Another difference is that the iPad Air comes in more colours: namely, Space Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple and Blue. That means data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s, compared with a max 10Gb/s on the iPad Air, assuming you have devices that support Thunderbolt of course. So while the Pro is the safer option if you plan to use it for demanding creative purposes, such as using Illustrator for iPad, both tablets should be pretty speedy overall.
When it comes to battery life, Apple rates all of its tablets for 10 hours of light use on Wi-Fi and up to nine on cellular.
But you can expect high-res image editing, or prolonged 3D rendering, to reduce this pretty severely, just as it is with any laptop. Exactly how much depends on the app, but something that taxes both processor and GPU, such as high-end games, can bring it down to about half that. Along with support for HDR and Dolby Vision content, creative professionals will absolutely adore this screen. It’s also worth noting that both sizes of the iPad Pro have better audio, with four speakers that produces high-quality.
The iPad Air’s two speakers are still solid, though, and are perfectly decent for watching movies and listening to music.
Both allow it to magnetically attach to the side of the iPad to charge wirelessly, which is super handy. However, the superior refresh rate of the iPad Pro (120Hz to 60Hz on the Air) means that in practice, drawing is smoother on the more expensive tablet. The latest iPad Pro also comes with a brand new ‘Hover’ feature, which detects your Apple Pencil 2 up to 12mm above the screen, allowing you to see a preview of your mark before you make it.
When it comes to drawing, the 120Hz screen response rate makes the iPad Pro the precision instrument of choice undoubtedly – and nothing comes close to the high-resolution display on the 12.9-inch model. If so, then obviously you should get the Pro, but for anything more middle of the road, the Air is really just as fast – if you’ll mostly use it for viewing and some admin work on the go, there will be no meaningful performance difference. In short, if money’s no object, or if running creative software your iPad plays a central role in your working life, go for the Pro.
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.
Graphic Design with an iPad: Pros, Cons and Limitations
In this article I’ll share with you in detail about the pros, cons and limitations of using the iPad for graphic design work. For personal work, I have created graphic design such as name cards, invoices, Youtube thumbnails, eBooks, etc. I have also reviewed many art related tech products for artists and designers and that includes the various iPads over the years. : Web banners, ads, layouts, Youtube thumbnails User interface design : Icons, UI elements, mockups The iPad excels at hand drawn art, e.g. painting, comics, sketches, concept design, calligraphy. A computer or laptop excels at graphic design, and can be used to create hand drawn illustrations when used with a drawing tablet.
Body postures can also be changed but that will require more work as it involves re-drawing the soccer players. And if the illustration was hand drawn, making changes involves re-drawing, and that will take a lot of time.
Adobe Illustrator is an important graphic design app available on Windows, MacOS and iPad. It is a monthly subscription app so I would recommend the competitor Affinity Designer instead which is a one time purchase. There isn’t any significant advantage to using tablet version Adobe Illustrator to create the soccer graphics above. This illustration was hand drawn with Concepts which is an app available on iPad, Android and Windows.
Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo are good for hand drawn illustrations. Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Vectornator and Amadine are good for creating vector style art. The colour accuracy on iPads is good enough for creating designs for the RGB space, aka the web, and for video production (if you don’t mind working on a small display). When creating print graphics, you should choose CMYK as the colour space for your new document.
At the time of writing this article, you cannot create a CMYK file with Adobe Photoshop tablet app. The 4:3 aspect ratio of iPad displays is alright but not ideal for working with graphic design. When you consider palettes and UI elements are usually on the sides, when working with squarish or horizontal content, there will be wasted space at top and bottom. This is how Photoshop looks on an external display connected to an iPad (with the help of Apple Stage Manager). In this case, Photoshop is showing on the external display, and the tablet interface on the iPad. The wider display can present the content larger even with the palettes open by the side. Affinity Photo, at time of this writing, cannot be made full-screen on the external display. Currently, Affinity Photo can use the external display to present a larger version of the graphics you’re working on.
Apple Stage Manager external display support only works with iPads that use the M1 processor. The tablet versions of Photoshop and Illustrator are not designed with ability to place more than one column of palettes yet. In the event that the tablet is lost, damaged or stolen, you can get a new iPad and restore everything from iCloud. If your graphic files are stored on the cloud, the downtime is how much time it takes for you to get a new iPad. The cursor on the iPad is a circle, and it’s gray by default which is not easy to see against darker backgrounds. If you look at the pricing, the M1 Macbook Air just provides more value for money simply because it’s cheaper at $999 and the iPad Pro 12.9 with 256GB storage and Apple Pencil is US $1328.
If the main reasons you’re considering the iPad for graphic design work is because you like the touch interface, Apple Pencil is awesome, or the iPad is so compact and portable, the display is so nice, well, those reasons may not be enough unless they really improve your productivity compared to creating graphic design on a computer. Graphic design is just more productive with desktop apps, a larger display and keyboard shortcuts.
When you add a keyboard and case to the iPad, the weight isn’t too different from a 13-inch Macbook Air.
I’ll choose a computer for graphic design any day unless I have to create hand drawn art.
Dive into anything
I decided to talk to my wife first and make it clear what kind of path she wants choose. I want to get a tablet for graphic design for my wife.
There are lots of debates going on between these two tablets but I want to hear your experiences.
iPad Air vs Pro for Drawing: Which is better? (Artist Review) 2023
In this comparison, we’ll explore the differences between the two popular iOS based Apple tablets and help you decide which iPad is right for your drawing, graphic design and creative tasks. As an artist, selecting the ideal tablet for your creative endeavors requires thorough consideration of several factors that directly impact your work. The device’s display quality, processing power, and compatibility of accessories are some of the most critical aspects… this is why many artists use a drawing tablet that connects to a laptop.
The iPad Pro comes with a 120 Hz ProMotion display, making it a preferred choice among artists for its smoother drawing experience.
Assessing each device’s performance can help determine which tablet meets your expectations in terms of processing power, display quality, and pricing. Both tablets have a Retina display with a similar resolution and color gamut, ensuring excellent visual output.
One advantage for iPad Pro users lies in the device’s higher brightness, making it a more suitable option for outdoor usage. This higher refresh rate results in a smoother and more responsive on-screen experience, which directly impacts an artist’s drawing process. ProMotion not only facilitates a faster response but also makes it feel more natural and akin to drawing on paper with an actual pencil.
Considering that not all artists require such immaculate responsiveness, the iPad Air’s standard display does an excellent job when it comes to drawing.
For professionals who require the best possible drawing experience and can afford the price premium of the iPad Pro, the device’s ProMotion display is indeed a game changer. One advantage of having a high pixel density is that your artwork appears crisp and precise with vibrant colors and smooth line transitions.
The retina display technology found in both tablets results in realistic, high-quality visuals that enhance your artistic experience. The second-generation Apple Pencil offers exceptional precision, impressive pressure sensitivity, and accurate tilt recognition, which significantly elevate the quality of your drawings. Keep in mind, both iPad variants support the second-generation Apple Pencil, and the drawing experience is almost identical on both devices.
However, the iPad Pro has a 120Hz ProMotion display that offers smoother and more responsive input, which translates to a more natural and fluid drawing experience. This slight improvement found in the iPad Pro may appeal to artists seeking the most realistic drawing experience possible on a tablet. The iPad Air features Apple’s M1 chip, which offers exceptional processing power that rivals many laptops. The power of these chips plays a crucial role when working on large-resolution project files with multiple layers, ensuring seamless operation even when using the most demanding brushes. Selecting the ideal iPad model for drawing is often a matter of personal preference and requirements regarding storage and RAM capacity. When it comes to RAM, both tablets come with 8GB, enabling seamless multitasking, multiple drawing layers on apps like Procreate, and smooth overall performance. Further, if you choose a higher storage model of iPad Pro with 1TB or 2TB capacity, you will get 16GB of RAM, which allows an even more powerful working environment.
The iPad Pro comes with a triple camera setup, LiDAR sensor, and a more powerful quad-speaker system, ensuring better audio quality and depth sensing. This advantage can be beneficial for transferring large files quickly and reliably, making it a more attractive choice for busy artists.
Keep in mind that differences in weight might not be noticeable for most users, but for artists who work on-the-go and hold their tablets for extended periods, it could be a deciding factor. Both iPad models support the Apple Magic Keyboard, which includes a trackpad and a floating design for adjustable viewing angles.
This higher refresh rate improves the smoothness and responsiveness of the display, making it feel even more natural when drawing with the Apple Pencil. It is essential to make sure that your desired drawing app supports your tablet’s hardware, such as Apple Pencil compatibility and processing power.
However, if you intend to install multiple large drawing apps, store high-resolution project files, or use your tablet for other entertainment and productivity tasks, consider upgrading to a 256GB or larger storage option. One advantage of having more storage is that it can accommodate a more extensive library of art resources, such as custom brushes, textures, and reference images.
Higher RAM allows drawing apps like Procreate to handle more complex tasks and larger projects with numerous layers. Layer limitations can inhibit the creative process, so having ample RAM ensures you’ll have room to explore and refine your artwork without constraints.
Side note: Heavy multitasking, such as streaming music while working in a drawing app, can affect iPad performance. However, if a larger screen is necessary for your drawing purposes and you don’t mind a slightly heavier tablet, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro might be a better fit. The iPad Pro provides additional features such as a 10MP ultrawide camera and a LiDAR sensor for depth sensing. The iPad Air offers a more budget-friendly option, providing a satisfying drawing experience and performance suitable for casual artists and hobbyists.
On the other hand, the iPad Pro offers premium features such as the ProMotion display, a more powerful M2 processor, and additional camera capabilities, making it an attractive choice for full-time artists and graphic design professionals.
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.
Artist compares: iPad Pro vs iPad Air for Drawing
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate EssentialPicks earn from qualifying purchases. Last year with the 4th generation upgrade, the iPad Air caught the attention of the artist community.
It not only got a massive design overhaul (narrow bezels) which made it look and feel very much like iPad Pro, but it also got support for the Second generation of Apple Pencil. This was big news for digital artists – as they now have the option to get a top-of-the-line drawing experience without necessarily spending top dollars.
Well, for most general users, you can say getting an iPad Air is a better choice over the Pro model – as you get almost 90 percent of the features at a considerably cheaper price. Having 100 more nits makes iPad Pro a slightly better option for people who often find themselves using their tablet outdoors.
The mini-LED backlight consists of thousands of small LEDs which can be controlled and turned on and off at will. This gives you deeper blacks and better contrast, improving the color output of the screen. Once the tablet records the location and movements of the pen it displays it on the screen. In simple terms, it means when you are drawing with your stylus the iPad Air’s display refreshes and updates the screen 60 times a second. When drawing on these two tables and comparing them in real life, you can definitely notice the iPad Pro (120 Hz) feels more fluid and satisfying. Here is the same footage in slow motion which shows the difference in latency much more clearly (Play video).
As you can see in the footage above, the lines drawn by the Apple Pencil on iPad Pro are instantly visible on a 120Hz screen. The stroke on the 60 Hz screen of iPad Air trails behind by a small distance, making the drawing experience feel digital and a bit unnatural. Meaning the images appearing on the screen is equally sharp and crisp. If you are an artist and hang out in online art communities, you already know that – Apple Pencil is the most advanced stylus on the market.
Since the 4th generation update, iPad Air comes with support for the 2nd generation Apple Pencil (5th gen iPad Air supports 2nd gen Apple Pencil as well). Since both iPad Air and Pro are compatible with the same stylus, you won’t find any difference in the actual drawing performance. The Apple Pencil 2 magnetically sticks to the top edge of the tablet where it charges wirelessly. Both iPad Pro and Air have appropriate wireless charging pads to enable this feature. Their compact form factor enables you to use easily use them in places such as buses and Airplane seats. In order to have a good drawing experience, your tablet should be powerful enough to handle large-resolution project files with hundreds of layers and shouldn’t lag when using the heaviest of texture brushes.
The previous version of the iPad Air only came with 4 GB of RAM which resulted in limitations on how many numbers of layers you can have. The very expensive 1 and 2 TB storage models of iPad Pro come with a massive 16 GB of RAM.
iPads, in general, are known for their long-lasting battery which can easily handle a full day of casual usage. Although the actual battery life depends on a lot of things including the screen size, resolution, and also apps you are using. Mind that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has the largest battery capacity but it also has a larger screen requiring more power. More storage is always better, considering the huge amount of space occupied by image and video files these days.
Having a good camera is essential for artists as it allows you to take pictures of something that you are gonna paint later, right on your tablet. Speakers are one of the first compromises that budget-focused tablets make, but that is not the case with the iPad Air.
The TouchID sensor is conveniently located on the top right side of the tablet-like in older iPhones. These iPads are not backward compatible, meaning they do not work with the first-generation Apple Pencil.
For artists who are already in the Apple ecosystem and own a Mac computer, iPads can be a great add-on. This is a very powerful tool that can be used to natively use the apple pencil with your desktop-based drawing apps.
There is also a third part Sidecar alternative called AstroPad which is specifically catered towards artists and has better screen mirror capabilities. – Wifi only, or Wifi+cellular Color – Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Blue, and Purple
With iPad Pro, you get multiple sizes and memory options but limited color choices But if you are someone who can appreciate a larger screen and a bigger drawing area and willing to somewhat compromise with portability for that, the 12.9 inch iPad is a better choice.
If you are getting these tablets for normal multimedia usage, the lack of ProMotion display is not that big of a deal. But when you are buying these devices as a drawing tablet, having and not having the 120Hz ProMotion display can be a deciding factor.
Now as we mentioned before, the iPad Air with its 60 Hz screen is good enough and still provides the best drawing tablet in that price range. But the iPad Pro with its ProMotion display feels smoother to draw and write on.
Even though the M2 is faster in comparison to M1 chip, but the thing is M1 is fast enough on its own and can handle anything you throw at it. If you ask us – our recommendation would be – “iPad Air is a good fit for hobbyists and casual artist who draws every once in a while. But if you are a full-time artist, we would highly recommend you get the Apple iPad Pro (Amazon).”
Other than the display, you should also keep in mind that the lower variant of the iPad Air comes with just 64Gb of onboard storage. With the iPad Air, even at this lower price, you are getting a tablet with identical display quality, same M1 processor, support for 2nd gen Apple Pencil, and similar accessories. If you are someone who wants a good drawing experience while saving some cash, you should for sure go with the new iPad Air (Amazon).
We say this for one simple reason and that is – iPad Pro has a 120Hz display which will provide you a better pen experience, after all that what matters the most for an artist.
iPad Air or iPad Pro? Design work
The main tasks that I will be using the iPad is for Adobe Fresco and Procreate to create vectors and illustrations that will be then refined on my iMac or Macbook.
Best iPad for graphic designers 2023
Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Add to that ProMotion high-refresh rate, P3 wide color, and True Tone, it’s far and away the best display on an iPad and a top pick for creatives. If you’re working with large files, you may also stand to benefit from the extra storage an iPad Pro offers with up to 2TB configurations available. Though not necessarily for graphic designers, the feature works with the device’s dual cameras, motion sensors, and frameworks to measure depth.
11-inch iPad Pro (2021) More portable choice Today’s Best Deals From $749 at Amazon Reasons to buy + More portable + Powerful M1 chip + Up to 2TB storage and 16GB RAM + Apple Pencil 2 support + Face ID + Thunderbolt port Reasons to avoid – Lacks mini-LED that the larger model offers – Still expensive – Replacement could be incoming It brings many of the same features found on the iPad Pro series but for a little bit less, including the super-speedy M1 chip and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. If you can live without the higher refresh rate of the iPad Pro and the mini-LED tech offered by the 12.9-inch model, the Air could be a good way to save some cash while still enjoying the features that matter most. As we mentioned above, the iPad Pro offers some advanced, AR-ready cameras, but those aren’t necessarily all that useful for graphic designers.
Apple’s most colorful tablet, the iPad Air (2022) is available in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue with 64GB or 256GB of storage. iPad Air 5 (2022) – 10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB Feel it in the Air Today’s Best Deals From $600 at Amazon Reasons to buy + Affordable price + M1 chip + Still has a large display + Apple Pencil 2 support + Choice of colors + USB-C port Reasons to avoid – No ProMotion or mini-LED – Touch ID instead of Face ID – Limited to 256GB of storage
Apple Pencil using color wheel tool in drawing app (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz / iMore) It does feature True Tone, which automatically adjusts white levels to match your ambient lighting, but misses out on the P3 wide color display found on every other iPad, as well as the ProMotion of the Pro models.
The display also isn’t fully laminated like the other models in the lineup meaning your taps and Pencil swipes feel a little more detached from the content on-screen. iPad (2021) Save cash with this selection Today’s Best Deals From $329 at Apple Reasons to buy + Excellent price + True Tone display Reasons to avoid – Smaller and lower quality display – Old-school design – Limited to Apple Pencil 1 support – Less powerful A13 Bionic chip – Lightning port
If you can get away with a larger device, it may well be worth spending the additional $100 to get the extra screen real estate and M1 chip of the iPad Air.
iPad mini 6 (2021) – Wi-Fi, 64GB, space gray Portable powerhouse Today’s Best Deals From $459 at Amazon Reasons to buy + Super-portable design + Speedy A15 chip + Apple Pencil 2 support + USB-C port Reasons to avoid – Pricey for its size – No Smart Connector It supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and includes a super-fast Thunderbolt port for hooking up extra storage or an external display — all of which will be a boon to designers.
The 5 Best iPads for Graphic Design in 2023 (October) – Artlex
Best Overall iPad Pro 12.9 5th Gen A high-end tablet offering a high-resolution display and fast M1 chip processor, ideal for professional graphic designers. A graphic designer must have a reliable and robust device to create, edit and showcase your work.
In the past few years, the iPad has become a popular choice for designers looking for a portable and versatile solution that can keep up with their workflow and the demands of their profession. With a high-resolution display, support for a pressure-sensitive stylus, and a pretty wide range of both professional and recreational (hobbyist) design apps, the iPad can be an excellent tool for everything from sketching and drawing to 3D modeling, 3D painting, and photo editing.
So, please stick with us as we guide you through the process of choosing the best Apple iPad for graphic design. In order to choose the best iPad for you, there are some factors you need to consider regarding specifications, usability, and expectations about these devices.
As a graphic designer, the size of the display you work on affects workflow in a few ways. It can also be helpful for making sketches, quick drafts, modifications, and presenting your work to clients.
Then we have the 8.3 iPad Mini, and although smaller screen sizes are more portable and easier to carry, they weigh much less, which is very useful if you need to work on the go. We don’t recommend going for this tablet with graphic design uses in mind since it’s very uncomfortable to draw on, it doesn’t have enough screen space for the apps to display correctly, and your hand can end up covering a big chunk of it while working. Apple doesn’t offer that many sizes to choose from, especially on the latest models since a couple of years ago. The iPadOS is generally compatible with a wide range of apps, including Illustrator, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Vectornator, and Photoshop, which work on the iPad while offering many of the same features as their desktop versions.
A higher resolution means the display can show more detailed and sharp images. However, that also guarantees better background performance, more effective resource management, and longer-lasting battery life. Most Apple Displays are IPS, better known for their wide viewing angles and good color accuracy.
In the iPad and Mac Pro, they use mini LED technology that offers very high contrast levels and wide color gamuts, making them a good option for professional use.
So if your work relies heavily on color accuracy, maybe getting an iPad for these kinds of tasks is not the best choice. iPad Pro models tend to offer the most powerful processors and are generally well-suited for running Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Design.
In particular, the M1 and M2 Chip found in the latest iPad Pro models (2022) provides excellent performance and can easily handle demanding tasks like vector graphics and complex layouts. On the other side, the 9th and 10th GGen iPad’s RAM does have limitations, especially when multitasking and working on big files. But if you plan on making real design work, it’s better to go for an Air or Pro Model.
A display with high color accuracy will play a key role in your work, but it can also be prejudicial for some professionals. It’s based on the DCI-P3 gamut we already know and is better suited for video editions, production, and web design. Not so long ago, with the latest iPadOS 16 updates, the M1 and M2 iPad Pro devices featured the “Reference Mode” attribute, a unique configuration that allows you to pretty much calibrate your iPad screen and tailor it to fit different color spaces, the major downside is that Adobe RGB, the most used color space by designers and the one that would help printed designs and CMYK based color spaces the most is not present in the list.
The 2nd generation though, has an improved pressure sensor, which can provide a more natural and responsive drawing experience. The major differences between these two styluses would be the compatibility and charging mode (magnetic for the 2nd Gen and wired for the 1st Gen), the addition of the double-tap feature on the second generation, and the design that makes it stay in place and not rotate and fall continuously.
Overall, the Apple Pencil 1 and 2 can be valuable tools for a designer, and which one is better will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
The Apple Pencil hover is a new feature available only for the 6th Gen iPad Pro, in which the iPad screen is able to detect the Stylus up to 12 mm over the display, adding a new level of depth and sensitivity to the stylus and screen, it is most useful for digital illustrators, painters, and artists in general.
Although it doesn’t suppose a significant improvement for design and vector apps at the moment, we are sure that this will change with further updates. Some models are much more than others, so choosing the right iPad will depend not only on your hardware needs but also on your budget limitations, especially when having graphic design and any creative endeavors in mind. Well, in order to make the most out of your device, you’ll need a Stylus which comes at its own cost, be it the first or second-generation Apple Pen. It offers a number of features that can be useful for graphic design, including a high-resolution display, a fast M1 chip processor that allows you to work quickly and efficiently without experiencing lag or slowdowns, a range of storage options up to 2TB, which can be especially helpful if you work with large or high-resolution images or files, as it allows you to keep all of your work on your iPad without having to worry about running out of space, and connectivity options, like WiFi 6 and cellular data. This is one of the best-quality drawing iPad, staying short of the best due to the Apple Pencil hover function’s lack, but making it to the top of our list due to the current price and the fact that aside from the hover function, there is not that much of a difference between this model and the latest. This iPad version comes with the best Apple processor yet, the M2 chip, which guarantees up to 35% better and faster graphics performance.
It also has the Apple Pencil hover feature, a brand-new characteristic that will have a permanent change in how creatives do their work. Further than that, there isn’t that much of a change from the latest model, nor an increase in the release price, so if you’re upgrading from the 3rd or 4th gen, this iPad might be worth it.
It also has a Lightning port for connecting to accessories like the 1st gen Apple Pen and charging. Its size makes it the most portable iPad for graphic design without compromising comfort and screen space. While it may not be as powerful as the iPad Pro models, it can still be useful for basic photo editing or design tasks.
The major downside for creatives and design professionals would be the Apple pencil’s weird compatibility, and we don’t mean it doesn’t work on this iPad but that now you need a charging adapter (USB-C to Lightning port) to connect and charge your stylus since the iPad 10 is not compatible with the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil.
It has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, a bit smaller than the Pro 11 version yet perfectly suitable for detailed design work and illustration. Powered by the M1 chip, which is based on the same chip architecture as the Macs and Pro iPad models, well suited for running design software and handling large files, as it allows you to work quickly and efficiently without experiencing lag or slowdowns. The iPad Air 5th gen supports WiFi 6 and features a USB-C port without the thunderbolt 4.0 connectivity like the Pro models. A fast processor is essential for running design software and handling large files, so you’ll want to look for an iPad with a powerful processor, like the M2, M1 chip, or the A14 Bionic chip if you work with large or high-resolution files, an iPad with plenty of storage is a must, as 256GB or 512GB would be enough. If you’re looking for the best performance and are willing to pay a premium price, the iPad Pro is a good choice. Suppose you’re looking for a more affordable option with good performance; in that case, the iPad Air may be a better fit, but if you’re a student or a beginner, then consider the iPad 9th or 10th gen as they are much more affordable, portable, and great for multitasking, note-taking and won’t hurt your pockets as much as the other models.
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