The Partita № 3 in E major for solo violin by Johann Sebastian Bach on the iPad Pro 13-inch. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
The best iPads for sheet music
Last updated on September 17, 2024
As an orchestra musician and chamber music player, I use an iPad to read digital sheet music for my daily practice, as well as for rehearsals and concerts.
I’ve tested almost every iPad model and major sheet music app over the past few years, along with accessories like wireless pedals (to turn pages) and iPad stands.
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I am a classical musician (violist) with 20 years of professional experience in orchestra and chamber music. For many years, I have been advising colleagues, students, and fellow musicians in the choice of their tablet.
Along with the many positives of using tablets / iPads, I’ve also seen the negatives: tablets crashing just before going on stage, batteries that don’t hold up during long rehearsal days, and missing page turner pedals in concert.
I spent my school years in France, and this article must be riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes, for which I apologize. Feel free to send me any corrections!
There is no test protocol! I use the most different tablets and iPads possible in my real life as a musician, which includes practicing, rehearsing and playing concerts.
In reality, I’m not a pianist, but a violist. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
The iPads, tablets and e-readers are purchased with my own funds and used as long as I please. This means that my reviews are always independent, long term and real life reviews.
Who is this article for?
While this article is primarily aimed at beginners looking to get a foothold in the world of digital sheet music, I think even seasoned iPad users will find many interesting tidbits.
The transition from paper to digital sheet music can be intimidating, but getting started is easier than it looks, and it’s worth the effort. And best of all, there’s no need to do it all at once: it’s entirely possible (and even advisable) to take it one step at a time.
Apple iPad, Android or Windows tablet, e-reader?
This article focuses on sheet music on Apple iPads. If you’re not sure whether to go with an iPad, and are also looking for more general information on Android tablets or Windows 2-in-1s, take a look at the following article:
If you find tablet screens too bright and reflective, or if you play music mainly outdoors, an e-reader may be a better solution than a tablet:
The best iPads for sheet music
1. iPad Pro 13-inch: excellence, but at a high price
There’s no doubt about it: the 13-inch iPad Pro is the best iPad for reading sheet music. However, the differences with the previous 12.9-inch models and with the 13-inch iPad Air are not as great as the huge price difference suggests.
The biggest difference lies in the new, incredibly fast M4 processors. However, most musicians don’t need an extremely fast processor. In particular, for reading or editing sheet music, an M1 or M2 processor is more than enough.
The 13-inch iPad Pro is the best iPad for reading sheet music, but it is extremely expensive. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
The superiority of the 13-inch iPad Pro lies more in a large number of small details or slight improvements, some of which are listed below:
- The screen of the 13-inch iPad Pro is only 1.5% larger than that of its predecessor, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. A difference of 1.23 square inches that is slightly noticeable, but all in all negligible.
The screen of the 13-inch iPad Air (left) is only slightly smaller than that of the 13-inch iPad Pro (right). Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
- One of the most important points for musicians who play outdoors: the maximum brightness of the 13-inch iPad Pro is higher than that of the older 12.9-inch models, but also higher than that of the 13-inch iPad Air. The display is also less reflecting, resulting in less glare. The difference outdoors, especially in direct sunlight, is quite appreciable. For me personally, this is the biggest advantage of the 13-inch iPad Pro.
- The iPad Pro 13 supports the new Pencil Pro, the best stylus currently available on any platform. The new pinch feature is both intuitive and absolutely delightful, and lets you bring up the context menu in forScore, for example. And the haptic feedback makes it a pleasure to use. The Pencil Pro is compatible with the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro and Air models released in 2024, but not with the older 12.9-inch iPad Pros.
The first generation Apple Pencil looks a lot like the Apple Pencil Pro, but the latter is much better. In the middle, the Samsung S-Pen. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
- The iPad Pro 13 charges faster than other iPad models: it takes two hours to fully charge, which is almost half an hour less than the 13-inch iPad Air. It is also the only iPad model that charges as quickly as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
- The 13-inch iPad Pro is incredibly thin (0.20 inch / 5.1 mm) and light (1.28 lbs / 579 g) for a tablet of this size. This is certainly not a key point, and of course it’s not necessary for reading sheet music. But it is a significant comfort factor in everyday use, to be considered over many years of use. It fits into many instrument cases, and every time I go on a trip, I’m grateful for its lightness and the little space it takes up.
Thickness comparison, from bottom to top: the 13-inch iPad Air (0.24 in / 6.1 mm), the 13-inch iPad Pro (0.20 in / 5.1 mm) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (0.22 in / 5.5 mm). Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
The 13-inch iPad Pro has many other small details or advantages over the iPad Air or previous 12.9-inch generations: for example, the improved True Tone adaptive flash for better scanning of sheet music, better speakers or the (overpriced) nano-textured screen option to reduce reflections.
Pros
- Unmatched performance, ready for the future
- Large, low-reflection, high-brightness screen, usable for outdoor gigs
- Supports the new Pencil Pro
- Extremely thin and light
- Fast charging (up to 40 W)
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- No certification for water and dust resistance
- At this price, battery life could be even better
- Comes with a “slow” 20W charger
iPad Pro 13-inch for sheet music: Verdict
The 13-inch iPad Pro is the best iPad for making music and reading sheet music, there’s no question about it. For professional musicians, advanced amateurs and students with sufficient budget, it’s the best choice. The exorbitant price tag has to be balanced against a probable lifespan of a decade.
2. iPad Pro 12.9-inch: Don’t underestimate the older generation!
Even in 2024, 12.9-inch iPad Pros are an excellent choice. While you should be careful to avoid the first models that are reaching their end-of-life, the 5th (2021, M1 processor) and 6th (2022, M2 processor) generation are still amazing.
Of course, you’ll lose two or three years of lifespan (software support and security updates) compared to a new 13-inch iPad Pro, but the saving should be several hundred bucks.
If you can get your hands on a 5th or 6th generation iPad Pro 12.9-inch, go for it! Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
Most of the “Pro” functions, which are not available on the 13-inch iPad Air, are indeed present on the 12.9-inch models. These include:
- Face ID, the most convenient way to unlock your iPad, especially when you have a musical instrument in your hands.
- The four speaker audio system.
- Five “studio-quality” microphones and stereo recording.
- The “True Tone” flash (useful for scanning sheet music).
- Higher brightness in XDR mode.
You can compare all these points on the Apple website: Compare iPad models.
Pros
- M1 and M2 processors more than adequate for reading sheet music
- Excellent screen (better than the 13-inch iPad Air)
- All the advantages of the Pro models, including Face ID
Cons
- Not compatible with the new Pencil Pro
- Slow charging (up to 30 W)
- A few years of lifespan / software support are already gone
iPad Pro 12.9-inch for sheet music: Verdict
If I had the choice between a 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021 or 2022) and a 13-inch iPad Air (2024), I would take the iPad Pro. The screen is better, and I use Face ID several times a day to unlock my iPad when I’m practicing.
New models are becoming scarce, but the second-hand market is quite large, for example on Amazon*, Black Market, Gazelle or RefurbMe. Apple also offers refurbished iPads on its “Certified Refurbished” store (at least in the USA, Canada, and the UK).
3. iPad Air 13-inch: finally a less expensive large iPad
For years, musicians looking for an iPad big enough to display sheet music in a decent size had no choice: they had to break the bank to buy a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The 13-inch iPad Air, released in May 2024, really is less expensive compared to the 13-inch Pro version. I’m sure this new model will be a big hit with musicians!
After six generations of extremely expensive iPad Pros, Apple has finally released a more affordable large iPad: the 13-inch iPad Air. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
While the 13-inch iPad Air lacks features like Face ID and camera flash (and is thicker and heavier than the pro version), it’s still perfectly suited to reading sheet music.
The 13-inch iPad Air is absolutely good enough for reading sheet music, but you’ll have to do without Face ID. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
The 13-inch iPad Air is compatible with Apple’s new stylus, the Pencil Pro (which is really great), but not with the old non-pro version.
You can also use the cheaper “Apple Pencil (USB-C)” (sic) to cut the price by a third. But honestly, cable management is just a pain, so prefer the Pro version if you can!
Like all Apple tablets, this one is compatible with any Bluetooth page turner.
Pros
- Supports the new Pencil Pro
- M2 processor perfectly adequate for reading and editing sheet music
- The most affordable large iPad
Cons
- “Pro” functions (including Face ID) not available
- Only two speakers
- Slow charging (up to 30 W)
13-inch iPad Air: Verdict
It would hardly be an exaggeration to call the 13-inch iPad Air a blessing for musicians. It offers almost all the features of the iPad Pro for substantially less money. If you don’t want to break the bank or don’t have the budget for the Pro versions, you won’t be disappointed by this model.
The best iPad holders / music stands for large iPads
The music stand I recommend for 12.9″ and 13″ iPads is the “K&M 19775 Biobased Tablet Holder”. Despite its barbaric name, it is the most universal high-quality stand available, it is compatible with all the larger iPads and tablets, with or without a protective case.
In some photos on this page, you can see iPads in the K&M 19793 “triangular” music stand. This probably the most elegant music stand around, but it will not fit iPads with thick protective cases (0,43 in / 11 mm is the maximum allowed thickness).
Best accessory for music stands
Finally, there is one accessory I wouldn’t want to miss: a music stand tray. With most tablet holders and tablets stands, you can’t attach the Apple Pencil to the magnetic connector on the side of the iPad. And there’s nowhere to put a tuner, cell phone or other accessories. Here’s the solution!
4. 11-inch and smaller iPads: not ideal for reading sheet music
I suspect it would never occur to anyone to voluntarily read sheet music in half-letter format. This is especially true for musical instruments that require a certain distance between the player and the sheet music, such as string instruments or percussions.
Similarly, I cannot advise anyone to buy an 11-inch iPad (or smaller) to make music and read sheet music.
The 13-inch iPad Air (2024) compared to a 2018 iPad (9.7-inch screen). Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
As I only play classical music, I lack the experience of other musical styles. I imagine that for some singers, an 11-inch iPad may be sufficient, and there are certainly plenty of scenarios in which a regular-sized iPad is just right. I’d be really delighted if you could share your experience in the comments!
This article is not really finished, is it?
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to finish this article before the summer vacations. An article like this takes dozens of hours, and I’m primarily a musician and a father!
Three good reasons for not finishing an article. The young creatures are playing with the Beat Maker Pro, Drum Pad Machine and Groovepad apps. Photo: tablets-for-musicians.com
However, I’m publishing it so that it can start being referenced by search engines, and will resume writing in October, after concerts in Nuremberg (Germany), the south of France and a few vacations.
2 thoughts on “The best iPads for sheet music”
Thank you. The next question is how to transfer music from the internet or email to the tablet.
Hi, Ester,
you can import music (typically as a PDF) to your iPad from any source: an e-mail, the IMSLP website, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive… or take pictures via the iPad’s camera.