Here’s the 5 Best iPad for Drawing

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If you’ve ever tried sketching on an iPad, you already know the magic moment when your Apple Pencil meets the screen and suddenly—boom—your imagination becomes something you can swipe through, layer, pinch-zoom, erase, and share. That thrill never gets old, right? Whether you’re a hobby sketcher, graphic designer, student, tattoo artist, or digital illustrator, picking the right iPad matters more than you think.

When I first dabbled into digital art on an older iPad, I quickly learned the hard way: not all iPads perform the same for drawing. Some feel like buttery smooth sketchbooks, while others lag, stutter, or limit features. So if you’ve been scrolling search results thinking “which iPad is actually worth it for drawing?”—welcome. Let’s riff through it together.

In this friendly breakdown, I’ll walk you through the five best iPads for drawing, why they’re awesome, who they suit, and what you should care about before hitting “Add to Cart.” Ready? Let’s dive in 🎨

Why Choosing the Right iPad for Drawing Actually Matters

Before we talk models, let’s address the real question: Why bother comparing iPads? Isn’t an iPad… just an iPad?
Nope. Here’s the tea:

  • Stylus support varies
  • Screen refresh rate impacts stroke fluidity
  • Processing power determines layer count and responsiveness
  • Screen size affects comfort and workflow
  • Color accuracy influences the final output

Have you ever drawn a line and watched it lag behind your hand? Or run out of layers in Procreate mid-composition? Yeah, that’s why choice matters.

So let’s uncover the five iPads that artists around the world swear by.

1. iPad Pro 12.9” — The King of Digital Drawing

If digital drawing had a royal crown, it would sit firmly on the head of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This beast is made for professionals and passionate hobbyists who want zero compromise.

Why It’s the Best

  • Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display — Deep blacks, rich colors, wild brightness.
  • 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate — Ultra-smooth strokes.
  • Apple M1/M2/M4 chip — Handles heavy files, massive layer counts, huge canvases.
  • Supports Apple Pencil (1st/2nd/USB-C) depending on the generation.

Who Should Buy It?

This one’s perfect for:

  • Full-time illustrators
  • Animators
  • Designers who need precise color accuracy
  • Anyone who loves large drawing surfaces

If you like room to breathe, sketch big compositions, or edit photos professionally, this iPad is your best friend.

Quick Pros

  • Best display for drawing
  • Lag-free pencil performance
  • Large workspace for natural hand movement

Cons?

  • Higher price point
  • Slightly heavier than smaller iPads

But IMO? Totally worth it.

2. iPad Pro 11” — The Portable Powerhouse

Prefer something powerful but easier to carry? The 11-inch iPad Pro hits the sweet spot between performance and portability.

What Makes It Amazing?

  • Same ProMotion 120Hz display for silky strokes
  • Powerful M-series processor
  • Bright, accurate colors ideal for artists

Why Choose This Instead of the 12.9″?

Ask yourself:

Do you want tablet-like flexibility without feeling like you’re lugging around a sketchbook binder?

This one is:

  • Light
  • Travel-friendly
  • Great for art students or couch sketchers

It’s seriously underrated for how capable it is.

Pros

  • Excellent screen responsiveness
  • Perfect size for handheld drawing
  • Fantastic performance for animation and pro apps

Cons

  • Smaller canvas than 12.9″
  • Slightly less dramatic HDR display

Still, a killer option—and often more affordable.

3. iPad Air — Best Balance of Price and Performance

The iPad Air has become one of the most popular tablets for drawing because it checks all the boxes without breaking wallets.

Why Artists Love It

  • M1/M2 chip on newer generations (fast enough for Procreate)
  • Lightweight and sleek
  • Supports Apple Pencil

You get amazing artistic performance without paying “pro-level” pricing.

Who Should Consider It?

  • Intermediate artists
  • Hobbyists
  • Students experimenting with digital art

It’s like the Goldilocks option—not too much, not too little.

Pros

  • Modern processor
  • Thin, comfortable build
  • Budget-friendly compared to Pro models

Cons

  • No 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate
  • Lighting effects and stroke flow are slightly less smooth

Still a great value choice.

4. iPad Mini — Best for On-the-Go Sketching

Tiny but mighty, the iPad Mini is shockingly good for drawing, especially if you sketch everywhere—from park benches to buses.

Why This Small Tablet Works for Artists

  • Fits in one hand
  • Works beautifully with Apple Pencil
  • Great for idea capture, thumbnailing, note-drawing, drafting tattoos, or travel sketching

If you love pencil-sketch notebooks, this one gives similar vibes.

Pros

  • Ultra-portable
  • Affordable compared to Pro
  • Perfect “digital pocket sketchbook”

Cons

  • Smaller screen limits large projects
  • No 120Hz refresh rate

But if spontaneity is your thing, it’s perfect FYI 😊

5. Standard iPad — The Entry-Level Good Starter

Last but not least: the base model iPad. It’s the “hello digital art world” tablet.

Why It Deserves a Spot

  • Works with Apple Pencil
  • Great responsiveness for casual or learning-stage artists
  • Budget-friendly

If you want to dip your toes into digital drawing without a major investment, this one lets you do exactly that.

Pros

  • Cheapest Apple Pencil-ready option
  • Reliable performance for sketching, note-taking, and Procreate basics

Cons

  • No 120Hz
  • Lower layer limits

Still, this thing punches above its price.

How to Choose the Right iPad for Drawing (Without Overthinking It)

You now know the best models—but which one is your match? Let’s break it down in real terms.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

Do you draw professionally or want to?

→ Go for iPad Pro 12.9″ or 11″.

Are you a hobbyist but serious about quality?

→ Pick iPad Air.

Want something pocketable?

→ iPad Mini all the way.

Just getting started and unsure?

→ The standard iPad is perfect.

Key Features Every Drawing iPad Must Have

Before clicking buy, check for these must-have specs:

  • Apple Pencil support
    No Pencil = No good drawing experience.
  • Fast processor
    For layer counts and file sizes.
  • Color-accurate display
    What you see should match your final export.
  • Refresh rate
    If you’re picky about stroke smoothness, 120Hz matters.

Which Apple Pencil Do You Need?

This is where many users trip up.

Different iPads support different Pencils:

✔ Older models → Apple Pencil (1st gen)
✔ Newer iPad Pro/Air/Mini → Apple Pencil (2nd gen)
✔ USB-C Pencil → Some newer iPads

The 2nd gen has:

  • Magnetic charging
  • Better feel
  • Handy double-tap shortcuts

So if your iPad supports it, choose it.

Apps You’ll Want for Drawing

An amazing iPad is only half the fun—pair it with the right apps.

Here are must-haves:

  • Procreate (the GOAT for digital sketching)
  • Adobe Fresco
  • Affinity Designer/Photo
  • Concepts
  • Clip Studio Paint

Each one has unique strengths. Want realistic brushes or tattoo stencil workflows? Procreate has your back. Animators? Clip Studio rocks.

What Screen Size Is Best for Art?

Honestly, this depends on comfort.

Bigger = Better for:

  • Illustration
  • Animation
  • Multi-layered artworks

Smaller = Best for:

  • Travel sketching
  • Idea capturing
  • Handheld drawing comfort

If your hand loves big arcs and sweeping lines? The 12.9” Pro will feel like heaven.

Display Matters More Than You Think

Let’s talk screens.

Here’s why ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate is an artist’s dream:

  • Strokes look natural
  • Pencil tracking is near-instant
  • Shading and hatching feel smoother

And if you use cross-hatching or quick strokes? You’ll feel it immediately.

Battery Life—Will It Survive a Drawing Session?

Yep. All iPads offer surprisingly solid battery life for art. Expect:

  • 8–10 hours of creative work
  • More if brightness is low

So don’t stress here—the real difference lies in performance, not battery hours.

iPad Comparison Snapshot Table

Here’s a quick visual breakdown:

iPad Pro 12.9”

  • Best display + performance
  • For serious artists

iPad Pro 11”

  • Power + portability
  • Ideal for students/pros alike

iPad Air

  • Best value
  • Great for most creators

iPad Mini

  • Perfect sketchbook feel
  • On-the-go creativity

Standard iPad

  • Entry-tier
  • Best for beginners and casual artists

One scroll through that list, and you probably already feel pulled toward one model, right?

So… Which One Should You Buy?

If you want an easy answer:

➡️ For the best drawing experience: 12.9” iPad Pro
➡️ Balanced power and value: iPad Air
➡️ Small sketchbook vibe: iPad Mini
➡️ Budget intro option: standard iPad

Too simple? Maybe. True? Absolutely 😊

Final Thoughts — Your Art Deserves the Right Canvas

There you have it — here’s the 5 best iPads for drawing, broken down human-to-human instead of spec-sheet robot-talk.

Drawing on an iPad is seriously transformative. You’ll zoom, undo, export, layer—stuff you could never do in a paper sketchbook. The right iPad doesn’t just help you draw better…it makes drawing feel fun again.

Whether you pick the powerhouse iPad Pro, the value-packed iPad Air, the cozy iPad Mini, or the starter base iPad, you’re making an investment in creative freedom.

So go ahead — choose your tablet, grab that Pencil, open Procreate, and start doodling. Your ideas deserve the pixels to shine 😄

And who knows? The masterpiece you were waiting to create might just begin with the device you decide on today.

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David

In his role as Managing Editor at DigitalHow, David oversees everything tech-related. Since his teens, David has tested, reviewed, and written about technology. The launch of his own site was driven by his passion for tech and gadget news.