Apple iPads emerging as a top choice for drawing due to their portability, versatility, ease of use, and the plethora of dedicated drawing apps available. However, the exorbitant price tag attached to many of these can be a crushing reality.

Luckily, there are plenty of options available that are affordable yet excel in performance. This article will delve into the finest cost-effective ipads currently available on the market.

1. iPad Air 4

To save money, get the refurbished iPad Air 4 (2020), which is super affordable at $286.20.

Even though the model is old, It is still a solid tablet in 2025, with a good 10.9-inch screen, modern design, and great battery life.

Compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), the iPad Air makes it easy to draw, sketch and take notes in class or meetings.

Plus, the Liquid Retina display makes all your notes, sketches, and drawings look sharp and vivid, making it a pleasure to use for long periods of time.

The A14 Bionic chip allows for smooth performance, allowing for seamless multitasking during drawing sessions.

2. iPad 9th Gen

The Apple iPad 9th gen (2021) is the cheapest entry-level iPad for drawing and note-taking. It’s a fantastic value for the price and a wonderful tool to get you started on your digital art journey.

The 9th-gen iPad isnt new. It isnt fancy. The first thing you notice is it still had a home button, a totally square screen, and big bezels around the screen.

However, With the A13 Bionic chip and 3GB of RAM powering its performance, this iPad delivers excellent responsiveness, making it a reliable tool for all your drawing needs.

Its 10.2-inch 2K True Tone Retina display offers remarkable clarity and vibrant colors, making drawing and note taking a pleasure.

Its compatibility with the Apple Pencil 1st Gen further enhances its functionality, making it a versatile tool for digital drawing and creative tasks.

While it may have some limitations such as non-laminated screen, and dated design, the Apple 10.2-inch iPad excels in affordability and exceptional display quality.

3. iPad 10th Gen

If you want modern design, better performance, and USB-C connector instead of Lightning, get the Ipad 10th Gen (2022).

Owing to the reduction in bezel size and the lack of the Home button, the iPad 10 has a more stylish design than the iPad 9.

It comes with a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, support for the 1st Generation Apple Pencil, and powered by the A14 Bionic chip + 4GB of RAM. It’s a step up in terms of performance and features.

The starting price was $599, making it the priciest option on this list, but it’s a good investment for those seeking near-pro features at a lower cost.

4. iPad 11th Gen

The new iPad 11th gen (2025) with the A16 chip and 6GB of RAM is super fast and handles multitasking, drawing, and video editing smoothly.

The 11-inch, 2K Liquid Retina display looks fantastic—bright, sharp, and easy on the eyes. Battery life lasts a full day, and basic 128GB gives plenty of storage for apps, media, and files.

The design is same as ipad 10, and Its only compatible with the 1st gen Pencil. Still, for performance and portability, it’s one of the best tablets you can get.

What is the best Apple pencil for note-taking?

The Apple Pencil Pro leads with haptic feedback, squeeze gestures, and barrel rotation for enhanced precision on newer iPad models.

The Apple Pencil 2nd Gen remains excellent with low latency and magnetic charging for earlier Pro and current Air models.

The more affordable Apple Pencil (1st Gen) provides good drawing performance for the standard iPad.

Avoid get the cheapest Apple Pencil (USB-C) for drawing as it doesnt support pressure sensitivity.

Which iPad is compatible with Procreate?

The current version of Procreate requires iPadOS 16.3 or later. So any iPad that can run those versions of iPadOS. Might try for the 9th or 10th gen if youre just getting started.

The most important part of the iPad for use with Procreate is the RAM, which helps the program run smoothly and increases the number of layers you can work with in a canvas.

Is 64 GB enough For Drawing?

Yes, the basic iPad air 4, 9th gen and 10th Gen with 64GB storage is enough for drawing. You can also make the most of cloud storage.

However, if you are saving a lot of offline content (videos, drawings, tutorials), then I’d recommend getting iPad 11th gen with 128GB!