Graphic designers have a few choices when it comes to purchasing an Apple iPad. Our number one choice is the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which offers the largest display you can buy along with the best internals. It works with the second-generation Apple Pencil so that you can create anytime you’d like. We’ve gathered other noteworthy models to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.
The well-received 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) is Apple’s largest and most feature-packed tablet to date. Featuring an all-screen design that’s also shared with our runner-up, the 11-inch iPad Pro, this model supports the second Apple Pencil and comes with the super-powerful M1 chip also found in Apple’s Mac lineup.
The Liquid Retina XDR display is the first, and currently only, iPad display to feature mini-LED technology for OLED-like blacks and up to 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content. Add to that ProMotion’s high-refresh rate, P3 wide color, and True Tone, it’s far and away the best display on an iPad and a top pick for creatives.
If you’re working with large files, you may also stand to benefit from the extra storage an iPad Pro offers with up to 2TB configurations available. The higher-capacity models also include 16GB RAM which may come in handy for your intensive workflows.
Further, the iPad Pro models are the only iPads to include a LiDAR scanner. Though not necessarily for graphic designers, the feature works with the device’s dual cameras, motion sensors, and frameworks to measure depth. This combination makes iPad Pro great for augmented reality. A super-fast Thunderbolt / USB 4 port, Face ID, and mmWave 5G support are other reasons to go Pro.
Two reasons not to consider this tablet: The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the most expensive Apple tablet to date, with prices ranging from $1,099 to $2,399, depending on your configuration. A sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro could arrive in the near future and will almost certainly replace this model in Apple’s retail stores.
