Choosing the right tool for digital art is a critical decision for artists, in the past decade, the obvious choice would’ve been always a drawing tablet, however with the evolution of mobile technology and the amazing features that Apple has added to their iPad models, the choice is not as easy anymore.
iPads have gained momentum as the greatest portable drawing devices, becoming the best friends of many digital artists all over the world, however, there’s a reason why drawing tablets keep being the industry standard for professional work. There are just too many questions to answer. Are they enough? What are their limitations? How do they compare to drawing tablets?
In this guide we’ll help you understand the differences, benefits, and drawbacks of each, so that you’ll make an informed decision and buy the best option for you..
We’ll take into consideration the following criteria:
- Hardware and Design
- Pressure Sensitivity and Stylus
- Display Resolution and Color Accuracy
- Software and Compatibility
- Price and Value
Hardware and Design
Hardware refers to the physical components of a electronic device, this means the screen, sensors, casing, buttons, ports, cameras, microphones, etc. that a tablet or an iPad might have, while design refers to the overall aesthetics and comfort-ease of use relation a device offers. See below as we compare the hardware and design features of iPads and Drawing tablets:
Hardware and Design of Drawing Tablets
Drawing tablets, especially the ones with a screen (pen displays) come in different sizes and designs. For starters, the screen (drawing area) comes laminated, which increases the visual experience and reduces glare, it might also come with etched glass to be even easier on the eyes, and since it’s not glass, it won’t feel slippery for your pen or stylus when you draw on it offering a much more natural drawing experience, comparable to drawing on paper. Additionally, a drawing tablet might include buttons that can be programmed to act as shortcut keys and improve your workflow. They can be press buttons, touch buttons, wheels, dials, etc.
You’ll be able to find drawing tablets with a drawing area of 12” an tablets with large drawing areas up to 32” which are meant to accommodate diverse drawing needs and not only suit portability.
Larger drawing tablets are more comfortable to work on for longer hours, are great for having different windows open for references or other tasks and amazing to work on details, on the downside they are much more expensive and are pretty much stationary.
Smaller drawing tablets are better for smaller workspaces, tighter budgets, and are easier to transport, however they are not completely portable as they need to be connected to a laptop and power source to work.
When discussing aesthetics, drawing tablets are not the most visually appealing devices. They are often bulky and require multiple cables to function, which can create a cluttered workspace. In contrast, the sleek and elegant design of an iPad is much more visually appealing. iPads have a thin profile and minimalist design that integrate seamlessly into modern workspaces, offering a cleaner and more organized appearance.
Hardware and Design of iPads
iPads also come in different sizes, however there are only a few inches of difference between the smallest and larger model, and the design nowadays is pretty much the same but in different sizes (it used to be different, which should be considered if you’re planning on getting an 9th gen or older iPad).
iPads are amazing multifunctional devices that combine a lot of different features. They are the winner in the hardware category as they have not only a screen capable of providing a seamless drawing experience but also have features like a microphone, speakers, a camera, battery, and everything a working standalone tablet needs.
The most limiting aspect of iPads is their size in this category, since they come only in smaller sizes, they can’t be any competition for larger drawing tablets that are meant to be used with a powerful desktop computer to run professional software.
Drawing tablets are designed to be used with a working computer, laptop, or even a smartphone. They typically come with various accessories that enhance the drawing experience, such as a drawing glove, an adjustable stand, and programmable shortcut keys. These features are aimed at providing comfort and efficiency for artists during long drawing sessions.
On the other hand, an iPad is designed to be a multifunctional tablet, which is why they are completely flat and easy to carry around. However, it does not include specialized drawing accessories out of the box. To achieve a similar level of functionality as a drawing tablet, users will need to purchase additional accessories, such as a stylus (Apple Pencil), a drawing stand, or a screen protector that provides a textured surface for drawing.
Pressure Sensitivity and Stylus
Pressure sensitivity refers to the ability of the tablet to detect the amount of pressure applied by the user with the stylus, some tables have more pressure sensitivity and others have less. Each tablet is compatible with a different stylus, said styluses can have buttons, batteries, and other features to make them more accurate or easier to use. See below as we compare pressure sensitivity and styluses in drawing tablets and iPads:
Pressure Sensitivity and Styluses in Drawing Tablets
Drawing tablets are devices made by professionals for professionals to use and work with, that’s why most drawing tablets have the highest levels of pressure sensitivity by default. This makes a big difference for professional artists who can need every bit of control a digital brush can offer. The standard is 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, although some tablets have up to 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity already, less than 8192 is considered obsolete.
The stylus is always included with your purchase when you get a drawing tablet. These digital pens work with a special technology called electromagnetic resonance (EMR). EMR technology allows the stylus to interact with the tablet without the need for a battery, providing a seamless and uninterrupted drawing experience. The tablet generates an electromagnetic field that powers the stylus and detects its position, pressure, and tilt.
Additionally, there are buttons on these styluses that can be configured as on-hand shortcut keys, which is extremely useful for digital painting, illustration and 3D modeling. There can be up to 4 different buttons on a pen carefully placed considering ergonomics, ease of use and comfort.
Pressure Sensitivity and Styluses in iPads
iPads are devices made to be used in the day-to-day, white they can be used to draw and make art on, they are not especially made for that, which is reflected in the technology used in their Apple Pencil and the levels of pressure sensitivity it offers. The Apple Pencil, while advanced, does not match the pressure sensitivity levels found in professional drawing tablets.
The first-generation Apple Pencil offers 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity which is very poor, and while the second-generation Apple Pencil offers improved performance, it still falls short compared to high-end drawing tablets. This difference is barely noticeable to beginners and non-artists, however it can be significant for professional artists who require the highest degree of control and precision in their work.
Additionally, the Apple Pencil only comes with one customizable “button” which can be activated by making a double-tap on the flat side of it, and while it’s great to have, it’s simply not enough for artists who are used to the comfort and convenience of multiple press keys. Not every iPad model offers Apple Pencil support for all the different Apple Pencil generations, so make sure to double check the compatibility of your chosen model with each Apple Pencil generation.
Finally, the Apple Pencil is much heavier than your average stylus, which makes it hard on the hand muscles and tendons when working for long hours, plus its thinner body is not as ergonomic as the thicker drawing tablet stylus, which is also detrimental for hand comfort.
Display Resolution and Color Accuracy
Display resolution and color accuracy go hand in hand when talking about any device meant for creatives, and are specially important when talking about drawing tablets and iPads. Display resolution refers to the number of pixels per unit of measure and how that affects the quality of image, while color accuracy refers to how well a display can portray color based on its color space configuration. See below as we compare the differences between iPads and drawing tablets in terms of display resolution and color accuracy:
Display Resolution and Color Accuracy in Drawing Tablets
Drawing tablets are made for professional work, so they usually have excellent display resolution and color accuracy, or at least that’s what we would expect right?
While most top-tier professional tablets’ drawing screen do have amazing resolution and carefully calibrated color accuracy, standard and budget models have dropped the ball in this area.
The best drawing tablets, such as those from Wacom’s Cintiq series or Huion Kamvas series, often feature 4K resolution displays with nearly 100% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage. Mid-range and entry-level models, while still functional, often compromise on display quality. They might offer lower resolutions (1080p or less) and have less accurate color calibration, even getting to badly calibrated sRGB which lead to bad color representation and issues when working on detailed pieces.
Additionally, drawing tablets offer a maximum of 300 nits of brightness, which makes them good for indoors use, and difficult to use in well-lit spaces.
Display Resolution and Color Accuracy in iPads
iPads on the other side, have held a high standard regarding display resolution and color accuracy for years, the iPad Pro models, in particular, feature Liquid Retina displays with 2732 x 2048 pixels, ProMotion technology, offering refresh rates up to 120Hz and a wide P3 color gamut.
Other iPad models like the iPad Air and the iPad Mini, while not offering the same quality, still offer much better quality than the average drawing tablet, but keep the same gamut coverage, offering a great alternative for professionals to work on.
The only devices that don’t offer the same level of color accuracy and brightness are the iPad 9th and 10th gen, which while still having a great display are meant for general use rather than professional work.
Given that iPads are made to be used for streaming media and gaming too, they offer excellent levels of brightness, starting from the 500 nits, reaching up to the 1600 nits for the Pro models, which makes them great for both indoors and outdoors use.
Software and Compatibility
Software compatibility refers to the ability of a device to run a particular software or app, which is crucial in creative work, especially when talking about professionals who need specific and powerful creative software. Let’s see how drawing tablets and iPads perform in this section:
Software Compatibility in Drawing Tablets
Drawing Tablets are devices made to work with a computer, laptop or smartphone, which means they won’t be able to run your favorite software on their own (unless you get one of the standalone pen-computers, but we’re going to talk about them in another guide). This means your computer, laptop or smartphone will be the ones in charge of running your preferred software, be it a digital painting, vector art, 3D modeling or animation software, it will be up to how powerful your PC is.
Drawing tablets are mostly compatible with every software, since they rely on drivers, when the drawing tablet nets connected to the computer, it automatically installs the necessary drivers. A few models with touch sensitivity might present slight inconveniences with the shortcuts or the touch integration of your OS in case you use Mac, however if you turn off the touch features, you’ll be off the hook and all the issues will be solved.
Another “issue” you might run into is the OS compatibility, which you’ll have to double check before buying a specific model, especially if you plan on using it with a smartphone, a Chromebook or an older Windows or Mac model.
Software Compatibility in iPads
iPads work with their own OS, the iPad OS is a very powerful operating system, however since it’s a mobile OS there are some differences in software compatibility and functionality compared to desktop operating systems. The iPad OS is app-based, which means the only software you’ll be able to use it’s the one that’s on the app store and that is compatible with iPadOS. This gives you limited options that work only with mobile software and that support touch sensitivity.
Drawing apps like Procreate that are native to Apple are one of the most complete yet still lack professional features that are considered basic in similar desktop software like Photoshop. Even the iPad version of Photoshop is still very basic and underdeveloped, limiting the use of the iPad for professional artists. Some apps like Affinity Designer, Adobe Fresco, and Clip Studio Paint have been fully optimized for touch and stylus input and work amazingly with iPadOS, however they are still very few and not the industry standard in most cases.
iPads benefit from tight integration within the Apple ecosystem, allowing for easy sharing and syncing of files across devices using iCloud, you can also get the most out of them with their screen mirror feaures, however while the latest models are very powerful, they may not match the performance of high-end desktop computers equipped with advanced graphics cards and processors.
Price and Value
Price and value refers to the amount of money a device cost and overall value a device offers you for it. There is a big difference in the price range of drawing tablets and iPads, and it mostly depends on their size, features and different bells and whistles they might include, let’s see below as we compare the differences between the price and value of drawing tablets and iPads:
Price and Value of Drawing Tablets
Drawing tablets prices range from very affordable, beginner-friendly models to high-end, professional options. Costs can go from $50 for the ones that don’t have a screen to $3500 for the professional ones. There are also very good options that are fairly priced, going for $250, $500 and $1200 depending on the size and features they offer, however all of them depend on a computer to work, which increases the full setup price by several hundreds of dollars.
The value drawing tablets offer for professional artists is immense, no other device offers the same level of precision, control, and customization, plus they work with pretty much every software for any digital art style and discipline so that’s a huge pro.
Price and Value of iPads
iPads, especially the Pro models are premium devices with very high upfront costs, starting from $350 for the most basic model of the 10th gen the price can go up to $2000 for the iPad Pro depending on the configuration. However we must take into account that iPads are devices that are not meant solely for drawing. You can work on them, write, stream your favorite shows, game, videocall, video edit, browse the internet, etc. Plus they are very powerful and they have a very long lasting battery that rivals any commercial laptop and smartphone.
These devices offer a huge value for the general audience, especially for students who need a portable, reliable, and versatile device for studying, note taking and working on their art while at it.
Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between a drawing tablet and an iPad depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here’s a brief summary to help you decide:
Drawing Tablets – Best for Professional Artists
- Features:
- High pressure sensitivity (up to 16,384 levels)
- Great color accuracy and resolution (up to 4K)
- Customizable buttons for shortcuts
Best for Professional Artists: If your main goal is creating digital art with the highest precision and control, go for a drawing tablet. These devices offer excellent pressure sensitivity and advanced stylus technology, making them perfect for detailed work.Prices range from $50 for basic models without screens to $3,500 for high-end professional models.Needs to be connected to a computer, which adds to the overall cost.
iPads – Best for Versatility and Portability
- Features:
- High-quality display with ProMotion technology (120Hz refresh rate)
- Good color accuracy and brightness (up to 1600 nits)
- Integration with the Apple ecosystem for seamless file sharing
Best for Versatility and Portability: If you need a device for drawing as well as other tasks like note-taking, streaming, and browsing, an iPad is ideal. It’s a multifunctional device that’s easy to carry around.: Prices start at $329 for basic models and can go over $2,000 for high-end configurations. Does not need a computer to function and offers a wide range of apps for various tasks.
Choosing the Right Device
- For Professional Artists: If your primary focus is on digital art and you require the highest levels of precision, control, and if you already have a powerful PC, a dedicated drawing tablet is the best choice.
- For Versatility and Portability: If you need a device that can handle a variety of tasks beyond drawing, such as note-taking, streaming, and gaming, an iPad is an excellent option. Its superior display quality and integration with the Apple ecosystem provide a great solution for both creative and general use.
Ultimately, the decision between an iPad vs a drawing tablet depends on your specific requirements and how you intend to use the device, both options offer significant benefits, and understanding your priorities will help you make the best choice for your needs.
