Astropad Studio Launches on iPad With 'Pro-Level Drawing Tools' for $65/Year - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Astropad Studio Launches on iPad With 'Pro-Level Drawing Tools' for $65/Year

by

Second-screen iPad app Astropad has today launched a new premium version of its drawing suite called "Astropad Studio" that's been built exclusively for the iPad Pro (via TechCrunch). The new service offers users a number of advantages over the basic app -- including 40 MB/s max speed for lower latency, deep Apple Pencil integration, and more -- for a subscription plan of $7.99/month or $64.99/year.

Similar to the original app, Astropad Studio works with any Mac app via Wi-Fi or through USB and mirrors drawing tools from the iPad's screen onto a connected Mac. The company says that this connection lets users gain control of "pro-level drawing tools" on a Mac, and is aimed at creative professionals who work both in an office and from home.

astropad-studio-1
One of the biggest additions to the Studio suite of features is support for what Astropad calls "Liquid Extreme," which includes color-corrected output and retina resolution. Essentially, "what you see on your iPad is the same as on your Mac," according to the company.

Here's the complete list of exclusive features for Astropad Studio:

  • Liquid Extreme
  • 40 MB/s Max Speed
  • Unlimited shortcut sets
  • Built for iPad Pro
  • Apple Pencil Only
  • Keyboard support
  • Magic Gestures
  • Pressure Smoothing
  • Eraser Tool
  • Hover Simulation
  • 3-Button Mouse Simulation
  • Undo/Redo Gestures
  • Preview line customization
  • Unlimited Upgrades
  • Priority Support

The list features "Magic Gestures," which Astropad says is a way for users to set up easily accessible controls using a finger and Apple Pencil combination. For example, users can set up an erasing function to activate by setting one finger on the iPad's screen to instantly turn the Pencil into an eraser. Two fingers can be a right click, and so on.


The standard version of Astropad sells for $29.99 on the iOS App Store [Direct Link]. For the new app, users can try out Astropad Studio [Direct Link] with a 7 day free trial before deciding to subscribe to the service's monthly or yearly models. More information regarding Astropad Studio can be found here.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tag: Astropad
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

LordQ Avatar
LordQ
124 months ago
Nope. If you have a subscription model you won't get a penny out of me.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
ghost187
124 months ago
Ugh, everyone is following this drug dealer business mentality (called subscriptions) now days.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bbqthis Avatar
Bbqthis
124 months ago
As long as the ipad pro misses the first quarter inch of each apple pencil stroke, it's useless as illustration hardware.
Which it doesn't, so it's not. Good thing we got that out of the way.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
mkeeley
124 months ago
Have the one off payment version and that will have to do, no way am I paying $65/year.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KostnerGuyton Avatar
KostnerGuyton
124 months ago
I got to beta test this over the past month and it is pretty awesome. I think the subscription route is ridiculous though and I won't be a part of it.
They did claim in their beta email that they won't touch the original (already pretty expensive) app, but we'll see I suppose.

This makes me want to break out the old Xcode and make a free knock-off, which maybe I will.
[doublepost=1484155699][/doublepost]I wish @Apple would just nativly support screen mirroring/secondary display with the iPad Pro with the Mac via USB C. Hopefully thats comming this year. It just doesnt make any sense for them to continue pushing lightning .
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
124 months ago
Subscription = No
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

apple price hike

Apple Just Increased Prices on MacBooks, iPads, and More

Thursday June 25, 2026 5:44 am PDT by
Apple today dramatically increased device prices across multiple product lines. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. After temporarily taking it down earlier today, Apple's online store is back up with a series of product price increases. The changes are as follows: HomePod mini: $129, up from $99 (+$30) HomePod: $349, up from $299 (+$50) Apple TV: $199, up from...
Read Full Article • 1027 comments
iphone x flexible oled display

Apple Plans Wider Color Gamut for Future MacBook Pro, iMac, and iPad Pro

Monday June 29, 2026 6:35 am PDT by
Apple plans to adopt OLED panels capable of displaying a much wider range of colors, according to a new report from research firm TrendForce. The new panels would cover 95% of the BT.2020 color standard, which describes a far broader spectrum of colors than the DCI-P3 standard Apple's screens currently target. In practice, that means deeper, more accurate reds, greens, and blues. Reaching...
Read Full Article • 9 comments
iphone 17 ceramic shield

2027 iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e to Get 9GB RAM and A20 Chip

Friday June 26, 2026 9:57 am PDT by
The lower-end iPhone 18 models set to launch in spring 2027 will feature 9GB DRAM, up from 8GB, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says the A20 chip Apple plans to use for the devices will have 1.5GB x 6 dies for a total of 9GB RAM, instead of 2GB x 4 dies as the current lower-end iPhone 17 models use. By lower-end iPhones, Kuo is likely referencing the iPhone 18 and the iPhone...
Read Full Article • 146 comments