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Best iPad for Affinity (2026): Which iPad and Apple Pencil to Buy
By Balwant Rawat · Published · Updated · Research-based (not yet hands-on tested)
Research-based guide. We haven’t tested Affinity on these iPads hands-on yet. Everything below comes from Canva, Apple and the reporting we link inline. Our own test results will be added in the “How we’ll test” section.
Canva released Affinity for iPad on 2 November 2026, and it’s free for individuals (Canva newsroom). The app is free, so the iPad is the only thing you’re paying for. This guide helps you pick one.
Not sure which model you have? Settings › General › About shows the model name. Affinity also needs iPadOS 18 or later. Data from AppleInsider, Thurrott and Apple's Pencil compatibility page, checked 4 Nov 2026.
Is Affinity for iPad really free, and what does Canva Pro add?
Yes, for individuals. Canva says “all core sketch, vector, pixel and layout tools are free for individuals” and that “a free Canva account is needed to use the app” (Canva). The paid extra is Canva AI Studio: Generative Expand, upscaling, motion-blur and noise reduction, and Decompose Layer. Those need a Canva premium account. AppleInsider reports a personal Canva Pro subscription costs $18/month or $143.99/year (AppleInsider).
Some users are wary of “free”. One Redditor on r/Affinity worried a free app could later get ads or a subscription (r/Affinity). That’s an opinion, not an announcement, but it’s a good reason not to overspend on hardware for the app alone.
Which iPads can run Affinity for iPad?
Affinity requires iPadOS 18 or later and runs on (AppleInsider; Thurrott):
- iPad 7th generation or later
- iPad mini 5th generation or later
- iPad Air 3rd generation or later
- All generations of 11-inch iPad Pro
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro 3rd generation
- 13-inch iPad Pro M4, M5 and later
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 4th, 5th and 6th generations aren’t named in the list AppleInsider published. We couldn’t confirm whether that’s an omission, so check the App Store on those models.
Do you need an M-series iPad for Affinity?
Not to run it. You do need one for the machine-learning tools, which “require an iPad with an M-series chip” (Thurrott). Serif’s support page for Affinity v2 also says machine-learning features (such as Object Selection and Select Subject) were “Apple M Series chip only” on iPad (Serif support).
This was the biggest worry before launch. On r/Affinity, one reader hoped it would be “also for A16 and older iPads, not just M series chip ones” (Reddit). The answer: the app runs on A-series iPads, but without the ML tools.
We haven’t confirmed whether Canva AI Studio features also need an M chip, so we’ve left that out.
Which Apple Pencil works best with Affinity?
Canva says Affinity supports “Apple Pencil pressure, tilt, barrel roll, squeeze and hover” (Canva). Barrel roll and squeeze need Apple Pencil Pro, and which Pencil you can use depends on the iPad (Apple Support):
| Pencil | US price (apple.com, 4 Nov 2026) | Works with (current models) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pencil Pro | $129 | iPad Pro M4/M5, iPad Air M2/M3/M4, iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (A20 Pro)* |
| Apple Pencil (USB-C) | $79 | All of the above plus iPad (A16), iPad 10th gen and older Pro/Air/mini models |
*The iPad mini (A20 Pro) Pencil support comes from Apple’s store page FAQ (apple.com). The base iPad (A16) does not support Apple Pencil Pro.
Shop: Apple Pencil Pro on Amazon US · UK · DE · FR
What’s the best iPad for Affinity at each budget?
US starting prices are from apple.com, checked 4 November 2026 (Apple Store). UK and EU prices weren’t checked yet, so look them up before you buy.
| Budget | iPad | Chip | Affinity ML tools | Best Pencil | US price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost | iPad (A16) | A16 | No | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | $449 | Hobby sketching, layout, learning |
| Portable | iPad mini (A20 Pro) | A20 Pro | No | Apple Pencil Pro | $699 | Sketching on the go |
| Best for most | iPad Air (M4) | M4 | Yes | Apple Pencil Pro | $749 | Illustration, photo, layout |
| No compromise | iPad Pro (M5) | M5 | Yes | Apple Pencil Pro | $1,199 | Pros, very large files |
Storage: the app itself is about 2 GB, according to a Hacker News launch summary. We’d go above the base tier if you work with big photo or print files. That’s our advice, not a measured result.
Shop the iPad Air: Amazon US · UK · DE · FR
Budget iPad: Amazon US · iPad Pro: Amazon US · iPad mini: Amazon US
How does Affinity on iPad compare to Procreate for buyers?
The software comparison is well covered elsewhere. For the hardware decision, both apps run on a wide range of iPads, and a good Pencil matters more than a top chip for pure drawing. Pick an M-series iPad if you want Affinity’s machine-learning tools or plan to combine photo, vector and layout work in one .af file.
What’s missing from Affinity on iPad compared with desktop?
At launch, Thurrott lists Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, the Info and Scope panels, macro recording and the Astrophotography Studio as missing. He also notes the iPad UI stays touch-first even with a keyboard attached (Thurrott). If you need Data Merge or batch exports, keep a Mac or PC for those jobs.
How we’ll test
TODO: Balwant’s hands-on results go here. Planned tests: open and export the same 200-layer .af file on an iPad (A-series) and an M-series iPad; record Pencil Pro squeeze and barrel roll in Sketch Studio; measure battery drain over a 1-hour session; check PSD/AI import; confirm ML tools are greyed out on A-chip iPads. Record the iPadOS and Affinity version and test date, and add your own screenshots, e.g. /images/affinity/test-1.webp. Change handsOn: true in the front matter only after testing.
Related: Best LaTeX editor alternatives to OpenAI Prism · Is my power bank recalled?
Frequently asked questions
Is Affinity really free on iPad?
Yes for individuals. Canva says all core sketch, vector, pixel and layout tools are free; you need a free Canva account. Canva AI Studio features (such as Generative Expand) need a Canva premium account, which AppleInsider reports costs $18 a month or $143.99 a year for Canva Pro.
Will Affinity run on an iPad without an M chip?
Yes. The compatibility list goes back to the iPad 7th generation, iPad mini 5th generation and iPad Air 3rd generation on iPadOS 18 or later. The machine-learning tools, however, need an M-series chip, so they're unavailable on A-series iPads.
Does Affinity work on the iPad 9th generation?
The iPad 9th generation is covered by the 'iPad 7th generation or later' requirement, as long as it's on iPadOS 18 or later. It uses an A-series chip, so the machine-learning tools won't be available, and it only supports Apple Pencil (1st generation).
Do I need a Canva account?
Yes. Canva says a free Canva account is needed to use the app. A Hacker News summary of the launch put it as 'Canva account required, but no subscription'.
How much storage does Affinity need on iPad?
A Hacker News summary of the App Store listing described the app as about 2 GB. Your own .af files and imported images come on top, so we'd avoid the smallest storage tier if you plan large multi-page or photo projects.
Is Apple Pencil Pro worth it for Affinity?
If you'll draw a lot, probably. Canva says Affinity for iPad supports Apple Pencil pressure, tilt, barrel roll, squeeze and hover. Squeeze and barrel roll are Apple Pencil Pro features, and Pencil Pro only works with M4/M5 iPad Pro, M2/M3/M4 iPad Air and the iPad mini (A17 Pro and A20 Pro). The USB-C Pencil ($79) is fine for layout and vector work.
Should I keep the old Affinity 2 for iPad or switch?
The new Affinity app combines Photo, Vector (Designer) and Page Layout in one .af file. Users on Reddit report that the old v2 iPad apps won't be updated any more; we haven't seen an official end-of-support date, so check Canva's help centre before deleting v2.
What desktop features are missing on iPad?
Thurrott lists Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, the Info and Scope panels, macro recording and the Astrophotography Studio as missing at launch, with more features promised over time.