iPad Pro Opinion: iPad Pro 12.9" vs Wacom Cintiq for my use case

[LeonPro]

Would appreciate input from people who have gone through a similar use case. I'm a video editor. I'm transitioning from doing actual video editing work to creative direction. So I envision doing more of planning and storyboarding. I'm not a photo or print artist so I won't be using Photoshop or Illustrator to draw. We hire contractors for that task.

I use PP, AE, Illustrator (for simple creations and amend artwork) and InDesign (to create my documents) as well as Storyboarder.

I have $2,000 to spend on either a Cintiq but would love an iPad Pro 12.9 more as an all-around device than a dedicated drawing tablet like Wacom.

This is not to debate which would be a better drawing tablet as I know the Wacom wins. I would appreciate if anyone with similar use case can shed light on why I would be better off with one or the other for creative planning and storyboarding needs.

I would also appreciate if you have software suggestions. Thanks.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Would appreciate input from people who have gone through a similar use case. I'm a video editor. I'm transitioning from doing actual video editing work to creative direction. So I envision doing more of planning and storyboarding. I'm not a photo or print artist so I won't be using Photoshop or Illustrator to draw. We hire contractors for that task.

I use PP, AE, Illustrator (for simple creations and amend artwork) and InDesign (to create my documents) as well as Storyboarder.

I have $2,000 to spend on either a Cintiq but would love an iPad Pro 12.9 more as an all-around device than a dedicated drawing tablet like Wacom.

This is not to debate which would be a better drawing tablet as I know the Wacom wins. I would appreciate if anyone with similar use case can shed light on why I would be better off with one or the other for creative planning and storyboarding needs.

I would also appreciate if you have software suggestions. Thanks.

Absolutely go with the iPad Pro. I have transitioned from Cintiq (I’m a photographer). It’s as good or better for editing. I also do a little video, design, story board, drawing, animating among other things.
It’s responsive whilst using sidecar or Luna. The thing that is missing that cintiq has is the ability to see the cursor when the pen is not touching the screen. To be honest I thought the feature would be missed more than it is.
I bought my iPad solely for graphics tablet use along with my macs, but actually now I use it as a laptop way more than my macs! It has great software in its own right. It’s truly a versatile machine.

 

[aevan]

This is not to debate which would be a better drawing tablet as I know the Wacom wins.

That’s…. Very relative. Wins in what way? Both offer top of the line drawing experience, and I’d say iPads actually have a more natural feel. However, Cintiqs come at larger sizes, can be used with PCs and Macs, so they can be used with more software. On the other hand, iPads are portable and even the fantastic Wacom MobileStudio can’t compare In terms of portability.

So, the question is - do you value portability over versatility? Is all the software you need available on the iPad? Is the iPad your only computer? Etc.

One thing that might help - if you work on a Mac, you can actually use the iPad as a Cintiq, with Sidecar and Astropad (which is better for drawing but requires a dongle to work as a second screen).

 

[Flabasha]

Yeah, it mostly comes down to portability, though your preferred OS is big, too. I have a 22” Wacom, an iPad Pro and a Galaxy Book Pro 360. The Wacom benefits by using MacOS (via my MacBook Pro), the iPad Pro is the most portable but is saddled with iPadOS, the Galaxy Book (with Wacom pen) is my go-to, for the much bigger real estate of the 15” screen, and actual OS, albeit Windows.

 

[LeonPro]

Thanks all. Appreciate the insights and perspectives.

Although I have both Windows and Mac computers, I’m mainly a Mac user for creative work. Per my sig I have a Mac desktop and laptop.

I do have an iPad 7 with Apple pencil as well as use it as Sidecar but I don’t feel it’s enough - would prefer a larger screen with the notion that a 12.9” and Apple Pencil 2 is a big enough upgrade in real estate and writing performance. Is it? Or will I be wasting money with an incremental writing upgrade?

I plan to use it as a Sidecar still with no plans to use on Windows. A bonus would be using it as a 3rd monitor for video editing like the current iPad but find it too small.

 

[cupcakes2000]

the iPad Pro is the most portable but is saddled with iPadOS

There are plenty of great professional apps for the iPad, and it connects flawlessly to the mac to host macos and the applications found there as a sort of thin client.

The os has an extremely small amount to do with it for the ops use case. For what it’s worth, the simpler and more touch friendly it is win out for graphics tablet use. I certainly couldn’t consider windows a benefit over ipados in this case.

 

[aevan]

I do have an iPad 7 with Apple pencil as well as use it as Sidecar but I don’t feel it’s enough - would prefer a larger screen with the notion that a 12.9” and Apple Pencil 2 is a big enough upgrade in real estate and writing performance. Is it? Or will I be wasting money with an incremental writing upgrade?

Ok, so the answer is complicated The screen is massively larger than iPad 7, I it’s almost twice the usable area and it makes a huge difference. On the other hand, a 24” Cintiq has a surface almost 4x bigger than an iPad, and even the 12.9” may not be enough

Here’s the thing - it depends on your workflow. For example, I see you have a MacBook Pro - can you work on its screen (no external display)? I have a 15” MBP and found the screen to be fine for my needs (illustration in Photoshop) however, I have friends who need at least 24”. If MBP screen is big enough, 12.9” will probably feel good as well for single Mac fullscreen app - and you’ll have other windows on your Mac screen anyway. With iPadOS apps, they are a bit more space optimized, so it should also be fine.

For me, having an iPad and a MBP is actually great and provides all the space I need. I had a 27” 5K iMac, but the screen form factor was a bit restrictive, I actually find it better to have two apps on two screens than trying to get them to work on one big screen. This is why the upcoming Universal Control is a game changer for me.

 

[LeonPro]

Yeah I can work on my MBP 16 when needed. I also have a Dell XPS 13” 4K touch screen and can use it for single apps task which leads me to believe the 12.9” will have a similar single apps experience but better due to Apple Pencil ability and integration with the Mac environment which is main OS of choice. Thanks.

 

[Flabasha]

There are plenty of great professional apps for the iPad, and it connects flawlessly to the mac to host macos and the applications found there as a sort of thin client.

The os has an extremely small amount to do with it for the ops use case. For what it’s worth, the simpler and more touch friendly it is win out for graphics tablet use. I certainly couldn’t consider windows a benefit over ipados in this case.

File management, font management, importing brushes, etc. etc.

Attempting to draw a graphic novel on IPadOS is the single reason I bought my first Windows computer at the age of 48. It’s no MacOS, but it’s light years beyond Tonka-toy iPadOS. Sadly, Apple has decided they don’t want you drawing directly on a Mac.

For the OP, yeah, if you’re staying in the iPad world, a 12.9 will be a huge upgrade in screen size, and ProMotion is a really nice upgrade as well.

 

[cupcakes2000]

File management, font management, importing brushes, etc. etc.

Attempting to draw a graphic novel on IPadOS is the single reason I bought my first Windows computer at the age of 48. It’s no MacOS, but it’s light years beyond Tonka-toy iPadOS. Sadly, Apple has decided they don’t want you drawing directly on a Mac.

For the OP, yeah, if you’re staying in the iPad world, a 12.9 will be a huge upgrade in screen size, and ProMotion is a really nice upgrade as well.

Shame you can’t seem to do your work on an iPad, even in conjunction with a mac, but I and many others can. Calling it a Tonka toy is just chucking your toys out of the pram. If you can’t or don’t want to adapt to it, or it can’t yet fill your needs doesn’t mean it’s useless. What do these threads always turn into an iPad bashing fest.

 

[Flabasha]

Shame you can’t seem to do your work on an iPad, even in conjunction with a mac, but I and many others can. Calling it a Tonka toy is just chucking your toys out of the pram. If you can’t or don’t want to adapt to it, or it can’t yet fill your needs doesn’t mean it’s useless. What do these threads always turn into an iPad bashing fest.

It is a shame, I agree. The iPad Pro is fantastic hardware, and deserves so much better than an OS built for a phone.

 

[nicetriangles]

Would appreciate input from people who have gone through a similar use case. I'm a video editor. I'm transitioning from doing actual video editing work to creative direction. So I envision doing more of planning and storyboarding. I'm not a photo or print artist so I won't be using Photoshop or Illustrator to draw. We hire contractors for that task.

I use PP, AE, Illustrator (for simple creations and amend artwork) and InDesign (to create my documents) as well as Storyboarder.

I have $2,000 to spend on either a Cintiq but would love an iPad Pro 12.9 more as an all-around device than a dedicated drawing tablet like Wacom.

This is not to debate which would be a better drawing tablet as I know the Wacom wins. I would appreciate if anyone with similar use case can shed light on why I would be better off with one or the other for creative planning and storyboarding needs.

I would also appreciate if you have software suggestions. Thanks.

I had Cintiq Pro 16 first and I liked it ok for what it was at the time. It was a big upgrade from screenless Wacoms that I never much got the hang of. I used it exclusively for around 6-8 months.

Then my coworker got an iPad Pro 12.9 and it looked awesome. I finally caved and bought one and as soon as I got used to it I entirely stopped using the Cintiq and finally sold it after 6 months of owning the iPad.

Here's just a bullet list of observations:

- The touch gestures on the Cintiq are absolute trash compared to the iPad
- The pen tip accuracy is definitely better on the iPad and has zero parallax. The newer Cintiqs are better than they used to be for parallax but it's still noticeable especially at the corners of the screen.
- I personally feel like the pen pressure response curve is more natural feeling on the iPad but I concede this is more subjective.
- I can use the iPad comfortably on the couch
- The Cintiq cable connections were inconsistent. If you bumped them it was not super uncommon to interrupt the connection. I also had issues sometimes with consistently getting the thing to output 4k resolution.
- My old Cintiq and lots of other people's have hot and/or dead pixel issues
- I can use the iPad at coffee shops, bars, on a plane. If I did that with a Cintiq setup, I'd like like a goober if I was even able to find a spot with enough space to do it
- I just enjoy the iPad way more. There's no barrier to using it. I pick it up anywhere and draw. With the Cintiq it is a whole production and I ideally need to be in a space setup for it to use the thing. I put way more hours in on the ipad

I would not recommend a Cintiq over and iPad pro to anybody unless they were explicitly something like a zbrush user on PC or they had to have a 20in+ screen. The iPad Pro is my favorite digital creative tool of all time.

 

[LeonPro]

Thanks all for insight.

I have put in my order for the Pro 12.9 256GB, Apple Pencil, and Magic Keyboard. I realize the Magic Keyboard doesn’t fold all the way back like a Folio case which is a bummer. However this will allow me to use it standalone instead of the laptop that I bring around to monitor messages. Cheers.

 

[subjonas]

How are you liking the iPad?

I have both a 12.9” iPad and a portable 16” Cintiq. I draw on the iPad more for fun and on the go, and the cintiq for work (it’s obviously much less portable since it’s bigger and especially because it requires hooking up to a computer). First off, my work software is only on Mac/pc so it’s not really a choice. But regardless I’d choose the cintiq for work because for work speed is of the essence, and a cintiq is bigger (assuming you get the 16” or bigger) so there’s less zooming, and Mac/pc software is generally more robust and with full customizable keyboard shortcuts. And the 16” cintiq is relatively inexpensive at I believe it was less than $700.
But if you’re fine with the 12.9” size, and your choice of app is robust enough and it either supports keyboard shortcuts or you don’t require them, then the iPad should be the winner for you. It’s quite a bit more expensive of course, but obviously it does a lot more than a cintiq by itself.

 

[LeonPro]

I have a different use case because I don't draw from scratch and only use it to assist in storyboard creation via SideCar. I can switch from mirror screen (for storyboard) to third-screen (when editing). It's like a baby Pro XDR screen.

I would assume if I was a full-time Illustrator I would want a bigger screen (and probably a surface less slick, but that's probably a change in drawing behaviour to truly adapt to an iPad as a drawing tool).

With that said, I am liking the 12.9 as I can use it stand-alone when detached from the desktop or laptop. In fact I'm using it more than the MBP 16 in terms of portability with the Magic Keyboard attachment and now wish it had a MacOS instead of iPadOS as it's truly a capable device limited in functionality by the OS. (That's a different forum topic, of course).

And yes the size does leave more to be desired. A 16" touch screen would be perfect for post-production portability needs.