Over the years – iPads with its precise Apple pencil and exclusive procreate app have become an essential tool in creating stunning digital artwork, graphic design, illustration, and more.
Thin, powerful and portable, They make a fantastic alternative or complement to the traditional drawing tablets, especially when you consider that they can be used for more than just drawing.
However, Buying an iPad isn’t as straightforward as it should be. With so many iPad models and configurations, it can be hard to decide which iPad is best for drawing.
Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, choosing the right tablet for drawing is crucial for enhancing your artwork.
Below are my recommendations for the best iPad for drawing and providing key information on their features and capabilities. I hope this detailed buying guide helps you find the right one for your art, too!
What makes Apple iPads good for Drawing?
For artists who prioritize mobility, the iPad offers the perfect blend of performance, portability, and features that suit their on-the-go creative lifestyle.
Portability: Traditional display drawing tablet like wacom cintiq may also feature a screen that you draw on but must be connected to a computer to work, which greatly limits their portability.
The iPad is quite a powerful computer in its own right and is very portable, even the lrrgest 13” pro version, which is good for someone who wants to be able to draw a little wherever they are.
It is large enough to work with yet small enough that you will actually take it with you on your travels, to the coffee shop, to school on a cruise etc. And it’s cozy to use in home while sitting on your favorite chair in front of the fireplace.
Apple Pencil Support: The Apple Pencil supports tilt, pressure and palm rejection. It is sensitive and have accurate tracking, offersthe best-in-class accuracy and speed that makes drawing becomes more like a traditional medium.
Apple Ecosystem: For those who prefer to work within the Apple ecosystem or already have a MacOS computer and iphone, the iPad is the best choice.
Apple has an ecosystem with many shared features such as AirDrop, iCloud, etc, Allowing you to connect the ipad with your macOS computer & iPhone seamlessly.
In addition, You can even use ipad as drawing tablet for Mac through a series of mirroring apps like Astropad Studio, Duet Display, or Sidecar, very handy.
Excellent Battery Life: Apple iPad tends to get the best battery life on the tablet market, offering up to 10 hours of usage, as it does with almost every model. This allows you to draw as you like while you are on the go.
Exclusive drawing Apps: At just $12.99 USD, Many says that Procreate is the best drawing & illustration app ever to appear on any tablet.
To let you know, iPad is the only way you’ll be able to use the Procreate app since that one is exclusive to iPad OS and doesn’t available on other platforms like android and Windows.
Versatility: Since either tablet will do more than the job for drawing you need to look into what you also want to do with the tablet, are you going to do other multimedia stuffs on it, such as video editing, movies, reading, music, etc when you aren’t drawing?
If you are doing more multimedia stuff then iPad may be a better choice for you. They have more apps for that purpose that work better than any of the android drawing tablets.
The Best iPads for Drawing, Sketching, and Digital Art of 2025
When choosing the best iPad for drawing in 2025, it’s important to understand the differences between each model.
1. iPad Pro (2024)
The iPad Pro stands as the best overall choice for artists who prioritize high-level performance, a better display, and advanced features for drawing and graphic design. And that reflects in its price.
The iPad Pro is available in two sizes, 11 inches, and 13 inches. The 11 inch iPad Pro is the perfect size for those who want a portable yet powerful drawing device, whereas the 13 inch iPad Pro is more suited for those who appreciate a larger drawing area.
The main draw is the stunning Ultra Retina XDR OLED display, with its inky blacks, bright whites, amazing colors, precise contrast, sharp 2K resolution and extreme brightness of 1600 nits for peak HDR.
You get the latest desktop-level M4 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, meaning you can work quickly, start applications fast, and run many at once.
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.
The iPad Pro is compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro. It is the most advanced stylus in the market with best-in-class stylus tracking, plus a well-balanced pressure and tilt sensitivity, giving you the ultimate stylus experience.
The newer Pencil Pro also comes with more appealing features, including a gyroscope that enables a barrel roll gesture, sensors that support pinch actions, and a haptic engine that delivers vibrational feedback.
The speedy 120Hz refresh rate makes creation more enjoyable because it’ll refresh the images faster as you draw, making it feel more like pencil and paper.
Plus, the 1TB and 2TB models come with nano-glass, a texturized glass front that prevents glare no matter what environment you’re in.
On the downside, the iPad Pro, especially the 13-inch model is very expensive and is a hefty investment that is not for everyone. However, it’s worth considering if you’re serious about digital art.
2. iPad Air (2024)
The iPad Air (2024) is the sweet spot for most people. It features a large 11-inch or 13-inch screen, a fast M2 chip, works with the Apple Pencil Pro, and has more base storage than the previous model.
Although this iPad Air doesn’t sport an OLED display, its Liquid Retina panel is both bright and colorful. Sure, an OLED option would’ve been nice.
The OLED screen in electronic stuff it is something revolutionary IMO opinion. The blacks, overall contrast and the lower power consumption of using dark theme, it is awesome.
Thanks to the addition of Apple M2, the iPad Air 2024 is now on par with 2022’s iPad Pro. That’s not to say the Air is now a Pro replacement, but the power gap is considerably smaller.
The iPad Air also supports the newest Apple Pencil Pro, providing enhanced stylus precision and functionality.
However, There are some limitations even compared to the iPad Pro 2022: The air screen offers only 60Hz refresh rate. This makes drawing with Procreate not quite as smooth and natural as on the iPad Pro with 120Hz refresh rate.
Luckily, It offers a solid amount of base storage. The entry-level M2 iPad Air provides 128 GB of storage to start, doubling the 64 GB that the entry-level M1 Air offered. You now have four storage options to choose from: 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB, in addition to 128 GB.
Ultimately, the 11-inch or 13-inch iPad Air is still an overall excellent tablet for the artist who values both affordability and performance. Creativity unleashed, without breaking the bank.
3. iPad Mini 7 (2024)
If you’re looking for a device you can take wherever you go, the iPad Mini 7 (2024) is definitely worth considering.
The latest iPad mini 7 is essentially the same as the previous 8.3-inch mini 6 model, adding a faster processor, more RAM, additional storage and color options, and support for Apple’s AI features.
The iPad Mini 7’s smaller size makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list.
Though small, the Mini packs a surprising amount of power with its powerful A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, easily handling any demanding drawing apps without a hitch.
Additionally, the high-resolution 2K Liquid Retina display makes your artwork looks vivid and detailed. The screen is fully laminated and has anti-reflective and fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatings.
Artists can also take advantage of the iPad Mini’s compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, which is widely considered to be the preferred choice for illustrators and graphic designers.
It is very comfortable to use one-handed for prolonged periods. Some artists also prefer to have iPad Mini as their secondary drawing tablet, especially for times when they are on the move. People also often buy it as a gift for kids with smaller hands.
But remember, big things come in small packages. The Mini 7’s screen, while beautiful, can feel cramped for complex projects and detailed brushwork.
4. iPad 10th Gen (2022)
For beginner artists or those on a budget, the iPad 10th Gen (2022) is still a good option for drawing, offering a solid balance of performance, affordability, and usability.
With a modern all-screen design, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, and four appealing colors, iPad 10th Gen provides a powerful way to get things done, create, and more.
Although the color accuracy and resolution aren’t as good as other models on this list, The 2K Liquid retina display on this ipad still delivers a crisp, vibrant canvas for artists to create on.
The speedy A14 Bionic chip offers sufficient power to enable efficient drawing using various art applications, such as Procreate, Adobe Fresco and affinity designer.
Additionally, the iPad 10th gen is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, encouraging accurate, pressure-sensitive drawing.
It’s missing some obvious things though which is why it’s considered bad value. Forx example, With 4GB of RAM, it’s the lowest on the list. The storage is limited to 64GB and 256GB options only. It’s not compatible with the superior stylus like Apple Pencil 2 or Apple Pencil Pro.
Furthermore, the display is not laminated. Therefore, when working with the Apple Pencil, you may sometimes get the impression that the display is not directly touched, which can be a bit bothersome during drawing.
Finally, If you can live with slightly less performance and have no issue with the older design, the 10.2-inch iPad 9 is also a good option.
Factors to consider when choosing an iPad for drawing
When selecting the best iPad for drawing, consider screen quality, performance, accessory compatibility, and portability. Your choice should align with your specific drawing needs and budget.
1. Screen Size and Portability
Portability is one of the great things that the iPad offers consumers. Being able to use it anywhere makes it preferable to traditional drawing tablets.
However, A larger iPad naturally offers more space because of its larger screen, but it also makes the tablet harder to carry and heavier than its smaller brothers.
2. Screen Quality
Display quality is crucial for accurate color representation and detail in artwork, making it essential to choose iPads with vibrant and high-resolution screens. This is particularly important for artists, illustrators, and graphic designers.
Screen Resolution: Resolution defines how many details it can display. A high screen resolution means more pixel density, which results in finer detail and increased clarity of the pictures or content displayed.
Color Gamut: The color gamut of an imaging system refers to the range of colors it can reproduce. A wider color gamut allows a more accurate representation of a broader spectrum of colors.
All the newest iPad have comparable screen quality, but the M4 iPad Pro 2024 with its state-of-the-art OLED Display stands out!
Thanks to the OLED technology, the blacks are richer, the overall colour is warmer, and the display is, overall, just nicer than the older M2 version.
3. Refresh Rate
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.
If you are a professional artist, You should consider getting an iPad Pro model (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, etc) with ProMotion tech that has 120hz refresh rate. It is specifically required (imho) for drawing to feel the most realistic.
4. Performance
A powerful processor provides smooth and lag-free drawing experiences.
In terms of power and performance, A-series chipset are not as fast or technologically advanced as the M-series chip.
Newer iPad Pros or Airs have faster M-series processors and can handle more complex tasks without stuttering or slowing down.
Drawing is not the most intensive task an iPad can perform, so this isn’t necessarily a factor.
However, if you’re working with very high-resolution files or plan on using your iPad for other creative tasks in addition to drawing, you’ll want to make sure your tablet has enough power to efficiently load and display files.
5. Working Memory (RAM)
RAM, measured in gigabytes (GB), is a temporary memory used by your iPad to store data it’s working on at the moment so it can access them very quickly.
The higher your iPad’s RAM, the more layers you can work within your favorite drawing apps, such as Procreate, Adobe Fresco, and Affinity Designer.
6. Storage
64GB is enough for an artist who is diligent in uploading every single file to the cloud or backup.
If you’re not that artist and you like to have years of art on hand, you’re better off getting more storage.
128–256GB is a good storage range for average Apple iPad use, like drawing and saving large files and a few large apps.
For animations, or even video editing, you need more storage capacity, ranging from 512GB to 2TB.
7. Stylus Compatibility
Although sold separately, The Apple Pencil is essential for drawing. Different iPads are compatible with different versions of the Apple Pencil.
So you must make sure the Apple Pencil you choose is compatible with your iPad otherwise it might not work properly or might not work at all.
There are now four different Apple Pencil models: Apple Pencil (1st generation), Apple Pencil (2nd generation), Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro.
In terms of drawing or pen performance, Apple Pencil Pro> Apple Pencil (2nd generation) > Apple Pencil (1st generation) > Apple Pencil (USB-C).
The newer one is a bit more expensive, but also features some updates from the original. The Pro is Apple’s latest, having been revealed alongside the new iPad Pro in May 2024. Currently, it will only work on new 2024 models, including the refreshed iPad Air.
Unlike other models of Apple Pencil, the low(er) cost USB-C Pencil does not feature pressure sensitivity, making it worse than the 1st-gen Pencil for the iPad 9th or 10th-gen.
8. Battery Life
Battery life is important if you like to draw on the go, where you don’t have a readily available power outlet.
All the latest generation iPads are rated by Apple for the same 10-hour battery life. However, actual battery life varies greatly depending on what you’re doing.
The advanced M-series chips are very efficient, but the extra power means that sustained heavy loads will drain the battery faster than sporadic, light tasks on older iPad designs.
9. Charging Options
You should also consider your charging cable. All newer iPads use a standard USB-C port for charging, so they’re compatible with other USB-C smartphone chargers and Thunderbolt accessories.
Older iPads, however, use Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. If you have an older iPhone with a Lightning connector and have plenty of chargers handy, this might not be a big deal, but if you’re trying to move all your devices to USB-C, it’s.
10. Connectivity
WiFi connectivity is the default condition for any iPad, however, Apple offers to upgrade this by paying a bit more and getting cellular connectivity (5G), and that is a step ahead regarding portability, since having cellular connectivity implies you can draw, work and share your art from anywhere, anytime.
You can use your phone’s hotspot in a pinch, but I would highly recommend having cellular connectivity if you can spring for it.
11. Price and Budget
Buying an iPad as an artist is all about balance between the features we need and the ones we can afford.
Apple is the big name in the standalone drawing tablet world and as such, products by this company tend to be the very best you can buy, but also the most expensive.
The latest generation of high-end iPads can cost well over $1,000, and some can cost over $2,000 with the most storage available.
Apple charges a lot for internal storage, so consider buying the base configuration and upgrading it with a large, fast external drive.
If you have a budget set for an iPad, and you’re serious about digital art, then saving up a bit more for an Air or a Pro model would be the best you can do.
if you are an artist on a budget, you can get an iPad for much less. For example, the 9th gen or 10th-gen iPad costs just a few hundred dollars. That’s a sacrifice you’ll have to make to get that lower price, which may or may not be important to you.
Which iPad is best for Drawing?
The best iPad for drawing is typically the iPad Pro 2024, known for their 120Hz ProMotion OLED displays, Apple Pencil pro compatibility, and powerful M-series processors.
These features enable smooth drawing experiences with minimal latency, essential for precise and responsive digital artwork creation.
Which is the most affordable IPad for drawing beginners on a budget?
The Regular iPad (10th Generation) is much better than the previous gen but still lacks laminated screen, has limited RAM and storage, still is also very affordable and has a decent processing power.
The other option is getting a older model of the iPad Air or Pro. Again, the older models will have slightly worse performance and features, doesn’t support the latest generation Apple Pencil, but they will be much cheaper.
What are the best drawing apps for iPad?
Good apps for sketching, drawing and painting on an iPad include Procreate, Adobe Fresco, SketchBook pro, Clip Studio Paint, Infinite Painter, Ibis Paint X, and Medibang Paint (free).
These apps offer a wide range of tools, brushes, and features for detailed and professional artwork.
Which iPads have Procreate?
Most iPads are compatible with Procreate, though the app currently lists that it’s compatible with iPadOS 15.4.1 or later.
Should I Get a Matte Screen Protector for Drawing With an iPad?
It depends on you. Most matte screen protectors in the market reduce the gloss of the screen but create more traction for the pen. This gives you more control over your drawing, and the paperlike feel is more natural.
Conclusion
Having the right tools is very important for every artist, and Apple has brought us some of the most reliables devices for us to grow our abilities and careers.
Apple’s iPad has long been better than any other tablet you can buy, and each new iPad is a little better than the last.
These slim tablets are packed full of impressive tech. The seamless stylus support, unbeatable screen, and relentless updates make iPads excellent options for both professional illustrators and hobbyists.
When choosing the right iPad for your digital art work, it’s important to consider your budget, artistic style, workflow, and personal preferences.
Whether you’re looking for the absolute best iPad for drawing, the easiest one to throw in a bag, or the most affordable model for basic doodling, there’s a suitable device on my list for every artist and budget.
So, don’t hesitate to try one of the iPads on this list and experience the benefits of sketching & drawing on the go.
