iPad Air 11-inch (M4) Review for Drawing: Best Value iPad
Quick verdict
The best drawing tablet for the money if you want Procreate and the iPad app world. The Pencil costs extra, and the screen is glossy and 60Hz.
Buy it if
- You want Procreate and the best selection of drawing apps.
- You'll also use it for school, notes and video.
- You'll buy the Apple Pencil Pro with it.
Skip it if
- You want a pen in the box.
- You want a matte, paper-like screen without adding a protector.
- You need a full desktop OS.
Specs
| Screen | 10.86 in Liquid Retina, laminated, anti-reflective |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | 500 nits |
| Chip | Apple M4 |
| Storage | 128 GB (this listing) |
| OS | iPadOS |
| Pen | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Pen included | No |
| Weight | 464 g |
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Apple Pencil Pro is excellent: pressure, tilt, hover, haptics.
- Laminated screen with anti-reflective coating.
- Apple M4 is fast enough for big canvases.
- Huge app library, Procreate included.
Cons
- No Pencil in the box.
- 60Hz, not 120Hz.
- Glossy screen only.
- No Face ID.
Real-world math
The real cost. The Pencil isn't included. Add an Apple Pencil Pro to the price you see. Many artists also add a matte screen protector for a paper-like feel.
Drawing space. The screen works out to about 227 x 158 mm, or about 357 square centimeters. The Galaxy Tab S11 is about 351, so they're basically the same size.
Sharpness. 264 pixels per inch. That's sharper than most pen displays, because it's a small, dense screen.
Weight. 464 grams. Light enough to hold in one hand while you draw with the other.
Drawing on it
Parka Blogs called the Apple Pencil Pro on the Air "fantastic," with tilt, pressure and palm rejection all working well. The Pencil Pro adds haptic feedback, a squeeze gesture for shortcuts, barrel roll for rotating brushes, and Find My if you lose it.
The screen is laminated, so there's no gap between the tip and the line. The glass is glossy but has an anti-reflective coating that Parka Blogs says works well.
The catches
It's 60Hz. The iPad Pro is 120Hz. For drawing, reviewers say you won't miss much. There's no matte option. And Apple's cheaper iPad (A16) is a trap for artists: it's not laminated, and the USB-C Pencil has no pressure. The Air is where iPad drawing starts to make sense.
How it compares
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | Wacom MovinkPad 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Screen | 10.86 in Liquid Retina, laminated, anti-reflective | 11 in Dynamic AMOLED 2X (OLED) | 11.45 in IPS, matte anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) | 2560 x 1600 | 2200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | 60/90Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | 500 nits | Up to 1,600 nits peak | 400 nits |
| Chip | Apple M4 | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| Storage | 128 GB (this listing) | 128 GB + microSD (this listing) | 128 GB, 8 GB RAM |
| OS | iPadOS | Android 16, 7 OS upgrades promised | Android 14 |
| Pen | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) | S Pen (Wacom EMR, no battery) | Wacom Pro Pen 3 (slim), battery-free |
| Pen included | No | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 464 g | 469 g | 588 g |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Which Apple Pencil works with the iPad Air (M4)?
- The Apple Pencil Pro and the Apple Pencil (USB-C). For drawing, get the Pencil Pro. The USB-C Pencil has no pressure sensitivity.
- Does the iPad Air come with a Pencil?
- No. Apple includes the iPad, a USB-C cable and a 20W power adapter.
- Is 60Hz a problem for drawing?
- Parka Blogs says 120Hz doesn't add much for drawing, since the Pencil's latency is already very low. You'll notice it more when scrolling.
- Is 128 GB enough?
- For drawing, usually yes. Large Procreate files and video add up fast, so go bigger if you keep everything on the iPad.
Bottom line
If you want an iPad for art, this is the one I'd buy. It draws as well as the Pro for most people and costs a lot less. Just budget for the Pencil Pro, and maybe a matte screen protector.