Apple releases its brand new iPad models with new stunning features and improved specifications. Though iPads act like mini portable standalone computers, they are primarily used for tasks like word processing, drawing, reading, watching movies, and playing games. You might also doubt whether an iPad is really needed or worthy of buying?
iPad is a must-have for every designer, artist, architect, and student. It makes their life much easier, more productive, and more comfortable. It is a one-stop solution to create, edit, save and share all your digital drawings.
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What is the best iPad for drawing?
But with new model iPads with technical enhancements coming out every now and then, it becomes a little challenging to pick the right one. Worry Not. After reviewing all the iPad models and generations, here is a list of the best 5 pads for sketching & drawing.
List of 5 Best iPads for Drawing
iPad Air 5th Gen
With all the features of an iPad pro but at the price of an iPad Air, the iPad air 5th gen is an absolute grab on. Compared to the previous gen of the iPad air model, apple guarantees a 60% faster processor speed and twice the graphics performance of the iPad Air 5.
It comes with an M1 processor. You will experience faster operations, no-lag graphics, seamless UI experience. You can perform any high-end task like video editing, sketching, watching movies, or playing games without any compromise in the performance or experience. The design specifications like the screen size and resolution are exactly the same as the previous generation model.
A 12 MP front-facing ultra-wide camera that supports 4k resolution. It comes with only two storage options, 64GB and 256GB. If you are in need of intermediate storage space like 128GB then you will highly be disappointed. If you go with the 256GB model, it is as pricey as the iPad Pro 128GB 11 model.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 10.9 inch |
| SSD | 64/256 GB |
| Battery Life | 10 hrs |
| Weight | 469 pounds |
| Camera | 12 MP |
| CPU | Apple M1 chip |
iPad Air 4th Gen
It is compatible with apple pencil 2nd gen. With a speedy A14 bionic that has a hexa-core CPU and a quad-core GPU, this iPad delivers a seamless performance.
It works the best even for intense drawing or sketching without any drag or drop in performance. Has nearly 5 color options to choose from. The look of it is similar to your iPad 11in pro.
Coming to the design aspects of it, it doesn’t have a home button at the bottom, giving it more room for display. It comes with a Touch ID fingerprint scanner to enhance security and authentication. But it lacks the iPad pro’s face ID selfie camera which is quite disappointing.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 10.9 inch |
| SSD | 256 GB |
| Battery Life | 10 hrs |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Camera | 12 MP (Rear) 7MP (Front) |
| CPU | A14 Bionic |
iPad Pro 11in 3rd Gen
With sleek and thin bezels, an anti-reflective coating, true tone ( adjusting the white balance of the screen ), and Pro-motion technology (produces speed and smooth scrolling) this iPad is worth its price. It has the M1 chip that is used in modern MAC computers.
Apple also claims that in terms of performance this chip is up to 50% faster than its predecessor iPad pro-2020 which used A12Z bionic chip. This change mightn’t be very significantly visible if you perform any regular tasks.
But if you perform any resource-intensive tasks like video editing, designing, gaming, or any heavy lifting task you can see the improvements. With 10 hrs of battery life, face id, and 12MP ultra-wide camera with center stage feature this iPad is best suitable for all your high-end tasks.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 11 inch |
| SSD | 128/256/512 GB or 1/2 TB |
| Battery Life | 10 hrs |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Camera | 12 MP (Rear) 10MP (Front) |
| CPU | Apple M1 |
iPad Pro 12.9in 5th Gen
With a pixel-perfect display and center stage camera feature, this iPad guarantees a solid 10 hrs of battery life. The features are almost similar to that of the iPad Pro 11 but with few upgrades.
This is the most expensive iPad from apple. It is priced as high as a mac pro. But if you are an avid Apple user, who isn’t concerned much about the price tag and wants to have the best iPad on the market, then this is a must-buy.
The widescreen makes it look like a MacBook and it comes with 2 color options. It is sleek with a premium look and feels. It of course is a powerful iPad rival for the macs without a doubt.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 12.9 inch |
| SSD | 128 GB |
| Battery Life | 10 hrs |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Camera | 12 MP (Rear) 10MP (Front) |
| CPU | M1 |
iPad 9th Gen
For the price, it is a very capable device that stays up to its performance claims. But if you already have the 8th gen iPad, it is not the best iPad to upgrade to.
It comes with the A13 Bionic chip and 256GB of storage and is cheaper than its previous counterpart. With a 12 MP front and 8MP rear camera, they are a good performance iPad and they are suitable for beginner to medium level of drawing.
The reason for having this on this list is, that it is one of the cheapest out of all the iPads listed and if you are a beginner or an art student looking for a budget-friendly iPad for drawing / sketching with better performance then this is you must have iPad.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 10.2 inch |
| SSD | 256 GB |
| Battery Life | 10 hrs |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Camera | 12 MP (Front) 8MP (Back) |
| CPU | A13 Bionic Chip |
Conclusion
If you are searching for the best iPad for drawing, then you might have heard about apple pencils as well. This article covers all the details about the generations of apple pencils, which one to choose, their features and a lot more.
