Are you an artist looking to get an Apple iPad Pro or a Wacom Cintiq for digital art? They looks very similar and both allows you to draw directly on the screen.

So, Whats the difference between them? which one is better for your needs? This should be identified if your goal is to find the best fit for your digital art projects.

It can be tricky to choose between two really good options, especially for beginners who started out in digital art. There are def pros and cons to each model.

In this article, I’ll take a deep dive into the Wacom Cintiq vs the iPad Pro, comparing their features to help you determine which one best suits your needs. Let’s get started!

Apple iPad Pro vs Wacom Cintiq Comparison: Whats the differences?

Lets move ahead to explain everything in detail between the ipad pro and wacom cintiq.

1. Portability

Wacom Cintiq tablets need to be connected to your computer to work, so you cant move around much with them. As a result, It is not portable at all, that said, it is great to use in your existing studio or workspace.

The iPad Pro definitely wins over portability, It is a compact, standalone device that doesnt need to be connected to an external computer to work – allowing you to carry and work from almost anywhere.

You can easily put it in a backpack and go to a park or café, and keep drawing while enjoying your favorite coffee.

2. Screen Size

The iPad Pro is currently available in two sizes — 11-inches and 12.9 inches. In other words, iPads probably wont go above 13 inches max.

Wacom Cintiqs can get really massive in size, available in 13.3-inch, 15.6-inch, 17-inch, 21.5-inch, 23.8-inch, 27-inch and even 32-inch.

So the wacom Cintiq seemed like a good choice as it can provide a larger working space, perfect for professional artists who need giant screen to deal with real serious work.

Based on my experience, Having a larger screen makes a difference when consulting references while painting. You can technically split the screen while working on an iPad, but I find it less than ideal.

If you do buy a Cintiq, probably best to get something above 16 inches. If its just 13-inch cintiq vs iPad, probably better to get the iPad.

3. Drawing Surface

The newer ipad pro M4 & M5 features a Nano-Texture Anti-Reflective Display which reduce the glare and offers a matte finish, wonderful for handwriting or drawing.

But most ipad pro before 2024 comes with a glossy screen surface which can be a problem for drawing, as it can be slippery and make it difficult to maintain control over the stylus.

To address this issue, some users choose to apply a matte screen protector to add the additional texture on the surface so that it feels better when you are using your Apple pencil.

On the other hand, Wacom Cintiqs have a pre-installed matte screen film or even an etched glass surface that doesn’t make you feel you’re ice skating around your art, but a paper-like.

So if you like drawing on that more–with a natural paper-like feel–youre going to be wanting to lean more towards the Wacom Cintiq or newer ipad pro.

4. Operating System and Software

The iPad Pro runs on iPadOS, while the wacom cintiq is compatible with windows and MacOS.

IpadOS have a huge variety of drawing apps, such as well-known Procreate, which is exclusive to iPad. However, the usability of most art apps is limited compared to what you get on a full desktop version.

In addition, IpadOS lacks animation apps, and 3D work apps: modeling and sculpting.

With a wacom cintiq, you can access to various full-featured art programs, especially for 3D, including Photoshop, Krita, Corel Painter, illustrator, ToonBoom, Blender, Zbrush, etc.

So the iPad Pro is great for 2D illustrations, digital painting, and graphic design, but for 3D work or more advanced features, a Wacom cintiq tablet may be a better investment.

5. Screen Quality

The newer iPad Pro features a gorgeous tandem OLED display that can deliver enhanced dynamic range and visual quality- searing brightness, deep blacks, and rich colors.

In comparison, the Wacom CintiqS comes with an IPS LCD screen, so they have a lower image quality than what you get with ipad pro.

If you have high requirements about both precision and an effective workflow, the ipad pro may be the best match for your needs.

6. Refresh Rate

Most Wacom Cintiqs comes with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, only few Cintiq Pros have a higher 120Hz,

For ipad pro, you get a 120Hz refresh rate with advanced ProMotion variable refresh rate tech to save battery life.

Higher refresh rate improve drawing through lower input latency, increased smoothness, and better visual clarity.

7. Multi-Touch

Multi-Touch can make drawing easier by making it faster to draw as gestures like pinch-to-zoom and rotating the screen with two fingers can come in handy.

All of ipad pro devices have multi-touch capabilities, while only few cintiq pro models support that. Most budget-friendly cintiqs doesnt have.

Furthermore, the multi-touch on cintiq pro is very inconsistent, not as good as ipad pro, so does the Palm rejection.

If touch controls are a big part of your workflow, consider getting the ipad pro.

8. Apple Pencil vs Wacom Stylus

Wacom is known for its very precise stylus with has a very fast response rate, low 1g of initial activation force (IAF), tilt recognition, and impressive 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity.

There are two or three programmable buttons on the side of the stylus and has a rubber grip for comfortable holding.

Wacom stylus is included in the box, battery-free that picks up its power through Electro-Magnetic Resonance (EMR) tech right off the tablet itself.

The iPad Pro uses the Apple Pencil, which is long and looks closer to a normal pencil, it doesnt have any button on it.

Apple hasnt disclosed the pressure sensitivity of the apple pencil, but it works fine for drawing with precise and natural input, allowing you to create artwork with incredible detail and control.

However, the apple pencil is sold separately, and needs to be charged after a period of use, which is a little boring. Luckily, its quick to recharge in a mere 15 minutes.

Overall, Both the stylus pens are the best on the market, They work equally well and produce similar levels of performance and accuracy.

9. Connectivity

The iPad Pro is an all-in-one device that doesnt need any connection cables to work. You can use it out of box.

To use the Wacom Cintiq, you need at least one USB-C cable or a HDMI cable to connect it to your computer.

For some older cintiq models, it may need 3 cables: one USB for pen data, one HDMI for video data, and last one for power. This can be cluttered and make cable management a bit annoying.

In addition, To make the wacom cintiq work, you will also need to download the driver from wacom official site, install, and configure, which undoubtedly increases the complexity.

10. Versatility

The Wacom Cintiq is just a pure drawing device and sometimes act as a second display monitor.

The iPad Pro leads in terms of Versatility. You can do a lot of different things apart from drawing, like browsing internet, playing games, watching netflix and youtube videos, facetime your friends etc.

11. Price

The standard Cintiq models typically range from around $649 (Cintiq 16) for smaller models to about $1,499 for larger screens with enhanced features.

Cintique Pro tablets will cost between $999 – $2,499. Prices for Apple ipad Pro start at approximately $1,199.

In Conclusion

Everyone’s needs are different, So one tablet that is a perfect fit for you may not be the best choice for someone else.

There is no perfect drawing tablet, every tablet brings some special set of features that are unique to that device.

Ultimately, the device you are going to pick up depends on your preference, budget, and the workflow you have right now.

If youre traveling a lot, working on trains, and doing a lot of sketching — the iPad pro might work great for you. It has the best portability, and the potential to be used in professional settings as well.

On the other hand, The Wacom Cintiq might be a better choice to draw on screen using the professional desktop art software, which is great to use in your existing studio or workspace.

FAQs

Which Wacom Cintiq should I get?

The regular wacom cintiq like cintiq 16 are suitable for most people, which has a lower screen quality and price tag than Cintiq pro line, but comes with same digital pen as cintiq pro.

The Cintiq Pro Line has the most advanced techs such as 4K UHD resolution, top-tier color accuracy, multi-touch, 120Hz refresh rate, etc, ideal for technically demanding digital artistry projects like animation and 3D modelling.

Any good cheap alternatives to the Wacom Cintiq?

Wacom is seen as the best and premium drawing tablet brand, and so command a premium price-tag for their usually high quality products.

If your financial situation didnt allow for the high cost of the Cintiq, There are also fantastic brands like Huion and XPPen that have been offering very similar tablets to Wacom, for about half or even One-third of the price.

Whether you choose a Huion Kamvas or a XPPen Artist pen display tablet, you wont be disappointed.