Best iPad for Graphic Design

When it comes to acquiring an Apple iPad, graphic artists have a few options. Choosing and shopping for the best iPad is like being a kid in a sweet shop, as there are many options. Apple’s iPads have gotten updated fully across the board, and doodling on them has gone from just being a fun curiosity to one of the best digital art activities available.

iPads have gotten power boosts in many locations, but not everyone can afford the most updated technology. Still, an earlier iPad can be a wonderful budget-friendly drawing pad. To help you find the best one available for your personal needs, we created a detailed list comparing all the possible options in the market.

The 13-inch iPad Pro

The thinnest Apple iPad ever 13-inch iPad Pro (updated in May, 2024) will help you create second-to-none art pieces, vector projects, and much more. Paired with the matching cutting-edge Apple Pencil Pro it will provide the most stunning results even with the most capable 2D and 3D designing apps. The amount of space to work with depends on your budget opportunities, varying from 256GB to 2TB. Its large size allows having a detailed look at different elements of your design products, promising a fantastic view and excellent experience. If you wish to compare more than two different models, you can also use Apple’s comparison tool for a more in-depth technical overview.

Pros

Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro is the company's thinnest, most current, and most functional tablet with an all-screen design and the newest Apple M4 chip with Apple’s fastest Neural Engine ever.

This iPad has a new Ultra Retina XDR display, the industry-leading color precision display that results in clean, deformation-free margins. When you add in True Tone, which regulates the brightness levels automatically to make the display appear more natural, it is evident that this is the ideal option for creators, artists, and designers.

This iPad also has up to 2TB of capacity and up to 16GB RAM, which is extremely useful for heavy design projects.

Cons

• Quite expensive, costs as much as some MacBooks
• 11.09 inches long and 8.48 inches wide, so can be too large to carry with you all the time

Cost

The 13-inch iPad Pro is Apple’s most expensive tablet at present, costing somewhere between US$1,299 to US$2,599 depending on specifications.

The 11-inch iPad Pro

There is an M4 11-inch iPad Pro (updated in May, 2024) if one likes plenty about the 13-inch iPad Pro except for its size. Paired with the Apple pencil or any suitable alternative will make a great toolkit for inspiration-on-the-go without losing any of the quality in graphics.

Pros

The specifications of this tablet are identical to those of the top pick, but it has a smaller area. It has a lightning-fast Apple M4 chip with up to 10 core CPU and Neural Engine.

Though the 11-inch iPad Pro is a downgrade in size it offers a significant discount, and this model’s Ultra Retina XDR display is quite impressive, with OLED technology and nano-texture glass option for the first time on iPad Pro.

The compact size of this iPad may entice users who value portability over screen size and desire an iPad they can take with them everywhere they go. The model saves all the Pro features, including Stage Manager and Reference Mode from its bigger brother. The battery life on this iPad is also quite excellent, so one should be able to rely on it for a full day of use before needing to recharge.

Cons

• Still quite expensive
• Smaller screen

Cost

The 11-inch iPad Pro is pricey, ranging from US$999 to US$2,299.

The iPad Air

Generally, the iPad Air (spring 2024) is the greatest all-purpose iPad with the impressive M2 chip. It includes support for the all-new Apple Pencil Pro (or an alternative to it, the choice is up to you) and many of the same capabilities as the iPad Pro series, but at a lower price. Not only does it please the user, but also stands out as an eye-candy, providing the designer with impeccably stylish gismo. Moreover, you can now choose between an 11-inch and an all-new 13-inch iPad Air, each with a gorgeous, high-resolution Liquid Retina display.

Pros

The iPad Air (spring 2024) is blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, featuring 128GB or 1TB internal memory. Apple M2 chip with a 64-bit design and a Neural Engine gets found within. It is one of the most advanced and useful tablets ever created. It also has the finest display. The 13- or 11-inch Liquid Retina display features advanced technologies like True Tone, P3 wide color, and an antireflective coating. The screen resolution is 2732 by 2048-pixel at 264 pixels per inch. Every of these updated display characteristics can make the designer purr from pleasure while working.

Cons

It is important to note that the 60Hz screen reaction rate is exactly half as much as the iPad Pro’s 120Hz when it comes to drawing. Because of the difference in sensitivity, one might notice a difference if they sketch quickly, but so far, there are no complaints heard or reported by artists. iPad Air with M2 chip is less powerful compared to iPad Pro with M4 chip and has less options at screen modifications (no nano-texture glass option).

Cost

The iPad Air’s price ranges from US$599 for the basic 11-inch model to US$1,499 for the most powerful 13-inch one.

The iPad Mini

The smallest option iPad mini has an edge to edge 8.3-inch screen and weighs barely 0.65-0.66 pounds. This option contains an A15 processor, a True Tone display, and the Apple Pencil 2 compatibility. Though you can always opt for an Apple Pencil alternative to save some resources. It comes with a storage capacity of 64GB and 256GB. If you only start your designer career, need to combine several vocations at the moment or are a student working a part-time job—it’s perfect for you.

Pros

• Fits in a pocket, but still supports Apple Pencil 2

Cons

• For its size, it is quite pricey
• There is no support for smart connectors

Cost

The price range of the iPad mini is between US$499 and US$799.

The iPad 10.9

The iPad will always be known by its distinct name. The standard iPad, which will always get referred to as the first iPad, is currently in its tenth iteration updated in October, 2022. The perfect on-a-budget solution for anyone who wants to try out designing without being a hundred percent sure it will become the vocation of a lifetime. And if you were hungry for more colors—there are the four new gorgeous finishes!

Pros

The iPad has a 10.9-inch display and up to 256Gb internal memory and is cheaper compared to any other new iPad out there. Touch ID, compatibility with the first-generation Apple Pencil, and the Smart Keyboard are all included. You can find an A14 Bionic chip on board for longer productivity hours than before.

It has an updated Liquid Retina display along with True Tone technology to make your designer work even more comfortable.

Cons

• Only the first-generation Apple pencil is supported.
• This iPad doesn't support the Stage Manager feature.

Cost

The iPad 10.9’s price ranges from US$349 to US$649.

Conclusion

With an iPad, users have the freedom to design wherever they choose. It is lightweight, the battery lasts a long time, and the screen resolution is ideal for art and design. Why should artists get an iPad? Mainly because of its functionality.

Users can design and create using an iPhone, but not as conveniently, as it has a small screen and cannot pair with the Apple Pencil. But since the possibility of syncing the work on all Apple devices is important to many designers, Amadine offers a version for iPhone as well. And don’t forget that the experience of drawing with a pressure sensitive stroke can also be achieved with the Mac version of the app, as you can always connect a Wacom or any other drawing tablet to your Mac and enjoy drawing with the digital pen.

Choosing an iPad for design should be considered as a long-term investment, so you have to thoroughly weigh up all available options and decide which of them will meet your specific needs best. A new iPad 10.9 may be purchased for as low as US$349 and would be a perfect budget option, while the most powerful iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro and M4 chip will cost US$2,728 and will let you make the best of the latest Apple developments for creatives.