Which ipad Should I Buy For Digital Art Gfxrobotection

Many artists searching for “which iPad should I buy for digital art gfxrobotection” usually want something that balances performance, Apple Pencil support, screen quality, and price. The good news is that Apple now offers several iPad models that work well for artists—but each one fits a different type of user.

Some iPads are good for people on a budget while others are made for artists and designers. If you want to know which iPad is best for drawing this guide will help you understand it in a way. It is, about finding the right iPad for digital drawing.

Which iPad is best for digital artists?

Have you ever wondered which iPad is best for digital art? Well, I’m going to give you a full in-depth review of my experience with the iPad Pro 9.7″and the new iPad Pro 12.9” (4th generation).

This will be from my perspective as a lettering artist and digital creator so I hope that it helps you decide which model might be best for you. I go through everything from why I decided that an iPad tablet was for me, to pricing, specs and more. If you don’t feel like reading. Feel free to check out my Youtube video on the topic here.

Quick iPad Overview

The Apple iPad Air is what a lot of people think is one of the iPads for artists because the Apple iPad Air is just right, for them. The Apple iPad Air has performance and that is what artists need. They like the Apple iPad Air because it is cheaper, than the Apple iPad Pro.

Technical Specs

There are a lot of technical specifications for both the iPad Pro 9.7” and the iPad Pro 12.9”. These are the specs that I would look at in particular when considering an iPad purchase. How much storage space is there? What’s are the dimensions and weight? What Apple Pencil is it compatible with? Lucky for you, I’ve done some of the leg work for you already:

iPad Pro 9.7″

Storage Capacity: 256GB

Screen Size: 9.7” (Diagonal)

Connection: Lightning Cable

Weight: 0.96lb. (437 grams)

Apple Pencil 1st generation compatible

iPad Pro 12.9″

Storage Capacity: 1TB

Screen Size: 12.9” (Diagonal)

Connection: USB-C

Weight: 1.41lb. (641 grams)

Apple Pencil 2nd generation compatible

Pros and Cons

Of course these pros and cons are going to be based on my own personal experience but my hope is that some of these things that I only realized after having purchased each of these devices are at the front of your mind before you make your iPad invest.

iPad Pro 9.7” Pros

Light weight & easy to carry

Better connection for my current cable setup

iPad Pro 9.7” Cons

Slow to charge

Small screen made drawing less comfortable

Apple Pencil and iPad charge from the same port

Cap for the 1st generation Apple Pencil can get lost easily

iPad Pro 12.9” Pros

Bigger screen

Apple Pencil 2nd generation charges on the side of the iPad

Charges very fast with the cable it comes with

More storage means better performance and space to save large art files

More pleasant drawing and note taking experience

iPad Pro 12.9” Cons

USB-C isn’t the most compatible cable for my other devices

USB-C block is very wide and doesn’t always fit in my surge protector well

Heavier and bigger device makes it slightly less travel friendly

Learning the new gestures was a bit weird for me at first (no home button)

Pricing

So like I mentioned, iPad devices are investments for us as artists. They’re essentially a part of our equipment and toolbox so if you’re running your own freelance business like I am, make sure you purchase yours through your business account so you can write it off on your taxes (pro tip!) So let’s talk about money. These prices reflect the amount of money that was invested into each iPad including accessories at the time of purchase. So just so you know, my iPad Pro 9.7” will be a lot cheaper now than it was when I got it when it was relatively new.

iPad Pro 9.7” Pricing

iPad 9.7” (32GB) – $482.11

Case from Amazon – ∼$20

Apple Pencil (1st generation) – $100

Total: $602.11

iPad Pro 12.9” Pricing

iPad 12.9” (4th Generation, 512GB) – $1,299.00

Smart Folio Case – $100

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) – $120

Paperlike Screen Protector* – $39.99

Total: 1,558.99

A final note on pricing. I wanted to save money on my first iPad so I invested in the lowest amount of storage. Please don’t do this. This should not be the way that you try to save money on your device investment. I ended up having a lot of performance issues with my iPad because of this mistake which leads us into the final section of this article.

Battery Life Comparison

Apple keeps battery performance fairly similar across most iPads, though heavy art rendering can drain power faster.

What Reddit & Artist Communities Often Say

The iPad Air is what a lot of online artist communities think is the choice for making digital art. Some people really like the iPad Pro because it has a smooth screen that looks really good and it works faster. The standard iPad is also pretty good, for people who are just starting out and mostly use Procreate for their art.

The iPad Mini is a device to carry around because it is small and easy to take with you. Some artists like the iPad Mini for this reason. However other artists think the iPad Mini screen is too small.

Bottom Line

If you want affordable digital art tools: start with the iPad 10th Gen.

If you want the best balance for creative work: choose the iPad Air.

If you want professional-level performance and the smoothest display: go with the iPad Pro.

If portability matters most: the iPad Mini is a strong compact option.