Let’s get to the heart of this post immediately and give you the answer. The best iPads to learn how to draw on are the iPad Pro 11 inch, the iPad Air 11 inch, the iPad 10.9 inch, and the iPad Pro 12.9 inch tablets.
IPads combined with drawing software like Procreate have become a common tool for professionals making a living in the graphic arts. Prices have fallen over the years for second-hand iPads and they are nearly as good as new ones for beginners learning to draw. There is a very low barrier to entry for learning to draw on an Apple iPad. You can probably buy a used one that has Procreate installed already.
Is the iPad Mini 8.3″ a Good iPad to Learn Drawing On?
The smaller iPad Mini is just a little small to learn how to draw on at 8.3″, and most people will appreciate the larger screen for all the other things you do with your iPad. The Mini is ideal for traveling and for brief periods of time, but it does become a bit annoying because it’s too small to multi-task and a bit too small to draw on.
The best iPad for new artists to learn on depends on your budget and specific needs. Here’s what we think about each iPad choice as it relates to drawing and learning to draw for new artists.
iPad Pro 11″ M1 or M2
We bought the M1 11″ iPad for my daughter for her 12th birthday. I thought it was excessive, but I also knew that if my MacBook Pro died, I could use it as a backup until I could choose another computer.
The iPad Pro models offer the most advanced features and performance, making them ideal for professional artists or those looking for a high-end drawing experience. They feature ProMotion technology for smoother drawing, and support the Apple Pencil 2, which offers excellent precision and responsiveness.
The M1 series iPads are super fast and capable. You couldn’t want anything more in an iPad except a larger screen. With that in mind, the 11″ seems to be the perfect size for my daughter, and I’ve been using it to learn how to draw too.
She is far beyond what I can do, and I have hopes that she’ll use this iPad to springboard into a career in art. Or at least begin an obsession with it! (See iPad art image at top of the page for our 12-year-old daughter’s doodling.)
iPad Pro 12.9″ M1 or M2
Just like its smaller sister, the iPad Pro 12.9″ tablet can do anything you could imagine and it also has capable cameras on the back just like an iPhone.
For a pure drawing experience, this is the perfect iPad to get for you or for someone who is learning how to draw with Procreate or some other tool. The size is very nice and gives you plenty of room to see everything on the screen. To be honest, since I haven’t used the 12.9″ I don’t really notice that I need more space.
The other problem is the size of the 12.9″ is just a tad too big for carrying it around for general use. You’re not sticking that comfortably into most purses. It does fit in a backpack, but on an airplane, it would be too big. I prefer the 11″ Pro over the 12.9″, but pro artists almost always choose the larger screen.
Up to you! The price of the M2 is rather outrageous, and it’s only going to get worse with coming iterations, so if you CAN suck it up and use an 11″, you’re going to save lots of cash and really I don’t think any beginner is going to notice the smaller size. Much.
iPad Air 10.9″
The iPad Air is a more affordable option that still offers powerful performance. It has a slightly larger screen than the standard iPad (10.9-inch), supports the Apple Pencil 2, and features a laminated display for a better drawing experience.
Apple updated the Air line to include almost everything the iPad Pro series has. We have an old iPad Air that is still going!
iPad 10.2″ 9th or 10th Generation
Many people skip over the standard 9th gen iPad because they can’t imagine that it has everything you need to draw with it. Now it does. You can use the first gen Apple Pencil to draw on this iPad and there are really no drawbacks for a beginner.
This iPad is fast enough and can do almost everything the other iPads can do, and has a screen that can work for you if you really don’t care about the size of it. 10.2″ is small in comparison to the Air or Pro models, but it can work fine for people just beginning to learn drawing.
Yes, second-hand iPads are a great option when you’re starting to learn to draw. IPads we have owned all lasted over 8 years. One of them is still going after 11 years.
The best iPad for drawing is the 12.9″ iPad Pro M1 or M2 version. These iPads are chosen by the professionals using their iPads for drawing as graphic artists and creative artists more often than any other iPad. The large size is the major reason this iPad is the best for drawing.
For beginners, 64GB of storage space is plenty on an iPad used for drawing. You’ll need more space as you start to draw more complicated subjects that require many layers. Layers in your Procreate drawings take up extra storage space.
Key Takeaways
- You can use ANY iPad to draw with Procreate or other drawing apps. Even pros use Procreate and you can get it for $12.99 USD.
- The bigger your iPad screen, the easier it will be to draw on it and the harder it will be to carry it around as a daily use tool.
- Budget should be your primary concern because you can learn to draw with any iPad.
- 64GB is fine for beginners learning to draw.
- Second-hand iPads are a great way to learn drawing with little investment. IPads last at least 8 years in our experience if you take care of them.
Larger 12.9″ IPad Pros from 2018 are still being used by pros who use them daily to produce art for their careers. IPads don’t change that much from year to year, so you can buy a recently released iPad and be just fine to learn drawing on that one.
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