Drawing Tablet vs. iPad/iPad Pro? Which is Better for Artists?

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People who are new to digital art often wonder whether they should invest in a drawing tablet or an iPad first.

Whether it's an iPad Air or an iPad Pro, the tablets from the tech giant, synonymous with quality, are close to being a siren's song. However, today's drawing tablets, which are constantly being developed, maintain their unique advantage at affordable prices as the perfect complement for professional tasks.

Both pen tablets and iPads enable a natural drawing experience thanks to precise stylus and vivid, low-lag displays.

For budding digital artists, or traditional artists eager to explore the digital realm, selecting the right device for their creation is crucial, and perhaps, daunting.

Unlike any black and white situation, the answer largely depends on several how to save new zealand number in whatsapp factors: your budget, your design styles, your most used applications, and even how serious you take digital art.

This article explores the pros and cons of iPads and drawing tablets for beginners, intermediate and experienced artists. Our thoughts are based on the personal experiences of our in-house graphic designers and digital illustrators. With a decade-long marathon in the electronics industry under our belt, here's how we make an informed decision.

iPad vs Drawing Tablets: Tested and Analyzed
draw on ipad

In the first round of the competition, we'll be doing a general head-to-head comparison between the iPad and drawing tablets for beginner and intermediate artists. Feel free to scroll down to see the iPad Pro vs. professional drawing tablets face off if you're looking for something more advanced.

Quick summary
Criteria iPad Drawing tablet Our analysis

Multifunctionality
iPads offer everyday functionality, allowing you to perform everyday tasks thanks to their robust hardware. This means you can enjoy a wealth of video content and games wherever you are. For those who prefer multitasking, the iPad is always a perfect choice.

Drawing tablets can be applied to playing rhythm games like OSU! or taking notes in class. Some standalone products come with more bells and whistles. But since they are optimized for art and design, you may find their functions limited in these secondary tasks.

Design software compatibility
Compatibility with design apps is one of the most influential factors when comparing iPads and drawing tablets.

Because it runs on the proprietary iPadOS, iPads' support for design apps is somewhat limited, so it's important to be clear about the tools you'll be using long-term before making a decision. If you're still undecided on which design apps to start with, check out our guide to the best drawing apps .

The iPad can run a number of exceptional design programs, including Ibis Paint, Affinity, Autodesk Graphics, and the iPad-only design app, Procreate.

However, many programs are unavailable or simplified on the iPad, such as Adobe's industry-standard Creative Cloud apps. While Adobe has offered versions of Photoshop Sketch and Illustrator Draw for the iPad, some critical features are not available.