iPad Pro iPad Pro for Artist

[Momof9]

I am really trying to decide on a new iPad Pro - size etc. but I need some help....

My newest iPad Pro is a 13" M1 (1 TB). I also bought the 11" M2 air last year because of the PWM issues with the M4 iPP..... I have seen that the new m5 iPP might have fixed some of the issues with the PWM.

SO as an artist - mostly using Procreate (and Affinity apps) which would you recommend? I am looking at the best for size - 11" vs 13" and which version. With the Air, I really miss Face ID. I do like the size for some things. But not sure for drawing a lot? I know in the past, I did not like zooming in and out. But I do like the lighter weight - I have even taken off my folio case on the air for drawing. But I know that the 13" M5 is a lot lighter weight than the M1.

So what size and air / iPP do you like as an artist and why?

 

[Beards]

Procreate is my main art app and use it heavily…. Not just on one tablet but two.
If I go out on a walk I will take my iPad Mini with supported Apple Pencil. Ideal for quick sketches. I will also take a few photo’s of something interesting that would require heavy work later.
When at home I will use my 512GB M4 13” iPad Pro with it’s Apple Pencil and with those photo’s taken I then create a multi layered digital painting.
I either use a cushion to support the large tablet or my Art Easel if I want to stand.
For me both tablets work perfectly where I have never experienced any issues.

 

[teohyc]

I've a 51 min artist video review of the M4 iPad Pro below that you may want to watch:

Or read the text review if you don't have the time:

Artist Review: M4 iPad Pro (2024) with Apple Pencil Pro | Parka Blogs

www.parkablogs.com

Sure, the 11 and 13-inch M4 & M5 iPad Pros are substantially lighter. However, the lighter weight should not be the main reason to upgrade. With the larger iPad Pro, chances are you'll still have to set it down on a tablet/some surface for drawing because the size is unwieldy. I mean you have a 12.9-inch tablet. How often do you draw on it off the table?
11-inch is better as a hand-held tablet, and it's not a small tablet. iPad mini is a small tablet.

Regarding PWM, as long as there's OLED, there's PWM. There's still PWM with M5. The more important question is whether your eyes are actually affected by PWM, and you won't know unless you spend some time looking at OLED.

The new tablets are not going to change your workflow. I doubt you'll do anything faster or draw more, unless you run benchmarks for a living.

Many people will say the OLED display is worth upgrading too. Subjective. But you're also going to be spending money to buy a new tablet that's not gonna impact your workflow in any way.

I upgraded to the M4 iPad Pro only for the 1000 nits brightness that allows me to work outdoors under bright conditions. Without the extra brightness, I can't see content on the screen outdoors, and hence I can't draw outdoors on the tablet. The extra colour vibrance and extreme contrast ratio are nice to have but not must-buy for me.

 

[Beards]

I've a 51 min artist video review of the M4 iPad Pro below that you may want to watch:

Or read the text review if you don't have the time:

Artist Review: M4 iPad Pro (2024) with Apple Pencil Pro | Parka Blogs

www.parkablogs.com

Sure, the 11 and 13-inch M4 & M5 iPad Pros are substantially lighter. However, the lighter weight should not be the main reason to upgrade. With the larger iPad Pro, chances are you'll still have to set it down on a tablet/some surface for drawing because the size is unwieldy. I mean you have a 12.9-inch tablet. How often do you draw on it off the table?
11-inch is better as a hand-held tablet, and it's not a small tablet. iPad mini is a small tablet.

Regarding PWM, as long as there's OLED, there's PWM. There's still PWM with M5. The more important question is whether your eyes are actually affected by PWM, and you won't know unless you spend some time looking at OLED.

The new tablets are not going to change your workflow. I doubt you'll do anything faster or draw more, unless you run benchmarks for a living.

Many people will say the OLED display is worth upgrading too. Subjective. But you're also going to be spending money to buy a new tablet that's not gonna impact your workflow in any way.

I upgraded to the M4 iPad Pro only for the 1000 nits brightness that allows me to work outdoors under bright conditions. Without the extra brightness, I can't see content on the screen outdoors, and hence I can't draw outdoors on the tablet. The extra colour vibrance and extreme contrast ratio are nice to have but not must-buy for me.

Concepts….. I have never heard of that App. Many thanks in bringing it to my attention. 👍

 

[Momof9]

thank you for the reminder of your video

 

[Momof9]

I picked up a 11" 256, now I am wondering if I should have gotten larger storage. My 2 - 1TB pro (12.9) have over 500 storage used. I was thinking it was way less than that. Anyone know how 12gb or ram does for artist or would 16gb make a huge difference???

 

[Beards]

Well my M4 13” iPad Pro only has 8GB actually available for use (The 16GB M4 iPad, sure enough, contains 16GB of Micron LPDDR5 RAM. But the 8GB M4 model has two 48Gbit modules onboard. 48 gigabits converts to 6 gigabytes, meaning the lower-grade M4 iPad Pro model has 12GB of RAM available from its RAM module. But in use, the iPad Pro has only its advertised 8GB RAM accessible.) and that has zero issues with Procreate.