As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link on this page, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
iPad (A16) vs iPad Air 11-inch (M4) for Drawing
Short answer
For drawing, get the iPad Air: laminated screen, anti-reflective coating and Apple Pencil Pro support. The base iPad is fine for notes, but its USB-C Pencil has no pressure.
Side by side
| Spec | Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| My rating | 7.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Screen | 10.86 in Liquid Retina, not laminated | 10.86 in Liquid Retina, laminated, anti-reflective |
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) | 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Chip | Apple A16 | Apple M4 |
| Storage | 128 GB (this listing) | 128 GB (this listing) |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS |
| Pen | Apple Pencil (USB-C) or Apple Pencil (1st gen, with adapter) | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Pen included | No | No |
| Weight | 477 g | 464 g |
| Check price Review | Check price Review |
Where the iPad Air wins
- Laminated screen. No gap between the Pencil tip and the line, and no tapping sound.
- Anti-reflective coating. Less glare, especially outdoors.
- Apple Pencil Pro. Pressure, tilt, hover, squeeze and barrel roll.
- M4 chip. Much more headroom for big canvases.
Where the base iPad wins
- Price. It's the cheapest iPad.
- Everything else. Same size, same 264 pixels per inch, same 500 nits.
The Pencil catch
The base iPad works with the USB-C Pencil, which has no pressure sensitivity, and the 1st-gen Pencil, which does but needs an adapter to charge. The Air works with the Pencil Pro. Price both with the Pencil you'd actually use.
My pick
If you'll draw, the Air is worth it. If you'll mostly take notes and watch video, save money with the base iPad.