When looking for the best iPad for Procreate available on the market right now, you might need to put in some thought based on your personal needs. Here’s a detailed breakdown on the best iPad for artists to let their creative side run wild.
Artists are the essence of the human civilization, and long before we could even communicate, there has been the art of creativity etched all over in the form of cave paintings. From the masterpiece by Michelangelo to the creativity exhibited by graphic designers and modern painters – we certainly have come a long way. Technology certainly has been pivotal in allowing the creative minds to express themselves on the digital canvas, in the form of drawing pads that have made it possible for designers and artists alike to effortlessly create artwork in the form of sketches, drawings, beautiful designs, and so much more.
When the Apple iPad was first released, it was meant to be a family-friendly entertainment device, but as the demand for tablets has diminished Apple has directed it towards the creative audience. With the release of the very first Apple iPad Pro in 2017, along with Apple Pencil drawing stylus, users finally had a mainstream tablet for artists that were not only aesthetically pleasing but had the features to back it. A complementing feature to the Apple iPad has been a suite of apps for artists, one of which is Procreate by Savage Interactive, that has taken the world of designing by storm.
Guide to the Best iPad for Procreate
The award-winning app for iOS has been around from even before the iPad Pro came out, allowing artists to reproduce paintings, digital sketches, and some powerful illustrations on the move. However, for someone who has just gotten the hang of the virtual design studio app, deciding which one is the best iPad for artists can be a nightmare, especially with not many variants to pick from.
After days of reviewing the hardware specifications, understanding the software features of the older, and the newer models of the iPad and iPad Pro, we came to the conclusion that when it comes to the best iPad for Procreate one size does not fit all. The choice you will end up making to stoke your creative side with the help of an Apple iPad, entirely depends on the usage pattern you have. Here’s a detailed look at the current offerings from Apple, and which one is the best-suited choice for you to make.
Apple iPad Pro 2020 (12.9-inch) – The Big Screen Beaxst
Specs:
- Display – 12.9in 2732 × 2048 LCD with ProMotion, P3, and True Tone
- Processor – A12Z Bionic 8-core with Neural Engine
- RAM – 6 GB
- ROM – 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
- Camera – 12 MP wide, ƒ/1.8 + 10 MP ultra-wide, ƒ/2.4 with quad-LED flash – 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 front TrueDepth
- OS – Apple iPadOS 13.4
- Battery – 9720 mAh (~10 hours web / music / video on Wi-Fi)
- Dimensions / Weight – 280.6×214.9×5.9mm / 643g
If you ever wondered what it would be like to own a MacBook Pro with a touch screen, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch is the answer you seek. Possibly being the largest, most powerful tablet computer in the market today that is marketed as a laptop replacement that isn’t really a laptop, the iPad Pro is a sleek sheet of aluminum and glass glued shut together with all of the hardware prowess in between that you could ask for. Sporting the revered Liquid Retina display that brings in a sharpened color accuracy to the pictures all around the edge-to-edge screen, it is the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate that takes it all to the next level.
Designed to work seamlessly with the Apple Pencil 2, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2020 variant cuts the word with the wireless magnetic charging pad for the stylus on the side. In collaboration with the ProMotion display, the dynamic refresh rate speeds things up when operating designing apps such as Procreate, and automatically slows it all down when enjoying a video on the extra-large screen. In terms of processing power, the A12Z Bionic chip packed inside is an octa-core variant of the same one found in the 2018 model, makes photo editing, sketching and digital painting slippery smooth.
- The largest screen size makes it one of the best iPad for Procreate and illustration apps.
- ProMotion 120 Hz dynamic display with True Tone color reproduction for 123% sRGB color reproduction.
- Powerful A12Z Bionic chipset can rival laptop-grade processors and efficiently runs the device for almost 10 hours of screen on time.
- Premium dual camera setup for wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle photography, along with a LiDAR sensor to support an immersive augmented reality experience.
- The most expensive iPad ever made.
- Magic Keyboard accessory weighs almost double of the iPad itself.
Apple iPad Pro 2020 (11-inch) – Best tablet Apple’s for artists.
Specs:
- Display – 11-in 2388 × 1668 LCD with ProMotion, P3, and True Tone
- Processor – A12Z Bionic 8-core with Neural Engine
- RAM – 6 GB
- ROM – 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
- Camera – 12 MP wide, ƒ/1.8 + 10 MP ultra-wide, ƒ/2.4 with quad-LED flash – 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 front TrueDepth
- OS – Apple iPadOS 13.4
- Battery – 7538 mAh (~10 hours web / music / video on Wi-Fi)
- Dimensions / Weight – 247.6×178.5×5.9mm / 471g
If the 13-inch monstrosity of an iPad is too large for your liking, and you’re only looking for a portable device that fits within the category of the best iPad for artists and designers, the iPad Pro 11-inch variant is the way to go. Just a tad bit larger than the iPad Air, yet significantly more powerful and feature-packed, the iPad Pro 11-inch is not, by any means, a compromise when it comes down to the performance. You still get the ultra-HD resolution with the vivid and crisp Liquid Retina display, supported by the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate that is the epitome of artistic expectations from a 2020 tablet.
Despite the smaller display screen and smaller battery capacity, you will still be able to enjoy around 10 hours of screen-on time from the iPad Pro, as the similar A12Z Bionic chips fire up every pixel-pushing task in the foreground and the background. Since you get the similar iPhone-esque camera setup on the back of the iPad Pro 11-inch variant and Face ID at the front for an edge-to-edge display, there isn’t much you’re compromising on by not picking the larger variant. While it is more affordable than its 12.9-inch cousin and certainly lighter too, it is by no means a cheaper alternative, cutting no corners whatsoever.
- Cheaper than the iPad Pro 12.9-inch version.
- Same hardware and software as the larger variant, so you don’t end up missing out on any of the flagship features.
- Lighter to carry around, making it the perfect fit as a secondary portable designing and illustration device.
- Supports the newer and lighter Apple Pencil 2 with wireless charging magnet mount on the side for easy management.
- A bit pricey despite being smaller than the flagship version.
- Premium (yet essential) accessories need to be separately purchased
Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch) – best iPad for Procreating Light and Powerful
Specs:
- Display – 10.5-in 2224 × 1668 LCD with P3 and True Tone
- Processor – A12 Bionic 7-core
- RAM – 3 GB
- ROM – 64 GB / 256 GB
- Camera – 8 MP wide, ƒ/2.4 with dual-LED flash – 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 front
- OS – Apple iPadOS 13.4
- Battery – 8134 mAh (~10 hours web / music / video on Wi-Fi)
- Dimensions / Weight – 250.6×174.1×6.1mm / 456g
Back in the day when Apple released the iPad Air, it was meant to be nothing more than a premium, yet lighter version of the mainstream tablet, but the 2019 reboot does so much more, giving it a spot on the list for the best iPad for Procreate and other designing apps. Coming in hot at a screen size of 10.5 inches, it is relatively larger than the basic 9.7-inch iPad model, and almost matching the premium iPad Pro 11-inch of 2020. Right off the bat, the larger screen, in combination with the Liquid Retina display and the 100% sRGB color saturation ratio, but there’s no ProMotion feature here to give you the fluidic smoothness of the 120Hz refresh rate that the premium iPad Pro variant is loved and adored for.
What the iPad Air loses in the form of its display, the tablet more than makes up with the A12 chipset, which may not rival the A12Z Bionic variant, but certainly does stand down either. Running even the more process-intensive apps and services all at once does not see to faze the iPad Air one bit, and the compatibility of the Apple Pencil 1 is just the right tool to wield for all of your drawing and illustration needs. Albeit, the iPad Air 1029 design is the same that it has been since 2013, which makes look a bit dated, and larger bezels increases to overall form factor too, but the fact that it weighs feathery light enough to be easily carried around anywhere, is only made better by the budget-friendly price at which it is offered.
- The best iPad for Procreate on a budget that balances features and price.
- Powerful A12 processor that can still take on any Android tablet in the market right now.
- True Tone display with Liquid Retina gives back rich color reproduction.
- Large screen size for the affordable price makes it an effective designing table to be used on the go.
- The lack of ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate screen is a step back from the iPad Pro, which makes it less suited for illustrations and sketching.
- iPad Air does not support the newer Apple Pencil 2 which comes with a better design and features wireless charging for ease of use.
Apple iPad Mini (7.9-inch) – Best Budget Ipad
Specs:
- Display – 7.9-in 2048 × 1536 LCD with P3 and True Tone
- Processor – A12 Bionic 7-core
- RAM – 3 GB
- ROM – 64 GB / 256 GB
- Camera – 8 MP wide, ƒ/2.4 with dual-LED flash – 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 front
- OS – Apple iPadOS 13.4
- Battery – 5124 mAh (~10 hours web / music / video on Wi-Fi)
- Dimensions / Weight – 203.2×134.8×6.1mm / 300g
After the immense success of the original iPad in 2010, there was a market segment that wanted a smaller variant of the tablet, and that’s where the iPad Mini showed up. Over the years, the demand for tablets, in general, has fallen dramatically, let alone the 7.9-inch iPad Mini, which is why Apple stopped releasing a new version of it until the 2019 version showed up. Packing a laminate screen over the Liquid Retina display, changed the image of the iPad Mini from being an obsolete tablet, into one of the best iPad for artists that was ultra-portable and, yet packed with enough hardware prowess to take on heavy-duty apps.
When comparing the Apple iPad Mini and the iPad Air side by side, the only differentiating factor is the display size, which may not be the best for full-fledged sketching and general illustrations, but would certainly be more comfortable to hold and use on the subway or on a bus ride. The A12 Bionic processor is adequate enough to manage renders, motion images, and even some video editing, while the compatibility with the Apple Pencil 1 ensures that you always have a screen to doodle over, no matter where you are. Yet, it is the lowest priced iPad on the list, so that artists and designers can creatively express themselves on the smaller digital canvas.
- Pocket size tablet with all of the hardware and software features of the big guns.
- Lower price point despite having identical specs of the iPad Air 2019 model.
- Support for Apple Pencil 1 to allow illustrations and sketching in the Procreate app.
- The screen size is way too small to make it one of the best iPad for artists if they plan to use it primarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Which is the best iPad for drawing?
While professional artists would argue that there are far superior drawing tablets available on the market compared to the Apple iPad, there’s no denying the fact that the latest generation of iPad Pro 2020 excels when it comes to sketches and drawings. Since the Apple Pencil 2 is only compatible with the newer iPad Pro variants, you will need it to make the most out of the sensitive stylus that at effectively recognizes tilt and pressure when applied to the True Tone display. Additionally, the high sRGB ratio and a whopping 120Hz refresh rate of the screen makes it ideal for illustrations and motion graphics of all sorts.
2- Can I use Procreate without Apple Pencil?
Although the people behind Procreate have designed the studio app to be used with the Apple Pencil to make the most out of its features of accumulation, flow, tilt, and azimuth. However, you can use it just as well without Apple’s official stylus too. However, for best results, the app should be used with any third-party stylus pen that is supported by the Apple iPad. Some of the offerings that work just as well on Procreate without Apple Pencil is the Pogo Connect, Jot Touch Pixelpoint, Wacom Bamboo, and several others.
3-Which iPad is compatible with Procreate?
The present version of the Procreate app is available for use on the all of the following version of the Apple iPad and iPad Pro:
- 9-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (1st and 2nd generation)
- 5-inch iPad Pro
- 7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad (7th generation)
- iPad (6th generation)
- iPad (5th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air 2
4-Does my iPad support Apple Pencil?
To find out if your iPad supports the Apple Pencil or not, the first thing you need to do is find out the version of your iPad. For this, you need to head into the Settings app and navigate your way to General – About and take a look at the model name. Once you know the model name, you can verify it to find out if it is indeed compatible with the Apple Pencil 1st or 2nd Generation.
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad (6th and 7th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Final Words
The tablet market has quickly faded away, ever since smartphones started making the screens larger and the bezels smaller. Back in the day, 7-inch tablets were the standard display size, whereas today, you can find mobile phones with screens just as large. While the Apple iPad has maintained a healthy demand over the years, the best iPad for artists have moved to the front of the herd by appealing to the artists and professional designers looking for a portable studio.
The iPad you end up picking as the best iPad for Procreate might be limited to the Pro variants, since those are the only ones that support the Apple Pencil 2, which is arguably better than its predecessor. Owing to the slimmer design and the single flat surface for better grip, the Apple Pencil 2 adds up to the better overall designing experience. Procreate has not just been an app, but an entire experience for designing professionals to pick their brains with, and with the guide above, you can find the best iPad for Procreate that not only fits your budget but solves the purpose too.
If you’ve like to drop a thought bomb and have something to add to this detailed guide above, don’t forget to reach out to us in the comments section right down below.
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