPad Pro – and here, I also include the 11-inch model – has such a fast processor and such an ideally made work surface that the pen-to-screen experience and the flow and speed of images appearing on the screen as I work are second to none – always instantaneous and without any parallax, glitches or delays. For me, though, I find that 8GB to be plenty for even more complex artwork and larger files, but I do recommend at least a 512GB SSD drive – it is so nice to have a bit of a portable portfolio with me all of the time, as well as lots of works in progress and newly finished pieces. The screen-to-pen interaction is essentially the same as with the bigger Pro, as are the anti-glare treatment and the strong, light construction of the fully laminated screen. For commercial and fine artists, photographers, videographers, and technical artists, it is also important to note that the Apple iPad Pro 11 inch has the same configuration options as the 12.9-inch version – and, just as with the bigger Pro, I would recommend an ideal setup of 8 GB RAM and a larger 512 GB internal SSD drive, as you will find HERE . Affordable Pick NEW Apple iPad Air (10.9″, WiFi, 256GB) Best iPad for drawing and Procreate if you are on a budget or you are a student / beginner Latest M1 processor :: 10.9-inch liquid retina display for superior color, contrast, brightness :: Light & extremely strong :: Premium fit & finish :: Up to 10 hours battery life :: Early 2022 model Get it on Amazon
It is also a great way for somebody working in traditional media – like painting on canvas or drawing on paper – to transition to digital art.
This is due largely to the ideal pen-to-screen interaction you get, the always consistent and glitch-free flow of lines as your pen moves, the speed, and the total lack of problems – even with big and complex art files and images – that the M1 processor, with its lightning-fast processing speed, offers. And again, the ability to work confidently and wholly fall into creation is also due to the sheer accuracy of the display. For some, it may well be, but the iPad Pro can be configured with a lot more RAM memory to ensure the biggest and most complex pieces and projects can be loaded and worked on with no issues.
The iPad Pro also has an internal storage of up to 2 TB, in case you’re digitally rendering, I don’t know, the entire world. In contrast, the iPad Air has a maximum internal storage of 256 GB – plenty enough for most people but a bit limiting for some top-tier professionals. Still, like any Apple product, the iPad Air is a very well-made and reliable tablet, sure to give years of trouble-free service. Portable NEW Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 256GB) Best cheapest and smallest iPad I recommend for drawing and Procreate Apple A15 Processor for Best-in-Class Performance :: 8.3 inch Liquid Retina Display for Superior Color, Contrast, Brightness :: Light and Extremely Strong :: Premium Fit and Finish :: Up to 10 Hours Battery Life
Because the Mini has a true Liquid Retina display – not as bright as the iPad Pro tablets, but just as intense, energetic, accurate, and beautiful as the more expensive Air, and sharper than any of them! It can be considered by any artist or creator on any level – especially if you don’t need a ton of memory, if you want a very small and most portable iPad, or if you are looking for the perfect second or backup art tablet.
The touch screen works so beautifully with the Apple Pencil (which you have to buy separately), with that ideal combination of effortless flow and feedback, which allows you to fall into fully natural motion and gestures when you are painting and drawing – really extraordinary expressivity and total control. The processor is not as fast as the M1 chip in the higher-up iPad models – the Air and the two Pros – and it only has 4 GB of memory, but for most artists, this is not a concern.
And even though the screen is a lot smaller with this compact iPad, it is again so incredibly bright and sharp, so alive, that it is much easier and more effective working on the Mini than on any other tablet of the same size. Basic model NEW Apple 10.2-inch iPad (WiFi, 256GB) Often overlooked iPad, but an affordable gem for Artists Apple A13 Processor for Fast, Reliable Performance :: 10.2 inch Retina Display for Excellent Color, Contrast, Brightness :: Light and Extremely Strong :: Premium Fit and Finish :: All Day Battery Life
No, the least expensive iPad is not a match for the other Apple tablets – it has a slower processor, less memory, less color range and accuracy, and a bit less life in the displayed image. However, it has resolution and sharpness on the level of almost any other iPad – even the Pro – and a remarkably detailed and deep touchscreen display that is easy and fun to work on and that can serve even the most demanding artists quite well.
Don’t forget to always check the app requirements on the developer website before you purchase a renewed iPad, though! In my experience, iPad Pro and Air models that are 2-3 years old still support Procreate and are a perfect alternative if you are on a budget! How they feel in your hand and on the screen puts them in a completely different class than any other Apple-compatible digital stylus I’ve used. Lis cet article en français 🇫🇷 Le meilleur iPad pour dessiner
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