Should I go for the new M2 13 inch iPad Air with 512 GB or the 13 inch iPad Pro M4 with 256 GB? The iPad Pro is $300 more in my area
Anything within your budget will work great
Get the one you can afford. All iPads will perform well for a beginner, they all have strong specs. If you really want a Pro model, look at older models with M2 or M1. But really, any model is fine; even the regular 10.9 inch iPad is excellent. Just make sure to get the right Apple Pencil, avoid the USB-C version.
The iPad Air is similar to an iPad Pro 2020 but it’s missing some features. Choose the one you can buy comfortably. If you can afford the higher end, that’s a good choice.
If you can hold off a bit longer, save the extra $300 for the Pro model if you think you need it. But honestly, a 2022 M1 Pro model is more than enough.
The M1 Pro is fantastic. The M2 isn’t that much different from the M1, and I’ve never needed the extra tilt or hover features for Procreate that the M2 model offers. It feels unnecessary and not worth the extra cost.
Get yourself a 2022 M1 Pro and an Apple Pencil, that’s really all you’ll require. I create art on mine with Procreate and also do 3D sculpting in Nomad Sculpt without any issues.
Unless you’re into 3D work, the M4 isn’t essential for quite a while, considering Procreate works more than well on the M1 and M2. They rarely add useful new features, so the M4 might not be needed for a long time. Procreate is lightweight and quite simple to use.
Even Clip Studio Pro runs perfectly on an M1, and I doubt CSP users will feel the need to upgrade to an M4 anytime soon.
Save your money.
For a beginner? I’d suggest neither. I have a base model iPad 9th gen and it works great. If I get serious about my art in a year or two, I might think about getting an older iPad Pro. The M4 chips are overkill. Procreate won’t need that kind of power.
@Ash
Is that true? I’m also stuck choosing between the new Air and the new Pro. I’d mostly use the iPad for Procreate and I’m worried the Air won’t run it as well as the Pro. I know the differences in specifications, like the screen refresh rates, but I don’t really care about those.
@Roux
The new iPads have more power than most people need. The M1, M2, and M4 chips are too much for 98% of users. Only the pros using heavy apps like Blender and Final Cut Pro need that power. For Procreate, it really comes down to how many layers you want. More power means more layers but most users won’t need that unless they’re professionals. In that case, getting an iPad Pro might be a good move.
If you have the budget, sure, buy whichever one you like. The new iPad Air will handle everything you throw at it with ease.
@Ash
Layers are my main concern, but that depends on RAM, not just the chip, from what I’ve learned. I could be mistaken though 
The only iPads with more RAM are the Pro models, and they only come with 1 or 2 terabytes of storage, making them quite pricey. The iPad Pro 256 GB is already really expensive, especially with the 13 inch screen. The iPad Air 13 plus pencil is about 500 euros cheaper than the Pro 13 inches with pencil. I’d spend more for a Pro if I had to, but why do that if I can get something cheaper that works just as well?
@Roux
The Air should be good. From what I understand, the laminated screen is what makes drawing with the Apple Pencil better, and both models have that. The refresh rate means drawing on the Pro is smoother, but if you haven’t tried a Pro, you might not notice the difference. You should check out models in a store if possible.
@Roux
I have a 2018 iPad Pro and it still works well with Procreate, even used in Procreate Dreams (I can’t compare if it’s laggy or anything). I can get plenty of layers on it (I don’t really use 200 layers). I think the base iPad with newer chips would be stronger than my 2018 Pro, so I don’t see a real reason to push for M series chips.
@Roux
All I’ll say is that the new iPads are more powerful than anyone actually needs. The M1 iPads were a significant increase in power. The M2 iPads are really just the same with a bit more power that no one needs and now the M2 Air and M4 Pro are just more powerful than necessary. The M4 chip isn’t even in Apple’s latest MacBooks yet. Why would someone need an iPad that’s more powerful than a computer when only two apps on the whole App Store require that level of power? Save your money and get a previous gen Pro like the M1 iPad Pro. If you don’t believe me, take a look at this video
The base iPad 10th gen just dropped to $349 and supports the Apple Pencil Gen 1 and Apple Pencil (USB-C).
If you want something cheaper, anything within your budget and a capacitive stylus will work just fine
Go for the best you can afford
I have an iPad Air 5 with M1 and 256 GB, and it’s been great! I can draw all day, and the 11-inch size is perfect for portability and screen space. If price is an issue, consider last-gen versions like the M1 Air or M2 Pro, as they are usually heavily discounted. Just note that older iPads won’t work with the Apple Pencil Pro, so you’ll need to stick with the latest lineup.
The iPad from Macintosh
Get the newest and biggest screen model with full storage. They should evaluate their options from all sides.
My parents bought me the cheapest model that supports the stylus back in 2019, and it works just fine. If you have extra cash, I’d spend it on more storage.
I have the 9th gen, and I do all my professional work on it. I don’t own a personal PC or laptop right now, although I’d like to buy one. You can manage well with any basic iPad around the 9th or 10th gen.
I got the 2022 iPad Air because I knew how good the M1 chip is. It’s amazing. I recommend getting the 256 GB version, but the Air is great for running Procreate.