All iPads Best iPad for drawing/scribbling?

[mattdo93]

Hello Macrumors gang,

I'm in the market for an iPad so that I can scribble on my images (see attached photo) and was wondering which model/size iPad would be the best bet for that? I'm looking at iPad Mini and iPad Air, MAYBE the regular iPad.

Price is a huge factor for me. I would say portability as well but not so much as price. If the iPad Mini does get updated next year according to rumors, I am ok with waiting as well.


Would love to hear your input. Thank you all!

 

[Hadron]

If you were trying to put detailed annotations on technical documents I'd have said the Air for the larger screen. But for scribbling a few large words on an image I'd have thought any of them would do.

So I'd say whichever you are most comfortable with or which best meets your other needs. If price is a huge factor then the regular iPad is cheapest, and the Air is significantly the most expensive (plus the Pencil 2 is more expensive than the Pencil 1 the other 2 use, though 3rd party alternatives are available).

Rumours of a Mini update next year are just that, rumours, so it's your call whether you trust them enough to want to wait. It's unlikely that the price will go down, and depending on what changes it may go up. But equally the Mini wins big on portability, and the fact that you are willing to wait suggests that it's the Mini that appeals to you most.

 

[Phil77354]

Obviously you will need one of the iPad models that are compatible with the Apple Pencil (or equivalent), which means any current iPad - but there is a big difference (in my opinion) between the first and second generation model pencil.

The Apple Pencil 1st generation charges by plugging into the Lightning port on your iPad. It is awkward and very un-Apple in execution.

The Apple Pencil 2nd generation charges wirelessly, and you would need to have an iPad Air (or iPad Pro) in order to charge it. That makes a huge difference in convenience and practicality.

Both are functionally the same, I believe.

I have both pencil models as well as the basic iPad, and a new iPad Pro.

My recommendation is to get an iPad Air and the 2nd generation pencil, recognizing that it is the most expensive choice.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hello Macrumors gang,

I'm in the market for an iPad so that I can scribble on my images (see attached photo) and was wondering which model/size iPad would be the best bet for that? I'm looking at iPad Mini and iPad Air, MAYBE the regular iPad.

Price is a huge factor for me. I would say portability as well but not so much as price. If the iPad Mini does get updated next year according to rumors, I am ok with waiting as well.


Would love to hear your input. Thank you all!


View attachment 1683714

Get the iPad Air 4. It has compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2, which doesn't make your iPad look masculine, unlike the Apple Pencil 1 when it is plugged into the charging port...

Ahem...

Anyways, the Apple Pencil 2 also has that double tap feature, so...

Yeah, I think I need to leave. ?

 

[ericwn]

Get the Air, it seems an overall really nice device.

 

[ericwn]

Get the iPad Air 4. It has compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2, which doesn't make your iPad look masculine, unlike the Apple Pencil 1 when it is plugged into the charging port...

Ahem...

Anyways, the Apple Pencil 2 also has that double tap feature, so...

Yeah, I think I need to leave.

Yes we always blush when someone charges a first generation Apple Pencil. So frivolous!
\s

 

[xxray]

If you're literally just getting it to do some drawing, sketches, scribbling, I'd say go for the cheapest and get a regular iPad. iPad Air is nice, but complete overkill for your needs if you're not using iPad as one of your main devices.

As others have mentioned, the first generation charging method on the regular iPad and iPad Mini is a bit awkward, but it's not as big of a deal as people make it out to be imo. The first generation pencil charges super fast and works just as well as the second generation pencil. The first generation pencil is also cheaper too.

Obviously, if portability is most important for you, the Mini will serve your needs well, and it's also on the cheaper side.

 

[mattdo93]

Thanks everyone! iPad Air it is

 

[Astonish_IT]

Thanks everyone! iPad Air it is

Perfect choice, it is a modern looking and a very powerful device! And usb-c + Apple Pencil 2 are really significant updates in my opinion (I am a 1st Gen iPad Pro user here) as it makes it easier file transfers with usb stick, external ssd hard disks but also a bigger liberty on finding dongles for your iPad Air 4 such as usb-c dongles for hdmi, usb a, micro sd..etc. Also you can use third party cables and chargers. And also charging Apple Pencil 2 magnetically is just amazing, I always run out of battery on my Apple Pencil 1 and charging is just.. feels awkward!

I personally went with a used 2018 iPad Pro which I am waiting for it to be shipped, as I needed Pro Motion and bigger 12,9 display. I did not want the promotion for the fluidity as in my opinion, iPad is a VERY fluid device feeling like my 120 hz refresh rate Samsung S20 already in it's standard form, but I wanted that little improvement on the input lag as I use my iPad mostly for drawing. Even tho, it is ALREADY AMAZING to draw and sketch on my ipad, any improvement is welcome for me.

Having said that, in your use case, I would have done the same choice, iPad Air 4, for the price of a used one I bought, you are buying a brand new iPad, very good job!!!

My post was all about to say that your choice is the right one and the possibilities that an iPad Air 4 offers against a different regular iPad Model lol. Also worth mentioning that iPad Air 4 is, if i am not wrong, slightly more performant on apps that use single core apps, compared to 2018/2020 iPad Pro. And I read on internet that there are so little apps that are able to take advantage of multi core processors of iPads as of now. Like some Audio editing apps, Video Editing apps are using them. So I think that you would not feel any difference.