It's been a full year since I first reviewed AstroPad and a lot has changed. Actually only one things has, the Apple pencil. And with the new 9' iPad Pro on. Are your Astropad and Luna Display apps up-to-date? Access the latest software downloads available here. Turn your iPad into a graphics tablet – pro version.
If you’ve wanted to use a mobile tablet as a Wacom Cintiq-like graphics input device for your computer, for a long time Astropad was the app that many turned to (a company called Avatron also offers Air Display for iOS and Air Stylus for Android). Now Duet, Inc. has introduced Duet Pro. These solutions display desktop applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator on an iPad, letting you use a stylus on the iPad display to draw or paint directly on the desktop document.
Think of it like turning your iPad into a Wacom pen display. To get Astropad to work properly, you'll need to get the free Mac companion app. With Astropad, you'll get a natural drawing experience with your iPad, with the results being delivered right to your Mac. It's fast and will keep up with your drawing at 60 FPS, even over a Wi-Fi connection. Astropad has offered its studio app for creative professionals that turns iPad into a Mac drawing tablet since 2017. Now after hearing lots of feedback from users, Astropad has launched a beta to. It would be great for games, but also as the standard for people to use the iPad pro as a touch screen for drawing and sculpting on their PC. Currently there is a mac app (Astropad) that does this between a mac and an iPad pro on the same home network, but it would be great to be able to use the ipad to sculpt and draw from anywhere!
Both Astropad and Duet Pro are much less expensive than a Wacom Cintiq…if you already own an iPad. If you’re deciding which one to use, you’ll need to know the important differences between them.
Duet Pro started out as Duet Display, which lets a Mac or PC use an iPad or iPhone as an additional Mac display. Duet Pro adds support for advanced stylus features such as pressure and angle, bringing it into direct competition with Astropad. (Update: In December 2016, Duet Display and Duet Pro added the ability to let an iPad display the Touch Bar when connected to a Mac running macOS 10.12 Sierra.)
Duet Pro and Astropad both use an iOS app that communicates with a companion application that you run on your computer. But beyond that, they have more differences than you might think. Most of all, you’ll want to pay attention to the hardware they support and their pricing models.
(Update: In January 2017, Astropad announced Astropad Studio, a premium level that includes better performance and additional features. Like Duet Pro, Astropad Studio is available by subscription, but you can still pay just once for the Astropad app and use its base feature set without an Astropad Studio subscription.)
| Astropad | Duet Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop system support | Mac | Mac and Windows |
| Mobile hardware support | Any supported iOS device (including iPhones, using Astropad Mini) | iPad Pro only |
| Stylus support | Various, works best with Apple Pencil (Update: Support for non-Apple styluses will be dropped by 2019.) | Apple Pencil only |
| Connection between computer and tablet | USB or wi-fi | USB |
| Hover/rollover support | No | Yes |
| Display the Touch Bar for Macs running Sierra | Yes, in Astropad Studio | Yes |
| Price | $29 for iPad, free for iPhone (Astropad Mini). Optional: Additional “pro” features through Astropad Studio, a $64.99 annual subscription. | $20 plus $20 annual subscription that includes future upgrades. The subscription is for Duet Pro and its Apple Pencil support; Duet Display alone is a one-time app purchase. |
You can draw some conclusions from that table:
- If you want to use Duet Pro, you have to own an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil.
- If you use a Windows PC, you have to use Duet Pro because Astropad only works with Macs.
- If you don’t like subscription pricing, you have to use Astropad (but not Astropad Studio, which does require a subscription).
- If you want to connect wirelessly you have to use Astropad, but for best performance you’ll want to connect with a cable anyway.
I can’t compare the performance and usage of Astropad and Duet Pro, because I’ve only used Astropad. But given the major differences in what hardware they support and how they’re priced, you might be swayed one way or the other more by what hardware you own or how you prefer to pay.
About that “Hover/rollover support” line in the table: A frustrating aspect of using a mobile tablet as a graphics tablet is that they generally don’t support pointer hovering, so you can’t hover the pointer without clicking as you can with a mouse or Wacom tablet. Not being able to hover is a side effect of how most mobile devices work, where your finger or stylus can interact with the display only at the moment you actually touch it. But hovering is important when you want to select a small target, precisely grab object handles, or use mouse rollover effects such as tool tips. Duet Pro and Astropad Studio claim to support hovering, but those are premium levels of those apps which require a subscription.
After I originally wrote this post, Astropad came out with their own table comparing the two premium versions, Duet Display Pro vs Astropad Studio.
One other feature which I thought might be too obscure to list in the table is support for using multiple devices as displays simultaneously. I had no problem creating a ridiculous multiple desktop display by using Air Display to connect multiple iPads and iPhones to my Mac, but Duet Display can use only one device as a display. I believe Astropad is also intended to connect a Mac to only one iOS device at a time.
(The photo for this article is from the Duet website.)
Take your workflow to the next level
We know how important accessories are in creating the perfect workflow. Many have asked for suggestions and now we’ve delivered! Here’s our list of the best accessories to use with Astropad and Luna Display based on user feedback and personal recommendations from our team.
Compass Pro
by Twelve South
WHY IT’S GREAT: The Compass Pro’s sleek design folds up nicely, making it the perfect stand to throw in your backpack for an on-the-go setup. The stable metal design also supports all iPad models. If you prefer to customize your iPad elevation for drawing, this stand offers 3 variations.
GET IT NOW: Twelve South, $59.99
DraftTable
by Elevation Lab
WHY IT’S GREAT: DraftTable is a fantastic ergonomic stand for creatives using Astropad to turn their iPad into a Cintiq-alternative. Purchase the stand by itself or pay $10 more to get the Pro Kit, which is designed specifically for the iPad Pro. This stand is a sturdy go-to that won’t budge no matter how hard you draw.
GET IT NOW: ElevationLab, $59.95.
iPad Stand
by Amazon Basics
WHY IT’S GREAT: This Amazon Basics stand supports multiple viewing angles and orientations. Though not as sleek as other options on the market, this stand is very light, portable, and inexpensive. This stand also supports Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Kindle Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers, and the Nexus 7.
GET IT NOW: Amazon, $8.99
hubs & adapters
USB-C to mDP Adapter
by Allsmartlife
WHY IT’S GREAT: Not only does this adapter work reliably with Luna Display, it also supports ultra high-definition video resolutions up to 4K x 2K (3840 x 2160).
GET IT NOW: Allsmartlife, $19.99
USB-C to USB Adapter
by Syntech
WHY IT’S GREAT: This adapter is affordable and compatible with any laptop with a USB-C port. It also supports phone charging, and comes in a 2-pack — so you can leave one at home and take one on the go! Syntech also provides a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty on this purchase.
GET IT NOW: Syntech, $9.99
USB-C Hub
by HooToo
WHY IT’S GREAT: This hub is great for artists who need an SD card reader. Built to be an all-in-one hub, the HooToo is a solid investment and features 100W Type-C power delivery and HDMI output.
GET IT NOW: HooToo, $39.99
Apple Pencil Silicone Grip Holder
Astropad Zbrush Ipad Pro
by Fintie
WHY IT’S GREAT: Fintie crafted these inexpensive grips to be ergonomical for drawing. They come in a pack of two variations, so you can test out both designs and see which one fits you best.
GET IT NOW: Fintie, $6.99
Apple Pencil Silicone Sleeve
by Hydream
WHY IT’S GREAT: The soft silicone sleeve offers a strong grip and comes with 2 protective nib covers to prevent damage. A flexible design holds onto the Pencil cap to prevent it from being lost but still allows for accessible Pencil recharging. The tip cover doesn’t interfere with the sensitivity of the screen or pen, so you can draw with more comfort! Available for both 1st and 2nd generation Apple Pencil.
GET IT NOW: Hydream, $7.99
Matte Screen Protector
by PaperLike
WHY IT’S GREAT: This product is great for artists transitioning from drawing on paper or Wacom tablets to drawing on the iPad. PaperLike protects your screen while adding friction to the glass to recreate the texture and feeling of drawing on paper. Comes with two screen protectors and tools to seamlessly apply it to your iPad.
GET IT NOW: PaperLike, $32.70
Astropad Studio Apk
Dongle Carrying Cases
BookBook Caddy Sack
by Twelve South
WHY IT’S GREAT: This snazzy option offers secure storage space on the inside and a leather-bound book-like exterior. It’s more costly than other options but is constructed to last.
GET IT NOW: Twelve South, $49.99
Electronic Accessories Cable Organizer
by Jelly Comb
WHY IT’S GREAT: The Jelly Comb carrying case is packed with compartments and is perfect for transporting a variety of items. This case offers large capacity storage and can even hold an iPad mini.
GET IT NOW: Jelly Comb, $14.99
Q-Kit
Astropad Lightroom Ipad Pro
by Tom Bihn
Astropad Get Full Ipad Pro Screen
WHY IT’S GREAT: This small organizer pouch that has depth to fit bulkier items, offers customizations like adding a handle loop and a key loop, and is made in America. Toss your Luna in along with some other small accessories like a screen cleaning cloth, and you’re ready to take it on the go!
Astropad Download
GET IT NOW: Tom Bihn, $18