Apple iPad 8th Gen 2020 For Digital Drawing

If you are reading this article, you probably googled something along the lines like "is iPad 8th Gen good for drawing?" To answer your question short - yes, it is. Like any other iPad, it has its pros and cons, but overall, this is the best "starter kit" iPad for drawing just under $300. And yes, you read it right. While the official price is $329, often you can find it for $299 or less on Amazon.

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1. It Is All About Price

I don't know about you, but I was pleasantly surprised with the price of the iPad 8th Gen. The official price is $329, you can often find it for $299 or less on Amazon. It is the most affordable iPad available today, and despite its relatively low cost, it is a very functional tablet. Well, design-wise, it didn't change at all and looks exactly the same as the previous model. You still get a Home Button with Touch ID, same color options, and Lightning port. Overall, it would be nice to see some design changes just because it looks a bit too familiar by now. But I guess we all have to admit that old design combined with the new technologies is why this iPad with all these great features comes at this relatively low price. For just under $300, I can't see why it can't be a good starter drawing tablet.

2. Apple Pencil Support

The new feature that I am as an illustrator thrilled the most about is the Apple Pencil support. While this iPad supports only the 1st Gen Apple Pencil with a weird charging method, this is still exciting because you finally don't need to use 3rd party pencils. There are pretty good 3rd party pencils out there, but I feel like the original one is always better. After all, the Apple Pencil 1st Gen is pretty amazing. If you haven't used it before, trust me, it will truly take your drawing experience with the iPad to a new level. Apple Pencil feels completely natural and intuitive to take notes, sketch ideas, and do elaborate drawings. It feels like a real pencil that we all used to, so there is no time to adjust needed.

3. Display

For anyone who draws, the display is probably one of the most important parts of the iPad. With the iPad 8th Gen, you would get the same 10.2-inch Retina display, which is high resolution and bright display. It is big and crisp enough to create any drawings and do other creative-related tasks. Unlike iPad Pro and iPad Air, this one doesn't have features like a fully laminated display, anti-reflective coating, ProMotion technology, Wide color display (P3), and True Tone. While those are nice additional features to have, they aren't necessary to start drawing on an iPad, and by not having them, you'd miss nothing. If you are a professional artist making a living from your art, the display might be a bit too small for you, and you might want to upgrade. But again, I had no complaints about the screen, and I think this will be a great display for anyone who wants to start drawing on an iPad.

4. Memory

It is not a secret that the more memory, the better and faster your iPad works. And for digital illustrators, it translates to more layers to work with. According to Wikipedia, the new iPad 8th Gen comes with 3GB. While it is not a lot, it is definitely enough to complete illustrations without any issues, especially if you just start digital art. 3GB would mean that you may have fewer available layers in programs like Procreate or Adobe Fresco, and overall performance would be a bit slower. But again, if art is a hobby or you are a beginner, iPad 8th memory would be more than enough.

5. Processor

While the design didn't change, a lot happened inside the iPad. Instead of the A10 processor that used to be in the 2019 model, with the iPad 8th Gen, you would get the new A12 Bionic. That is exactly the same processor found in the iPhones XR and XS and the iPad Air 2019 model. This processor is powerful enough and capable of delivering what you need. I was able to draw my usual art without any problems and lagging. Overall, the iPad 8th Gen offers a reliable performance when you use drawing apps. It instantly responds to drawing, gestures, and any adjustments made. And even more complex changes like warping and distortion of the image were made on the fly.

6. Battery Life

This iPad also comes with good battery life. If you plan to draw a lot, then the battery is something that should be considered as well. Apple claims that you can easily get 10 hours of use, and according to my experience, it seems to be true.

7. Design And Colors

Design-wise, it didn't change at all and looks exactly the same as the previous model. It is still light and very portable tablet with an aluminum and glass design. It comes in three different color versions: gold, silver, and space gray. And while the iPad 8th Gen does look nice and simple, its overall aesthetic looks a little behind the times, especially compared to the new iPad Air. For anyone who draws, the display is probably one of the most important parts of the iPad. With the iPad 8th Gen, you would get the same 10.2-inch Retina display that I personally think is a great display. It is big and crisp enough to create any drawings and does other creative-related tasks. If you are a professional artist making a living from your art, the display might be a bit too small for you, and that would be wise to upgrade. Also, there is no True Tone. I know that many people don't like this feature anyway, but if the True Tone is something you absolutely must have, then this iPad is not for you. Overall, it would be nice to see some design changes just because it looks a bit too familiar by now. But I guess, we all have to admit, old design combined with the new technologies is the reason why this iPad with all these great features comes at a relatively low price. For just under $300, I can't see why it can't be a good starter drawing tablet.

8. Apps Compatibility

As far as I know, there are no apps that won't work on this iPad. All apps that I use for both work and drawing work just fine with no issues. With some apps, you might experience certain limitations - for example, in Procreate, due to a lower amount of memory (not storage!), you'd be getting fewer layers in comparison with the Pro models. But again, those limitations should not be too crucial, and you'd be able to create your art. Overall, all popular drawing apps work perfectly fine.

9. Camera

Aside from the outdated design, both cameras remain to be one the biggest disappointments. To be honest, every iPad that I used had absolutely terrible cameras. The iPad 8th Gen comes with the same 8MP back camera and 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera as the previous model. And in the world where online video calls, conferences, and studying became a norm, it is very dissatisfying that we still have to put up with this quality cameras.

10. Final Thoughts

I think that for $299, the iPad 8th Gen has a lot to offer. It comes with excellent performance, long battery life, and Apple Pencil support. I would definitely recommend the iPad 8 Gen if you enjoy art as a hobby or just at the beginning of your art career. If you are a professional artist, it might make more sense to go with the Air or Pro models.