iPad mini iPad Mini for sketching

[Marmu]

Hello Macrumors' members,

I am currently thinking of getting myself a tablet for sketching logos. Would iPad Mini (the first one) be great for sketching? I know it doesn't support some Stylus pens but I am fine with that. I would use it for sketching and that's all.

I really appreciate your answers and hope you can help me to decide.

Sincerely,
Marmu

 

[CrystalQuest76]

The first iPad Mini is a rather old product and might have difficulty running the newer more capable sketching applications. If the device is free then its worth the effort. However, if you are paying money for the product then its an issue of how degraded of an experience are you willing to have after dropping a chunk of money.

Doing a search show that the First Gen iPad Mini that the news iOS it can handle is 9.3.5. You will also need to consider its storage capacity which could be as small as 16GB.

I think what you really need to consider is what sketching apps will run on this device and if they are modern enough to meet your needs. If you post this discussion thread what sketch app you want to use, someone might be able to tell you if it will give you a positive experience on a First Generation iPad Mini.

If you want an informed reply you really need to give more info.

 

[bensisko]

I am currently thinking of getting myself a tablet for sketching logos. Would iPad Mini (the first one) be great for sketching? I know it doesn't support some Stylus pens but I am fine with that. I would use it for sketching and that's all.

No, it would not at all - it would make a terrible sketching device.

First of all, the iPad Mini 1, 2, and 3 are all too old and slow to support a Bluetooth stylus - you would need a minimum of a Mini 4 to have any kind of decent performance with drawing.

Second, the non-Apple Pencil stylus are terrible. The best, for sketching, is the Pencil by 53 - but it’s a rubber tip stylus (they’re “okay”).

I would suggest seeking a used 9.7” Pro and Apple Pencil.

Failing that, seek out the 8” Samsung Note tablet - at least that has an active stylus.

Seriously, if the main purpose of the device is sketching, don’t get a non-Pro device... it will be okay to start but you will soon see the limitations and frustrations.

 

[Starfia]

No – it might work, but it would be okay at the very best. (Maybe that's okay with you.) Even the fourth-generation iPad mini – far more performant than the first and with a vastly better display – sometimes struggles with current intensive software including art apps like Procreate.

The Pencil with any iPad Pro are way better than anything anyone's ever created for drawing; you might be happy drawing lines with a capacitive stylus on a non-Pro iPad, but I would at least encourage you to calculate how much more you'd have to spend on a refurbished iPad Pro and the Pencil before deciding to settle for less.

I've always tried to draw with iPads so I've tried this whole spectrum of ways to come at it. I've gotten by and it's been cool, but the Pencil is such a fundamental difference that I feel obligated to at least make sure you've taken a look at it.

 

[Marmu]

The first iPad Mini is a rather old product and might have difficulty running the newer more capable sketching applications. If the device is free then its worth the effort. However, if you are paying money for the product then its an issue of how degraded of an experience are you willing to have after dropping a chunk of money.

Doing a search show that the First Gen iPad Mini that the news iOS it can handle is 9.3.5. You will also need to consider its storage capacity which could be as small as 16GB.

I think what you really need to consider is what sketching apps will run on this device and if they are modern enough to meet your needs. If you post this discussion thread what sketch app you want to use, someone might be able to tell you if it will give you a positive experience on a First Generation iPad Mini.

If you want an informed reply you really need to give more info.

Thank you for your massive feedback. At first I decided to go for Photoshop Sketch (can’t remember the name). When I checked the requirements for the app and iPad Mini’s system version, it’s not possible to use that app. I am mostly sketching mascot logos and Twitch emotes on it. I don’t really want to invest a lot of my money into a graphic tablet. Another alternative is a graphic tablet without screen.
[doublepost=1516861464][/doublepost]

No, it would not at all - it would make a terrible sketching device.

First of all, the iPad Mini 1, 2, and 3 are all too old and slow to support a Bluetooth stylus - you would need a minimum of a Mini 4 to have any kind of decent performance with drawing.

Second, the non-Apple Pencil stylus are terrible. The best, for sketching, is the Pencil by 53 - but it’s a rubber tip stylus (they’re “okay”).

I would suggest seeking a used 9.7” Pro and Apple Pencil.

Failing that, seek out the 8” Samsung Note tablet - at least that has an active stylus.

Seriously, if the main purpose of the device is sketching, don’t get a non-Pro device... it will be okay to start but you will soon see the limitations and frustrations.

Well, sadly I am not going for that then. My budget is $100 right now and I thought I can find myself An iPad which can help me with some simple sketches.

Thank you for your feedback.
[doublepost=1516861582][/doublepost]

No – it might work, but it would be okay at the very best. (Maybe that's okay with you.) Even the fourth-generation iPad mini – far more performant than the first and with a vastly better display – sometimes struggles with current intensive software including art apps like Procreate.

The Pencil with any iPad Pro are way better than anything anyone's ever created for drawing; you might be happy drawing lines with a capacitive stylus on a non-Pro iPad, but I would at least encourage you to calculate how much more you'd have to spend on a refurbished iPad Pro and the Pencil before deciding to settle for less.

I've always tried to draw with iPads so I've tried this whole spectrum of ways to come at it. I've gotten by and it's been cool, but the Pencil is such a fundamental difference that I feel obligated to at least make sure you've taken a look at it.

Hmm thank you for your feedback. As I mentioned in another reply I have a budget of $100.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Hello Macrumors' members,

I am currently thinking of getting myself a tablet for sketching logos. Would iPad Mini (the first one) be great for sketching? I know it doesn't support some Stylus pens but I am fine with that. I would use it for sketching and that's all.

I really appreciate your answers and hope you can help me to decide.

Sincerely,
Marmu

I still use an ipad mini 2. The first ipad mini should pretty much be the same. I bought a cheap stylus off amazon, and do sketch with it okay using various apps like Paper. There is some lag which can be annoying at times. It's nowhere near as accurate or awesome as using the apple pencil on an ipad pro. So keep that in mind. Still, i haven't upgraded to the pro yet. I was hoping Apple would release an ipad mini pro this year or at least enable using the apple pencil on the next upgrade to the mini. Theres a chance they will announce a new ipad mini in March. If not, i will wait until WWDC in June when they will most likely announce the new ipad pros. If a new mini isn't announced then, i will definitely nab a new 10.5" ipad pro with apple pencil.

 

[Marmu]

I still use an ipad mini 2. The first ipad mini should pretty much be the same. I bought a cheap stylus off amazon, and do sketch with it okay using various apps like Paper. There is some lag which can be annoying at times. It's nowhere near as accurate or awesome as using the apple pencil on an ipad pro. So keep that in mind. Still, i haven't upgraded to the pro yet. I was hoping Apple would release an ipad mini pro this year or at least enable using the apple pencil on the next upgrade to the mini. Theres a chance they will announce a new ipad mini in March. If not, i will wait until WWDC in June when they will most likely announce the new ipad pros. If a new mini isn't announced then, i will definitely nab a new 10.5" ipad pro with apple pencil.

I thought about ordering the $30 pen from Amazon, can’t remember what it was called. You said the lag can be annoying sometimes. Well, designing is my part-time job I do after school. Why did I decide to look for iPad Mini? It’s small and the size would be great for me.

 

[bensisko]

Well, sadly I am not going for that then. My budget is $100 right now and I thought I can find myself An iPad which can help me with some simple sketches.

You can still get a decent sketching tablet with a dedicated stylus for $100, just not in iOS.

Here are two that are around $100, the same size as the Mini, and work very well:

• Galaxy Note 8” (Tablet, not the phone- runs Android) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Ga...145510?hash=item5d738662e6:g:yVsAAOSw0exaMKUq
• Dell Venue Pro 8 (runs Windows 8, upgradable to Windows 10) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Venue...943821&hash=item1a416f15eb:g:J8cAAOSwaR9aY856

Both of these are very decent devices for sketch’s - I have owned both of them and still use the Dell (though not as much because I just carry the 10.5 with me).

If you can stand Android (I can’t, it’s why I got rid of the Note), then the Note is an excellent device. The stylus is almost as good as the Apple Pencil and you can get other compatible stylus (from Wacom, etc). I just wouldn’t expect to run the latest and greatest version of Android on it (another issue I had - Samsung didn’t update it - okay if you’re just using it for sketchs, not okay if you want to have the latest OS).

The Dell is a great machine as well, though there aren’t as many app choices. I use Sketchbook on all of my drawing devices and Sketchbook runs great on the Dell tablet with Windows 10. The only catch with the Dell is that you have to buy the stylus separately (it doesn’t come with one like the Note does).

Both of these units use Active Stylus (like the iPad Pro).

 

[Marmu]

You can still get a decent sketching tablet with a dedicated stylus for $100, just not in iOS.

Here are two that are around $100, the same size as the Mini, and work very well:

• Galaxy Note 8” (Tablet, not the phone- runs Android) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Ga...145510?hash=item5d738662e6:g:yVsAAOSw0exaMKUq
• Dell Venue Pro 8 (runs Windows 8, upgradable to Windows 10) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Venue...943821&hash=item1a416f15eb:g:J8cAAOSwaR9aY856

Both of these are very decent devices for sketch’s - I have owned both of them and still use the Dell (though not as much because I just carry the 10.5 with me).

If you can stand Android (I can’t, it’s why I got rid of the Note), then the Note is an excellent device. The stylus is almost as good as the Apple Pencil and you can get other compatible stylus (from Wacom, etc). I just wouldn’t expect to run the latest and greatest version of Android on it (another issue I had - Samsung didn’t update it - okay if you’re just using it for sketchs, not okay if you want to have the latest OS).

The Dell is a great machine as well, though there aren’t as many app choices. I use Sketchbook on all of my drawing devices and Sketchbook runs great on the Dell tablet with Windows 10. The only catch with the Dell is that you have to buy the stylus separately (it doesn’t come with one like the Note does).

Both of these units use Active Stylus (like the iPad Pro).

I bough myself a macbook about 3 months ago, 1 month later I bought IPhone. Never going back to Android anymore, doesn’t matter if it’s better or not, never going back. I better collect some more money and see if I can buy a iPad Pro. Thank you for your answer and help.

 

[Marmu]

I got an offer for iPad Mini 3 which costs $150 and it is well hold. I got the price down for a bit. Comparing Mini and Mini 3 - I think I should be fine with that?

 

[bopajuice]

I bough myself a macbook about 3 months ago, 1 month later I bought IPhone. Never going back to Android anymore, doesn’t matter if it’s better or not, never going back. I better collect some more money and see if I can buy a iPad Pro. Thank you for your answer and help.

Thats the key. Moving to all Apple and then expecting to find a useful solution for $100 is really asking for a lot. By default you will pay more for Apple.

I too use all Apple products, but wonder why you are so against Android, especially since it will be work related?
[doublepost=1516897788][/doublepost]

I got an offer for iPad Mini 3 which costs $150 and it is well hold. I got the price down for a bit. Comparing Mini and Mini 3 - I think I should be fine with that?

If I recall the iPad mini III It's almost identical to the iPad mini II, except with Touch ID. Check prices on the iPad mini II if you are going that route.

 

[bensisko]

I got an offer for iPad Mini 3 which costs $150 and it is well hold. I got the price down for a bit. Comparing Mini and Mini 3 - I think I should be fine with that?

If I recall the iPad mini III It's almost identical to the iPad mini II, except with Touch ID. Check prices on the iPad mini II if you are going that route.

That’s exactly correct - the Mini 3 is the Mini 2 with Touch ID - literally.

 

[jamface]

I got an offer for iPad Mini 3 which costs $150 and it is well hold. I got the price down for a bit. Comparing Mini and Mini 3 - I think I should be fine with that?

if you want to make minimum investment, and are doing simple designs as you described, then I'm sure you'll be quite happy with the Mini 3. I wouldn't go for the 1st gen just due to non retina screen.

I used my Mini 2 and a cheap rubber tip stylus for lots of sketching and designing with Sketchbook Pro and Paper. Obviously, it had limitations compared to an Apple Pencil, but once you learn to work around them you can work quite effectively.

 

[Marmu]

That’s exactly correct - the Mini 3 is the Mini 2 with Touch ID - literally.

I am not a huge fan of Android anymore because it's way easier for me to use Apple products if every device is already made by Apple. I have checked prices for iPad Mini 2 and they are same as the Mini 3 I got for $150.
[doublepost=1516899770][/doublepost]

if you want to make minimum investment, and are doing simple designs as you described, then I'm sure you'll be quite happy with the Mini 3. I wouldn't go for the 1st gen just due to non retina screen.

I used my Mini 2 and a cheap rubber tip stylus for lots of sketching and designing with Sketchbook Pro and Paper. Obviously, it had limitations compared to an Apple Pencil, but once you learn to work around them you can work quite effectively.

That's what I am thinking. They are just sketches for mascot logos and standard brand logos nothing much at all, simple sketches.
[doublepost=1516899806][/doublepost]Huge thanks to everyone who spend their time on helping me. I appreciate that.

 

[bopajuice]

I am not a huge fan of Android anymore because it's way easier for me to use Apple products if every device is already made by Apple. I have checked prices for iPad Mini 2 and they are same as the Mini 3 I got for $150.
[doublepost=1516899770][/doublepost]
That's what I am thinking. They are just sketches for mascot logos and standard brand logos nothing much at all, simple sketches.
[doublepost=1516899806][/doublepost]Huge thanks to everyone who spend their time on helping me. I appreciate that.

You don't like Android anymore because their products aren't made by Apple? Thats the reason for never going back to Android? I was hoping you were going to give examples of what you don't like about Android, and what is better in Apple's iOS... Especially when it comes to drawing. Samsung makes tablets that include pens, no searching or need to take the Amazon gamble on an unknown product.

I often read about people who prefer one over the other but very rarely are the reasons "reasonable". For some it may be the color of the icons, but I have never heard someone say they do not like Android because their products are not Apple branded. Please explain.

 

[sracer]

I am not a huge fan of Android anymore because it's way easier for me to use Apple products if every device is already made by Apple. I have checked prices for iPad Mini 2 and they are same as the Mini 3 I got for $150.
[doublepost=1516899770][/doublepost]
That's what I am thinking. They are just sketches for mascot logos and standard brand logos nothing much at all, simple sketches.
[doublepost=1516899806][/doublepost]Huge thanks to everyone who spend their time on helping me. I appreciate that.

If you feel that you'll be comfortable using the Mini for sketching, here's a few tips that I use when I use my Mini 4 for sketching. Although I have a 12.9 iPad Pro + Apple Pencil, there are times when I prefer to use the Mini.

First is, get an art glove. It is simple enough to make... just buy a pair of white cotton gloves from a drug store (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) and cut the thumb, index, and middle fingers off. This helps resolve the palm-rejection issue.

Next, get a powered-capacitive stylus... NOT a bluetooth stylus. These capacitive styli have a fine point like bluetooth styli but unlike the bluetooth ones, they work with any application. I use the DotPen, but there are a dozen or so alternatives that work the same. They don't support pressure sensitivity, but for simple and clean sketching, they work just fine.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I thought about ordering the $30 pen from Amazon, can’t remember what it was called. You said the lag can be annoying sometimes. Well, designing is my part-time job I do after school. Why did I decide to look for iPad Mini? It’s small and the size would be great for me.

I ordered a stylus from amazon. Only cost me $15 and came with extra rubber tips. Works fine. Yes, there sometimes is a slight lag, but it doesn't bother me cause i've gotten used to it. Totally doable. When i do visit the apple store however, i do get a little envious of the apple pencil and ipad pros. Just perfection for sketching.

I also prefer the mini size for portability. So i am hoping Apple does release an ipad mini pro or at least allow the next mini update to use the apple pencil. Not counting on it, but that would be awesome.

Good luck with your sketching.

 

[bensisko]

You don't like Android anymore because their products aren't made by Apple? Thats the reason for never going back to Android? I was hoping you were going to give examples of what you don't like about Android, and what is better in Apple's iOS... Especially when it comes to drawing. Samsung makes tablets that include pens, no searching or need to take the Amazon gamble on an unknown product.

I often read about people who prefer one over the other but very rarely are the reasons "reasonable". For some it may be the color of the icons, but I have never heard someone say they do not like Android because their products are not Apple branded. Please explain.

But why does it matter? If someone states their personal preference is that they don’t like Android, who cares if it’s “reasonable”or not. They don’t like Android and this is their personal statement for their purpose. Done. End of story.
[doublepost=1516909243][/doublepost]

First is, get an art glove. It is simple enough to make... just buy a pair of white cotton gloves from a drug store (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) and cut the thumb, index, and middle fingers off. This helps resolve the palm-rejection issue.

Excellent suggestion!

 

[bopajuice]

But why does it matter? If someone states their personal preference is that they don’t like Android, who cares if it’s “reasonable”or not. They don’t like Android and this is their personal statement for their purpose. Done. End of story.
[doublepost=1516909243][/doublepost]

Excellent suggestion!

Sorry, no offense was meant. I come to this site to comment but also to learn. I have considered Android on several occasions, but get frustrated when trying to figure out someones reason for liking or not liking it. Or why it did or did not work for them. I was hoping the poster would elaborate. End of Story.

 

[LotusLord]

As others have said, the original mini is absolutely a non starter at this point. Same spec as an iPad 2 including non-retina screen.

 

[bensisko]

Sorry, no offense was meant. I come to this site to comment but also to learn. I have considered Android on several occasions, but get frustrated when trying to figure out someones reason for liking or not liking it. Or why it did or did not work for them. I was hoping the poster would elaborate. End of Story.

Maybe I jumped too fast, and I apologize if I mis-interpreted your request. I get frustrated when people push others as if they have to have a really good reason to prefer one thing over the other when it’s perfectly reasonable to have an opinion based on personal preference.

 

[Marmu]

If you feel that you'll be comfortable using the Mini for sketching, here's a few tips that I use when I use my Mini 4 for sketching. Although I have a 12.9 iPad Pro + Apple Pencil, there are times when I prefer to use the Mini.

First is, get an art glove. It is simple enough to make... just buy a pair of white cotton gloves from a drug store (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) and cut the thumb, index, and middle fingers off. This helps resolve the palm-rejection issue.

Next, get a powered-capacitive stylus... NOT a bluetooth stylus. These capacitive styli have a fine point like bluetooth styli but unlike the bluetooth ones, they work with any application. I use the DotPen, but there are a dozen or so alternatives that work the same. They don't support pressure sensitivity, but for simple and clean sketching, they work just fine.

Wow, never thought about gloves. Thank you!