7 Best iPads for Drawing & Illustration
If you’re a creative and you’re looking for the best iPad to buy in 2022 — this list of top 7 iPad for drawing and illustration is for you.
The Apple company has already built a strong and reputable identity, especially for creatives.
Most professional designers are using the iPad for drawing and illustration because it boasts excellent quality and display.
However, here comes the question,
What is the best drawing iPad for creatives?
In this article, I will be featuring the best buy iPad for graphic designers.
I tried to include everything that you are looking to use for your creative designs.
If you’re looking for the most popular and latest iPad available today, then the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021) is highly suggested for you.
I also included a drawing iPad for starting artists, which is the iPad Mini (2021), perfect for students and beginners.
The iPad 10.2 (2019) on the other hand, is a great choice for graphic designers that are looking for a budget option for drawing iPad.
So if you’re interested to know more, check out this list of my top 7 best iPad for drawing and illustration.
Please note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Top 7 iPad for Drawing and Illustration
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021) — Best overall
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) — Great value iPad
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2021) — Best for professionals
- iPad Mini (2021) — Best iPad for beginners
- iPad Air 4 (2020) — Best mid-range iPad
- iPad 10.2 (2019) — Best affordable iPad
- iPad Mini (2019) — Best portable iPad
Advantages of using an iPad for Creatives
Although there are other brands of tablets that you can use for your creative work, using an iPad is one of the best choices.
Apple iPads are widely used and suggested by professional designers, and here’s why:
- Best for graphic design
- Great for editing
- Ideal for drawing and animation
- Best laptop alternative
And to better understand the advantages of using an iPad as a creative tool, here is a further explanation:
Best for graphic design
If you want to be a graphic designer, an iPad can help you turn your ideas into beautiful art.
With the Apple Pencil, it is now easier to make sketches and letter art with the help of apps for making graphics.
With all the different colors that are free and available, you can make any kind of art, whether it’s 2D or 3D graphics.
If you have an iPad and an Apple pencil, you can now start a business that makes graphics for other people, too.
If you want to design book covers, 2D art for social media, logos, comic characters, and more, buying an iPad is a great choice for you.
Great for editing
Regardless of whether you’re doing photo or video editing, an Apple iPad is a must-have for you.
The iPad, like every other Apple device, has a very good camera.
You may see your subjects on a larger screen while also editing them.
You may also take photos and videos and edit them using editing software like Procreate and Adobe.
It will allow you to produce the same results as editing on a laptop or desktop computer.
Ideal for drawing and animation
Since the iPad is paired with an Apple pen, it can be perfect for drawing and animation.
It also boasts great display and resolution, which allows you to have a more detailed view of your creative work.
Aside from drawing and animation, you can also use iPads for doing logo design, illustrations, fashion design, etc.
So if you’re an artist that aligns with the field of drawing and animation, using an iPad will be an excellent choice for you.
Best laptop alternative
If you have a job task that needs to be completed but is on vacation, an iPad can be your best partner.
You may now finish your work faster than ever before thanks to Apple accessories such as iPad keyboards.
You can also easily make designs, drawings, and illustrations without bringing a heavy laptop.
With this, you can now travel confidently at any time and from any location.
1. iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
If you’re a creative that is looking for the most popular drawing iPad today, then the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2021 is a must-buy iPad for you.
The best overall iPad for drawing and animation.
It is the best large drawing iPad, ideal for doing various kinds of creative work such as animation, drawing, graphic design, etc.
The iPad Pro 12.9 2021 is the latest iPad for graphic designers since it boasts amazing speed and excellent graphics.
It also has an all-day battery life, so you can work on your drawings and designs without interruption.
And since this iPad has a wider and larger screen than others, you can have a better viewing experience of the artwork that you are working on.
The iPad Pro 12.9 2021 is also perfect for viewing and editing high-brightness and high-contrast content like HDR photos and videos.
So if you’re looking for a great drawing iPad to use for your creative work, then the iPad Pro 12.9 2021 is the best iPad to buy for you.
Specification
Screen size: 12.9-inch
Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2
Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels
Operating system: iPadOS 14
CPU: Apple M1 chip
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
Pros
- Outstanding LED display
- Excellent M1 Performance
- Great Features
Cons
- IpadOS limiting
- Single port limit Flexibility
Buy iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) on Amazon
2. iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)
Looking for an iPad that is really worth its price? Then go for the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2020 which is a great value iPad for drawing.
A great value drawing iPad for creatives.
Despite the fact that it is much more expensive compared to other iPads, you can be sure that you will be getting the best quality drawing iPad.
This iPad for drawing has an impressive battery life, in which it can last up to 10 hours of continuous usage.
It is much cheaper than the 2021 version, so it is ideal for creatives that want the best iPad for drawing on a budget.
The iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2020 is one of the most high-end iPads available today.
By using this iPad, you will be able to showcase your talent and skills in drawing and illustration.
So if you’re looking for a great value iPad for drawing and illustration, then the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2020 is a great choice.
Specification
Screen size: 12.9-inch
Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2
Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels
Operating system: iPadOS 13.4
CPU: A12Z Bionic
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Pros
- Excellent resolution
- Large display
- Improved onboard microphone
Cons
- Expensive
- Not notably faster
Buy iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) on Amazon
3. iPad Pro 11-inch (2021)
If you’re an artist that is looking for the best professional iPad to use for your creative work, look no further, because the iPad Pro 11-inch 2021 is for you.
The best drawing iPad for professionals.
It is a drawing iPad, perfect for use with creative software such as Procreate, Adobe, etc.
Not every creative can’t afford to buy a larger display iPad like the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, that’s why I included this 11-inch iPad that can also be used for graphic design.
The iPad Pro 11-inch 2021 is a great choice for professionals who are looking for the best iPad to use.
It is built and designed to be durable, so rest assured that you will benefit from it for a long time.
Basically, since it is a smaller version compared to the 12.9-inch iPad, it is much cheaper, so it’s ideal if you are on a budget.
So, if you’re looking for the best drawing iPad for professionals, the iPad Pro 11-inch 2021 is a must-have iPad.
Specification
Screen size: 11-inch
Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2
Resolution: 1668 x 2388 pixels
Operating system: iPadOS 14
CPU: Apple M1 chip
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
Pros
- Excellent camera
- Great operating system
- Gorgeous graphics
Cons
- One port only
- No accessories included
Buy iPad Pro 11-inch (2021) on Amazon
4. iPad Mini (2021)
If you’re a starting artist that wants to start with an iPad to enhance your skills, then the iPad Mini 2021 is a great choice for you.
The best drawing iPad for beginners.
It is the best drawing iPad for students, beginners, as well as hobbyists in the field of doing creative work.
Since it is not necessary to spend too much on buying an iPad, especially for beginners, I am including the iPad Mini 2021.
It is the latest version of the iPad mini and it is built to be ideal for beginner artists’ use.
This drawing iPad boasts an all-screen design with a Liquid Retina Display that allows you to easily create your drawings and illustrations.
It comes in four different colors (Pink, Purple, Space gray, and Gold), so you can also match your iPad with your style.
So if you’re looking for the best beginner iPad for drawing and illustration, go for the iPad Mini 2021.
Specification
Screen size: 8.3-inch
Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2
Resolution: 1488 x 2266 pixels
Operating system: iPadOS 15
CPU: A15 Bionic
Storage: 64GB/256GB
Pros
- Portable
- Runs with advanced illustration tools
- Affordable
Cons
- Smaller screen area
- Apple Pencil
Buy iPad Mini (2021) on Amazon
5. iPad Air 4 (2020)
As the fifth iPad on my list, I feature the best everyday drawing iPad, which is the iPad Air 4 2020.
The best mid-range drawing iPad for drawing.
It is not only perfect to use for drawing and digital art, but you can also use this iPad for gaming since it boasts a very good display.
The iPad Air 4 2020 has a stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color.
It has advanced features and it is the most versatile iPad for drawing available today.
You can easily secure your log-in and payment with this drawing iPad’s Touch ID features.
It also has an A14 Bionic chip that will allow you to use it every day and still perform as well as if it were newly bought.
Additionally, the iPad Air 4 2020 is one of the best iPads with a pen that you can use for creating your designs and illustrations.
Specification
Screen size: 10.9-inch
Stylus support: Apple Pencil 2
Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels
Operating system: iPadOS 14
CPU: A14 Bionic
Storage: 64GB/256GB
Pros
- Apple pencil 2 supported
- Great value
- Excellent design
Cons
- Poor screen response rate
- Expensive
Clap if you liked it 👏
