Still, looking for a great device to store and edit photos? The iPad is the choice of many photographers, and now you’ll see why.
Even though they are expensive, many choose them for their power, portability, and ease of use. Most photographers use programs like Adobe Photoshop for iPad and Affinity Photo to edit photos, as well as lighter programs like Luminar Neo. And Apple tablets handle these programs easily and smoothly. Currently, the best model is the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022). This model is really fast. But in addition to the device you need an iPad photo editor. Below you’ll find a short list of the best photographer’s assistants for editing. You can read about iPad photo editors for free and paid versions, and their features in the Skylum blog.
Best iPads for editing
As written above, the best tablet at the moment is the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022). This model is powerful but expensive. And in spite of the fact that it is worth its money, there are tablets with less functionality, but at a more attractive price. So here you will read about the top 5 best devices:
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2022): It has a new M2 processor, so it’s a pretty powerful device. As we said before, its power will allow any iPad photo editor to work quickly. Every program works on this iPad without bugs. Tablet has a large amount of memory, excellent brightness, and lightness. It is expensive. But this is the best of the best in the iPad family.
- iPad Air (2022): How is it different from the previous device? It has an M1 processor which makes it fast but slower than M2. The screen is smaller (10.9 inches) and not as bright. It also has less memory. But this device is also cheaper, so if you are not confused by this difference, then try it.
- iPad Pro 11 (2022): This is the little brother of the iPad Pro 12.9 inch. The model is smaller and cheaper. But with the same powerful M2 processor and the same memory. The only difference is the brightness. This model is much weaker, meaning you get 600 nits instead of 1600 nits. But otherwise, it is excellent.
- iPad 10.2 (2022): This is the most advanced basic iPad, with a great camera and a good processor. The only thing to notice it does not support Apple Pensil 2, only Pensil 1, but whether this is a drawback or not is up to you to decide.
- iPad Mini (2021): And lastly, the best little iPad for editing. It’s a compact version with powerful features that will come in handy when you travel. The processor is quite fast against the older versions.
Each model has its own benefits and its own price. And don’t forget that Apple regularly updates its devices. Soon there may be an even more powerful model that takes the lead in functionality.
What you need to consider before buying:
- Screen size and resolution: If you need a tablet for photo editing, you should look for a screen with a higher resolution. Every detail will be visible. This is especially useful if you’re working in an office or at home. However, a compact version will come in handy if you need to edit while travelling.
- Colour reproduction: Of course, the new Apple devices offer the brightest and most accurate colours. But the older generation models are weaker in this area. They can reproduce less than 100% of the sRGB gamut, while the newer ones typically reproduce around 120%.
- Here it is important to choose a model with an M1 or M2 processor. Why? These processors make tablets run faster and better. It is a new development from Apple and is considered more powerful than the processors it had before.
- If you are using your tablet to browse social networks or check your email, you can skip this point. But if you’re really using it for editing, the large amount of memory is a huge plus. First of all, good apps take up a lot of space. Second, good-quality photos also require a lot of memory.
- Apple Pencil stylus. You will be more comfortable with the stylus than with your fingers for any kind of editing. So it is as important as a camera for taking photos. Both versions of the Apple Pencil are high quality, but the Apple Pencil 2 is more like a real pencil than the Apple Pencil 1. The performance is identical.
Photographer’s Assistant Programs
Now you know which device to choose and what to look for. It’s time to tell you about the best iPad photo editors. You might need them if you decide to buy one.
The most popular:
- Pixelmator
- Adobe Lightroom.
- Prisma
- Facetune
- SKRWT
- Snapseed.
- PicsArt
- VSCO
- Recrop
Conclusion
The world has long been divided into those who have Android and Apple. But that hasn’t stopped developers from improving the software as well as coming up with the right apps for those two groups. Can the iPad replace a laptop for editing photos? With some applications, it totally can. You can take it when you travel, study, work, or go for a walk. Of course, it all depends on the size of the iPad and the functionality, but here the choice is only up to you.