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Guide To Getting The Best iPad For Procreate

By Emily - Image Restoration Center
  • Last Updated: Apr 30, 2023
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Want to ditch your old sketchbook and pencil? Use an iPad and an Apple Pencil to create digital art instead! The Procreate app, available on the iPad, can introduce you to the fantastic world of digital art! However, finding the best iPad for Procreate can be a little tricky since there are a lot of models and brands, and not all of them will be able to accommodate your needs. That’s why we’ve put together this guide! Whether you’re a professional graphic designer, illustrator, comic artist, animator, or even an art enthusiast, this article will outline everything you need to know to find the best iPad for Procreate.

The Best iPad For Procreate 2021

iPad_Pro_12.9
iPad Pro 12.9-Inch
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iPad_Pro_11
iPad Pro 11
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iPad_Air_4th_Gen
iPad Air 4th Gen
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iPad_9th_Gen
iPad 9th Gen
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iPad_Mini_6th_Gen
iPad Mini 6th Gen
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iPad_Pro_12.9
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iPad Pro 12.9-Inch

4.8
5/5
On top of the list is the latest Apple iPad Pro.
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On top of the list is the latest Apple iPad Pro. Its 12.9-inch Stellar Liquid Retina display boasts superior color grading, contrast, brightness, hue, and values. Its 264 PPI combined with Procreate’s 4k resolution will make your drawings appear sharper and cleaner. With the built-in Apple M1 Processor chip being one of the fastest performing and most battery-efficient processors, it can handle all the tasks you need using the Procreate App. Additionally, its 8GB of RAM means you don’t have to worry about running background apps while working – you’ll still enjoy a smooth experience with Procreate. The 2nd-generation Apple Pencil works with this Apple iPad. You can easily edit your design’s text, fine lines, and other minor elements. If you don’t want to use the Apple Pencil, you can still pair it with other third-party stylus pens with little response lag. This model has a 10-hour battery life – more than enough to work long hours on a big illustration. Other neat features include Face ID security, a triple rear camera setup, fast charging support, and good connectivity. This model has a 10-hour battery life – more than enough to work long hours on a big illustration. Other neat features include Face ID security, a triple rear camera setup, fast charging support, and good connectivity. The storage capacity of this tablet ranges from 128GB with the 8GB RAM model up to 2TB with the 16GB RAM model. Lastly, it is sleek and can easily fit in a small bag. However, it is still quite heavy and oversized, measuring 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches (with a screen size similar to some laptops) and weighing 1.5 pounds. The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch is the best iPad for the Procreate app because of its graphics and display. However, this is recommended more for professional digital artists and more complex Procreate work like animation and 3D art because it is heavier, more expensive, and feature-packed.

Pros

  • Stellar Liquid Retina display with superior color grading
  • Fast processor 
  • Two RAM options (8GB or 16GB)
  • High storage capacity ranging from 128GB to 2TB

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavier than older models

iPad Pro 12.9-Inch

4.8
5/5
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iPad_Pro_12.9
iPad_Pro_11

iPad Pro 11

4.8
4.9/5
The 11-inch Apple iPad Pro may be the ideal drawing tablet for portability, cost, and customization.
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The 11-inch Apple iPad Pro may be the ideal drawing tablet for portability, cost, and customization. It has an 11-inch Liquid Retina screen size with a resolution of 2388 x 1668. Additionally, the screen’s visuals are much more color-accurate thanks to its 123% sRGB palette and P3 wide color gamut. Though this color accuracy only affects this specific display screen. The color spectrum may differ from the actual artwork depending on what device or medium it is being viewed.
Regarding its dimensions and weight, this 11-inch iPad Pro is lighter and a little smaller than the 12.9-inch. It weighs 1.03 pounds and measures 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 inches, making it just the right size for optimum portability.
It comes with up to 16GB of RAM. You will be able to use Procreate’s presets, masking, blending modes, and many other features with ease as a result. You can also store all of your artwork and Procreate Brushes on its 128GB to 2TB of storage space.
This Apple iPad Pro works with the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil regarding stylus compatibility. It also supports Apple’s Smart Folio and Magic Keyboard for your typing needs.
Its battery features a 10-hour life with fast charging support, so you don’t need to worry about your tablet dying. Other features include a built-in webcam, high-speed internet connectivity, and Face ID support.
Because of its weight-to-screen ratio and its similarity with the iPad Pro 12 in terms of specs, the iPad Pro 11 is often considered the best iPad Pro for Procreate.

Pros

  • 128GB of storage
  • Fast processor and 8GB of RAM
  • P3 wide color gamut and 123% sRGB palette
  • Great weight-to-screen ratio for portability

Cons

  • No expandable storage
  • Expensive

iPad Pro 11

4.8
4.9/5
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iPad_Pro_11
iPad_Air_4th_Gen

iPad Air 4th Gen

4.8
4.9/5
The iPad Air 4th generation is perhaps the best portable iPad.
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The iPad Air 4th generation is perhaps the best portable iPad. It has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina screen with 2360 x 1640 pixels. It also uses an extended P3 color gamut that ensures more saturated and vivid colors when viewing your designs on the screen. Compared to the A12 Bionic processor that previous iPad versions use, the 4th-gen iPad Air’s A14 processor is faster. It comes with 4GB of RAM, which is good enough for casual Procreate use, but you may notice it struggles with more complex projects. As for its storage, it is available in 64GB and 256GB models. Additionally, the tablet measures 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches and weighs 1.01 pounds. This makes it the most portable iPad tablet on the market. Battery-wise, it lasts close to 10 hours – it can even withstand Procreate’s extensive power usage. You can pair this device with the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil to fully utilize Procreate’s modes, masks, and presets. Other features include Wi-Fi 6 support, faster internet connectivity, and a camera setup. Although the iPad Air 4th generation isn’t groundbreaking in terms of its internal specs having less RAM and the slower A14 Bionic chipset, its portability makes it popular with many casual digital artists.

Pros

  • Up to 256GB of storage

  • Faster single-core processing system compared to previous models

  • Exemplary screen display with 264 PPI, True-Tone, and wide color gamut

  • Sleek, light, and portable design

Cons

  • No expandable storage
  • Expensive

iPad Air 4th Gen

4.8
4.9/5
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iPad_Air_4th_Gen
iPad_9th_Gen
4.8
4.9/5

If you don’t have a large budget, the 9th-generation Apple iPad is the best way to go.

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If you don’t have a large budget, the 9th-generation Apple iPad is the best way to go. It has a 10.2-inch IPS screen size, graphic-intensive display, extended color gamut, and scratch-resistant glass. It measures 9.8 x 6.78 x 0.29 inches and is thicker than other iPad models. However, it weighs 1.09 pounds, making it lighter and easier to carry around. Its A13 processor can handle most of your creative workload but lacks RAM – it only comes in 4GB of RAM. Procreate can slow the device down, especially if you use many brushes. On the other hand, the model comes with 64GB of storage and iPadOS14. Other features include a standard camera, stereo speakers, and a Touch ID for secured authentication. It also has a 10-hour battery life and a lightning connector for charging. However, you can only use a 1st-generation Apple Pencil with this model. Overall, the Apple iPad 9th gen is a budget-friendly tablet for Procreate allowing users to make simple artwork learn its basics, and want to gain experience creating digital art and its features.

Pros

  • 128GB of storage
  • Fast processor and 8GB of RAM
  • P3 wide color gamut and 123% sRGB palette
  • Great weight-to-screen ratio for portability

Cons

  • Low refresh rate

  • Outdated lightning port connectivity

iPad 9th Gen

4.8
4.9/5
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iPad_9th_Gen
iPad_Pro_11

iPad Mini 6th Gen

4.8
4.9/5
The iPad Mini 6th gen is an excellent choice for any beginner.
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The iPad Mini 6th gen is an excellent choice for any beginner. Because of its considerably small size, it has the best PPI among the devices we listed. It also has enough processing power for casual Procreate and iPad users. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display has a True-Tone resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, with great color accuracy because of its IPS panel and 103.1% sRGB palette. Additionally, compared to this list’s other products, it’s slimmer and lighter, measuring 7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 inches and weighing 0.65 pounds. Its A15 Bionic is the latest 6-Core chipset, resulting in excellent program speed. However, it only comes with 4GB of allotted RAM and 64GB of storage space to work with, so it might not be enough for heavy Procreate users. It features a 10-hour battery backup and a Type-C port for charging. Other features include stereo speakers, a fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6 support. As for stylus compatibility, it works with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. The iPad Mini 6th gen is the best beginner-friendly iPad model because it won’t break the bank – the perfect starting point for people wanting to transition from Android to iOS devices.

Pros

  • Lightweight, compact design 
  • Compatible with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil
  • 8.3-inch Liquid Retina screen

Cons

  • Small screen
  • Not suitable for complex or heavy Procreate usage
  • Not suitable for typing large amounts of texts

iPad Mini 6th Gen

4.8
4.9/5
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iPad_Mini_6th_Gen

What Is Procreate?

Procreate is an Apple-exclusive digital painting application, most famous in the art community for its Procreate brushes. Besides drawing on the application, Procreate users can make graphic and 2D illustration animations with its animation feature. Procreate also has a planned update to enable users to create art in 3D.

Why You Should Use Tablets For Digital Art

Digital art dominated the Internet long before companies began offering graphic tablets. But these tablets are pretty expensive and have minimal uses, especially when compared to tablets that can be used for browsing, media viewing, and more. Thus, apps like Procreate were introduced, accommodating artists that don’t have the luxury of spending much money on a dedicated graphics tablet.

Which iPad Is Best For Procreate? How To Choose The Right iPad

When figuring out what iPad is best for Procreate, there are a few factors that you need to look out for. For example, specs are crucial – how powerful your machine is will significantly affect the kind of art you can make and how easy it is to do so. For example, you wouldn’t want a small screen display if you’re an animator, as this would limit your working space considerably. So, here are the things to consider when determining the iPad that’s best for Procreate:

Display Specifications

If you’re new to the digital art scene, you might think that the screen size is one of the most essential criteria for the best iPad for Procreate. But in reality, pixel resolution or pixel density is much more critical. Pixel density (measured in PPI) is the number of pixels per inch. A higher PPI shows a sharper image and contains more details than an image with a lower PPI. However, this doesn’t mean that the bigger the screen, the higher the PPI. For example, a 13-inch screen with 1080p resolution would have a higher PPI than a 15-inch screen with the exact resolution. This is because the pixels are spread across a larger space with a 15-inch screen, making the image look slightly blurrier. If you want your drawing to look good zoomed-in, such as when doing logos or graphic design, consider the iPad’s PPI more than the screen size. That said, you don’t want a too-small screen size, either. The smaller the screen, the less space you have to work on.

Stylus Compatibility

A stylus makes fine details easier to draw – it helps you glide faster on your screen and keeps your linework clean and steady. It’s generally a good investment since you can write with it, just like with an ordinary pencil. Apple has an official stylus for the iPad called the Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil comes in two versions: 1st generation and the 2nd generation. You can use conventional digital pens to jot down notes or draw. However, the 1st-generation Apple Pencil is longer than the 2nd generation by a few millimeters. Artists may notice that this affects the stability of their grip while drawing. Additionally, a 1st-generation Apple Pencil only works with older iPad models, while 2nd-generation Apple pencils work with newer ones. Here is a quick overview of Apple Pencil stylus compatibility with a range of iPads: Design-wise, they’re significantly different. A 2nd-generation Apple Pencil has a matte finish, while the 1st generation is shiny. The flat side of the 2nd gen model prevents it from falling off your desk, while the 1st generation’s round design makes it prone to rolling. To charge the 1st-generation pencil, take the cap or “eraser” part of the stylus and plug it into your iPad’s charging connector. Meanwhile, all you need to do to charge a 2nd-generation Apple Pencil is to snap it on the magnetic connector on the side of your iPad. You can also get third-party active stylus pens for a lower price. However, the responsiveness of both the stylus and the iPad might suffer.

Design & Hardware

While a high PPI and stylus compatibility are necessary for artists, other specs like the design and hardware are just as essential. For example, dimensions and weight can significantly affect portability, which is one of the many reasons people turn to tablets for digital art in the first place. A larger (and heavier) iPad will give you more screen space to work with, but it could make it harder to lug around. You have to get the right balance between size and portability, which varies from person to person depending on their digital art needs. Storage is equally as important. Procreate alone takes up much space for the application and your brushes and project files. You’ll need to pair this up with a lot of RAM – 8GB is the recommended minimum to run Procreate smoothly on the Apple iPad. All iPads come with the iPadOS.

Final Notes

With the wide range of iPad models available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your digital art needs. What works best for you will depend on your budget, specs, and typical workload. Want to transition from Android to iOS without breaking the bank? Get the iPad Mini. Do you mostly do animation and product advertisements? Get the iPad Pro 12.9-inch. No matter what kind of art you do, there’s bound to be an iPad model that can help you create amazing work!
iPad_Pro_12.9

iPad Pro 12.9-Inch

4.8
5/5
On top of the list is the latest Apple iPad Pro.
Check Price On Amazon

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