iPad Pro 2020 vs. iPad Air 2 – Which is Worth it for Musicians?

As technology advances every day, it can be hard to determine whether we need to upgrade the products we already have. I used an iPad Air 2 from 2015 to mid-2020 when I bought my new iPad Pro almost exclusively as a music reading device.

I’m putting my two iPads to the test to see how they compare. Can musicians comfortably use older iPads for reading sheet music? Let’s find out!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

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iPad Air 2

The Apple iPad Air 2 was released in fall 2014, and was the first iPad to introduce Touch ID. According to Apple, the iPad Air 2 has a 9.7 inch display (diagonally), and includes a lightning port and headphone jack.

iPad Pro 2020

The Apple iPad Pro 2020 (4th generation) was released in March 2020. This tablet boasts a USB-C port, but no headphone jack. The display is 12.9 inches, and the device can be unlocked via Face ID or password.

Want to see everything I have on my iPad Pro? Watch the video here!

Comparing the iPads and how they work for musicians

iPad Pro 2020	iPad Air 2
12.9 in. display looks very similar to paper sheet music	9.4 in. display is smaller than paper sheet music, but you can rotate the screen to view half a page at a time.
Palm rejection – can easily write on the screen the same way you would on paper sheet music, with the Apple Pencil or with a different Bluetooth pencil.	No palm rejection – can only write on the screen with your finger or stylus, and you cannot rest your palm on the screen while you write.
Will still receive iOS updates for years	Still receives iOS updates
Fast	Relatively fast
Liquid retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color	Retina display
Unlock iPad with Face ID or password	Unlock iPad with Touch ID or password
USB-C port	Lightning port
No headphone jack	Headphone jack
Option to use Magic Keyboard, can also connect a Bluetooth keyboard	Can connect a Bluetooth keyboard

iPad for Musicians’ Needs

As a musician, I need a tablet that’s able to store and open sheet music pdfs, load a tuner app and metronome app, and give me the freedom to write in my sheet music and notes.

The iPad Pro 2020 is much better suited for these needs than the iPad Air 2, simply because of the palm rejection and size. I am able to write in sheet music as easily as I do on paper. The Apple Pencil feels natural, and I adjusted very fast.

The 12.9 inch display allows me to view a full page of sheet music at about the same size it would be printed on paper. There are cropping options available in sheet music reader apps, so you can easily get rid of margins to read the music easier.

The iPad Air 2 does absolutely work for musicians, but everything is just a little more difficult due to the lack of palm rejection, the size, and the speed of the tablet.

I used the iPad Air 2 through college, periodically using it to read sheet music and take notes. Right before purchasing the iPad Pro, I started using my older iPad regularly for teaching. Writing music theory out for students was very difficult on the screen without palm rejection.

I was able to read sheet music off the iPad Air 2, but I felt like I was straining my eyes. I used the crop options in Piascore to get rid of the margins in the music, but it was still difficult to see the notes on the page.

Want to see how I use my iPad in a day? Watch the video here!

iPad Pro 2020 vs. iPad Air 2: Which One is worth it for musicians?

It’s really up to you, your budget, and needs. The iPad Pro 2020 does a much better job for my needs as a musician, but the iPad Air 2 also does the job.

I highly recommend the iPad Pro 2020, and if you’re looking to purchase a tablet, I would absolutely spring for that one. But if you’ve been using an older iPad and are feeling okay, then I wouldn’t get a new iPad unless you have the budget for it. They’re so expensive!

Do you use a tablet to read music? If so, what do you use, and what are your thoughts on it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!