Tablet Size: Drawing tablets do come in various sizes and you should be picking the one on which you can comfortably draw. That said, we have included smaller tablet options like 7 inches ones, and also have included the larger ones with about 15.6 inches size while the majority of the tablets offer either 11.6 inches or 10-inch active working area. Resolution: No matter if you are picking a drawing tablet with or without a screen, you must always check the resolution if you want to do detailing in your artwork. For the tablets with screens, you can check the display resolution, like HD or Full HD. On the other hand, drawing tablets that require an additional display, have their resolutions in LPI where you should always go for the big numbers. Pressure Levels: Another thing to check on drawing tablets is the pressure levels served by them. While the people who are drawing for a hobby will do fine with tablets having up to 2048 pressure levels. More advanced artists can go for high-end tablets with pressure levels like 4096, 8192, etc.
If you are curious to know more about drawing tablets, you will find all the rest of the important information mentioned in the “Buying Guide” below. So, make sure to read it thoroughly before deciding to buy a drawing tablet from this list. For now, let’s take a quick look at each of the best drawing tablets and see what they have to offer.
9 Best Tablets for Graphic Design, Drawing & Art in 2023
Best Tablets for Graphic Design, Drawing & Art in 2023
1. XP-PEN Artist12 Graphic Drawing Tablet
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XP-PEN is one of the most popular brands that manufacture various kinds of drawing tablets, in various sizes and price ranges. With that said, the XP-PEN Artist 12 holds the 1st position in this list since it is highly versatile and has a really handy size as well. This drawing tablet provides you an overall active working area of 11.6 inches, and also comes with an integrated display as well. Moreover, it’s compatible with all versions of Windows as well as Mac 10.10 or later. So, you can simply plug it into your workstation and use it to work on any software like Photoshop, Illustrator, SAI, Painter, etc. The integrated display of the tablet has a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution and features a 72% NTSC(100%SRGB) Color Gamut. Thus, it is highly color accurate and will help you to draw with brilliant color precision. Moreover, the tablet also features 6 customizable buttons and a slim slide bar as well. Speaking about its stylus pen, it gives you a realistic pen-like feeling while drawing and has up to 8192 pressure levels. Moreover, it even comes with a digital eraser at the other end of the pen. In addition, the pen also comes with 8 replacement nibs as well. Best Features:
6 inches display Full HD (1920×1080) resolution 8192 pressure levels 72% NTSC(100%SRGB) Color Gamut
Pros:
Compatible with all the latest Windows and macOS versions Comes with a customizable button on the pen also The stylus is battery-free
Cons:
Stylus nibs are a little weak
2. Simbans PicassoTab PC92 Graphic Drawing Tablet
In case you want a premium drawing tablet that you can use to work on the go while traveling, the Simbans PicassoTab is the best option you can choose to pick. We are placing it in the 2nd position as this tablet is a standalone machine itself. So, there’s no need for any workstation to use this drawing tablet. It comes preloaded with Android 9 Pie and is powered by a powerful MediaTek Quad-core processor. Apart from that, it also features 2GB RAM and 32 gigs of internal storage as well. That said, you can simply download any drawing application from the Google Play Store and start drawing on this tablet. The tablet has a 10 inches IPS screen with HD (1280×800) resolution and comes along with a responsive stylus pen as well which will help you in drawing. Along with the tablet, you will also get 4 bonus accessories such as a leather case, a universal charger, drawing gloves, and a screen protector. Hence, it is a great option in case you are looking for a gift for someone. Apart from that, since Simband is an excellent and highly popular brand, it also offers a 1-year warranty for this tablet. Best Features:
Runs on Android 9 Pie 10 inches HD resolution display Powered by MediaTek Quad-core processor 2 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage
Pros:
Slim and Lightweight Can be connected to workstations as well Has a color-accurate IPS display
Cons:
Not meant for the professionals
3. Wacom DTK1660K0A Graphic Drawing Tablet
When it comes to drawing tablets, Wacom is one of the biggest and most popular brands in this industry that offers highly versatile and high-end tablets ideal for professional artists. It is placed in the 3rd position in this list as it’s probably the largest drawing tablet in this list. Speaking about the screen of the Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet, it features a large 15.6 inches display with Full HD (1920×1080) resolution which we usually see in laptops. The screen is totally scratch-resistant and has an anti-glare surface so you can have a pleasant experience drawing on it. Moreover, the display is quite vibrant and supports 16.7 million colors-bit, 72% NTSC/Cie1931 typical color gamut. It is widely compatible with all versions of Windows and macOS, hence, you can freely connect it to your computer and work on any software you like to use. In addition, the Wacom Pro Pen 2 comes along with the tablet that supports 8192 pressure levels, and also has the tilt recognition feature. Thus, if you are a professional artist, this is one of the best options you can check out. Best Features:
Supports 8192 pressure levels 72% NTSC/Cie1931 typical color gamut Full HD (1920×1080) resolution 6 inches large-size display
Pros:
Connect with the computer using an HDMI cable The screen has 250 nits brightness Comes with 1-year warranty
Cons:
Very Expensive
4. GAOMON PD1161 Graphic Drawing Tablet
In case you are looking for a professional drawing tablet, but want one for budget-friendly pricing, GAOMON is one such brand that offers a variety of good drawing tablets at low prices. Speaking of the GAOMON PD1161 tablet, it has an 11.6 widescreen that has a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution so you can draw on it with extreme precision. In fact, it’s a brilliant display for drawing since it covers 72% NTSC(100%SRGB) Color Gamut. However, if you want to connect it to your workstation, it has a dedicated HDMI port and a USB Type-C port as well. In addition, you also get 8 customizable buttons beside the screen which you can use to set as a shortcut for certain tools. The main highlight of this drawing tablet is actually the stylus which is quite advanced as it supports 8192 pressure levels and truly gives a pencil-like feeling. Moreover, the Pen also comes with 8 replacement nibs which are stored inside the pen holder. In addition, the pen also supports a ±60 Degree Tilt Function so that you can comfortably draw at various angles. Best Features:
6 inches display Full HD (1920×1080) resolution Supports 8192 pressure levels ±60 Degree Tilt Function
Pros:
The display features a wide color gamut Widely compatible with Windows and macOS Comes with 8 additional customizable buttons
Cons:
Not compatible with Chrome OS
5. Wacom DTC133W0A Graphic Drawing Tablet
As we said earlier, Wacom has a wide range of drawing tablets ideal for people of all levels of expertise, Wacom DTC133W0A One Digital Drawing Tablet is the best option for beginners. This drawing tablet features a 13.3 inches wide display which is large, nearly to a normal A4 size sheet and feels like a paper-like canvas while drawing with natural friction. Although the screen resolution is HD (1280×800), it’s still a great display for drawing since it’s quite bright and vibrant, and also has an anti-glare coating on top of it. Apart from that, the stylus pen is pretty handy and almost feels like a normal pen. On the other hand, the tablet is widely compatible with ChromeOS, Windows, macOS, and even with smartphones running on iOS or Android. Hence, you can simply plug this tablet into any device and start drawing freely. Moreover, you will also get access to a 3-months subscription to some amazing drawing apps like Bamboo Paper Pro, Clip Studio Paint Pro if you choose to pick this tablet. Best Features:
3 inches display HD resolution Compatible with MAC/PC/Android Battery-free stylus
Pros:
Anti-glare coating on the display Large screen size Premium build quality
Cons:
Slightly expensive
6. VEIKK VK1200 Graphic Drawing Tablet
VEIKK is yet another well-known brand in the industry that is highly popular for its mid-range high-end products, including the VK1200 Drawing Tablet that we are going to discuss. The tablet is quite user-friendly since it comes with 6 customizable shortcut keys. Besides them, you will notice a fantastic 11.6 inches bright and vibrant display which comes coated with a fine anti-glare coating to give it a paper-like canvas finish and feel. Moreover, the display is actually brilliant since it has a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution with 120% sRGB gamut. Thus, it’s highly color accurate and best for graphic designing and drawing purposes. The overall tablet has a pretty premium design and finish, and its anti-slip design helps you hold it comfortably in hand as well. Coming over to the stylus, it’s battery-free, supports up to 8192 pressure levels, and feels almost like a real pen while holding it. In fact, you get a total of 28 replacement pen nibs and a bunch of other accessories like 1 pair of artist gloves, a pen holder, and a cleaning cloth inside the box. Best Features:
6 customizable shortcut keys 6 inches display Full HD (1920×1080) resolution 8192 pressure levels
Pros:
Comes with 21 replacement nibs Anti-slip design Highly color-accurate display
Cons:
Not compatible with ChromeOS or Linux
7. XP-PEN Artist12 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet
Although we have already discussed the XP-PEN Artist 12 earlier in this article, if you want a slightly better version of it, you can go for the Artist12 Pro. It has a similar 11.6 inches IPS display with a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution. Thanks to the red dial and the 8 customizable buttons, you can set them to organize your favorite tools and elevate your working experience with this tablet. All it takes is a 3 in 1 HDMI cable to connect with your computer and does not require any additional adapters, so you can always have a clean and easy setup experience. In fact, the stylus pen is pretty amazing as it supports up to 60 degrees of tilt function. Thus, you can comfortably draw at almost any angle you like. Apart from that, the pen and the display give you a realistic feeling while drawing, so it almost feels like drawing on a real canvas. Moreover, the stylus supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and has a 200RPS report rate which gives you a totally lag-free input. In addition, the Artist 12 Pro comes along with an AC 42 easy-to-use stand that helps you draw comfortably at a tilted angle. Best Features:
Full HD (1920×1080) resolution 6 inches IPS display 8129 levels of pressure sensitivity 60 degrees of Tilt function
Pros:
Comes with an AC 42 stand Easy setup Has 8 customizable shortcut keys
Cons:
No replacement nibs for the pen
8. Wacom PTH660 Graphic Drawing Tablet
The Intuos lineup of drawing tablets from Wacom is currently the best one available around from which we have picked the PTH660 Intuos Pro Digital Graphic Drawing Tablet for you. It’s a premium yet a mid-range option that you can consider if you are looking for a professional drawing tablet. This tablet is basically a drawing pad as there’s no integrated display in this model. The overall size of this tablet is 13.2” x 8.5” out of which you get 8.7” x 5.8” as the active area for drawing with multi-touch support and a resolution of 5080 LPI. It’s a highly recommended tablet to try because it offers ultimate precision and a virtually lag-free tracking experience. Moreover, there are about 8 customizable buttons, and a radial wheel to access radial menus. Apart from that, the Wacom Pro Pen 2 comes along with the tablet that supports 8192 pressure levels, and the tilt function as well. Moreover, the PTH660 Intuos Pro Digital Graphic Drawing Tablet is widely compatible with PC and MAC and can be connected to any device via Bluetooth or USB connection. Best Features:
7” x 5.8” active area Compatible with PC and Mac Stylus with Tilt-function 8192 pressure levels
Pros:
Wide compatibility Easy to set up Has 8 customizable buttons
Cons:
Not a compact option
Buying Guide for the Best Tablets for Drawing
Either you like to draw casually as a hobby or you are a professional artist, you won’t get better results if you keep using a regular mouse. To draw with precision and have better control over the tools, you must have a drawing tablet with you as it makes the whole work much simpler and also provides you a nice and classic feel of drawing using a pencil. We have already discussed some of the best drawing tablets above in this article so that you can compare them and choose the best one for yourself. However, if you are feeling confused about any of the features, this buying guide will clear out all your doubts and help you pick a decent drawing tablet from the list.
Tablet Size
Most graphic designers already know that a larger canvas is better to work on as you get more space to arrange the tools and work on the project easily. Just like normal tablets, drawing tablets also come in various sizes with varying sizes of the active areas. While some tablets offer you a large active area of about 15.6 inches. On the other hand, if that size seems too big to carry or hold in your hands, you can go for other sizes like 11.6 inches. 10 inches and even smaller sizes like 7 inches are also available.
Resolution
As we have already discussed, drawing tablets are of two kinds. There are drawing tablets out there that come with their own integrated display, so you can check its resolution like you check the resolution for any other display device. Drawing tablets with screens usually come with Full HD (1920×1080) displays which is the best to have on small-sized displays of size 11-15 inches. On the other hand, for the tablets that don’t have an integrated display, you can check the resolution as mentioned in LPI. In the case of such tablets, a resolution of 5080 LPI is definitely a good option to pick while other options with fewer resolutions are ideal for casual users.
Pressure Levels
If you compare drawing tablets with a standard tablet, the stylus experience is way more different. While on the standard tablets, a stylus only inputs a single touch, drawing tablets support multiple touch inputs at various pressure levels. The beginner or casual artists won’t notice much of a difference between 1024 and 2048 pressure sensitivity tablets. However, if you are drawing professionally, you can take complete advantage of the high-pressure-sensitive tablets having 4096 and 8192 pressure levels to draw. Higher pressure-sensitive tablets are much more beneficial for using different brush strokes set at different pressure levels.
Shortcut and Express Keys
Apart from the stylus input, you also need to use a lot of functions in any graphic designing software that you are using. While you can do this using your mouse and keyboard, it can be quite time-consuming to switch between your graphic tablet and keyboard. Thankfully, a lot of the graphic tablets out there come with express or shortcut keys on the side. You can bind these keys to any function of your choice for quickly performing any function in your graphic designing software. Apart from the physical shortcut keys, you can even find the support for touch gestures in many graphic tablets to further save your time.
Display
As we discussed above, several drawing tablets come with their own display so that you can draw on it directly and get a better and more immersive experience. However, you should be concerned about the quality of the display and always check its resolution. Most of the drawing tablets that we have mentioned come with a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution. Hence, even if your laptop or mobile does not have an FHD display, you can simply connect the tablet and draw on a better screen.
Size and Form Factor
One of the most important things to check is the overall size and form-factor of the tablet as you might face scenarios when you need to travel with the tablet and carry it with you. Moreover, if in case you need to work on the go, you should pick a tablet that is compact in size and handy and can work as a standalone machine. There are options available in the market that come with their own operating systems and are powered by in-built CPUs. To check the overall size of any tablet, you can check the specification and look for the product dimensions there to know if that is going to be a comfortable option for you or not.
Warranty
If you are buying a drawing tablet for casual use and for short-term usage, the warranty is not going to matter much. However, if you are planning to keep and use the tablet for a long time, then you must check the warranty so that you can get a replacement or get your tablet repaired for no extra cost, in case something goes wrong or it stops working, unfortunately.
Conclusion
If you have gone through all the listed items in the article, you must have understood how useful a drawing tablet can be for you if you like drawing. That said, you can take a look at the features of the above-mentioned listed tablet and compare them to find the most suitable one for yourself according to your budget. In case you want to know more about the features and need help while choosing the best tablet from the list, you can consider going through the buying guide and read about all the important and considerable features to make a wise decision regarding this purchase. In case you are wondering about our top 3 picks from this list, we have several good recommendations for you that you can check out:
First of all, the XP-PEN Artist 12 is the best value-for-money option to pick as it comes with a stunning Full HD 11.6 inches display and a super-precise stylus pen with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Moreover, you will get a bunch of extra useful accessories in the box as well as the tablet is covered under a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. On the other hand, in case you are looking for a large-sized drawing tablet, Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet is probably the best pick for you. It features a 15.6 inches Full HD display which delivers brilliant picture quality and vibrant colors which make you have a great experience using it. In fact, the stylus even supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity which is great. Lastly, if you are looking for a compact and affordable option, you should get the Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet. It’s widely compatible with all kinds of OS, and has a really compact size of 7.8” x 6.3”. Thus, you can easily carry it in your bag while commuting. In fact, it also comes with a 1-year warranty, which is a great add-on from the brand.
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