Which iPad Is Best for Procreate? – Updated Review with Comparisons & More

If you are unfamiliar with Procreate, it is one of the most powerful iPad apps for digital drawing. 

You can use to incorporate illustrations and infographics into your online course to improve engagement and make your lectures more interesting. 

However, it is crucial you choose the right iPad suited for Procreate. 

In this post, we will round up some of the best iPads for Procreate, their features, and answer some frequently asked questions. 

Now that we have reviewed some of the best iPads recommended for Procreate, let’s dive deeper to understand what they have to offer. 

Best iPads for Procreate – Top 4 Reviews

#1: Most Powerful iPad for Procreate – Apple iPad Pro Review 

Let’s start with the iPad Pro. It’s the forerunner of all the iPad models. In fact, it is what established Apple’s iPad as the go-to device for digital art. 

You can not only use it to create art in Procreate for your online course but also use it to stream or upload your lectures. 

Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy iPad Pro

Screen Display 

One of the reasons why the iPad Pro is so popular is because of its display. 

It comes with a 120Hz ProMotion Display. It offers amazing color accuracy so you get the richest blacks and vibrant colors. 

The 120Hz ProMotion Display makes the iPad Pro twice as fast as a normal tablet. This results in an extremely fast response of the Apple Pencil to the iPad Pro screen. 

When testing this out, we experienced zero lag behind the tip of the stylus which was a great plus for us. 

Screen Size

This iPad model comes in two different sizes: 

• 12.9-inch display 

We would recommend this site for people who prefer a bigger display for their digital art. 

• 11-inch display 

This size is more suitable for you if you are interested in a more portable option. 

Apple Pencil

When it comes to Apple Pencil compatibility, iPad pro works great with the Second Generation Apple Pencil. 

It is the best stylus in the market as it offers well-balanced pressure and tilting sensitivity to give you a natural feel. 

We didn’t experience any delay behind the pen tip while using Apple Pencil 2 with iPad Pro.

Processor  

iPad Pro has one the most powerful processors out of all the iPad models. 

It is equipped with an A12Z Bionic processor with 8GB RAM. 

This is great for running the latest version of Procreate as it can be quite demanding. 

You can use the raw power to work on high-resolution artwork, use multiple layers, and textured brushes on Procreate. 

Best iPad for Procreate 

The Best iPad for Procreate is the iPad Pro because of its Liquid Retina screen and Apple Pencil 2 compatibility. Its Bionic computer processor makes the iPad Pro one of the fastest iPads in the market. You can use it for high-resolution artwork without it lagging or crashing. 

#2: Best Beginner-Friendly iPad for Procreate – iPad Air Review 

iPad Air is the runner-up to iPad Pro. It will serve you diligently when drawing in Procreate. 

As mentioned before, the iPad Air is a great entry-level iPad if you are new to Procreate and don’t want to spend a fortune on your tablet. 

It will give you access to all the advanced drawing features without the price tag. 

Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy iPad Air

Screen Display

iPad Air comes with a laminated True-Tone Display. This is important as it gives you a better quality with sharper images and more vibrant colors than a non-laminated display. 

We love how the Two-Tone Display adapts the screens to temperature to the light of the room. This makes the display more rich and clear.

Screen Size 

It comes with a 10.9-inch screen, which is a slightly smaller screen than the iPad Pro. 

But we assure you, you won’t feel a difference since 10.9 inches is still a pretty decent size to create digital art. It is also more portable and will easily fit in a bag. 

Apple Pencil

The iPad Air is compatible with the Generation 2 Apple Pencil which is another big perk. 

We love drawing with the Apple pencil 2 on iPad Air because it makes us feel like we are drawing on a real canvas.

 It is light on the fingers and gives us a more seamless creative process. 

Processor 

Just like the new iPad Pro, Air comes with the latest A14 Bionic processor. 

It is great for all types of drawing workflow, whether you are creating a low-resolution painting or a high-resolution project with a greater canvas size. 

Best Beginner-Friendly iPad for Procreate

The best beginner-friendly iPad for Procreate is the iPad Air. It has the same high-quality features but for a more affordable price. It boasts an A14 Bionic processor and 4GB RAM making the model more powerful, faster, and responsive. 

#3: Cheapest iPad for Procreate – Apple iPad (8th Generation) 

If you are a digital artist on a tight budget, this iPad model has everything for you to get started. 

It is one of the underrated iPad models as people assume it’s not as good due to its cheaper price. However, this is not the case. 

Apple has done an excellent job of selecting the right features to keep it up to par with other models but at a more affordable price. 

Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Apple iPad (8th Generation)

Screen Display

It comes with an LCD Retina display. 

When we were testing out the iPad, we found the images to be incredibly sharp. This is a great feature if you are planning to use it for creating detailed graphics and art. 

Screen Size 

The screen size of the 8th generation iPad is 10.2-inch.

Although it has the second smallest iPad screen, it’s still enough room for you to sketch and draw on the Procreate app. 

Apple Pencil

The iPad is compatible with the First Generation Apple Pencil.

It is a great option for beginners to show off their art skills on Procreate. 

Moreover, the drawing and writing capability of the Apple Pencil 1 is unmatched in its given price range. 

Processor

The 8th Generation iPad boasts a powerful A12 Bionic processor. 

It can handle most tasks on Procreate, however, we did feel a slight lag as compared to other iPads when we added more layers to our artwork. 

Cheapest iPad for Procreate

The cheapest iPad for Procreate is the Apple iPad (8th Generation). It comes with a 10.2-inch screen and a fast Bionic processor. It is a great affordable option for a drawing tablet.  

#4: Most Portable Option for Procreate – iPad Mini Review

If you want a drawing tablet that is compact and portable, then iPad Mini is exactly what you need. 

It is $100 cheaper than the iPad Air with the same processing power and storage space. 

So if the screen size isn’t your biggest deciding factor, the iPad Mini might be the best iPad for you. 

Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy iPad Mini

Screen Display 

One of the biggest advantages iPad mini has over other iPad models is its sharp display.

Screen Size 

As indicated in its name iPad Mini has the smallest screen out of all the models. 

It comes with a 7.9-inch screen. It’s a great option if you want to use Procreate with a portable drawing setup. 

Moreover, it is extremely lightweight and compact for you to carry it anywhere with you. 

Apple Pencil 

iPad Mini is compatible with the 1st Generation Apple Pencil. 

However, it does not come with the box and you have to purchase it separately. 

Processor

Despite its small size iPad Mini boasts the same A12 Bionic processor as the 8th generation iPad. 

This means you can use layers and textured brushes on Procreate at the same time without it getting slower. 

Most Portable Option for Procreate

The most portable option for Procreate is The iPad mini because of its lightweight and compact design so you can take it anywhere with you. 

Which iPad is Best for Procreate – Buyers’ Guide

It can be hard to choose between different iPads due to their similarities in their features. 

Therefore, our team has compiled a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best iPad for Procreate. 

Here are some factors you need to look out for: 

Screen Display 

If you want to use Procreate for digital art for your online course, you must choose an iPad with a good screen display. 

The screen should have high quality, sharp, and vibrant colors. The screen display also plays an important role in a better digital stylus experience. 

We have ranked below the different display types from best to worst:

• Liquid Retina XDR
• Liquid Retina P3
• Retina P3
• Retina Full sRGB
• Retina 

Screen Size

Since you’ll be using Procreate for digital art, choosing the right screen size for your iPad is important. 

If you are someone who enjoys a large canvas for their paintings, you should opt for a bigger iPad. 

Otherwise, there are also some great options for more compact and on-the-go designs. 

Apple Pencil

As you know there are two types of Apple Pencils. 

Choose an iPad compatible with the right type of stylus for a better drawing experience on Procreate. 

Processor 

Processors are another vital factor you need to take into consideration before you make your purchase. 

This means you will be able to create high-resolution drawings without them lagging or crashing.

RAM

RAM is important if you’ll be using Procreate on your iPad. It affects how many layers you can add to your design. 

An iPad that has more RAM tends to cost more.

We would recommend it for more established digital artists. However, if you are an amateur you should go for cheaper iPads such as the 8th Generation iPad

Storage Space 

The artwork, fonts, and designs you create on the Procreate app take up a lot of storage space on your iPad. 

We would recommend you go for an iPad that offers at least 256GB of storage so you can work on Procreate comfortably. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Which iPad should I buy for Procreate?

When looking for an iPad for Procreate, there are a few things you should look out for. 

We suggest getting the device with the most RAM and the largest screen you can afford. Also, make sure that it is compatible with the Apple Pencil. 

We would recommend the 12.9-inch iPad Pro or iPad Air for Procreate. For a more portable package, iPad Mini would be a good choice.  

How much RAM does procreate need? 

How much RAM procreate needs depends on:

• The resolution of the iPad
• The canvas size
• How many layers do you use in Procreate 

More RAM will allow Procreate to run faster and allow you to keep large, high-resolution files on your iPad. You’ll also be able to use more layers for better control over your designs. 

The good news is that most entry-level iPads come with a RAM of 3GB. This means you can use it to work on anything less than 4K resolution. 

But if you are using high-resolution Procreate files, we would recommend you go for the new iPad Air with 4GB RAM or iPad Pro with a larger 6GB RAM. 

Can you use Procreate if you don’t have an Apple Pencil? 

If price is a concern, there are cheaper alternatives to Apple Pencil that are compatible with both Procreate and iPad. 

For example, Logitech crayon and Wacom Bamboo sketch. 

But these cheaper options are limited in several ways. For example, Logitech crayon does not support pressure sensitivity. 

Therefore, we suggest you buy the original Apple Pencil for the best iPad experience. 

Should I get a screen protector for my iPad?

In our experience, using an iPad without a screen protector makes the screen slippery and sticky. 

Therefore, we suggest getting a Matte Glass Screen Protector so your Apple Pencil can glide easily across the screen. 

Why is Procreate such a great program? 

Procreate is an amazing program for digital art. It includes all the tools and advanced features an artist would require to create art under one roof. This is something not many apps offer.

It gives you a canvas, brushes, pens so you’ll be in the familiar creative territory as traditional art. 

We listed some of the features you can get in the latest version of procreate: 

• 150 brushes 
• Drawing guides
• Color selection and color control panel 
• Number of filters and effects 
• Tips and cheats 
• Easy-to-use interface 
• Animation 
• Layers 

What is the difference between the two Apple Pencils? 

All new iPad models are compatible with the Apple Pencil. The principal difference between Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2 is how they are charged. 

You need to remove the cap of the Apple Pencil 1 to charge it. Most users find this annoying. The charging of Apple Pencil 2 is much easier since it magnetically attaches to the iPad. 

Apple Pencil 2 also comes with an invisible button on the side. You can use it to switch brushes and other tools in Procreate. However, we found this feature irritating so we turned it off. 

It also has a flat edge that prevents the pencil from rolling off the table. This feature is absent in Apple Pencil 1. 

Final Verdict 

No doubt, the iPad is one of the most advanced tablets for drawing. We tested each iPad for months to come up with a clear winner, that is the latest generation of the iPad Pro. 

It is extremely fast and powerful so you won’t have to worry about working on high-resolution projects. It also has two screen sizes to choose from, an incredible camera and 1TB of storage. 

Moreover, the high-tech features allow you to use it as a laptop and even film your online courses. 

Which iPad do you think is the best for Procreate? Let us know in the comments below.