Procreate is one of our favourite digital art apps, and it can only be used on an Apple iPad. But there are still different options out there for different users. For a start the latest version, Procreate 5.3.7, requires iPad OS 15.4.1 or newer. Although every iPad in this guide meets this requirement, that immediately sidelines older iPads.
So, what's the best iPad for Procreate? We think it's the newest, 4th Gen iPad Pro with its super fast M2 chip, Apple Pencil 2 compatibility, and gorgeous display. But that's the most expensive iPad going, and Procreate also works well on the iPad Air and the 10th Gen iPad. In fact, we've put together five options below that should hopefully cover your needs, whether they are budget, power or Apple Pencil compatibility.
In our list, we've brought together the best iPads for Procreate in one place, drawing (thank you!) on our expertise on both digital art software and iPads for drawing. We've tested every iPad on our list thoroughly, and have included links to the full reviews elsewhere on Creative Bloq.
We've dubbed this the "King of iPads", because it's powered by Apple's fast M2 chip and runs like a dream. And that means Procreate will run in a fast and fluid manner, and its mini-LED XDR display means your artwork will look fantastic, too. Read more below
The most affordable iPad in Apple's latest lineup is the iPad (2022), and it's a good choice for Procreate if you're on a budget. You get a nice, bright 10.9-inch screen, as well as a USB-C port and excellent battery life. Read more below
If you're after the best thin and light iPad for Procreate, the latest 5th generation iPad Air will be the one for you. Apple has given this new model a big specs bump, and it now comes with the mighty M1 processor. Read more below
Unlike most of the other iPad models, the iPad mini hasn't had an update recently, so the 2021 model is still the most recent one you can get. The good news is it remains a brilliant tablet, and Procreate runs well on it. Read more below
While it doesn't boast the improved internals or newer look of more recent iPads, this older iPad is still good enough for Procreate, and the lower price makes it a great choice if you want to save some money. Read more below
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If you want the best iPad for Procreate available today, you want the most recent iPad Pro, the 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (2022). Yes, you read that right: Apple didn't release a new iPad Pro in 2023, so this is the latest and greatest model, offering the fastest performance and a large screen to work on.
Our reviewer dubbed it the "King of iPads", because it's powered by Apple's fast M2 chip, the same found in the powerful MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022). That means Procreate is fast and fluid, and its mini-LED XDR display means your work will look fantastic, thanks to high brightness as well as local dimming.
The large screen also means you have a lot of workspace to use. However, bear in mind that this means the overall size of the iPad Pro is very large compared to other iPads and tablets. So if you want something more portable, you may prefer a smaller and lighter iPad, such as number 3 or 4 on this list.
Pair this with the Apple Pencil 2 or 3 and you have the best iPad for Procreate money can buy today. However, this is a very expensive iPad, and so if your budget can't stretch this far, you may prefer number 2 on our list, which still runs Procreate well but at a lower cost. See our iPad Pro (M2, 2022) review for more details.
Want something a bit cheaper than the first iPad on our list? The most affordable iPad in Apple's latest lineup is the iPad (2022), and it's a brilliant iPad for Procreate if you can't afford (or simply don't need) the iPad Pro.
This iPad features enough power to run Procreate, and comes with features found in more expensive modern iPads – but without the high price point. You get a nice large 10.9-inch screen, which is nice and bright, as well as a USB-C port and excellent battery life. The camera is also good for video calls, which is handy if you want to chat with customers (or friends and family) remotely.
There are some compromises, however. It uses the A14 chip, rather than the more powerful M1 or M2 chips now found in higher-end iPads, so while Procreate runs fine, you don't get quite as slick an experience. It's also only compatible with the first Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil 3, but not the Apple Pencil 2.
Those niggles aside, though, the latest iPad is the best value Procreate tablet you can buy right now. Read more in our iPad 2022 review.
If you're after the best thin and light iPad for Procreate, the latest 5th generation iPad Air will be the one for you. Apple has given this new model a big specs bump, and it now comes with the mighty M1 processor, granting it the kind of performance you used to have to pay a lot more for with the iPad Pro.
Our reviewer called it a "pretty astounding creative computer" and decided it's more than enough for most users. The 1640 x 2360 Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen makes anything you make in Procreate look fantastic, but its real selling point is its portability. Weighing just 462g, with dimensions of 247.6x178.5x6.1mm, this is an iPad that you can take pretty much anywhere with you, allowing you to fire up Procreate no matter where you are.
The latest iPad Air also comes in five colour options, so there's more personalisation, and it works with the Apple Pencil 2 and 3. The one thing that does disappoint us, however, is that it only comes with two storage sizes: a 64GB version, which is really too small these days, and a 256GB one, which may be too big for some people. Meanwhile, for real power users, we're disappointed that there's no 512GB or even 1TB storage sizes on offer. See our complete iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) review for more details.
Unlike most of the other iPad models, the iPad mini hasn't had an update recently, so the 2021 model is still the most recent one you can get. The good news is that it remains a brilliant tablet, and Procreate runs well on it.
Our reviewer said the only potential downfall to the mini is the 8.3-inch screen is, well, small. But that's obviously the flipside of being compact and portable, which you may feel is a compromise worth making. Because while you may not want to work on huge and complex projects in Procreate on this iPad, but it's ideal for sketching ideas and quick doodles when out and about.
That's not to say that the screen is bad, as its Liquid Retina display with 2266x1488 resolution at 326 pixels per inch is still impressively crisp and vibrant, despite its size.It also packs plenty of power thanks to the A15 Bionic chip, USB-C support and 5G connectivity. You can use the Apple Pencil 2 or 3 with it, too. Read more in our full iPad mini (6th gen) review.
Apple doesn't really do 'budget' devices, but if you don't mind settling for older models, you can pick up some great Apple products for a lot less than the most recent versions. Even at time of release our reviewer said it's "massively capable for its price", and this is even truer now it's even cheaper.
While it doesn't boast the improved internals or newer look of more recent iPads, it is still perfectly good enough for Procreate, and the lower price makes it a great choice if you want to save some money. The 2021 model has a 10.2in 1620 x 2160 LCD screen, which is large and comfortable enough to work on, and yet still perfectly portable.
It's worth pointing out, however, that it only supports the first generation of Apple Pencil. This is still a fine stylus for working on Procreate with, but you do miss out on some of the newer features. For more information, read our more detailed iPad 10.2 (2021) review.
When testing iPads for drawing, we put each tablet through its paces with demanding brushes, layering heavy projects, and intricate line art. Each stroke is scrutinised for lag, responsiveness, and overall performance. From subtle blending to pressure sensitivity, we test how faithfully the iPad translates every nuance of the artist's hand onto the canvas. We also look at practical considerations such as how long the battery lasts, how much storage there is for projects files, and whether the iPad offers value for money overall.
Industry-leading digital art app Procreate has transformed the iPad into an artistic powerhouse. However, it doesn't work with all iPad models, so picking the perfect one can feel a bit confusing.
The first task is to check that the model is actually compatible with Procreate. All our picks in the list above are, and we have a full list of compatible iPads in our FAQs below. Secondly, you should consider which of the three Apple Pencils you want to use, and check compatibility there too.
Thirdly, think about what screen size you prefer. A large screen means more space to draw, but also makes the iPad bigger and less portable, so there's a balance to be struck there if you plan to often be sketching on the move. Fourthly, consider whether the extra features in the latest version of Procreate are important to you: if so, you'll want one of the newest iPads, as we detail in our list above.
Procreate is a powerful and popular raster graphics editor app designed specifically for iPads and iPhones. It's typically used by artists for digital painting, illustration and sketching on the iPad. First launched in 2011, it's made by by the Tasmanian software company Savage Interactive. In 2018, Procreate became the overall best selling iPad app.
What's the latest version of Procreate?
The latest version of Procreate is 5.3. This includes a range of new hover features like Brush Cursor, Gallery Previews, Selections, Brush Size and Opacity Gestures. Our reviewer wrote "The fact that you can now create so many different mediums on Procreate, from animations to digital art, undeniably makes it one of the most powerful drawing apps on the market... The app keeps getting better with every update." For more details, read our Procreate 5.3 review.
Which iPads support Procreate?
To run the latest version of Procreate you need to have an iPad with iPadOS 15.4.1 or newer installed. The following iPads support Procreate:
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation)
iPad Pro 10.5-inch
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
iPad (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th generation)
Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.
