Portable and easy to use, iPad Pro helped me draw and deliver illustrations while on the aeroplane, on the beach, in bed and in beautiful cafes around the globe. Creating print-ready illustration on the go is now possible with an initial investment into an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and a few free Adobe apps. Thanks to these new tools being an illustrator don’t mean living an isolated home-bound experience like it used to be. I purchased the iPad Pro after my first illustrated picture book, Make a Face, was finished.
iPad Pro functions independently from your laptop or PC, so you will have a self-sufficient drawing device everywhere you go.
How Wacom vs iPad Pro Compare in 2023
This may seem like a big difference, but really the iPad is optimized for that much memory and runs all programs and tasks quite well as configured. My Pick 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 Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Check Latest Price
But the only main differences – which account for 4 line items in the Wacom list – are the pen and the stand. The standard choice, and a superb stylus for the iPad, is the 2nd Generation Apple Pencil , which is about 125 dollars. My Pick 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 Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Check Latest Price Both screens are superb – the best I’ve tried – for color reproduction, saturation, brightness and contrast, geometry and overall liveliness. The Wacom MobileStudio Pro has an absolutely beautiful display, and its resolution is a big part. In all my time working on the MobileStudio Pro, I never once felt like I was missing detail, not seeing something clearly, or wanting more clarity.
I think I have been more impressed with the display of the Wacom MobileStudio Pro when using it in the past, but in a more head-to-head comparison, I have to say I greatly prefer the Apple iPad. Perspective is more obvious and effective, relationships between objects more apparent and more powerful, and the whole composition – indeed, the whole image and artwork – seems to snap into place and out of the frame with almost startling clarity. But, bottom line, I have to give the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 the edge in terms of display quality. My Pick 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 Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Check Latest Price
Still, I felt like I could only hold the Wacom pen in one position because of that very same ergonomic design, which limited me in making subtle variations in angle and technique. It felt like I was in complete control technically, but it didn’t feel very artistic – if that makes sense.
I change my grip, holding method, angle, speed, pressure, and technique without thinking about it, and I can much more easily get lost in creating. But again, as with the comparison of displays, we are talking about two top-notch artist tablets, and the pen-to-screen experience with both is pretty much as good as it gets. I would say that the very most technical work may be better done on a Wacom, but for an artist creating the Apple gives a better experience and is more supportive of true, unrestrained creativity. I don’t care much about specifications and numbers and am more focused on how a tool works, feels and supports me and my artwork. Nonetheless, just for illustrative purposes and to satisfy the more tech-savvy of my readers, I will include a little comparison chart here with some relevant specifications: The Apple iPad Pro and the Wacom MobileStudio Pro worked flawlessly, did everything I demanded, ran every program, never slowed down or ran out of memory, written to storage immediately, never lagged when I was using the pen and in general, were wonderfully trouble-free to use.
They are both stand-alone tablets, yes, but they can both also act as Pen Display tablets – that is, they can be connected to a desktop, laptop, or all-in-one computer and act as a second monitor and work area, using their pens like normal on their own screens but displaying and interacting with the software that the PC is running. My Pick 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 Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Check Latest Price
In our head-to-head comparison of the 2021 Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 and the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9, we’ve already compared the displays and how they look, explored the pen-to-screen experience between the Apple and the Wacom, and discussed the performance as well, all of which add to this last category – overall feeling. At just over ten pounds, I could never imagine holding it in one hand and working with the other, and I would even be hesitant to carry it around with me in my rucksack.
If you know the programs and the iPad itself, you can work with onscreen commands, scrolling, zooming, and such almost as easily and quickly as the Wacom’s programmable keys allow, but not quite. Using it as a hand-held art tablet, on a bus or train, in a park, at a café, anywhere in your house, or around your studio is an absolute joy. The Wacom MobileStudio Pro comes with excellent 3D software and a highly advanced 3D scanning camera The Wacom (or more specifically Windows 10) has more professional art, animation, design and photography software (though this is always changing, as more and more programs become available for Apple iOS) The Apple iPad Pro is much lighter, more portable, and has much better battery life (and yes, I’ve already mentioned this one, but it is super-important!) My Pick 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 Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Check Latest Price
And so, if you are firmly entrenched in the Windows platform, I wouldn’t necessarily defect and buy an iPad just because it is, I believe, a better overall tablet (not to mention much less expensive). Because either way you go, you will be thrilled with your new drawing tablet, and you’ll have a tool that will serve and support you in everything you want to do as an artist. And, bottom line, you’ll have a better drawing tablet and a better traveling companion wherever your art or life takes you!
Honestly, though, although these and other brands can offer amazing value and are perfect choices for any budget-minded artist, the Wacom art tablets are still the best on the market and the standard choice for top-level commercial and fine artists – especially the superb Wacom MobileStudio Pro. I hope my comparison helped you to get the best standalone drawing tablet for your needs and you will have a lot of fun doing digital art! Visit my blog – Art Side of Life – for more buyer’s guides, articles, online courses and many other resources – the perfect site for any artist!
How to Use iPad as Drawing Tablet for PC or Mac
Have you ever imagined leveraging the powerful capabilities of your iPad for PC or Mac art applications? This nifty tool, loved by many, including big-name animation studios like Pixar, enables your iPad to mirror your PC or Mac display. Astropad Studio, renowned for transforming iPads into professional-grade drawing tablets, has revolutionized the digital art scene.
You can personalize your workspace, switch tools in a flash with Magic Gestures, and customize pressure curves. So, let’s delve deeper into how you can harness your iPad’s power as a drawing tablet for your PC. But what’s sparked a trend recently is using the combination of the iPad and Apple Pencil as a drawing tablet for PCs or Macs.
Portability: Artists can sketch ideas on the go with their iPad, then refine their work on the PC back in the studio. Artists can sketch ideas on the go with their iPad, then refine their work on the PC back in the studio.
Tactile Experience: Drawing directly on the iPad screen with an Apple Pencil feels more natural than using a mouse or a separate graphics tablet. PC iPad Precision Drawing ✅ ✅ Portability ❌ ✅ Extensive Software ✅ ❌ Tactile Experience ❌ ✅ Multiple Monitor Support ✅ ❌
In the world of digital art, two big players stand out: Astropad Studio and Duet Display. Primarily, it acts as a secondary display for your Windows PC or Mac, supporting even iPhones and Android devices.
Despite offering gesture controls and productivity tools, it lacks specific customizations for artistic workflows. Astropad Studio, on the other hand, focuses on turning the iPad into a professional-grade graphics tablet. Astropad Studio allows for custom gestures and shortcuts, so artists can quickly access their favorite tools.
Blender), Studio will automatically pull in the most popular tools and shortcuts into the sidebar and quick keys – all of which can be customized to your preferences.
Studio is pre-loaded with integration for every major art program across photography, illustration, animation, and 3D. Its high level of customization makes Astropad Studio ideal for professionals looking for equipment-grade tools.
Astropad Studio, meanwhile, excels in providing a customizable, high-quality drawing experience, making it the go-to choice for professional digital artists. Astropad Studio is a great tool for using your iPad as a drawing tablet for your PC.
Astropad Studio is a tool that allows you to mirror your PC screen on your iPad. The cool thing is Astropad supports the Apple Pencil, giving you pressure sensitivity. The iPad Pro can rival a professional graphics tablet paired with the Apple Pencil. Artists can’t get enough, whether it’s the iPad Pro’s fast refresh rate, high-quality display, or customization options.
The software is designed for demanding creative work, featuring smooth 60 fps performance, GPU support, and optimized battery efficiency. This makes it ideal for sketching, drawing, or writing in desktop apps like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Combined with the Apple Pencil, Astropad transforms your iPad into a versatile graphics tablet for both PC and Mac.
If you’re considering making the most of your Apple iPad in your digital art journey, why not take Astropad Studio for a spin?
The best iPad models for drawing in 2023
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The Top 5 iPads for Graphic Designers in 2023
In recent years, iPads have become a game-changer for graphic designers, artists and creatives providing a new level of flexibility and portability that was previously impossible.
The best drawing tablets of 2023: Expert recommended
We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services.
Astropad vs Wacom [Comparison, Pricing & Features]
Today, things aren’t as clear because you don’t necessarily need a dedicated drawing tablet to complete your digital workflow. Many art professionals use an iPad equipped with Astropad Studio as a stand-in for a traditional graphics tablet due to the ease of use, simple setup, and powerful features. It’s the obvious choice if you already own an iPad, especially since it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars when compared to buying a specialized device. Right out of the box, the iPad can be used as a drawing tablet and, with just a few tweaks, it has the potential to become a powerful workstation whether you’re at home or on the go. Each model comes equipped with dedicated processors, onboard RAM, and a high-resolution Retina Display — everything you need to make great art. Depending on the suite of applications you download, your iPad can be a productivity tool, an entertainment device, or something more.
Whether you want the latest and greatest apps from Adobe or the best accessories, the iPad tends to be the industry standard for tablet computing. Wacom’s MobileStudio Pro manages to replicate this versatility, but only with limited success and you won’t see this kind of flexibility from the Cintiq. The iPads you see on the market today are capable computing devices that can fill a variety of roles and niches — including that of a graphics tablet. At the end of the day, you can transform your iPad into a standalone canvas, or turn it into a productivity tool and go from there. The Apple Pencil and a few third-party styluses offer pressure sensitivity for compatible iPad apps, but they’ll be a separate purchase. Compared with a dedicated drawing tablet like a Wacom Intuos, you’ll probably end up replacing your iPad more regularly (as you might with your desktop computer).
While you probably won’t use your iPad solely as a drawing tool, the cost of an upgrade is something to consider. Our technology can mirror any Mac or PC application to your iPad and also provides complete gestures and touch support so that you can interact with your apps over wireless or USB. In addition to that basic functionality, our software also adds unique features like magic gestures and app shortcuts to improve your workflow. This is a big improvement over Apple’s Sidecar, the onboard mirroring software built into the native operating system. The brand has been around for a long time, and Wacom tablets were once considered by many to be the industry standard when it comes to dedicated drawing hardware. While that’s still true in some circles, computing tablets like the iPad offer flexible alternatives to this collection of more specialized tools. You’ll find plenty of sizes while shopping, and each is equipped with features and tools to help you have a great and productive drawing experience. Plus, though Apple has never given exact specifications on its pressure sensitivity, it’s fair to say that Wacom probably offers a more precise drawing experience. You won’t need a specialized screen protector to create the perfect drawing conditions, but you’ll still need to buy and download the app you want to use and install it on your desktop.
Unlike with the iPad, you’ll still need a computer powerful enough to run Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, since your tablet is only an active interface to facilitate your art. Only the MobileStudio Pro has a built-in battery life, which offers lackluster performance compared to the iPad. This means that you’ll see a notable decrease in clarity when using larger Wacom screens.
Assuming that you don’t need terabytes worth of storage space on your iPad, you could pick up an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil and still have some change left over for a case, a screen protector, and an Astropad Studio subscription! As it stands, Wacom brings a lot to the table in terms of price points, power, and tools for the job.
When you buy a Wacom, you’re making a conscious decision to own a graphics tablet that has no other function aside from drawing. Plus, unless you’re buying the MobileStudio Pro, you’re also limiting your digital drawing experience to a very specific set of conditions — at home, near your workstation, with your tablet.
Plus, using tools like Astropad Studio and Luna Display, it’s easy to transform your iPad into a drawing tablet that can function at a professional level.
iPad vs Wacom: Which is Better for Digital Art? (Full Review) 2023
This is a highly sought after comparison amongst digital artists because illustrating, drawing and painting on the iPad Pro allows for extreme portability. Compared to the improved iPad, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16, 24 and 36 models allow for a much larger display and workspace for artists.. Wacom on the other hand has a higher price point and a larger display size, but unlike the iPad it needs to be connected to a laptop/PC. The Wacom and iPad compete very closely regarding drawing precision, accuracy, and ability to create pro-level Art. However, this is only true when you are using the Apple Pencil for iPad as the stylus felt more smooth & intuitive when I used it compared to the Wacom. However, If you’re going to use the iPad Air or Pro for drawing, it is important to know that the Apple Pencil performed significantly more smooth in most areas when we tested both stylus’ side-by-side.
Many Pro artists are switching over to the iPad from the Wacom since it’s portable, has procreate , and can handle pro-level artwork with Wacom-like precision now The iPad Pro + Apple Pencil has a feature called “gestures” which are similar to when you use two fingers on a laptop to swipe different commands.
So if you’re a top-tier digital artist looking to get hired in a studio and use software for advanced professional animation or cartooning (requiring a big screen), then Wacom Cintiq may be for you.
It’s also important to note that Wireless drawing tablets do exist, but they’re a bit rare and typically do not have a display built in. The iPad Pro is better in terms of technical advantages, because it has been improved and now provides a few really strong benefits over the Cintiq, Intuos and Wacom One for drawing. Big improvements to iPad: It is now capable of creating top-tier level art with Procreate or Adobe software; especially when combined with the Apple Pencil stylus.
Gives the artist not just a drawing tablet with a screen, but a complete computer operating system to be used for movies, streaming internet, social media. I’m not surprised since Apple has the budget and technology to create such a powerful app (compared to Wacom, which may not have these resources). I switched from Wacom to iPad and noticed that there’s absolutely no calibration required and the responsive to pressure sensitivity is intuitive.
An example of this includes the artist running many different apps at once on the iPad while listening to music and switching back to Procreate and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop.
The Wacom Cintiq however requires your computer and will run as fast as your Pc or laptop can handle the drawing app you’re using. The iPad Air is also less powerful than its Pro model, making listening to music and switching internet tabs and different drawing apps less smooth.
The Wacom one doesn’t have a ‘touch screen for zooming in, so you’ll need to use a keyboard shortcut to do this, making the iPad more appealing since the two are closely comparable on many other measures such as pressure sensitivity, responsiveness, compatibility, & portability. The iPad Pro/Air are considered ‘stand-alone’ devices; meaning it doesn’t need to be connected to a laptop or PC to create art digitally.
The difference is it runs on windows, which allows for a limitless number of apps and software compared the a tablet like the iPad. iPad has improved greatly with apps, making it appealing at a significantly lower price point compared to the mobile studio Pro. The Wacom is very unique and have its benefits which range from being able to run on both Mac OS and Windows, all the way to having a design and workflow that pro level artists can use. While Wacom has a touch bar for navigating controls, the iPad has an apple pencil with gestures, which many professionals claim is actually more intuitive.
When choosing between the iPad and Wacom, it’s most important to keep pressure sensitive, portability, and display size in mind to find the proper fit for an artist creating digital paintings, drawings and sketches on the pro level. Wacom’s version of this is the Mobile studio Pro, which is at a higher price point and runs windows compared to iPads iOS. The Wacom Cintiq Pro particularly excels in top tier-level pro-artwork due to its higher price point.
Wacom vs. iPad Pro …are they comparable? – archisoup
But briefly; an iPad Pro’s clear advantage over any Wacom is its portability and versatility. Wacom is a Japanese company that makes and sells graphics tablets and other related products. After developing computers that feature graphical user interfaces, Apple went public and enjoyed some early financial success. Today Apple is a multinational tech company that develops and sells consumer electronics.
The original iPad Pro has been improved with technology to make it more powerful and versatile. For starters, the iPad Pro is a direct pen display compared to any Wacom version.
But Wacom pen displays, despite having to connect to a computer to mirror the screen have a much more realistic and precise drawing experience. Unlike Apple, Wacom has focused on digital tablets for artists for a long time.
They say the feeling is still slippery, but it’s a bit more stable compared to the earlier versions of the iPad Pro.
However, the Wacom Cintiq just feels a bit more natural compared even to the improved iPad Pro. Another advantage of a Wacom Cintiq over the iPad Pro is that it can work with the full versions of the digital art software. You get full versions of illustrator and Photoshop, which translates to more excellent file resolution and functions.
Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet Dimensions: 13.6 x 7.6 inches | Display Area: 15.6 inches | Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Item Weight: 1.9kg | Camera: No | Connection Type: USB/HDMI | Compatible with Keyboard: No | Processor: N/A | Memory: N/A | Shortcut Keys: Yes Check Price on Amazon If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Apart from the attractive price which Wacom hopes would persuade those who are looking for alternatives in XP-Pen and Huion, the Cintiq 16 comes with a 1920 x 1080 display, a Wacom Pro Pen with up to 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, and a fairly standard color gamut. Just to emphasize the price point, iPad Pro costs more than $100 more than this Wacom Cintiq. Under normal studio light conditions, the screen works okay – not as bright as the Cintiq Pro, but good enough.
If you like propping up your tablet as you work, the Cintiq 16 offers flip-out legs on the rear that extend at a 19-degree angle. Even though the Cintiq 16 works with Pro Pen 3D, you will have to buy it separately (worth it if you do a lot of 3D modeling). It’s not too big a sacrifice if you don’t mind using the Pro Pen 2 to zoom and rotate in Photoshop. Apple iPad Pro Dimensions: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches | Display Area: 12.9 inches | Display Resolution: 2732 x 2048 | Item Weight: 682 grams | Camera: Yes | Connection Type: USB-C | Compatible with Keyboard: Yes | Processor: Octa Core | Memory: 128GB to 2TB and 16GB RAM | Shortcut Keys: No Check Price on Amazon If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
The iPad Pro does not offer quite a large drawing surface as the Wacom Cintique 16, but it’s optimized for so much more. The tech gives this iPad Pro a bit more power compared to other iterations of the same product.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t draw on this thing, as you’ll see (later on in this review), this device has more to offer digital drawers. This iPad Pro is equipped with great technology and awesome power that will support any app that you want to use (within the Apple store).
For starters, the Apple Pencil doesn’t offer the smooth feel that you’d otherwise have if you were using a stylus on a traditional drawing tablet. Great battery life Cons The Magic Keyboard is bought separately making it more expensive The only pen computer that works similar to an iPad Pro is the Wacom MobileStudio. These pen computers are equipped with the Windows OS and can allow for a limitless number of software and applications to be used.
The iPad on the other hand has been improved significantly and has a number of popular software (including Procreate, Illustrator, and Photoshop) that digital artists can enjoy. The biggest differentiating factor if you have to choose between a Wacom and an iPad Pro would be the price point. Even though the Wacom MobileStudio is just as portable as the iPad Pro, it’s extremely expensive in comparison. However, the drawing experience and the range of software on the MobileStudio make it a suitable choice for top pros.
Wacom Mobile Studio Pro Dimensions: 14.4 x 9 x 0.7 inches | Display Area: 13.3 inches | Display Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Item Weight: 1.44kg | Camera: Yes | Connection Type: USB-C | Compatible with Keyboard: Yes | Processor: N/A | Memory: N/A | Shortcut Keys: Yes Check Price on Amazon If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Compared to the Cintiq line of products, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro looks and feels like the real deal. First, we’ll talk about the screen and stylus shortly, and second, this is not your normal drawing tablet; it’s a powerful computer as well. The etched glass screen is positioned very close to the display which gives little glare compared to other devices like the Macbook Pro
The Pro Pen 2 and the screen work together to produce just enough friction for a uniform and lovely drawing experience. Apparently, the guys at Wacom didn’t feel it was necessary to include it as a main accessory with the device.
Even if you want the stand and decide to buy it, it’s not that glorious compared to what other brands have (think Huion and XP-Pen or even iPad Pro).
Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro Dimensions: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches | Display Area: 12.9 inches | Display Resolution: 2732 x 2048 | Item Weight: 682 grams | Camera: Yes | Connection Type: USB-C | Compatible with Keyboard: Yes | Processor: Octa Core | Memory: 128GB to 2TB and 16GB RAM | Shortcut Keys: No Check Price on Amazon If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Well, it’s arguable that no one needs a high-end camera on a 2kg tablet that is specifically meant for top professional tasks. Another reason you’ll probably want to go with an iPad Pro over the bulky Wacom MobileStudio is the price.
The iPad is extremely cheap compared to the gigantic machine that is the MobileStudio Pro. Besides, even though the Wacom product is better as a pen tablet and a computer, the iPad has enough power on its own to run some great applications.
The most obvious flaw with the iPad compared to the Wacom MobileStudio Pro is that it cannot perform better than its counterpart. The Wacom is massively powered, has a super juiced battery, and a Pro Pen 2 and display that make drawing on it a breeze. In terms of quality, it all depends on what Wacom product you are comparing to the iPad Pro. It’s also worth noting that Wacom is focused solely on making drawing tablets for creatives.
It’s a great device to have if you want to explore the mobile world and enjoy the Apple store applications. With the improved iPad Pro, there is software that works just as efficiently as they do on any Wacom drawing tablet.
The initial versions of the iPad Pro didn’t provide the full functionality of drawing software. The new iPad has exclusive digital art apps that artists can work with and produce great pieces just as they would on a Wacom.
Adobe has also developed Illustrator and Photoshop versions for the iPad Pro that work just as well as on any Wacom tablet. For iPad Pro, there are but a few apps like Forger, but it’s very limited compared to the full desktop version on Wacom.
With an iPad Pro, Apple will give you a standard-level warranty that will run for one year. You can mail in your iPad or set up an appointment with a nearby Apple store or authorized service provider.
You’d imagine a more expensive Wacom to have more and better accessories than an Apple iPad – after all, they are specifically meant for pros. Expect a Wacom Expresskey remote and 3D pen, an Orangutan stand, and a tablet holder. For the iPad Pro, things are a bit different as you won’t get any of the accessories mentioned above, but you will get a keyboard. An iPad Pro is the closest thing to any serious Wacom and if you can get one at a better price then we don’t see why you shouldn’t go for one.
You can find instructions on how to install the drivers, how to connect to a Chromebook device, how to download software, how to pair via Bluetooth, and so much more. Also, the easy and direct access to Procreate makes the iPad Pro an attractive choice. With Wacom, the biggest advantage is the ability to run the full desktop versions of the software that artists need. Serious artists who would rather have an array of options will choose to work with a Wacom over an iPad Pro. Whereas Wacom gives you a touch bar and navigation controls, the Apple Pencil has the special “gestures” feature that works incredibly. The MobileStudio Pro is the best portable pen computer on the market and has a lot to offer any digital artist.
Dive into anything
I like the portability idea of the iPad but other than my phone I am well invested in the Windows ecosystem with a desktop with dual monitors.
Wacom Cintiq vs iPad Pro
In many ways, this is a battle between the established king of the tablet scene and a recent, exciting newcomer that has completely changed the market. Apple didn’t make their first tablet until 2010 but they’ve had a meteoric rise to widespread public adoption, while a Cintiq is still seen as a super-specialized piece of kit. I’ve got the 2020 model of the 12.9 with 512GB of hard drive space, and use Dropbox and Apple iCloud as further storage and an Amazon EC2 instance for Windows, and it’s all worked perfectly for me as a PC replacement. The iPad Mini is a great choice as a portable compliment to a separate desktop or laptop PC with a Cintiq. And even though this is the non-portable option, a 16″ screen is portable in a pinch – you wouldn’t want to be carrying it around every day, but if you really need to take it somewhere with a laptop, you can do it easily enough with a big backpack and some protective padding. Let me preface this next part by saying that I currently own and do all my work on an Ipad Pro 12.9, and before that used Wacom Cintiqs for around 8 years.
In this day and age, I fear that high profile brands like Apple and Wacom sometimes misuse their prestige, and use it to leverage more money out of their fans. I prefer to buy from the up and coming brands when I can, the ones that want to impress me and convince me that their products are worth spending my money on. Brands like Huion and XP-Pen dont have much loyalty established with their fanbases, so instead they have to create the best products they can, and sell them for as cheap as they can offer them. Whereas some of Apple and Wacom’s past actions I personally see as quite anti-consumer; things like pricing their tablets at twice their competitors equivalent, or releasing extremely expensive stands, stylus’ and nibs, knowing that their loyal customers won’t have many other options if they want to continue using their favorite brand.
I still think Wacom and Apple make the best tablets in the market, but their pricing model leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. It has replaceable nibs, two buttons on the side, an eraser tool on the end and a comfortable rubbery grip.
The Pencil is comparatively short on features – it also has replaceable nibs, but no buttons, no eraser on the end, no rubberized grip. I don’t think I’ve once run out of battery with my Pencil – I just clip it to the iPad overnight and whenever I take a break, and that’s enough to keep it topped up just fine. The pressure levels of the Apple Pencil are not public knowledge, but from my experience they are indistinguishable from the 4000 or 8000 on a Wacom stylus.
I feel very comfortable using the Apple Pencil and can use it for hours without fatigue, but I’d say because of its shape and fatter nib it’s harder to be accurate than it is with a Wacom Pro Pen 2. Perhaps when I travel with my iPad to a hot, sweaty country, I’ll notice the Pencil getting slippery and harder to grip. I don’t know how Apple have done it, but the Pencil doesn’t need any calibration, and is super accurate as soon as you start using it.
The process is simple, but the fact that Apple have managed to remove the need to calibrate completely means I have to take a small point away from Wacom. When I first started using the iPad, I found the glassy feeling of the screen a little off-putting and strange, but after a few months I’m completely used to it.
My first Cintiq, a 12WX from back in 2012, had completely incorrect yellows and reds, and my art looked totally different on other monitors. Unlike some Cintiqs, iPad color accuracy is fantastic out of the box – I didn’t need to calibrate my 12.9 at all. Wacom and Apple are known for crafting high quality products, and so both Cintiqs and iPads are well made devices. This depends heavily on how you might use them, but generally speaking an iPad’s portability and multi-use capability comes with heightened risk of damaging it.
If you are carrying it around the house, putting it in a bag and taking it out with you, using it not just for art but also reading on it, watching YouTube etc, then each time you do so you risk damaging or losing it. It’s hugely convenient to have everything you need in one device, but it comes with a silent price that not everyone considers – if even a small but key part of it breaks, it can render the whole thing unusable. Ipads are complex devices with many components (e.g. hard drive, battery, etc) which means many points of potential failure. One of the main reasons artists go for an iPad Pro instead of a screen tablet and pc setup is the portability.
I don’t even need access to a plug socket to work for a few hours, unlike with a screen tablet. Pro versions of the Cintiq have touch functionality, but in my experience it’s not good or useful enough to integrate into your workflow when you have access to a keyboard.
The most annoying functional difference I’ve had to get used to with the iPad Pro is its lack of USB sockets – it has a single USB-C, and that’s it. The software difference is important for me personally, as I wanted to see if I could switch to iPad 100% and was used to using a Windows PC with a Cintiq – I wasn’t sure iPadOS would be able to do everything I needed it to. I’ve got the most experience with Photoshop – its unfortunately the most expensive option of the 3 being a monthly subscription, but it’s also the most feature rich and extensively taught online. I haven’t had that much use out of Procreate yet, as Clip Studio does everything I need it to, but from my brief testing it seems very streamlined and easy to pick up, but still powerful under the hood. Before getting the iPad, I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to find art software that could match up to my years of experience with Photoshop but actually, it’s been a non-issue. There’s slight lag, and I need a reasonable stable internet connection for it, but it’s an absolute bargain that’s made the iPad Pro a 100% desktop replacement for me.
Through all of this, ultimately I think a Cintiq and iPad are extremely similar to paint with – the comfort of the stylus, and size and texture of the screen is the biggest difference between them. I got pressure and my brushes right in Clip Studio in 10 minutes, and the glassy screen took longer to get used to but now it feels normal. One of the most notable ones being that they allow you to create digital art with a stylus on the same screen that you’re looking at (where as non-screen tablets require hand-eye coordination).
Parallax, in drawing tablet terms, is the distance between where you place your stylus on the screen, and where the cursor shows.
Because the iPad is lighter and easier to handle, and it has a 4:3 aspect ratio, you can easily work on either portrait or landscape pieces of art. Most Cintiq are 16:9 aspect ratio and hard to rotate, so are much better suited to making landscape art than portraits. I’m not going to go in depth about this as it’s quite a niche problem, but just know that if you are a Mac user, you may encounter stylus lag with a Cintiq. There are also fantastic brands like Huion and XP-Pen that have been offering very similar tablets to Wacom, for about half of the price. You’ll probably also want to get a screen protector, a protective case, a bag, and if you don’t already have them, bluetooth keyboard, mouse and earphones. Aside from this, you may want to get a cheap glove, a screen protector and possibly a stand or arm if your Cintiq didn’t come with one.
As mentioned earlier in the article, generally speaking an iPad’s portability and multi-use capability comes with heightened risk of damaging or wearing it out. If you are carrying it around the house, putting it in a bag and taking it out with you, using it not just for art but also reading on it, watching YouTube etc, then each time you do so you risk damaging or losing it.
Since the iPad Pro is an all-in-one device, if even a small but key part of it breaks, it can render the whole tablet unusable and you’ll have to replace the whole thing. Luckily, Apple and Wacom both offer a 1 year warranty that covers internal parts failure,
The only reason I’ve recently switched from using Cintiqs to working on an iPad Pro is because portability has become more important to me. The biggest limitation is the size of the screen, but it has specs and apps powerful enough for large digital paintings, 3d modelling and sculpting, and with an Amazon EC2 instance for Windows it works as a very portable PC replacement.
On top of that, native use of Windows and having full control over your PC hardware is valuable to a professional artist.
Wacom vs iPad: Which Should I Buy as an Illustrator? — Wall Art
You can also find classes, tutorials, and special add ons like brushes from teachers all over the internet to make Procreate even better. • Price: iPads, especially the Pros are much more expensive, and the Apple Pencils are sold separately adding to the cost.
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It’s worked well as a system but I’m finding my old iPad is too limited in terms of storage and also it’s actual physical size. My question is – should I get the IPad Pro and 2nd gen Apple Pencil (this is a huge investment for me so I really want to feel it would be worth it) or do I go for a Wacom drawing tablet?
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