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 John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at Box.co.uk (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 very.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 A few compromises accompany the smaller screen size – it’s not the fancy mini-LED version – but there’s no need to panic; 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 AO.com (opens in new tab) View at Currys (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) Get 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 John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (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 quite compete with the brightness levels of the Pro 12.9, and the 60Hz refresh rate (rather than 120Hz with the Pros) means 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 Studio (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 potent and capable device and 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 in the 2021 model. For everybody else, though, the 2020 iteration is an excellent 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 Amazon (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 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 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
7 Best iPads for Drawing & Illustration
Then check out my list of 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration for creatives. Most professional designers are using the iPad for drawing and illustration because it boasts excellent quality and display. The iPad 10.2 (2019) on the other hand, is a great choice for graphic designers that are looking for the best budget drawing iPad.
So if you’re interested to know more, check out this list of my top 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration
Best for graphic design Great for editing Ideal for drawing and animation Best laptop alternative If you want to be a graphic designer, an iPad can help you turn your ideas into beautiful art.
If you have an iPad and an Apple pencil, you can now start a business that makes graphics for other people, too. If you want to design book covers, 2D art for social media, logos, comic characters, and more, buying an iPad is a great choice for you.
It also boasts great display and resolution, which allows you to have a more detailed view of your creative work. So if you’re an artist that aligns with the field of drawing and animation, using an iPad will be an excellent choice for you.
You may now finish your work faster than ever before thanks to Apple accessories such as iPad keyboards. You can also easily make designs, drawings, and illustrations without bringing a heavy laptop.
It also has an all-day battery life, so you can work on your drawings and designs without interruption. And since this iPad has a wider and larger screen than others, you can have a better viewing experience of the artwork that you are working on. The iPad Pro 12.9 2021 is also perfect for viewing and editing high-brightness and high-contrast content like HDR photos and videos. Outstanding LED display Excellent M1 Performance Great Features This iPad for drawing has an impressive battery life, in which it can last up to 10 hours of continuous usage. By using this iPad, you will be able to showcase your talent and skills in drawing and illustration. Excellent resolution Large display Improved onboard microphone It is a drawing iPad, perfect for use with creative software such as Procreate, Adobe, and etc. It is built and designed to be durable, so rest assured that you will benefit from it for a long time. Basically, since it is a smaller version compared to the 12.9-inch iPad, it is much cheaper, so it’s ideal if you are on a budget. Excellent camera Great operating system Gorgeous graphics It is the best drawing iPad for students, beginners, as well as hobbyists in the field of doing creative work.
It is the latest version of the iPad mini and it is built to be ideal for beginner artists’ use. It comes in four different colors (Pink, Purple, Spacegray, and Gold), so you can also match your iPad with your style. It is not only perfect to use for drawing and digital art, but you can also use this iPad for gaming since it boasts a very good display. The iPad Air 4 2020 has a stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color.
It has advanced features and it is the most versatile iPad for drawing available today. You can easily secure your log-in and payment with this drawing iPad’s Touch ID features.
While it may be a great budget option, it is a basic iPad without many of the features you’ll find on newer models. The iPad 10.2 2019 also boasts a great resolution, which makes it perfect for drawing and illustrations.
Colorful laminated screen Fast charge via USB-C Great smart keyboard cover
Although having the latest version may be a good advantage, it is not necessary to buy one,especially if you’re on a tight budget.
Because of its thin and light design, along with its excellent battery life that can last up to 10 hours, you can do your artwork anywhere you want. However, Apple has a lot of versions and models of the iPad, so it is not that easy to choose which one of them should you buy.
That’s why I created this list of the 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration for you to have a better idea of which one fits your needs and budget as well. I hope this article helps you decide which iPad is perfect for graphic designers. Now that’ I’m done highlighting my top picks, which do you think is the best iPad for drawing and illustration?—Don’t forget to leave a comment.
Best iPad for Procreate 2022 (July) – Artsydee
The combo of Procreate, on an iPad with an Apple Pencil, becomes a modern digital art studio where I can paint to my heart’s content with no limitations. At 10.9-inches, the iPad Air (5th generation) offers a good-sized surface for drawing and painting and it’s a great tool to explore graphic work on. IPad Air also comes with something that will be important for a wide variety of artists: Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support. And Air has a laminated True Tone display allowing better image quality in softer colors.
The 9th-generation iPad is a really good option – especially for budding artists because the first-generation Pencil is supported. The A12 Bionic chip is still pretty good for basic drawing, sketching, watching videos, reading, and writing.
You get a beautifully 10.2-inch LCD Retina display that provides excellent graphic and text performance on the iPad. You’ll be able to easily sketch out your ideas and make artwork with the help of tilt and pressure sensitivity.
Palm rejection is another great feature to prevent unwanted mark-making on your sketch.
The liquid Retina XDR has incredible color accuracy and displays HDR images and videos in all of their glory.
It’s great when you use the Apple Pencil and the strokes appear on the screen quickly as if they were printed on paper. I find the 11-inch iPad Pro offers enough room for drawings, photos, and artwork, without being too difficult to carry around.
Its 10-hour battery life means that you can work on it for long periods of time without worrying about it going dead. Procreate uses a smart user dashboard that provides a good amount of screen space while positioning commonly used menus and buttons in easy-to-access areas. Procreate is an enormously powerful program that contains all of the tools that you need and still, you can sit down and start doing art for the first time. The perspectives guide was previously an in-app purchase but is now integrated for free from Procreate 4.04 onward.
It is a totally searchable online manual that explains everything you need to know about using perspective in Procreate. Animation with Procreate is incredibly versatile and allows you to create effects from simple looping GIF’s to professional short films. Procreate is a raster-based raster programming system similar primarily to physical painting and drawing. Vector artwork is great for creating high-resolution high-definition images such as logo designs, but it is not an intuitive process – especially for people who use traditional media like digital graphics.
The Apple Pencil has a lot of sensors that help you control your art-making easily in Procreate. If you hold down on the screen for a little while, you’ll switch to eraser mode, and if you give it a quick double-tap followed by another single tap, then Procreate will know that you want to select all of your artwork. It’s an easy-to-use device, but with the power of the iPad behind it, it makes Procreate easier than ever before to create impressive artwork! Apple Pencil is recommended by all professional studio artists who want professional-grade art.
When you combine it with procreate, it is very powerful for graphics designing, sketches, cartoons, and many other creative projects. The new design is more ergonomic than the first, and it makes it feel like even less of a burden if you’re holding it for an extended period of time.
Apple Pencil (2nd generation) works like its predecessor but it also includes a new feature called ‘double tap’. The double-tap feature on the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is able to switch the tools in Procreate between different brushes, erase your work or allow you to select all.
It has an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and a super high contrast ratio, which means it looks crisp and clear. The LED backlight can adjust dynamically to match the ambient light, so images always look clear and consistent even in bright sunlight. The iPad Pro also features refresh-on-demand technology that only refreshes the portion of the screen that changes, which further enhances picture quality by reducing the average display power consumption from 10 to 30 percent. More capacity allows you to install lots of apps and store more photos, documents, etc.
A smart machine will use RAM for the temporary storage of data and to speed up loading times. If you want to create professional art on Procreate, then I would recommend choosing an iPad with at least 8GB of RAM.
The iPad models that have larger RAM (like the iPad Pro 12.9-inch or 11-inch) allow digital artists to manipulate many layers in Procreate whilst also listening to music, browsing several browser tabs, and even writing a document at the same. The Apple Pencil (2nd gen) has tilt-sensitive input with no additional disruption caused by the pressure of your palm.
As an artist, it was hugely beneficial to apply a textured, paper-type film to my iPad’s screen. The textured film has micro aberrations providing good resistance to the Apple Pencil. Not only does the texture of the film provide a paper-like feel to the iPad, but it also helps protect the device against scratches. The most satisfactory replacement caps that I have found for the Apple Pencil are soft silicone ones. An artist’s glove is used when drawing on a tablet so that your hand easily glides over the glass without getting stuck. This Portfolio Case provides you additional storage for extra wires and gadgets but still protects your iPad Pro without a bulk.
For advanced projects that require multi-layer design work, you may want to choose the Air or Pro models because they are built to handle a higher level of digital intricacy. The iPad mini (6th generation) is meant for folks looking for a super portable solution to transport to the worksite for simple sketch work. The Mini works very well for users who desire a small screen resolution (7.9″) and don’t care for a large canvas or CPU-intensive projects requiring multiple layers. The Pro’s large screen resolution & power have made it a favorite among digital artists everywhere. Procreate natively supports all the advanced features and provides you with the best iPad design experience. IPad Pro is a premium tablet offering pro-grade capabilities and this is reflected in its price.
If you’re on a tighter budget but wish to get something that is still modern-looking with support for the Apple Pencil 2 – you should go for the iPad Air (4th generation). If you are relatively new to learning and using digital artistry you don’t actually need an iPad pro.
The iPad Pro supports 8 GB RAM and has features including face ID. If you are a hobbyist or a beginner digital artist, then I recommend working on the iPad (9th generation). If you want to work on two apps simultaneously, I recommend buying the iPad Pro. It is the best iPad for multitasking because it has a bigger screen with an excellent resolution, more RAM, and storage space. It can be attached magnetically to an iPad Pro and it is a fantastic tool in digital art creation. If you are on a tight budget then I recommend getting an iPad (9th generation) because it has a great price-quality ratio and it’s capable of running Procreate. However, using an Apple Pencil gives the user a far superior digital drawing experience. If you are an artist who creates a lot of digital art, I recommend buying an iPad with at least 512GB of memory. I hope this article has helped you determine what the best iPad for Procreate is for your digital art-making!
Should you get an iPad or a drawing tablet?
Well, obviously iPads are general-use tablets that tie into the Apple ecosystem, allowing you to check emails, do online shopping, access apps, and much more. The compact size and mobility of the iPad allows users to work on projects wherever they are instead of requiring them to sit at a computer. Who should buy this: Anyone who wants user-friendly-yet powerful drawing software that they can take with them wherever they go.
Graphics tablets come with a stylus or pen with removable tips and have far more pressure sensitivity levels than iPads, allowing artists to have more brush stroke variation as determined by how hard they push the pen to the screen.
– Simple drawing pads that connect to a computer and are typically less expensive than other options. Pen displays – Feature a screen that you draw on but must be connected to a computer to supplement the necessary amount of power.
They cost a bit more, but being able to draw directly on your art instead of staring at a computer monitor with your hand on a separate pen pad is really convenient. – Feature a screen that you draw on but must be connected to a computer to supplement the necessary amount of power.
They cost a bit more, but being able to draw directly on your art instead of staring at a computer monitor with your hand on a separate pen pad is really convenient. Pen computers – Standalone machines that feature HD displays and don’t need to be connected to other devices to function.
However, the trade-off here is that drawing tablets aren’t nearly as portable since they either need to be connected to a computer or can be too bulky for easy mobile use. Wacom is the big name in the drawing tablet world and as such, products by this company tend to be the very best you can buy, but also the most expensive.
That being said, there are plenty of other brands that don’t cost as much while still offering powerful features and conveniences. Since these devices connect to computers, they are compatible with far more programs since you’re not at the mercy of a simplified drawing app. Many graphics tablets also have customizable shortcut keys near the drawing area that you can program your most accessed commands to for easy use.
Who should buy this: People who need access to more intensive programs to make more controlled projects.
I recommend going for the newer Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) because it’s just so much more convenient to use and I personally think it feels better in my hands. For one thing, it has a flat side making it easier to grasp in your hand, which gives you more minute control over your strokes.
In addition to working better, it has a magnetic side that sticks to the iPad and can even wirelessly charge up that way. This version features a removable cap at the bottom that protects a lightning dongle.
To charge it, you’ll either need to purchase a separate pen charger or stick it into your iPad’s lightning port. Apple Pencil (1st Gen) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) The Apple Pencil has a rechargeable internal battery and can be juiced back up by plugging the lighting dongle into a lightning port.
2020 Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch View at Musician’s Friend (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Standing next to the most powerful iPads offered by Apple, this device offers plenty of conveniences and works with the new and improved Apple Pencil. Xp Pen Artist 22 Gen 2 Review Gengar (Image credit: Jez Corden / iMore)
XP-Pen Artist22E Pro Check Amazon (opens in new tab) With its 21.5-inch HD display and impressive 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the XP-Pen Artist 22E Pro can really give you the control you need over your projects. Plus it has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, comes with an adjustable kickstand, and comes with a Wacom Pro Pen 2. Now that you’ve determined to either go with an iPad, a graphics tablet, or both, you’re ready to start making some awesome art. Both the iPad and graphics tablets have their pros and cons, it’s just a matter of determining what your own preferences are.
Best iPad for Drawing in 2022 (Buying Guide)
But you might be aware that iPads are also perfect for drawing – both for fun and for professional artists. It’s also ideal for graphic design, photo editing, or drawing cartoons and doodles. Just pair your iPad with an Apple Pencil, and you can draw straight onto the screen. In this buying guide, I’ll highlight some things to consider to help you make your decision. You want a high-resolution screen that produces crisp images and vibrant colors. It should be as accurate as possible, which won’t be an issue if you go for an iPad with True Tone display.
But if you go for a non-laminated screen, you may have some parallax, making it harder to draw accurately. Generally, all iPads have excellent screens, and they are all suitable for digital art. When you’re creating digital art or design files, they can take up a lot of space. Some older iPads start with a base amount of 64 GB, and you’ll have to pay up if you’d like more.
You don’t want to regret your decision, so think carefully about how much space you’ll need before you buy. That translates to allowing you to work with more layers or run several programs at the same time.
But if you opt for an iPad with less RAM, you may experience more lags, delays, and even crashes. For example, the latest iPad Pro has an incredible camera and even comes with an ultra-wide lens. Or if you want to use your iPad to stream videos, check out the audio quality of the speakers. With the Apple Pencil II, you also get some extra features the original model doesn’t have.
For example, the pencil attaches magnetically to your iPad, so you don’t risk losing it. The Apple Pencil II also has a matte finish and a flat edge, making it more comfortable to hold. This iPad blows all the others out of the water with its gorgeous screen and how fast and powerful it is. This 4th Gen model is a great runner-up, as it doesn’t have any light bloom issues.
It has a beautiful Liquid Retina display, vivid colors, and works well with the Apple Pencil. And I’ve found that the iPad Air is an excellent budget option. The latest iPad Pro, released in 2021, provides superb power and has outstanding specs. So, you’ll have no problem running even the most intensive apps or using several layers in Photoshop.
It also has a long battery life and a fantastic camera with an ultra-wide lens. Plus, the 5G capability and the Thunderbolt connection allow for fast downloads and streaming. The iPad Pro 2021 is ideal for drawing, thanks to the fine details and accurate colors.
The Liquid Retina XDR display is jaw-droppingly beautiful and vibrant.
You get deep blacks, amazing contrast, and vivid, accurate colors. The adaptive screen lighting adjusts automatically for the best viewing experience possible. That means you get a bloom of bright light where you have dark and white areas next to each other. When paired with the Apple Pencil II, it’s an exceptional tablet for drawing.
This newer, improved stylus offers tilt and pressure sensitivity and wireless pairing.
The large size gives you more space to draw, but it’s still pretty lightweight. It’s not cheap, but if you can afford it and don’t mind the light bloom, it could be perfect for you! The screen is gorgeous with high contrast, deep blacks, and bright colors
Next up is an earlier 4th Generation version of the Apple iPad Pro, dating from 2020. So, in this iPad Pro drawing review, I’ll explain what they are and help you decide if either is right for you! That’s not bad, but you could run out of space if you create lots of large file sizes. It’s worth highlighting these differences, but don’t let them put you off the iPad Pro 2020.
The high resolution and Liquid Retina display will make your drawings look amazing. And you’ll probably appreciate that it’s a fair bit cheaper than the 5th Gen iPad Pro.
Where it differs from the iPad Pro is that it doesn’t have such a fast refresh rate. So, you have less space for your apps, files, and extra brushes and layers in tools like Procreate.
To sum up, the iPad Air is a great tablet that’s quick and easy to use, with a good interface. The screen is high-resolution with bright colors, but it lacks a faster refresh rate. The lower refresh rate means the screen sometimes lags a bit If portability is your highest concern, then the iPad mini fits the bill.
You lose a lot of the screen to those large bezels, leaving you with a tiny active drawing area. With the Retina display and high resolution, you get a crisp image and colors that really pop. So, it looks great, is nice and bright, and also works seamlessly with the Apple Pencil. The stylus provides tilt and pressure sensitivity, giving you accuracy and control.
Plus, it’s much cheaper so it won’t set you back as much money as the more expensive iPads out there. The Apple Pencil works seamlessly with almost every iPad on the market today. But you will need to find out whether you need the original model or the newer Apple Pencil II. This fantastic stylus is super responsive and syncs flawlessly with the iPad.
What that means is that you can apply more or less force to create clever shading effects. You’ll need to back up all your files in a cloud storage space like Google Drive or Dropbox. Buying an iPad for drawing is an excellent idea as they are such powerful devices. You can create amazing art on an iPad, and they are also versatile multipurpose tablets.
They all have gorgeous displays, high resolution, and work with the Apple Pencil. If you make a purchase, Proactive Creative may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
7 Best iPads for Drawing & Illustration
Then check out my list of 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration for creatives. Most professional designers are using the iPad for drawing and illustration because it boasts excellent quality and display. The iPad 10.2 (2019) on the other hand, is a great choice for graphic designers that are looking for the best budget drawing iPad. So if you’re interested to know more, check out this list of my top 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration Best for graphic design Great for editing Ideal for drawing and animation Best laptop alternative If you want to be a graphic designer, an iPad can help you turn your ideas into beautiful art.
If you have an iPad and an Apple pencil, you can now start a business that makes graphics for other people, too. If you want to design book covers, 2D art for social media, logos, comic characters, and more, buying an iPad is a great choice for you. It also boasts great display and resolution, which allows you to have a more detailed view of your creative work. So if you’re an artist that aligns with the field of drawing and animation, using an iPad will be an excellent choice for you.
You may now finish your work faster than ever before thanks to Apple accessories such as iPad keyboards. You can also easily make designs, drawings, and illustrations without bringing a heavy laptop.
It also has an all-day battery life, so you can work on your drawings and designs without interruption. And since this iPad has a wider and larger screen than others, you can have a better viewing experience of the artwork that you are working on. The iPad Pro 12.9 2021 is also perfect for viewing and editing high-brightness and high-contrast content like HDR photos and videos. Outstanding LED display Excellent M1 Performance Great Features
This iPad for drawing has an impressive battery life, in which it can last up to 10 hours of continuous usage. By using this iPad, you will be able to showcase your talent and skills in drawing and illustration.
Excellent resolution Large display Improved onboard microphone It is a drawing iPad, perfect for use with creative software such as Procreate, Adobe, and etc.
It is built and designed to be durable, so rest assured that you will benefit from it for a long time.
Basically, since it is a smaller version compared to the 12.9-inch iPad, it is much cheaper, so it’s ideal if you are on a budget. Excellent camera Great operating system Gorgeous graphics It is the best drawing iPad for students, beginners, as well as hobbyists in the field of doing creative work.
It is the latest version of the iPad mini and it is built to be ideal for beginner artists’ use. It comes in four different colors (Pink, Purple, Spacegray, and Gold), so you can also match your iPad with your style. It is not only perfect to use for drawing and digital art, but you can also use this iPad for gaming since it boasts a very good display. The iPad Air 4 2020 has a stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color.
It has advanced features and it is the most versatile iPad for drawing available today. You can easily secure your log-in and payment with this drawing iPad’s Touch ID features.
While it may be a great budget option, it is a basic iPad without many of the features you’ll find on newer models. The iPad 10.2 2019 also boasts a great resolution, which makes it perfect for drawing and illustrations.
Colorful laminated screen Fast charge via USB-C Great smart keyboard cover Although having the latest version may be a good advantage, it is not necessary to buy one,especially if you’re on a tight budget. Because of its thin and light design, along with its excellent battery life that can last up to 10 hours, you can do your artwork anywhere you want. However, Apple has a lot of versions and models of the iPad, so it is not that easy to choose which one of them should you buy.
That’s why I created this list of the 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration for you to have a better idea of which one fits your needs and budget as well. I hope this article helps you decide which iPad is perfect for graphic designers.
Now that’ I’m done highlighting my top picks, which do you think is the best iPad for drawing and illustration?—Don’t forget to leave a comment.
The Best iPad for Drawing for Aspiring & Seasoned Artists
Today’s iPad allows many artists, illustrators and designers to unleash their creativity and bring their masterpieces to life. If you’re just dipping a toe in the water or looking to take your work to the next level, here are the current top options for the best iPad for drawing : With the new M1 chip, you are guaranteed next-level performance, in combination with its beautiful 12.9 Liquid retina XDR Display, hailed as one of the best screens ever to grace this kind of device. These cameras give the best immersive AR (Augmented Reality) courtesy of its LiDAR scanner, adding more realism and depth to your pictures.
However, you should note that you only get the XDR Mini LED display with a larger size. This 2021 iPad Pro offers you all-day battery life, ultrafast WiFi, and extra hard drive options for your internal storage.
This iPad has a large 12.9-inch display that makes for a great canvas size for your art, from sketching and painting to editing photos. It’s also a ProMotion display, running at 120Hz for nigh-instant, buttery-smooth response to the Apple Pencil; it’s just like doing it on a real piece of paper.
That, and an additional GPU core, translates to a great deal of power for graphic processing apps. This means smoother painting and sketching experiences or snappy photo editing. Unfortunately, the iPad Pro is only compatible with the new second-generation Apple Pencil, although it features the new magnetic attaching and charging. Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay There’s very little to separate the 11-inch 2020 iPad Pro from its larger counterpart.
With a better body-to-screen ratio, this tablet offers a great display for multiple artistic endeavors. Available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue This is arguably the most appealing iPad to most people, largely due to the fine balance between price, performance and screen real estate. At 10.9 inches, the new iPad Air 4 offers reasonable real estate for drawing and painting and a great portal for checking out and editing your photos. For starters, it’s compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which gives you access to all the latest functionalities.
It also features the A14 Bionic chip -Apple’s latest processor, making it exceptionally fast, responsive and heavy-duty. It also has a laminated True Tone display, producing better images with a more vibrant color range. True Tone, in particular, is pretty useful because it adjusts the display’s temperature to ambient lighting. In case you find this feature overbearing or disruptive, you can turn it off from the Control Center. However, this iPad lacks a few features, namely Face ID, ProMotion display and a four-speaker system.
On the other hand, you still get the new dual-camera array, which includes a LiDAR sensor and an extra 10MP ultra-wide rear-facing camera. It has a 10.2-inch LCD Retina display that produces impressively sharp and detailed graphics and text. Even with a relatively smaller display, the iPad 8th-Generation 2020 still offers plenty of real estate for drawing and sketching.
The Pencil allows you to draw seamlessly, thanks to improved tilt and pressure sensitivity, plus palm rejection. For a relatively affordable price, you get an impressive display that produces bright, colorful and sharp graphics with true-to-life details.
This makes it an excellent choice for several purposes, including drawing, editing pictures and even reading.
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 Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Verizon Wireless (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 Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Verizon Wireless (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 Verizon Wireless (opens in new tab) View at AT&T Mobility (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 Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Verizon Wireless (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 Apple (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (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.
Want the Best iPad for Drawing in 2022? Read This First.
12.9-inch & 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 Check Price The ultimate drawing tablet experience for artists who want the best and have the budget for it. Reduces lag when drawing with a stylus Apple M1 chip: A superior processor allowing you to have many apps open at once. A14 Bionic chip: Loads graphics fast meaning you can work super efficiently.
Liquid Retina Display: This allows for better clarity, meaning you can create highly detailed images.
0.66 pounds and 6.1mm thickness: Makes this iPad highly portable and easy to bring anywhere you want. Superfast 5G connectivity to check art references online and upload your artwork to the cloud on the go no matter where you are.
ProMotion technology— the 120Hz refresh rate that cuts down on lag and gives a smoother painting experience. Fast import of files using Thunderbolt 3 USB technology means reduced waiting times when transferring images from your PC.
Second-generation Apple Pencil support — easier sketching, editing shortcuts and an excellent lightweight design for maximum drawing control. “This 12.9-inch tablet is gorgeously built, with power to match the latest Apple laptops” — PCMag The starting price of $1099 (12.9”) shoots up by $1000 when you add on accessories and max out the storage allowance to 2TB. The iPad Pro has a slight inner shadow around the edges, most notable when viewing high contrast material or a white background.
Stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina iPad Display with sharp ’painted on’ images and responsive pencil-screen interaction make for an intuitive drawing experience. Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 support for ease in drawing and access to excellent app shortcuts “The iPad Air is a phenomenally well-made tablet that improves upon the last-gen version in a variety of ways” — TechRadar The camera doesn’t sit flat on the back of the iPad, making it easy to damage without a case.
Supports Smart Keyboard Folio and first-generation Apple Pencil, with many drawing apps available. “A better processor keeps the latest basic iPad as our go-to pick for families and anyone looking for an excellent affordable tablet.”— Cnet The iPad 9 is a budget-friendly foray into the lineup and although it is an entry-level product, it performs beyond other tablets of its class. A12 Bionic chip — runs Adobe Photoshop and other demanding apps for editing pictures.
Retina Display — bright screens, wide colour range and an anti-reflective coating for true-to-life art details Supports Apple Pencil 1 for drawing and creating art and mood boards with ease and on the go.
This isn’t a productivity beast, nor is it attempting to replace your laptop; it’s a super-fast tablet that will slip easily into your bag” — Trusted Reviews However, I thought it would be a good exercise to compare the two closest contenders for the number one spot of best iPad for artists.
The Liquid Retina XDR screen is the most lauded spec upgrade in the iPad Pro 2021. The XDR or mini-LED display delivers deeper blacks, brighter panels and higher contrast ratios similar to OLED.
XDR combined with the screen’s higher refresh rate (120Hz), also known as ProMotion, makes the viewing experience excellent. A14 chip on the iPad Air is restricted to less power because it has to function in devices with small batteries and no cooling mechanism, such as the iPhone 12 Mini
What you’ll get with the Pro is better processing power for graphics and heavier apps such as Photoshop or Luma Fusion. Batch importing and exporting of huge files between the iPad Pro and other devices via cable has never been faster.
iPad Pro, Air 4 and Mini 5 have fully laminated screens, so the image appears exactly where you placed the pencil when you draw. Apple Pencil 1 Apple Pencil 2 Bigger and longer Sleeker, more compact and more pencil-like No app shortcuts Single and double-tap app shortcuts Gloss finish and more prone to slipping Matte finish The lightning charging port is clunky and easy to damage Support wireless charging when magnetically attached to the iPad Pro 2018 and later or iPad Air 2020 $99 Get the 1st Generation Apple Pencil $130 Get the 2nd Generation Apple Pencil
So in terms of tablets, when you draw using a stylus, latency is how long it takes for the screen to react and show your drawn lines. While the Apple Pencil has a low latency of 20 milliseconds (ms), the iPadOS 13 and later models reduce it to 9ms. This means you won’t have any wait before seeing the results of your pen strokes — making the entire drawing experience on these tablets super intuitive. An iPad with higher RAM will be able to load Procreate faster, and allow you to work with larger images without delays
An iPad with higher RAM will be able to load Procreate faster, and allow you to work with larger images without delays Chip . Faster processors, of which the M1 is thus far the fastest, will give better performance without app response delays. Faster processors, of which the M1 is thus far the fastest, will give better performance without app response delays. A high clarity display will allow you to see more detail in images, meaning you can work more accurately and make higher definition art.
A high clarity display will allow you to see more detail in images, meaning you can work more accurately and make higher definition art. More storage capacity allows you to create and store larger and raw images, including uncompressed photos and videos.
While drawing on the Pro models offers limited layers, thanks to the RAM cap, you get more days of app activity saved in memory. The memory cap seems counterintuitive considering the high-level performance, graphics and display specs the iPad Pro is packing.
It’s only logical that as the canvas size and resolution (dpi) on Procreate go up, the number of layers you can use decreases.
Since layers give you better control and flexibility of your drawings on the iPad, it’s a good metric to compare. In contrast, drawing on iPad Mini with Procreate is a sub-par experience mainly due to size. While Procreate is excellent for a wide range of iPad artwork, Adobe Fresco leaves it in the dust when it comes to their live brushes.
I recommend testing the free versions or trials of apps before committing your hard-earned cash. A USB- c pass-through port which allows for inductive charging of the iPad once it’s snapped onto the keyboard For an artist, the Magic Keyboard has better input and gesture options that improve your productivity.
Suppose you like to sketch or plan art concepts on an easily portable device before refining on a computer.
For artists who want to eventually get into commercial work, you should have iCloud backup equivalent or more significant than your iPad storage capacity. You can use your phone’s hotspot in a pinch, but I would highly recommend having cellular connectivity if you can spring for it.
The iPad Pro 2021 is thicker with a bigger battery, but it also packs more processing power (8-core GPU and 8-core CPU). Of course, when using drawing apps like Procreate outdoors at full brightness, you will find that the battery life drops significantly since it is not typical usage.
The downside of matte screen protectors is experienced by artists who frequently draw outside in bright daylight.
Should you opt for either Pro or Air, the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 are indispensable tools for any digital iPad artist. The Apple M1 chip is evident in its high speed and capabilities, making drawing on this iPad an easy and super intuitive experience.
16 Cheap Drawing Tablets with Screens in 2022 [iPad Alternatives]
There is a distinctly growing interest in digital art as a medium of creation. You might be watching your favorite online artists strutting around with their brand new iPad Pro. That does not mean that you need to spend over $1500 just to enjoy a good digital drawing experience. A standard tablet for drawing is a cheaper alternative to some of the more aggressive product lines being promoted.
The cheapest screen tablet will still give you all of the joy of a digital drawing experience at a much cheaper price. These devices are reliable, affordable, and are some of the best and cheap drawing tablets with screens for digital artists.
This perfect device made by one of the more reliable drawing tablet companies comes in at a cheap $199.99 on Amazon. It offers an 11.6-inch tablet screen, making it an amazing tool at the perfect size for most artists. It also provides you with six shortcut keys that can be fully customized to manage your studio experience. This makes it an ideal choice for an artist looking to draw, trying to paint, edit photos, or work on animation projects.
For the functionality and its cheap price, it is an amazingly affordable drawing tablet with screen that cannot be beat. This tablet is such a great tool for digital artists that it is on my Recommendations page, which features exclusive tools to help you create art and services to help grow your art business.
It is complete with a tablet, pen, wool bag, and a fancy drawing glove. It also has plenty of other great traits that make it a worthy investment for the daily artist. The battery-free pen that comes with this tablet has a complex pressure sensitivity system. This is an awesome device that brings the comfort of a tablet to your hands but doesn’t stop there.
The Yoga Tab 3 lets you download any of the amazing drawing apps available for Android. Aside from bringing a beautiful 8” screen, this tablet is touted for its comprehensive multimedia experience.
This device hosts an impressive eighteen-hour battery life and a multi-mode positioning system. This is the ideal tool for you to stay working with comfort and ease no matter where you are! It combines a complete Android tablet experience with data so that you never have to worry about being offline. This means no more depending on WiFi to upload your next brilliant comic onto Instagram. LG has been a trusted creator in the technology space for some time, particularly in mobile devices. This full-service tablet comes with an 8” display that is perfect for drawing, reading, and watching movies.
The full Android interface makes it able to hold a myriad of great apps. It enables you to jump straight to your favorite app without getting caught up in your Twitter notifications. As a bonus, it can double as a charger or port for supporting a variety of USB items. Display Size 7.9-inch, 7.87” × 5.3” × 0.28” Display Resolution 1024 x 768 Pressure Levels N/A bit works with Apple Pencil 1st Gen Connections Lightning to USB cable, USB power adapter Average Battery Life 10 hours
You probably would never think of Apple products when it comes to cheap drawing tablets with screens. Though you won’t find that price on the new proline, older models of the iPad are surprisingly cheap. They can offer a traditional drawing tablet experiences for artists and provide all of the wonderful functionality of iOS. Some of the bigger digital artists that you know might be using top of the line iPad Pro models. When picking out the best cheap iPad for drawing, you can also go refurbished to help save money. Now a full tablet complete with Android apps that comes with plenty of functionality, these are a great find.
This device is able to operate like any other Android tablet, making it ideal for drawing and photo editing. Its medium size allows for a great drawing space that will pair well with your favorite stylus!
This tablet is the perfect size for travel, but also gives you an excellent platform for your drawing. It has a full collection of Android apps and great WiFi connectivity. The Fire HD 10 proves to be a great and affordable drawing tablet with a screen!
It also includes a full Android operating system, meaning you have access to all of your favorite drawing apps.
This tablet even provides 20 hours of battery life, making it perfect for all of your art needs when you are traveling. It’s among the better iPad alternatives for drawing, providing great specs and a good balance of price.
The tablet features a full high-definition screen backed by a one year guarantee. As one of the newer names in alternatives to iPad for drawing, it’s got a lot to prove, but has been making a splash so far. With this tablet, you can not only draw and paint, but you sign documents digitally, take notes, or edit photos and videos. Drawing/Sketching – This tablet features a pen that becomes a paintbrush, marker, pencil, or chalk with a click of a button
Visual Thinking – Easily create mind maps, draw diagrams, or capture any ideas you may choose to share with your friends or colleagues Display Size 10.5-inch, 10.35” x 7.28” x 1.89” Display Resolution 2224 x 1668 Pressure Levels works with Apple Pencil Connections Lightning to USB cable, USB power adapter Average Battery Life Up to 10 days
If you are looking for the best iPad for drawing on a budget, the Pro may be a bit of range, but the features might just be worth it. By installing some drawing apps on the pro and using the Apple Pencil or less expensive alternatives to the Apple Pencil you will have an amazing tablet drawing experience that meets or exceeds any tablet on the market today. The Pro can become a cheap iPad for drawing if you can find a good refurbished model. Coming it at nearly half the original price, this refurbished iPad Pro retains it amazing build quality without denting your wallet.
Because of the frosted lamination and aluminum alloy rear case, this tablet is comfortable to the touch and extremely durable. As an alternative to iPad for drawing, it has a versatile spread of helpful features that covers a lot of ground.
The KAMVAS Pro 12 is a really nice compact size that is ultra-thin and portable. Wacom’s emphasis on quality while the 22 still being a relatively budget option makes for a compelling choice. In the field of alternatives to iPad Pro for drawing, Wacom is the returning champion. Wacom has to compete against iPads that make decent second monitors, so it can be hard to measure up if you don’t at least come wireless. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a powerful, versatile tablet that can mix business and artistic uses. Perhaps the most famous cheaper alternative to iPad for drawing, it’s got much of the same features just in its own operating system.
Also, it comes with a comfortable cover keyboard combo and easily handles multitasking. It comes with excellent build quality but is made to be hard to open and service. The Surface Slim Pen 2 is easy and elegant to use, making this a great drawing tablet with lots of available accessories and support. The tablet works perfectly with its in-built Windows 11, but it can take some getting used to for android and apple users.
The big drawback with such a tablet is the lack of a screen and having to work on your connected monitors. It has wonderful stylus performance, a high-quality, textured surface, and wireless connectivity.
The shortcut buttons, both basic and advanced, are well mapped out with an attractive design overall. Everything about this tablet works with the professional artist in mind, with a roller-touchpad combo that takes it all to the next level. It’s one of the solid iPad alternatives for artists you can find with a good balance of features.
Comparable to the iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is an Android 12 tablet with a great design and aesthetic. It’s the new standard for premium Android devices with a beautiful display, and excellent battery life, and works as a nice laptop replacement. One of the other compelling reasons to go with Samsung is the Android ecosystem they’ve built, which this tablet integrates fully.
Most alternatives to iPad for drawing are there in order to get a budget model, but the Kamvas 24 Pro is truly in a league all its own. There are minor missing features, such as no built-in shortcut keys or touchscreen, but if you don’t need extras, there’s no reason not to go for it!
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