Best iPad For Procreate Users And Designers

Procreate has been a user favorite application for writing, doodling, sketching, and painting on an iPad. Apple users love this functionality, especially when they own an Apple pencil.

Often users are confused about choosing the best iPad for Procreate. The market is flooded with many options, and even the older iPads are still relevant. Also, budget is a significant concern when choosing an iPad. Here is a list of the best iPad for Procreate.

Recommended and Best iPad For Procreate

1. Apple iPad 2019 7th Generation

The iPad 2019 is the seventh iteration of Apple’s iPad line. Time and again, it has been a regular entry in the list of the best iPad for Procreate. It has a 10.2-inch screen, as opposed to the 9.7-inch of the previous iPads. In addition, there is 3GB of RAM rather than 2GB. It has significantly larger parameters and is marginally heavier.

The iPad is now compatible with Smart Keyboard. At 7.5mm, the iPad is somewhat hefty. The total mass is 483g. The cellular version is a little bulkier.

Because of its size and weight, this tablet is incredibly portable. Nevertheless, it is not tiny enough to be held by your thumb. If you wish to hold the iPad for an extended amount of time, hold it with your hand beneath it. 

The quality has also been raised to 2160 x 1620. (264PPI). The colors are crisp, but single pixels are tough to distinguish. Despite the lack of P3’s broad color range compatibility, the colors appear fantastic.

However, the screen is quite shiny and reflective. It being an issue depends on where the iPad is being used. The display is also very slick. The Apple Pencil moves a little too readily.

You can acquire a matte protective cover to simulate a rough drawing surface, but this may impair the screen’s colors, clarity, and brightness. It’s a matter of taste.

The maximum intensity is 500 nits, making it suitable for usage outdoors. Because it does not have a laminated panel, there is a tiny gap between the glass and the actual screen.

Even if there is space between the two, it is not apparent while sketching. Only by viewing from the side-view is the gap visible. On a 10.2-inch panel, parallax isn’t an issue.

When you tap on the screen with a stylus, there is a hollow sound. Sound will be muffled on tablets with laminated displays. Of course, this has no bearing on drawing performance.

The battery lasts for around six hours if you draw continuously at full brightness.  If you only use this inside at less than full brightness, the battery performance is better. On the other hand, the iPad takes a long time to charge.

The Apple Pencil’s sketching capability is excellent. Pressure responsiveness and palm detection are quite effective. There is also tilt sensibility, which can function in conjunction with pressure.

In spite of the outdated A10 processor, sketching is still a seamless experience. You can utilize a big rough paintbrush with no latency.

The only aspect that detracts from the sketching experience is the slick display, which will take some getting accustomed to. Should you make a 300DPI A4 canvas, you may have 26 layers at max.

It is fantastic that the Procreate creators have increased the layer limit on this iPad. It is one of the best cheap iPad for Procreate.

Pros

• Procreate allows 26 layers if you make a 300 DPI A4 canvas.
• Battery life is above average.
• The quality of the screen is decent.

Cons

• It comes with an older processor.
• The display is slippery.

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2. Apple iPad 2021 9th Generation

Next on our list of the best iPad for Procreate is the Apple iPad 2021. The key difference between the Apple iPad 9 and the older version is the usage of the A13 Bionic processor, an upgrade in basic memory from 32GB to 64GB.

Moreover, the ultra-wide front camera enables the Limelight function in which the lens follows you throughout. The most significant enhancement is most likely the improvement in memory.

The A13 Bionic processor is strong enough for basic painting, drawing, media consumption, browsing, typing, and other tasks. Furthermore, the current generation of iPad begins at 64GB and can be upgraded to 256GB for the whole of your vector illustrations.

This iPad features a stunning 10.2-inch LCD Retina screen that produces amazingly crisp and vivid visuals and text. The colors are vibrant, and the brightness can reach 500 nits.

The viewing angles are superb, with little color change. Apple has employed a decent IPS LCD screen in this case. 

Despite being the second smallest panel, it provides more than enough space to paint and doodle with the Apple Pencil using the best sketching applications on the App Store, such as Procreate.

The screen is highly reflective and lacks the anti-reflection coating seen on more costly iPads. 265 PPI is the pixel density. There is no visible pixelation in any of the graphics.

Regarding the Apple Pencil, while the 9th-generation iPad only supports the very first Apple Pencil, it is an excellent stylus for any vector artist even today. With Apple Pencil, you get the greatest iPad stylus available, which works flawlessly with your iPad.

You do not need to worry about unwanted markings on your sketch. This iPad includes pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. It also offers tilt sensitivity which enhances your drawing experience.   

Just keep in mind that the first-gen Apple Pencil only recharges by Lightning port and does not enable wireless charging, unlike the second-gen Apple Pencil. Furthermore, because the first-gen Apple Pencil is tubular with no cut edge, it may slide horizontally.

This iPad has a classic design that has already stood the test of time. The borders are pretty thick, specifically at the top and bottom, but they serve a useful purpose in that they allow you to rest your hand on the screen without obscuring a lot of your display. 

The True Tone option uses ambient lighting to make white seem like paperwhite, which I find pretty attractive to the eye.

To summarise, if you don’t already own an iPad, it is an excellent tablet to consider since, despite its underwhelming capabilities, it delivers a terrific sketching experience.

This is all because of the incredible performance of the Apple Pencil. In any case, the 9th-generation iPad is the best cheap iPad for Procreate.

Pros

• Bright and crisp display.
• The battery life is excellent.
• Provides excellent value for money.

Cons

• Does not support the second-gen Apple Pencil.
• It still works on a Lightning connector.

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3. Apple iPad Mini 2021 6th Generation

If you need a thin, light, and the best iPad for Procreate, I recommend the latest Apple iPad Mini. The iPad mini 6 has a whole fresh style that puts it more in sync with the regular iPad series.

Considering its compact size, the iPad Mini has sufficient capability to bring the iPad a justification for its price. Not to forget the airy but quality body, which feels luxurious in the palm.

It is available in four stunning and refreshing colors, and while capacity begins at 64GB, it can be expanded to 256GB, which would be adequate for keeping all of your electronic masterpieces.

It has 4GB of RAM and the A15 Bionic processor, which has a 5nm design and a peak clock rate of 3.2GHz. The 5-core GPU is next in the queue for obtaining layout precision. In terms of performance, this is the best iPad for Procreate on this list.

The 8.3-inch display has a conventional aspect ratio of 32. The True Tone panel has a dimension quality of 2048 x 1536 pixels, which contributes to the IPS display’s color fidelity.

An oil-resistant covering and a scratch-resistant improvement are applied to the panel. In terms of stylus compliance, the 2nd generation Apple Pencil is supported.

The iPad mini 6 retains Touch ID, now incorporated in the upper key, and the audio controls have also been relocated to the upper side of the chassis.

It is fresh because the iPad mini 6 now accepts the second-gen Apple Pencil, which magnetically connects to the iPad’s edge.

In terms of size and weight, the iPad Mini weighs 0.65 pounds and spans 7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 inches. The aluminum-clad chassis is both thin and strong.

Regarding the power capacity, iPad Mini provides a backup of around ten hours of continuous service.  In addition, Apple has included a Type-C connector to charge the iPad. Stereo speakers, a fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility round out the package.

Additional new features included in this tablet are improved cameras, a Center Stage for conference conversations, and a 5G connection to submit your art from any corner of the world.

To summarise, if you need an iPad for generic Procreate use and you like the iOS UI instead of the iPadOS for content creation, the new iPad Mini is an invaluable tool.

Comparing this to the other iPads on the list is the smallest and most lightweight. Thus, it is one of the best iPad for Procreate.

Pros

• It offers the latest A15 Bionic chipset.
• There is support for Type-C charging.
• Supports WiFi 6.0 and second-gen Apple Pencil.
• It is ideal for rookie artists.

Cons

• It is not suitable for professional artists.
• Some users might find its display to be small.

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4. Apple iPad Air 2020 4th Generation

Last on our list of the best iPad for Procreate is the Apple iPad Air 2020. The iPad Air, at 10.9 inches, provides adequate screen space for painting and sketching, along with a fantastic doorway for reviewing and altering your images.

The iPad Air 4 also includes the second-gen Apple Pencil compatibility. Unlike lower iPad models that are compatible with just the first-gen Apple Pencil, the iPad Air 2020 supports all of the gestures and functions of the Apple Pencil gen-two.

It can charge while being attached to the side of the iPad Air 4, exactly like on the iPad Pro, so there’s no need to worry about plugging it into the Lightning connector.

The real surprise of the iPad Air 4 is the A14 Bionic CPU, which packs a lot of punch. It’s powered by Apple’s latest cellular CPU, something that is not present even on the iPad Pro.

This makes the iPad Air 4 very reactive and fasts no problem what job you toss at it. The iPad Mini 4 is one of the most effective mobile creative mediums for many artists.

The iPad Air sports a True Tone panel that is lacquered. A lacquered display merges your iPad’s touchscreen layer and the LCD panel layer into a single element, with no gaps in between.

This is significant because you will have a higher overall screen quality than a non-lacquered one, generating better pics with a more brilliant spectrum of colors.

True Tone is fantastic since it adjusts the screen’s temperature to the ambient light in your present space, making it look as though the environment is illuminating it.

It’s not overbearing, but if it’s interfering with your artistic productivity, you can easily disable it from Control Center.

Most of the time, it boils down to display resolution, size, design, and functionality. The iPad Air 4 appears to be based on the same architecture as the Pro version.

While the back camera has been upgraded to a 12MP sensor, the selfie camera is still a 7MP FaceTime HD shooter.

Even while the iPad Air 4 seems to use FaceID, it is unlocked using Touch ID, which is housed within the power key on the upper side of the iPad.

Furthermore, the iPad Air 4 lacks a ProMotion display, which means you will miss the buttery smooth screen that functioned at 120Hz, making swiping and other dynamic actions on display sharp and smooth.

It is one of the best iPad for Procreate with all its merits.

Pros

• The screen quality is supreme.
• It is lightweight and handy.
• It has a lacquered display which provides a smooth experience.
• It features a performance-heavy Bionic A14 processor.

Cons

• The selfie camera has no improvement.
• It does not have a ProMotion Display.
• There is no FaceID support.

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Why do people prefer using Procreate?

One of the primary reasons people use Procreate is because of its brushes.

There are many of them, and most of them are incredibly cool. What’s more, you may download new ones created by others and build your straight on your device.

You may create your brushes by experimenting with different textures and properties. There is a slew of options to assist you in fine-tuning your settings.

With the latest version, Procreate has introduced the ability to import Photoshop brushes into the program. So, if you’ve grown accustomed to a specific group of brushes on your PC, you may keep using them on Procreate.

When you zoom in and out and spin your board fast and accurately, you will not notice any delay when painting with your pen.

You do not need to know the operation in any specialist video capturing application with Procreate because it can quickly store your working progress. It records each stroke, and rewatching your time-lapses is a great way to assess your process and discover the room for improvement.

Procreate supports various formats, so you can quickly export your half-completed work and resume editing on your PC. It’s also helpful in getting your artwork ready for printing.

Their recent version has now included a CMYK printing option and the ability to keep MP4 animations.

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Verdict

In my opinion, the Apple iPad Mini 2021 6th Generation is the best iPad for Procreate. It houses the latest and most potent Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset.

It also offers support for the second-generation Apple Pencil and Type-C charging. Also, the iPad Mini is handy and convenient to handle and provides a decent battery backup.

It also comes at an excellent price and is thus the best cheap iPad for Procreate. The only down point of the iPad Mini is its small screen size. 

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