Best Tablets under $300 for art and design

Best Pick

Apple iPad 11" 11-inch A16 chip Blue 2025

82.9 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its A16 chip and all-day battery life power a responsive 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone. The device excels as a portable entertainment and creative hub, especially when paired with accessories like the Apple Pencil for note-taking. This iPad is best for students and casual users who prioritize media consumption, light gaming, and handwritten notes over demanding multitasking.

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Apple iPad mini 7.9" 128GB Silver 2015

32.4 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its 7.9-inch Retina display and compact 467g weight make it exceptionally portable for a device with a high-resolution screen. The inclusion of a Touch ID sensor and a 128GB storage capacity are notable features for a refurbished model in this category. This iPad Mini is best for users seeking a highly portable, secondary device primarily for reading e-books and consuming media on the go.

Apple iPad mini 7.9" 128GB Silver 2015 tablet
Price $300
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Also available open box & refurbished:

Apple Aluminum

22.4 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its aluminum alloy housing provides a premium, durable build uncommon for basic keyboards. The full-size layout with a numeric keypad and 12 dedicated Apple shortcuts enhances efficiency for data entry and Mac navigation. This keyboard is best for Mac users who need a reliable, wired input device for extended spreadsheet work or financial tasks.

Best Tablets under $600 for art and design

Best Pick

Apple iPad Air 11" 11-inch M3 chip Built for Intelligence Blue 2025

89 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its powerful M3 chip and 9-core GPU deliver desktop-class performance in a 454g package, making it ideal for demanding creative apps. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display offers sharp 264 ppi detail and excellent color accuracy for on-the-go work. This tablet is best for mobile professionals and digital artists who need a highly portable yet powerful device for illustration and content creation

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad 11" A16 Chip Kit Pink 2025

84.8 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its A16 chip and 512GB storage deliver robust performance for editing photos and videos directly on the 11-inch Liquid Retina display. The device excels as a portable entertainment and creative hub, especially when paired with accessories like the Apple Pencil for note-taking. This iPad is best for students and artists who prioritize a large canvas for digital drawing and media consumption over heavy multi-tasking productivity.

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Apple iPad mini 8.3" Purple 2024

72.4 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the powerful Apple A17 Pro chip paired with a sharp 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, making it exceptionally fast and vivid for its compact size. The 295g weight and slim design make it uniquely portable, ideal for one-handed use. This iPad mini is best for users seeking a premium, pocketable tablet for reading, media consumption, and mobile gaming.

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Apple iPad mini 8.3" Purple 2024 tablet
Price $570
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Apple 11" Space Gray

43.7 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its M2 chip and all-day battery life power a versatile 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color. As a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished unit, it offers a cost-effective entry into the iPadOS ecosystem with support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. This iPad Air is best for students and creatives who prioritize portability and note-taking or digital sketching over heavy, desktop-style productivity work.

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Apple 11" Space Gray tablet
Price $560
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Also available open box & refurbished:

Best Tablets under $1,000 for art and design

Best Pick

Apple iPad Air 13" Space Gray 2025

94.4 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M3 chip, which provides desktop-class performance for demanding creative apps on a 13-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen. The device's excellent scores for art and design are further enhanced by its support for the Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard connector. This iPad Air is best for digital artists and illustrators who need a powerful, portable canvas with precise stylus input.

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad mini 8.3" Purple 2024

75 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its compact 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and powerful Apple A17 Pro chip deliver a premium experience in a highly portable 299g frame. The inclusion of 5G cellular connectivity and WiFi 6E ensures fast, versatile internet access for on-the-go use. This model is best for readers and media consumers who prioritize a powerful, pocketable tablet over a larger canvas for creative work.

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Apple 8.3" Blue

35.5 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the powerful A17 Pro chip paired with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, making it a uniquely compact and capable tablet. It is specifically built for Apple Intelligence, offering advanced on-device AI features with strong privacy protections. This iPad mini is best for mobile users who prioritize portability for media consumption and note-taking with the Apple Pencil Pro, rather than heavy productivity tasks.

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Best Tablets under $1,500 for art and design

Best Pick

Apple iPad Pro 11" M4 Chip 2024

100 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M4 chip paired with a vibrant 11-inch OLED display, delivering exceptional performance and visual clarity. The device's premium build quality and seamless integration with the Apple Pencil make it a powerful tool for digital creation. This iPad Pro is best for professional artists and designers who require a highly portable, studio-grade canvas for detailed illustration and on-the-go content creation.

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad Air 13" Starlight

95.5 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the powerful Apple M4 chip paired with 12GB of RAM, enabling smooth multitasking and advanced AI processing. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display offers a sharp 2732x2048 resolution and excellent color accuracy, making it ideal for detailed visual work. This tablet is best for digital artists and designers who need a portable, high-performance canvas with precise Apple Pencil Pro support.

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Apple 13" Purple

43.8 Art & Design Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M3 chip paired with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, enabling powerful performance for creative tasks and Apple Intelligence features. The device is further differentiated by its full compatibility with accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, which expand its functionality beyond a typical tablet. This iPad Air is best for digital artists and note-takers who require a large, color-accurate canvas and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem for on-the-go creation.

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Apple 13" Purple tablet
Price $1,450

Premium Tablets for art and design

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