Using a drawing tablet with an iPad or iPhone

Overview

With the popularity of iPads and iPhones, it's natural that people ask if they can use a drawing table with their Apple Device.

The summary is:

• You can use a pen tablet (screenless tablet) with an iPad or iPhone only under very specific conditions - with specific apps and specific tablets.

• There is currently no way to use a pen display (screen tablet) with an iPad or iPhone.

Pen tablets > Ibis Paint

Ibis Paint (https://ibispaint.com/) supports connecting a drawing tablet to an iOS device

• ONLY via Bluetooth. Wired connection is NOT supported.

• ONLY specific tablets models.

IbisPaint and pen tablets on iOS devices

Read more about Ibis Paint and pen tablet at these links:

• http://ibispaint.com/stylus/supported_digital_stylus.jsp?lang=en

• https://support.huion.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002383197-which-models-can-support-ios-ipados-by-using-ibispaint

• https://support.huion.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002383205-how-to-set-pen-pressure-in-ibispaint-in-ios-ipados

Pen tablets > HiPaint

HiPaint supports connecting a drawing tablet to an iOS device

• ONLY via Bluetooth. Wired connection is NOT supported.

• It is unclear which tablets are supported or not supported. I tested it with a Huion Inspiroy Frego M (L610)

There are instructions in the HiPaint user manual explaining how to connect to a tablet.

https://www.aige-hipaint.com/support/manual/en-us

Wacom

Wacom specifically calls out that their Intuos models do not work with iPhones or iPads in this document: Wacom - Does the Wacom Intuos pen tablet work with an iPhone or iPad?

Pen displays

Currently I don't know of any way to use a pen display with an iPad.

For example, if you connect a Wacom Cintiq Pro 22 to an M4 iPad here is what happens:

• The iPad will treat the pen display just like a normal monitor

• Using the pen on the pen display does nothing

• Even though this pen display supports touch, if you put your fingers on it nothing happens.