Which iPad is best for drawing?
Don’t let the minimalist exterior of an iPad fool you; these slim tablets are packed full of impressive tech. The seamless stylus support, unbeatable graphics, and relentless updates make iPads excellent options for both professional illustrators and hobbyists.
Buying an iPad for drawing might seem like a no-brainer, but which one should you choose? Over the years, Apple has released 33 iPads, so the options are endless. In this article, we look at the top 3 best iPads for drawing and graphic design.
2024 Update: iPad Pro (11-inch, 2024)
The newest iPad Pro was released on May 7, 2024, and it has quickly taken the digital drawing world by storm. To bring you the most accurate, up-to-date information, we’ve included it in our list of the best iPads for drawing.
Price: $999 – $2,599
Specs:
- Screen size: 11-inch
- Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches
- Weight: 1.03lb
- Resolution: 1668 x 2420
- Chip: M4
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Stylus: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro
Our thoughts:
The newest Apple release is extremely eye-catching, and not just because of its sleek, super slim body. It weighs just over one pound and, at just 5.3mm thick, it is the thinnest Apple tablet to date. On top of being aesthetically pleasing, this iPad has a host of powerful tech that is sure to streamline your drawing experience.
Despite only being on the market for a month or so, reviewers already claim that the new iPad Pro has the best and brightest display among all the Apple tablets. The Tandem OLED display has revolutionized the game by sandwiching two OLED panels together to deliver the most advanced experience yet, creating an Ultra Retina XDR OLED display. It is extremely crisp, with 1000 nits for SDR and HDR content and 1600 nits for peak HDR. In simple terms, this means extreme brightness, precise contrast, and amazing colors.
The M4 chip has a 10-core GPU that includes powerful features such as Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing, all features that are new to iPads. And, if you opt for the nano-textured glass option (which is only available for iPad Pro models that have 1TB or 2TB of storage), you will benefit from reduced glare.
Of course, the 10-core chip also guarantees a super-fast experience. Like all the iPad Pro models, the 2024 release has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, allowing you to work on animations, doodles, or professional graphic designs without worrying about lag.
The iPad Pro is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 and the new Apple Pencil Pro. Combined, the new iPad and Apple Pencil models are unparalleled tools for digital designers. The stylus comes with appealing features, including a gyroscope that enables a barrel roll gesture, sensors that support pinch actions, and a haptic engine that delivers vibrational feedback.
All in all, the Apple Pencil Pro is great for artists who want to improve their workflow on a microscopic level, working alongside the iPad Pro for the best experience possible. To make the deal even sweeter, the Apple Pencil Pro is available for the same price as the Apple Pencil 2 ($129).
Back to the star of the show: the iPad Pro. We’ve mentioned the 11-inch version because it’s cheaper, but if you want more drawing real estate, you can upgrade to the 13-inch version. $300 separates both base models, so it might be worth opting for the smaller screen.
Pros:
- The ultra-fast processing speed means you never have to worry about lag, allowing you to develop streamlined workflows.
- If you’re searching for a bright, color-accurate display, this tablet is the one for you.
- Take advantage of all the new features of the Apple Pencil Pro with this compatible iPad.
- No other tablet offers the same level of pixel-perfect precision.
Cons:
- Apple Pencils are sold separately, meaning you have to spend an additional $129 on top of the already expensive tablet.
- The extreme price tag is not realistic for most digital artists.
- This iPad is extremely thin and lightweight, but some artists prefer sturdier tablets.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022, M2)
Price: $1,099 for Wi-Fi only model with 128GB storage
Specs:
- Screen size: 12.9-inch
- Dimensions: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels
- Chip: M2
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
- Stylus: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil 3
Our thoughts:
In our book, the iPad Pro is the best iPad for drawing. While it’s slightly larger in size, we can’t overlook the other features. It is one of the most technologically advanced iPads on the market, so it comes with lots of features that set it apart from the competition.
To start with, the iPad Pro 2022 has an M2 chip. It is 18% faster than the M1, the Neural Engine (which controls processing tasks) is 40% faster, and the graphics processors are 35% faster. In other words, it is incredibly fast. Users can run their favorite graphic design software without worrying about lag.
Illustrators and graphic designers can enjoy up to 10 hours of battery life and a Liquid Retina XDR display that delivers high contrast and high brightness. The contrast ratio is 1,000,000:1, so color accuracy is guaranteed.
Of course, iPad users can also buy a compatible Apple Pencil stylus to make the most of their experience. The Apple Pencil 2 is one of the most responsive styluses in the world and, to make it even more appealing to drawers, it has pixel-perfect precision, tilt sensitivity, and pressure sensitivity.
Pros:
- M2 chip is a game-changer for illustrators and graphic designers who work with large files
- Unparalleled color accuracy and vibrancy
- Compatible with Apple Pencil 2
- Supports Apple Pencil hover
Cons:
- Size and weight are big negatives for some, especially those who want to travel with their iPads
- Price point is too steep for some
- Some users say that the battery life does not meet expectations, but this could be due to other issues, such as background apps draining the battery
- Apple Pencil 2 costs $129
iPad Air (2022, M1)
Price: $549 for Wi-Fi only model with 65GB
Specs:
- Screen size: 10.9-inch
- Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm
- Weight: 1.01 lbs
- Resolution: 2350 x 1640 pixels
- Chip: M1
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Storage: 64GB/256GB
- Stylus: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil 3
Our thoughts:
If you want to use an iPad for drawing, but you don’t want to splash the cash on a tablet that is almost as expensive as an Apple Mac, this could be the iPad for you. The iPad Air is the smaller sister to the Pro, but it still has a 10.9-inch screen. It is also lighter than its sibling, which makes all the difference to digital artists who suffer from wrist strain.
Besides that, this iPad still has a lot of similar features. It has sharp colors, quick processing speeds, and a broad range of graphic design and illustration apps. According to Apple, the battery life is 5 hours and 11 minutes. Although it does not cover a full 9-5 day of digital drawing work, artists across the globe still use the iPad Air.
It is fitted with an M1 chip, which is not as fast or technologically advanced as the M2 chip, and it has a refresh rate of 60Hz. The refresh rate is how many times per second the display can draw a new image. The difference is only slightly noticeable to the naked eye, but it might be more apparent to illustrators.
That being said, the M1 chip is still pretty advanced. It supports all sorts of power-hungry apps, including Illustrator, Procreate, and ArtRage.
Pros:
- Lightweight, which makes it easy to transport
- Premium finish
- Compatible with Apple Pencil 2
Cons:
- Very limited storage options
- No Face ID
- Does not support Apple Pencil hover
iPad Mini
Price: $499 for Wi-Fi only model with 64GB
Specs:
- Screen size: 8.3-inches
- Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.6 x 6.1mm
- Weight: 0.66 lbs
- Resolution: 2266 x 1488 pixels
- Chip: A15
- Storage: 64GB/256GB
- Stylus: Apple Pencil 1, Apple Pencil 2
Our thoughts:
The iPad Mini might seem like a wild card, but it is our best iPad for drawing on the go. True to the name, this tablet is compact and easy to handle. Artists can take this iPad on their daily commute, or even further afield.
The A15 Bionic chip can’t compare to the M1 or M2 chips, but it is still impressive. It is 40% faster than the A12 chip, and the built-in Neural Engine can perform 15.8 trillion operations per second. In real-life terms, this means that artists can use any drawing software on the super-sharp Liquid Retina display.
Drawers can also take advantage of the iPad Mini’s compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2, which is widely considered to be the preferred choice for illustrators and graphic designers. Some iPad models (such as the 10th Gen iPad) are not compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, so the iPad Mini wins brownie points from us.
Pros:
- Easy to transport and use on your travels
- Compatible with Apple Pencil 2
Cons:
- Does not have a M1 or M2 processor, so it is not as fast
- Smaller screen size might disrupt your workflow
- Users report that the battery drains quicker than expected
Final Thoughts
There you have it, our top 3 best iPads for drawing.
The prices vary massively, from $499 for the iPad Mini to $1,099 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and these are just the base rates. The price points can be persuasive, but so can the specs. In the end, it depends on your workflow. Do you plan on spending an entire day drawing on your iPad? Or do you just want to doodle as a hobby?
If you want a comprehensive drawing tablet, our recommendation is the 2022 iPad Pro. The iPad Air is a more affordable (albeit a tiny bit slower) alternative, and the iPad Mini is the best option for creatives who want to draw while they travel.
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Turn your iPad into a professional drawing tablet with Astropad Studio. Compatible with both Mac and PC, Astropad Studio allows you to mirror your favorite desktop creative apps onto your iPad and use your Apple Pencil as the input device.
Plus, you can completely customize your workflows with features built specifically for artists:
- Magic Gestures – Instantly change tools with fully customizable finger tap and Apple Pencil gestures.
- Shortcut Sidebar – Customizable sidebar shortcuts allow you to quickly access your favorite tools and automatically match whatever desktop application you’re using.
- Pressure Curves and Smoothing – Choose between hard and soft pressure curves and adjust your level of pressure smoothing to match your workflows.
Astropad Studio is compatible with all of your favorite creative programs including Illustrator, Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Blender, Zbrush, and more!
