What is the Best iPad for Procreate? A Comprehensive Guide to choosing the best

The Best iPad for Procreate will help you create amazing art and designs. You do not need a fancy or pricey iPad but one that fits your needs and budget. More expensive iPads do not automatically translate to a better artist. You have to practice and get used to the tablet and applications.

Top Procreate iPad Picks

1. iPad Pro 12.9: Best Overall
2. Apple iPad Pro 11: Best Budget
3. iPad Air 4: The Best Upgradable iPad
4. Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen: cheapest iPad for procreate
5. iPad Mini: Best Portable iPad for Procreate

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch: Best Tablet for procreate Overall

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation): with M2 chip, Liquid Retina XDR Display, 512GB, Wi-Fi 6E, 12MP front/12MP and 10MP Back Cameras, Face ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver

1. Screen size: 12.9 inches
2. Screen resolution: 2732 x 2048 Pixels
3. Liquid Retina Display
4. Brightness: 1000 nits
5. RAM: 8 to 16 GB
6. Processor: Apple M2
7. Weight: 680 grams
8. Storage: 128 GB to 2 TB
9. Apple Pencil 2

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch has been one of the best tablets in most professional fields due to superior build quality and features. In our search for the best iPad for Procreate, we found the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch as the best pick.

Firstly the tablet is compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation). However, it does not come with the pencil and you have to buy it separately.

When working on Procreate, you need a comfortable large enough working area. Although you can still work with as small as 10.9 inches, the iPad pro offers the best user experience with the largest screen compared to other iPads.

The screen is 12.9 inches in size with 2732 x 2048 pixels screen resolution with Liquid Retina display. It prides itself for not only one of the best displays on an iPad, but one of the best in the industry. This means that you will view your work in a clear, detailed and colorful view that is almost unmatched in the industry.

With the iPad Pro 12.9 inch you get more power than you need. The iPad Pro features Apple’s M1 chip and large 8 GB of RAM. The iPad will run Procreate comfortably without any issues.

All these iPads can be used without a computer connection necessary. Storage space comes at 128 GB which is enough but you will have up to 2 TB options to choose from depending on your budget.

The tablet has a sleek build and lightweight to make it easily portable as you move from place to place. To make it a fully reliable and portable tablet, the battery life needs to be at least 8 hours depending on usage. This tablet scores great with 10 hours battery life.

Apple iPad Pro 11: Best Budget iPad for Procreate

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (4th Generation): with M2 chip, Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6E, 12MP front/12MP and 10MP Back Cameras, Face ID, All-Day Battery Life – Space Gray

• Screen Size:
• Resolution: 2388 x 1668 Pixels
• Liquid Retina Display
• Brightness Levels: 600 nits
• Processor: M2 chip, 256GB
• Security: Face ID
• Battery Life: 10 hours
• Weight: 470 grams

The Apple iPad Pro 11 is a slightly smaller but equally powerful tablet than the iPad Pro 12.9-inch tablet. You will get similar power on this professional digital tablet, only at a cheaper price compared to the iPad Pro 12.9.

First, they both feature Apple’s powerful M2 chip, released in 2022. This powerful processing power and 8 to 16 GB of RAM will allow the new hover-over function in Procreate without issues.

Additionally, you can change the stroke size and opacity by simply sliding it with your finger. This is made possible by the high 120 Hz refresh rate on the screen of these two iPads.

The Apple Pencil 2 is the best pencil for Procreate yet. Both iPads are compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which sets them apart compared to other budget iPads. This pencil will provide the best user experience for artists.

Generally, you will notice that this tablet packs more power than you need for drawing Procreate. I think it is made for more complex tasks like 3D animation or video editing.

The screen size, resolution, processing power, and storage space are similar for the 12.9 and 11-inch options. If you prefer a smaller option, we recommend the 64-GB iPad Air with an older M1 chip.

Apple iPad Air 10.9 Inch: Best Upgradable iPad for Procreate

Apple iPad Air (5th Generation): with M1 chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Starlight

1. Screen size: 10.9 inches
2. Resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels
3. Processor: M1 chip
4. RAM: 4 GB
5. Apple Pencil, second generation
6. Storage: 64 GB and 256 GB
7. Battery: 10 hours

The iPad Pro 12.9-inch is great but a little expensive. If you are on a budget and need an affordable iPad option, then the Apple iPad Air 10.9 Inch Best Budget option.

The Apple iPad Air 10.9 features an equally professional-level screen with a liquid retina display, only slightly smaller at 10.9 inches instead of 12.9. The resolution is also smaller at 2360 x 1640 pixels, but you will barely notice the difference.

The Apple iPad Air 10.9 comes with a fast M1 chip plus 4 GB of RAM. Although the RAM is slightly smaller, you only need 2 GB to run Procreate, and it will work perfectly. Battery life matches up to the more expensive tablet at up to 10 hours.

Storage space comes with a variety of options, with 64 GB and 256 GB options being great picks.

There is a larger and better 11-inch option that comes after the 12.9-inch, but the price is more similar to the larger iPad Pro 12.9-inch and is not the most affordable.

Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen: cheapest iPad for procreate

Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation): with A15 Bionic chip, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Space Gray

1. Screen Size: 8.3-inch
2. Resolution: 2266 x 1488 pixels
3. Liquid Retina Display
4. Processor: A15 Bionic Chip
5. Pencil: Apple Pencil 2
6. Battery: 10 hours
7. RAM: 4 GB RAM

If you are on an even lower budget and do not mind a smaller screen size, the Apple iPad Mini 8.3 inch is the most portable option you can buy. The resolution is 2266 x 1488 pixels with a liquid Retina display, just like the other more expensive iPads.

The small screen size and lightweight nature of the tablet, coupled with up to 10 hours of battery life, make it the best portable option you can buy.

For a price that is very low almost near the $500  mark for the 256 GB storage option and less than $500  for the 64 GB storage option the Apple iPad Mini balances both power and portability.

Despite the screen being smaller than the other more expensive tablets, the 8.3-inch screen has a clear 2266 x 1488 pixel resolution with a liquid Retina screen display. The 2.9 GHz Apple A15 Bionic, which is good and comes with reliable 4 GB of RAM, is perfect for Procreate.

Choosing the best iPads for Procreate

Large iPad screen sizes have better resolution and multiple canvas layers. This makes them more clear and preferred for Procreate. Choose large screen sizes with high resolution and brightness levels.

As a digital artist, consider the nature of your work and budget. Make sure you can afford both the tablet, stylus and Procreate application. You need a large storage space to install the software and also save your files. You will need from 128 GB storage and above.

Best Procreate App Alternatives

The best Procreate alternatives include:

1. Adobe Fresco
2. Affinity Designer 2
3. Adobe Illustrator

Frequently Asked Questions