How to pick an iPad for illustration — iPad Pro if you draw seriously, iPad Air as the realistic entry point

2026 update: ported from the old VuePress blog. The bones (what to look at when choosing a model) still hold, but the specs, prices, and generation names are anchored to when this was written. Heavy rewrite in progress — verify against the current line-up before publishing.

The first thing that trips people up when buying a tablet to draw on is: which one — the plain iPad, the iPad Air, or the iPad Pro? The price spans more than 2x, the screen sizes differ, and the Apple Pencil generations differ too.

This piece narrows the decision to iPads used for drawing. By the end you should have a clear shape of the one model that fits you, plus the accessories that go with it.

The short answer — 12.9-inch iPad Pro for serious drawing, iPad Air for entry

Short answer: if you want to draw long sessions as a display-tablet replacement, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. If you are starting out as a hobby, the iPad Air is the realistic pick. The plain iPad is cheap, but some generations only support the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, which is a notch behind for illustration use.

Whatever model you land on, the same three checks decide it:

1. Screen size: aim for 11 inches or larger. Anything around 10 inches gets cramped for full strokes
2. Apple Pencil generation: pick a model that supports the 2nd gen (magnetic charging, double-tap)
3. Storage: 256 GB or more. A single psd / clip file can hit several hundred MB

Put differently: if those three boxes are ticked, the price tier matters less than you think.

Picking the model — understand where each one sits

Short answer: the plain iPad is “a cheap tablet,” the iPad Air is “light and able to draw,” and the iPad Pro is “a display-tablet replacement.” Pick by use case, not by price.

The reason is that the iPad line splits hard on CPU, screen quality, and Apple Pencil support — even though all three share the iPad name. For drawing in particular, screen size and Pencil support drive the experience.

Plain iPad — fine for entry, light for serious long sessions

The plain iPad is the cheapest line. For ebooks and video, with the occasional doodle on top, it is plenty.

That said, some generations only support the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, which charges over Lightning by plugging into the bottom of the tablet — clumsy in daily use. If you are buying a dedicated drawing machine, step up to the Air or higher.

iPad Air — the realistic entry point for drawing

The iPad Air is “the entry to iPads that can draw.” It supports the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, and the roughly 10.9-inch screen lands in the usable range.

It is 20,000–30,000 yen more than the plain iPad, but with the Pencil the experience gap is wide. Hobby use through semi-pro work is covered here.

iPad Pro — for long sessions as a display-tablet replacement

The iPad Pro is the line for people drawing long sessions as a display-tablet replacement. It supports 120 Hz (ProMotion), and the stroke tracking is noticeably different from the other models.

It comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch. If you draw seriously, go 12.9. The price ends up more than 2x the plain iPad, but the extra canvas — “draw without switching views” — translates directly into output.

Pick a model that supports the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil

Short answer: for illustration, 2nd-gen Apple Pencil support is close to a hard requirement. Skip 1st-gen-only models.

The reason is that the 2nd gen charges magnetically on the side, switches tools on a double-tap, and has lower latency — the feel is a step up. The 1st gen plugs into the Lightning port on the bottom of the tablet to charge, which is awkward to live with.

What to verify:

• The model is explicitly listed as “Apple Pencil (2nd generation) compatible”
• The iPad has a magnetic charging strip on the side (you can see it in product photos)

Storage from 256 GB, Wi-Fi only is enough

Short answer: for illustration, 256 GB or more. Wi-Fi only covers most people.

The reason is that psd / clip / procreate files run several hundred MB each, and a series-worth of work reaches tens of GB. 64 GB and 128 GB get eaten by the OS and apps.

Cellular only makes sense if you specifically need always-on connectivity on the move. If Wi-Fi at home and at cafés covers you, putting the 10,000–20,000-yen difference into the Pencil or a case is the higher-satisfaction move.

Accessories — the minimum set

Short answer: Apple Pencil (2nd gen), a screen protector, and a stand or keyboard cover. Three things, and the drawing setup is broadly there.

• Apple Pencil (2nd gen): required. Sold separately
• Paper-like screen protector: closer to the feel of paper. Pen tips wear faster as a tradeoff
• Stand or keyboard cover: gives you a drawing angle on a desk. Easier on posture over long sessions

Unlike a display tablet, there are no external monitor cables or drivers to wire up. Starting to draw the day it arrives is the iPad’s quiet strength.

Comparison: plain iPad / iPad Air / iPad Pro (for illustration)

The line-up below is anchored to 2021. In 2026, verify the current generation’s specs and price for each model.

FAQ

Q. Can you draw on an iPad mini? A. You can, but the 7.9–8.3-inch screen gets cramped for long sessions. If you want to share it with ebook and gaming use, the iPad mini works; if drawing is the main goal, step up to the Air or higher. For more, see How to pick an iPad mini.

Q. 11-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro? A. 12.9 if you draw seriously. The price gap is around 20,000 yen, but the extra screen translates directly into “the range you can draw on without zooming.” 11-inch is worth considering only if portability is the priority.

Q. Can you do illustration work entirely on an iPad? A. With Procreate or Clip Studio Paint, you can take a piece from rough to finish on iPad. That said, for fine pre-submission tweaks and multi-monitor workflows, pairing with a PC is the realistic long-term setup.

Q. How much RAM do you need? A. RAM starts to matter as layer count climbs. The Air’s 4 GB holds up for hobby use, but for commercial-scale canvases the iPad Pro’s 6–8 GB is the safer call.

Wrapping up

For an illustration iPad, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the call if you draw seriously, and the iPad Air is the realistic entry point for hobby through semi-pro use. The plain iPad is cheap, but as a dedicated drawing tablet it sits a notch behind on Pencil-generation support.

The deciding factors are three: 11-inch-or-larger screen, 2nd-gen Apple Pencil support, and 256 GB or more storage. Prioritizing those three over price leaves less regret after the purchase.

Starting to draw the day it arrives is the iPad’s quiet strength. The lower setup overhead, compared with a display tablet plus PC, adds up over years of drawing.