are you looking for the best drawing tablets? If you are passionate about drawing and are looking to capture your creations digitally, you are going in the right direction, because in this article you will learn about the best drawing tablets to go from paper to screen like a pro.
We know that the strokes on paper are pure art, but moving them to a screen through a drawing tablet will allow you to save and share them more easily. Sowhat are you waiting for to fall in love with your digital drawings and illustrations?
We have the answers: know which are the best drawing tablets, their specifications and types. Luckily you made it to this article, because we have that and more to tell you.
Best Wacom tablets for drawing
Wacom has some of the best tablets for drawing on the market, not for nothing is it one of the most recognized brands in both the world of graphic design and technology. In fact, it’s likely that when you ask anyone about drawing tablets, their first answer will be Wacom.
With this in mind, we’ll leave you with a short list of the best drawing tablets Wacom has ever made.
Wacom CINTIQ 22 HD Interactive pen display
This is one of the most innovative drawing tablets from Wacom. It has a high-definition screen (1920 x 1080) and the most pressure-sensitive pen of the brand with 8192 pressure levels.
Its screen is 21.5″ with vivid colors and a drawing area of 19.5″ x 11.5″. According to the Solo Creativos web shopping guide and review, “the combination of drawing area and user experience easily puts it at the top of the list of the best tablets for drawing“.
It has HDMI, USB 2.0 connections and is compatible with Windows and Mac. In addition, it has a flexible screen mount so the drawing tablet can rotate around you.
Source: Wacom
Wacom One
This drawing tablet features a natural feel of the pen on the screen. It has a creative software included that allows us to connect it to Android devices and turn it into the best tablet for drawing and coloring. It features FullHD display and an active drawing area of 11.6″ x 6.5″.
Its pressure sensitivity is 4096 levels and is compatible with iOS and some Android devices.
Source: Wacom
Wacom Intuos M
The Wacom Intuos M graphic tablet is ideal for those who are just starting to design. It offers 4069 pressure points and its particularity lies in the fact that its surface imitates the texture of paper.
This graphic tablet for graphic design is medium-high range, and has four customizable hotkeys. In addition, it is reversible so it works perfectly for those who draw with their left hand.
It has Mac, Windows and Android compatibility, as well as wireless connectivity. Another bonus for this drawing tablet is that it includes three tips with different thicknesses to customize the stylus.
Source: Wacom
Yes, as you may have seen in the image this graphics tablet comes in three colors: black, green and pink.
It is definitely an interesting option and one of the best drawing tablets for those looking for quality and extra features.
Wacom Cintiq Pro
If you have no problem investing in a good device that has an extraordinary screen that will last for years, then this is one of the ideal Wacom graphics tablets for you.
It includes a Pro Pen 2 stylus with 8192 pressure levels that works without battery, three customizable buttons, minimal delay and an excellent tilt system, features that will make your digital illustration a true work of art.
The polished glass screen of this drawing tablet provides an unparalleled tactile experience while you work. Plus, with its 4K resolution you can see every detail of your illustration. anything else? Yes, it offers up to 3 months of free access to app bundles for creative use.
Source: Wacom
On the market, you can find Wacom Cintiq Pro tablets in various sizes:
Wacom Cintiq Pro 32: larger, it is ideal for 3D modeling, game illustration and animation
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24: perfect for those involved in photography and graphic design or advertising.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 16: with a considerable size but comfortable. It is perfect for demanding painting and retouching works.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 13: A compact drawing tablet that will save space on your desk. It is very useful for sketching.
By the way, if you are interested in learning more about this brand of graphic tablets, we recommend the course Introduction to illustration with Wacom.
Wacom Intuos S
The Wacom Intuos S is one of the best-selling drawing tablets on Amazon, especially for its advanced features and because it allows you to download up to three free creative editing applications.
When you buy this drawing tablet you get free access to software such as Corel Painter Essentials, Corel Aftershot Pro 3, and Clip Studio Paint 3. This means you can start making your designs immediately, you just need to have something in mind to start practicing.
This drawing tablet is available in small and medium size, and is compatible with Mac, PC, or Chromebook operating systems. You can also use it to draw on your cell phone, you just need to have a device with software superior to Android 6.0.
To go deeper into the reasons why this is one of the best tablets for drawing, let’s point out some of its most important aspects:
It features a stylus with 4096 levels of pressure and ergonomic design to make design work easier. In addition, it works without battery and is very light.
It has extensive connectivity features, including Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
The small version has an active surface of 152 x 95 mm and has four quick-access buttons.
This drawing tablet is ideal for students or beginners in illustration, so you can probably start practicing with it before thinking about acquiring more complex equipment.
Source: Solo Creativos
Huion drawing tablets
Huion is a company that, like Wacom, is dedicated to manufacture drawing tablets, and they have more than 10 years satisfying a large part of the drawing tablet market. According to their own website, Huion drawing tablets have accumulated more than 2 million users, a number that tells us about the quality of their products.
Let’s take a look at some of Huion’s best drawing tablets.
Huion Kamvas Pro 16
getting started in the world of digital graphic design? The HUION Kamvas Pro 16 will help you take those first steps. With its built-in screen, working with this graphics tablet will make the design process much like working on paper.
This digital tablet for beginners is very competitively priced, offers a screen with Full HD resolution and great color representation. And as if that weren’t enough, its anti-glare glass protects your eyesight.
Thanks to its 8192 pressure levels and tilt detection, it will make your work more comfortable and amazing. In addition, this tablet for illustrators and designers features 6 customizable keys and a touch bar.
Source: Huion
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 has a stylus with quick function button, 10 spare tips and two drawing gloves. we couldn’t help but include this model among the best drawing tablets!
Huion H610 Pro V2
The Huion H610 Pro V2 has most of the functions and features of more expensive drawing tablets.
This Huion graphics tablet has a resolution of 10 x 6.25 inches. It has 16 quick function shortcuts on the top and eight keys on the side. In addition, it features 8,192 pressure levels.
the best part? Its digital drawing pen works without a battery, so you’ll avoid using batteries or having to charge it.
Source: Huion
This graphics tablet is compatible with Windows, Mac and most editing programs.
Huion 1060 Plus
The Huion 1060 Plus features a large drawing surface with 8,192 pressure levels and a working area of 10 x 6.25 inches. And with a smooth surface, you won’t need to change stylus tips as often.
Ithas 12 quick function buttons on the side and 16 shortcuts on the top. Its graphic design stylus is rechargeable and has two customizable keys.
Finally, it has a fast response speed which will optimize all your illustration projects.
Source: Huion
Huion Kamvas GT-191 V2
The Huion Kamvas GT-191 V2 drawing tablet is one of the best alternatives you have to start developing your talent. Especially because it has a very large workspace, which will make it easy for you to make any of the designs you have in mind.
This drawing tablet has a 19.5-inch screen, and is made with magnetic resonance technology. It also has a 1920 x 1080 resolution, so you can see everything you do in a format that highlights even the smallest detail. These are other features that differentiate the Huion Kamvas GT-191 V2 from other drawing tablets:
It has anti-glare glass, which translates into greater comfort when working and less eyestrain.
It has a 178° viewing angle, so you can use the tablet to draw in any position.
It has a stylus with 5080 LPI resolution and can be used without batteries.
It has HDMI, VGA, DVI and USB connectivity, and is compatible with Windows and macOS.
We are sure that this drawing tablet will help you reach the level of a professional, and that it will help you to make better illustrations or designs.
Source: Huion
Huion H430P
If you are looking for compact and attractively designed drawing tablets, then you should pay attention to this Huion tablet. In addition to being small, this tablet has some ideal features for drawing, among which are its 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, its powerful pen with 5080 LPI resolution, and a response rate of 233PPS.
But that’s not all, this drawing tablet has a lot of features, we will tell you some of them so you can understand why it should be one of your options when buying:
You can connect this drawing tablet to your phone to see the design process directly on it.
It has a stylus that doesn’t need a battery.
It has four hot keys, which will make it easy for you to use some functions when you are drawing.
It has support for a wide variety of design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Krita, among others.
You can equip this drawing tablet with a lot of additional accessories such as pen and tablet holders.
It is also one of the cheapest drawing tablets. The Huion H430P has a minimum thickness of 6.3 mm and weighs the same as a cell phone.
Source: Pinterest
XP-Pen drawing tablets
Another major manufacturer of drawing tablets is XP-Pen, a company with more than 15 years of history behind their products. These drawing tablets are manufactured in Japan and have a presence in most parts of the world.
XP-Pen Artist 15.6 pen display
This drawing tablet has an active drawing area of 13.54″ x 7.62″, a high resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a pen pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels for accuracy. It is rated as one of the most affordable and best quality graphic tablets.
Source: Solo Creativos
XP-Pen Star 06
Minimalist in style and very slim, the XP Pen Star 06 drawing tablet features a 10″ x 6″ workspace. It has 6 quick function buttons and a dial to program the shortcuts you need.
One of the reasons to include it among the best drawing tablets is that it can be used in wireless mode. Its fast-charging battery lasts up to 16 hours of use.
one aspect to improve? Unlike Wacom graphics tablets, its stylus is not as ergonomic.
Source: XP Pen
XP-Pen Deco 03
XP-Pen Deco 03 is a drawing tablet perfect for pencil drawing lovers. It comes with the new USB Type-C cable, and among its features we can mention that it includes a working area of 10 x 5.62 inches.
This is one of the best tablets for drawing if you are looking for a screenless tool that can integrate well with your computer. To learn more about it, we leave you some of its main features below:
This drawing tablet is just 8 mm thick, so you can carry it anywhere with a lot of ease.
It can be configured for right-handed or left-handed users.
It has six hot keys that can be configured to use any graphic design program.
It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and some versions of Linux.
It has a sensitive pressure level of 8192 levels, a resolution of 5080 lines per inch, and an information rate of 266 RPS.
Although this digital drawing tablet is not manufactured by one of the most recognized brands in the industry, all its features make it a very attractive option. In addition, its design catches the eye at first glance, something that many take into account when choosing which drawing tablet to buy.
Source: Amazon
Other drawing tablets you might be interested in
Let’s see more references for you to compare and finally choose among the best drawing tablets. We share with you other options that will surprise you. We hope you can find the perfect drawing tablet and dreamed to fall in love with your designs.
GAOMAN S620
This is a drawing tablet without a monitor and with a battery-free model that uses the most advanced passive technology (energy saving), that is, its pen is environmentally friendly, because it consumes low energy.it has a pressure sensitivity of 8192 and four keys with special functions to make the experience of handling this drawing tablet unique.
It has a 6.5″ x 4″ surface and a transfer rate of 266 PPS / resolution of 5080 LPI /. It is compatible with Windows 7, 8 and 10 and MacOS 10.12 or higher. It also comes with the most popular drawing software.
Source: Gaoman
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
If you decide to bet on a tablet for drawing this is one of the best options because it has a precision control of 4096, so you can have a great level of control over your strokes. Its screen is 10.5″ 2560 x 1600 and has a magnet on the back to have the stylus always at hand.
It is one of Samsung’s most advanced graphics tablets and a good alternative for those who want all in one, the functions of a PC along with a drawing canvas.
Source: Notimoviles
Ugee M708
The Ugee M708 graphics tablet is a great competition for Wacom. This model is excellent for users who want to get started in digital illustration, without spending a fortune for it. It offers very good features, at a very competitive price and in a comfortable size.
This drawing tablet has 10 x 6 inches, and 8,192 pressure points. It has a USB to connect to a PC and has fast response. It includes 8 quick function keys and its stylus is battery operated.
If you are looking for a complete and good quality graphics tablet, this could be one of your best options. In addition, it is compatible with most operating systems and editing programs.
Source: Ugee
Gaomon PD 11161
One of the best quality and best priced drawing tablets. The Gaomon PD 11161 tablet is equipped with 8192 pen pressure levels, and a resolution of 1920 x 1080.
This drawing tablet has an 11.6-inch monitor and a working area of 10 x 5.6 inches. In addition, it has connectivity with output signal for mini HDMI and Type-C ports. The Gaomon PD 11161 is compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems, and supports editing programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Gimp, and Corel Paintshop Pro.
These are some of the other features you should know about this drawing tablet:
Its stylus does not use batteries and includes two quick-access buttons for easy use of tools in graphic design programs.
The drawing tablet includes eight shortcut buttons that you can program with the functions you prefer.
It is not compatible with Chrome OS.
This digital drawing tablet is a very good choice, especially if you already have some mastery of the main graphic design programs and need a tool to help you enhance your talent.
Source: Ilustrayexpresa.com
iPad Pro
Although the iPad Pro is not strictly speaking a tablet for drawing, many creatives and graphic designers use it for this purpose because of how powerful it is, especially when using programs like Procreate.
This tablet has a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and a powerful Apple M1 processor. It also supports 5G networking, which puts it above some of the best tablets for drawing.
Source: Apple
To use the iPad Pro as a tablet for drawing you only have to buy a 2nd generation Apple Pencil and download the Procreate or Adobe Fresco application, among others. Likewise, you can use the tablet for many other purposes, so you will not only have a tablet for digital drawing, but you will have a powerful tool with which to do an infinite number of incredible things.
Here are some features of this drawing tablet that may catch your attention:
You can use it as a digital drawing tablet by connecting it to a computer running the latest version of Windows 10.
It has an 8-core CPU and GPU.
It can be used to create augmented reality models.
It has an ultra-thin design of 6.4 mm thick.
The iPad Pro has nothing to envy to the drawing tablets mentioned above, especially because it is a device that has everything you need to make digital drawings and much more.
Types of drawing tablets
Now that you know some of the best drawing tablets, it is good that you have some evaluation criteria to know which one to choose. The first thing you should keep in mind is that there are three types of graphic tablets, some with more functions and designs than others, but all useful for the same purpose: to digitize drawings and illustrations.
Take note: these are the types of drawing tablets you will find on the market.
Classic graphics tablet or digitizer, the computer drawing tablet
This type of drawing tablets are the most common. Like the other references, it comes with a digital pencil. What characterizes it is that to see the results of your strokes you will have to be connected to a PC because it does not have a screen. Think of it as a digital sheet of paper with some buttons.
In this category you find the cheapest drawing tablets on the market. Their quality is largely measured by the pressure sensitivity of the stylus, which determines the fineness of the strokes.
If you are starting in the world of digital drawing, you could opt for a classic drawing tablet. We recommend you to always be attentive, because sometimes looking at the monitor and the screen could distract you a little.
Source: Pixabay
Other qualities of this type of graphics tablets
They are inexpensive drawing tablets.
Some of these drawing tablets come with a stand, so you can place them on the desk or on the stand to work on your strokes vertically.
Having the PC as a canvas gives you a better view of your workspace and your digital drawings can be even more accurate. According to the illustration blog Art Rocket “many artists prefer this type of tablet for drawing because they have a full view of the canvas and the image, since the hand does not cover the screen, which does happen when drawing on a tablet with a built-in screen”.
Drawing tablet with interactive screen or built-in monitor
These drawing tablets, also known as LCD graphic tablets, have a built-in screen or monitor. One of the great advantages is that you don’t have to raise your head to see what you are drawing because everything is right there on the tablet.
This interactive surface is more sensitive than the classic drawing tablet so we give it a positive point, because your drawings can be drawn more naturally.
You should keep in mind that this type of drawing tablets are more expensive and although you will not need an additional monitor to see what you are doing, you must connect it to a computer to load the design programs you are going to use.
Source: Unplash
Other qualities of this type of graphic tablet
They are professional drawing tablets, so they make the drawing experience more interactive and polished.
They have several connection inputs: HDMI cable, USB or 3-in-1 cable.
They are more intuitive than classic drawing tablets.
Conventional tablet or PC tablet for drawing
We are referring to the conventional tablet or iPad, the same one you use to surf the Internet and play games. Although this type of devices are not exactly designed as tablets for professional drawing, there are some that have advanced graphics and an adequate level of sensitivity to capture your strokes.
Those that have a digital pen or allow the incorporation of one, could easily serve you to start your experience in the world of digital drawing. Besides, they are like a tablet with a monitor but with an operating system and extra functions for other activities. If you have one at home try it as your drawing tablet and evaluate your experience.
Source: Canva
Other specifications about tablets
Although they are not drawing tablets, they do have this option incorporated into their functions, so they can be more expensive, as they also have OS Windows, iOS or Android operating systems.
Some of them already come with pre-installed design programs.
what features do drawing tablets need to have?
We have already seen the types of drawing tablets and which ones could be better adapted to what we want, for example if it is a tablet for drawing or coloring, a tablet for drawing manga, or a tablet that you could adapt for drawing. Now we will tell you other specifications that will be key to buy the best graphics tablet.
Sensitivity and pressure level of the drawing tablet
This is one of the most important points to decide on the type of graphics tablet you will use, since the sensitivity defines the fineness of the strokes, their quality and level of detail. While the pressure determines the tonalities.
The design agency G Tech Design recommends paying close attention to this specification. 2048 pressure points is a good measure for deciding on a tablet for professional drawing.
Source: Canva
The resolution of the drawing tablet user experience
The resolution of drawing tablets is measured in the number of lines you can draw per inch. The more lines the greater the precision. So pay attention to this point when choosing a drawing tablet.
Size of a drawing tablet impacts your strokes
There are drawing tablets of all sizes. According to G Tech Design, “if the size is bigger, it will perform more functions and have more possibilities”. At this point we recommend you to evaluate the type of digital drawings you will make and whether you need a large tablet, because in addition to taking up more space in your work area or briefcase, it can also be more expensive.
Source: Canva
Advanced buttons and features that enhance the drawing tablet experience
According to the type of tablet, the functions may vary. We advise you to look at the control you have with the stylus in terms of commands, zoom, brush size and shortcuts. Some graphics tablets include buttons with useful commands for our daily life, for example, a Control + C. Not all of them do, so you decide how you prefer your drawing tablet.
Finally, before choosing one of the best drawing tablets, make sure that your tablet’s drivers are compatible with your computer and that of course the stylus has rechargeable batteries.
why use drawing tablets?
Let’s start by understanding what drawing tablets are and what they are called. They are devices also known as graphic tablets, so called because of their rectangular shape, useful to transfer to the computer the movements you make through a stylus. It is as if you had a sheet of paper connected to the pc showing you in real time the drawing you are creating.
Some of these drawing tablets connect to the PC via Bluetooth or cable, others have their own monitor so you can work on your drawings directly on it.
Remember that drawing tablets are for both professionals with experience in digital drawing and illustration, as well as for those who are just starting out and want to digitize their graphics. So in both cases it is useful to understand their features and operation, as some drawing tablets are easier to use than others.
Source: Canva
Also, there are different types of stylus, so this is another aspect you will have to pay attention to. For example, you’ll be able to find some that are battery operated, some that are battery operated, and some that work without any of that.
There are more focused references for those who want to animate, create comics, illustrate or do free drawing. In any case, if you are in the creative area you will end up getting the most out of the drawing tablet you choose.
how do drawing tablets work?
When using a drawing tablet what you do is replicate the movements of your stylus on the PC screen. The strokes are configured as an image and depending on the settings of your tablet, your drawings will have thinner and more natural strokes, more intense tones, among other things that you also pay a lot of attention to when you are drawing on a sheet of paper.
Tabletas Baratas, the page dedicated to evaluate tablets for drawing, assures that the devices may present a delay in the connection according to their range. “Cheaper tablets may have more lag, while higher-end tablets respond to your movements instantly.”
Online Illustration course for non-illustrators
OK, you already know what are the best tablets for drawing and you can’t wait to get yours. But… what do you mean you don’t know how to illustrate?
Don’t worry. If you want to learn how to illustrate, the online course for non-illustrators is exactly what you need.
what will you learn with this course?
You will learn what illustration is all about and you will lose your fear of the blank page.
You will overcome the barriers of creativity to move on to action, considering concepts of sequential drawing and graphic narrative.
You will learn how to use Photoshop for digital design: from the main concepts to more advanced levels.
You will discover how to make a moodboard with inspirational images.
are you ready to go ahead and buy one of the drawing tablets we recommend? We know you are. We hope you’ll soon be digitizing all your drawings and illustrations.
good luck!