lcd display tablet brands

The best drawing tablets will empower digital artists to bring their artistic visions to life, and whether you"re a photographer retouching and editing images, an animator or a digital artist, there are plenty of options available.

Previously, artists were limited to conventional graphics tablets (now better known as pen tablets), which are textured work surfaces that need to be connected to an external monitor. Historically, these were fairly restrictive; they came with an abundance of wires, required external monitors, and were not very portable.

Now, with the rising popularity of pen displays, which come with built-in screens that enable the user to draw directly onto the tablet as you would on paper, artists have far more tools to choose from. Plus, mainstream tech companies are joining the fray, too, creating general-use tablets that are also fantastic for art — so long as you don"t mind the hefty price tag. If you’re not sure which is best for you, then read on to discover the key differences in our frequently asked questions section below.

Both graphic tablets and a vast majority of pen displays need to be plugged into a computer or laptop, so if you want a more portable device for your artwork, then one of the best tablets from the likes of Apple, Microsoft and Samsung is likely to be a better option. Some such tablets feature in the list below, offering fewer drawing-specific features but greater portability and everyday uses.

We’ve tested all the drawing tablets in this guide, focusing on all the key areas that you should consider when choosing a new graphics tablet – from pressure sensitivity to display, drawing experience to accessories and beyond. Whatever your priorities, whether that’s portability or a professional-grade drawing experience, we’ve got you covered.

If you opt for a traditional graphics tablet that needs to be plugged into a computer, you might want to browse our best monitors, and also check out our guide to the best digital art and drawing software. Not sure if you’d be better off with a laptop? Check out our picks of the best laptops and tablets for drawing and artwork.

Wacom is a big name in digital art and it’s easy to see why. Delivering superior pressure sensitivity, great value and artist-first features, it’s only in recent years that rivals have offered much competition. The Wacom Cintiq is a pen display tablet and Wacom’s answer to contest general use tablets such as the iPad. It’s a fully realized drawing tablet with plenty of space to create, and we think it’s the best all-round option for value, size, design and features.

Given its size, performance and HD resolution, it’s priced pretty competitively, and while other tablets and laptops may offer slightly more in the graphics department, the larger screen lends itself to detailed work and a smoother user experience. The 22-inch panel gives artists plenty of room in which to play; but even the smaller, 15.6-inch panel far exceeds the size and quality of many other tablets on this list. The tablet features folding legs, which feel solid and secure in use, and clip away neatly into the rear of the device, or you can also attach a third-party tablet stand.

XPPen is one of industry-giant Wacom’s biggest competitors, offering more affordable tablets that still pack a punch for performance and design quality. The XPPen Artist Pro pen display is lightweight and customizable, thanks to its eight programmable buttons, which allow you to map out your most-used functions. There’s also a red dual-control dial that allows you to pan, scroll, rotate, zoom and change the brush size.

This tablet has a bright, fully laminated HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, and is available in a range of other sizes – from a petite 11.6-inch to a massive 21.5-inch display. Soon, XPPen will be launching a 23.8-inch model, too. The bigger screens are a little too heavy, perhaps, and smaller screens offer less room in which to play; but the Artist 15.6 Pro is a particularly good size for artists on the go.

The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro comes with the XPPen stylus, which, thanks to its newly developed X3 smart chip, delivers great performance – 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and up to 60-degree tilt. However, it isn’t quite as strong as the Wacom Pro Pen 2 in terms of tilt response and how it feels with which to draw. It also comes with a separate tablet stand (which is a little flimsy), a drawing glove, and a handy, sturdy pen holder.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the iPad Pro is the best general-use tablet for drawing, and the most recent 12.9-inch M1 model is a real treat for artists, delivering plenty of power, a brilliant display and wonderful canvas size. Plus, it’s ultra-portable, which is more than can be said for its competition; as mentioned earlier, all graphics tablets and most pen displays need to be plugged into external devices.

While the iPad Air (at number five in our best drawing tablets guide) is lightweight and more affordable, the iPad Pro takes the lead with its brighter Mini LED (Liquid Retina XDR) 12.9-inch screen. You can, of course, opt for the slightly smaller 11-inch iPad Pro model, but the display on that model isn’t quite as impressive.

Images refresh twice as fast as on many other tablets thanks to the iPad Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate, meaning you have at your fingertips super-fast, super-responsive drawing potential. Add to this the impressive pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pencil 2, which must be bought separately, and the iPad Pro becomes a serious contender. The only thing missing is a tactile screen finish for that real pen-to-paper feel – but you can remedy this by investing in a paper-textured screen protector.

Housing the M1 chip, the iPad Pro is easily the most powerful tablet for drawing and editing images. In addition, iPadOS is compatible with a whole host of creative apps, so you’re much less limited than on other tablets.

While Xencelabs isn’t a well-known name, it certainly made an impact when it debuted in 2021 with the Xencelabs Pen Tablet. Unlike our top three picks, which all arrive with built-in displays, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a conventional graphics tablet that needs to be used in conjunction with an external monitor – which makes it a better option for those concerned about the fragility of pen display screens, or those who want to keep to a tighter budget. In terms of what you’d want from a graphics tablet, it ticks all of the boxes, delivering a brilliant blend of sleek, robust design, portability and power at a surprisingly reasonable price.

The tablet is ergonomically designed with a comfortably curved front edge, which is more than can be said for many rival drawing tablets, and it nails one of the most crucial aspects of graphic tablet design with the texture of its surface, offering a decent level of resistance for a realistic and easy drawing experience. In addition to the tablet itself, the bundle comes with two battery-free styluses, which can be individually programmed and come packing 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels, and a pen case.

It’s no iPad Pro, but the iPad Air is a very respectable choice for digital creatives – and, coming in at a much lower price, it’s a great option for hobbyists. It still runs on the M1 chip, making it super-powerful and smooth when using creative apps, and its 2360 x 1640 IPS LCD screen offers decent brightness and fluidity.

Like the Pro, it’s portable, and offers greater flexibility than conventional graphics tablets. You can use it for work and play, as well as creative work, which is the reason it’s a great choice for newer artists and hobbyists.

Customer reviews hail the Intuos Pro for its incredible precision and drawing experience, and while this does drive up the price tag, it still offers good value for money. The tablet comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, but is compatible with other Wacom styluses as well.

If you’re not quite ready to splash out on the Wacom Intuos Pro or the Xencelabs Pen Tablet bundle, the XPPen Deco will be your natural next best bet for a graphics tablet.

The Wacom One (not to be confused with the One by Wacom) is one of the industry giant’s more affordable, stripped-back pen displays, making it a great choice for students or even kids with a burgeoning passion for graphic design.

The Surface Pro 8 is the closest Microsoft has come to contending Apple in the tablet space; but it might leave creatives wanting when compared to the iPad Pro. However, it’s a huge jump up from the Surface Pro 7; on test, we found it was nearly 50% faster.

The Surface has a responsive and vibrant 2880 x 1920 panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and Adaptive Color technology. In short, it displays good colour, detail and responsiveness – plus, the Surface Pro 8 is compatible with the highly responsive Surface Pen stylus (sold separately). However, since the basic configuration of the Surface Pro 8 is comparable to the iPad Pro 12.9 in price, it’s worth noting that it’s a long way from delivering the gorgeous, vibrant display that Apple offers.

While some kids will get on just fine with cheaper, dedicated graphics tablets such as the Wacom One, it’s pretty unlikely that such a model would be where you want to start. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is a general-use tablet that will see them get used to drawing on a screen, without having to navigate advanced drawing features such as pressure sensitivity.

There are plenty of great apps for doodling and drawing, as well as a walled garden selection of other apps to keep kids quiet on a rainy day. This tablet doesn’t come with a stylus, but these are widely available(opens in new tab), and you don’t need anything particularly fancy.

If you want to give your child a slightly more grown-up version, you can also opt for the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, which includes great parental controls plus a better display. Both models are frequently discounted on Prime Day and Black Friday sales on Amazon, too, bringing that already-low price down further.

To choose the best drawing tablets, we look at all of the major - and smaller - players in the market from Wacom and XPPen to Xencelabs and general-use manufacturers like Apple and Microsoft.

We test how each drawing tablet works with Windows and macOS, assessing its setup, compatibility, speed and stability to identify who it will work best for and why. Primarily we used Adobe Creative Cloud software, as it"s the choice ecosystem of most professionals, but we also look to free and popular software like Kitra and GIMP to accommodate different budgets.

We"ll then draw, write and experiment with the tablet to see how natural it feels, identify any glitches and make sure it would be suitable for use over long periods.How do I choose the best drawing tablet for me?What’s most important when choosing a drawing tablet is considering your artistic process: how, where and when do you like to draw?

If you like to draw on-the-go, without the limitations of cables, screens and PCs, you might be better off with a general-use tablet such as the Apple iPad Pro or the Surface Pro 7, which grant great portability and compatibility with other devices, too, at the cost of drawing experience and price.

If cost is front-of-mind, but you don’t mind a steeper learning curve, then your best option is a graphics tablet, which will generally be more robust, too. The more delicate pen displays might lose points for portability, but they do offer the best overall drawing experience, giving artists a pen-to-paper feel with artist-first display, design and features.Which is better: a pen display, graphics tablet or general-use tablet?There’s no definitive answer to which kind of drawing tablet is better, since each artist will have different needs. So, it’s important to understand the difference between each tablet type.

Graphics tablets are the more affordable option, being more hardware-lite. They generally respond with great accuracy – if, of course, you can get used to looking up at a screen while drawing. Since they don’t arrive with a built-in display, they’re more robust, too. As such, graphics tablets are the perfect choice for frequent travellers, so long as you have access to external monitors or laptops to which you can connect them.

Pen displays are significantly pricier and a little more fragile, but learning to use them is easier, and you don’t have to rely so much on configurable buttons and shortcuts to navigate your canvas. Some high-end pen displays come with built-in operating systems, meaning you don’t need to connect them to a PC or laptop; but this comes at a significant cost.

General-use tablets are the more conventional, multipurpose slates from the likes of Apple, Microsoft and Samsung that also double up as drawing tablets. Some devices, such as the Apple iPad Pro, more clearly address the needs of artists through stylus design, display quality and performance. However, if you’re looking for a more professional experience, then they can’t quite deliver Wacom-level results.Round up of today"s best deals

Want to know the temperature outside? Just ask your digital home assistant. Need to finish a report on the go? The tablet will come to your rescue. Want to take a hundred books on your trip because you can’t decide which one to read? Well, what’s your eBook for?

There’s literally a device for all kinds of people and every kind of requirement. And while the list of these devices that can simplify (and might we say elevate) your lifestyle goes on and on, we’d like to emphasize on the ten best drawing tablets with screen (pen display) that artists and graphic designers might want to consider upgrading to in 2023.

If you’re a budding artist in today’s day and age, you’d know there are limitless digital drawing tablets with screen out there that can increase both your creativity as well as productivity by letting you explore features that you otherwise can’t on paper.

A number of electronics companies manufacture a permutation and combination of these varied tablets and before you fixate on one, we suggest you go through your list of requirements, features and categories that will bring out the best of your creativity.

Now that you have an idea about the various kinds of drawing tablets with screen, we’ve rounded up the ten best ones to help you make an informed purchase. Whether you need a wired or non-wired pen display, a pressure sensitive stylus or an anti-glare glass on top priority, this list will have you covered.

If you are a creative or digial artist, having access to a good-quality drawing tablet is a must. Featuring a very minimal parallax and 8,192 pressure points, Wacom Cintiq 16 works like a dream, despite the fact that the price point might be a deal breaker for some buyers.

The drawing tablet is equipped with an expansive 15.6” display with 1080p screen resolution and 72% NTSC that allows the users to explore every last bit of the work that they are rendering on the tablet. Ideal for young creative professionals, the tablet features all the latest functionalities of the Cintiq Pro.

Not everyone likes to lug around a large drawing tablet and if you are one of those people, the XP-Pen Artist 10 (2nd Gen) is going to come in handy for you.

This is one of the smallest pen display with a display of 10.1 inches. The X3 chip stylus is another factor that escalates the usability of the device.

Designed for creators and creative heads, the drawing tablet acts like a fresh canvas for the artists to express their creativity and pursue their dreams. The X3 chip stylus is powerful and multi-functional that functions upon initial activation force, and has a life span double that of the existing styluses in the market.

The drawing tablet is backed with a 120% sRGB color gamut for realistic yet vibrant color reproduction for precision to detail, especially for intricate art projects. It is also backed with 1000:1 contrast ratio for a vivid visual experience.

Featuring an anti-glare screen with the matte eye protection, the display doesn’t reflect the light from the environment for comfortable visibility, even under direct sunlight. Overall, the touch experience is pretty comfortable as well. Also, you get to pick from four different color options.

Drawing tablets are available in abundance in the market, but its not every day you come across versatile one that’s ideal for professional photographers to streamline paint details into shadows and highlights.

The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is a high-quality and responsive tablet equipped with a 26.9” UHD display with 99% of Adobe RGB and 98% of HDR PQ. Despite the larger size of the tablet, the bestselling point is the durable yet lightweight construction that keeps you hooked.

Integrated with USB-C and USB 1 connections, the model supports Windows 7 and up and Mac OS 10.5 and above. Programmed with 8 express keys, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 features an ergonomic design with multiple buttons on the back of the tablet to perform a myriad of tasks.

The ease of use on this drawing tablet is all thanks to the new pens that are available in different shapes and integrated with weight balancers at the bottom. Once hooked to a laptop, the drawing tablet performs effortlessly without any restrictions and limitations, which is always a benefit.

The only issue with this drawing tablet from Wacom is the price point. Its quite an expensive purchase but definitely worth the buck, especially for photographers.

The display in Kamvas Pro 13 (2.5K) features a 16:10 aspect ratio that renders sharp and vivid picture quality, especially when it comes to working on intricate art or photography projects. Designed to support mobile workflow, the tablet is thin, lightweight and portable.

Backed with the full lamination technology, the drawing tablet prioritizes transparency and prevents risks of light loss for an improved visual experience. It is also equipped with an anti-glare display with ultra-wide viewing angle for comfortable viewing experience. Furthermore, the PenTech 3.0 technology ensures comfortable user experience, with better pen tip stability.

With an easy to use functionality and manageable cost, this drawing tablet is a popular option among most of the newbie creators or students who are getting into explore digital art for the first time.

Kamvas 16 features a laminated technique combining glass to predominantly minimize parallax and feature an anti-glare display for transparent and optimal viewing experience of the users. The 15.6” FHD IPS display with 120% sRGB color gamut supports 16.7 million display color to breathe life into the art of the creator.

Offering a handy drawing tablet experience on the go, the model features a battery-free technology that supports optimal usage and contributes to an eco-friendly drawing experience. It is a compact yet very powerful drawing tablet.

Equipped with a smaller 11.6” display that supports carefree and on-the-go creativity like no other. The FHD IPS display further boasts a 1080p screen resolution with 72% NTSC gamut to bring the intricate details to life and support vivid color reproduction.

The compatible pen with this drawing tablet supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity that makes it easier for the creators to have complete control and freedom over the drawings rendering on the tablet. The 5080 LPI supports seamless creativity with the strokes and lines that allow users to express the ideals more creatively and without any inhibition.

However, the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro manages to live up to those expectations quite profoundly, which is a lighter and more powerful drawing tablet in the market.

Overall, the design is quite compact and portable, making it easy to carry around and slip into the backpack as needed. Weighing in at 4.4 pounds, the tablet is made entirely out of plastic with rounded corners for comfortable hold.

Featuring a 13.3” display with a convenient 3-in-1 cable design for uninterrupted and seamless connectivity. Also, with the advanced pen technology, the drawing tablet also supports up to 60 degrees of tilt function for smoother strokes and drawing experience.

If you want to bypass the more expensive drawing tablets and settle for a fully-functional yet affordable choice, the Wacom One is a good starting point.

The Wacom One does lack the staple hotkey buttons on the tablet, which is a very big downside for several users. However, spending an extra $99 provides access to the Wacom ExpressKey Remote, which resolves these complications quite readily.

If you want to include one of the best drawing tablets to your collection featuring the best display, we had to suggest the Huion Kamvas 22 Series in the list.

Also, the laminated display features up to 94% NTSC and 88% P3 color gamut support with around 300 nits brightness, which makes drawing in real-time a breeze. Also, the 1080p resolution speaks for itself when you draw on it. If you are worried about the viewing angles, Huion keeps a check on that too.

It is a standalone drawing tablet but is compatible with your PC, Mac or even your laptop. So, you are very less likely going to feel a damper to your drawing experience. It is an IPS LCD display, which falls short on certain grounds, especially with the vividness and color reproduction. As for the pen, it is backed with Huion’s PenTech 3.0 technology with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Ideal for new artists and seasoned professionals, this new drawing tablet is backed with the X3 chip that allows the artists to experience a pen and paper like feel. The X3 chip technology is like no other, offering the best drawing experience throughout.

As for the display, the tablet features a vibrant and responsive screen with 127% sRGB color gamut for detailed expression of every art piece that you render on this tablet. The tablet also features an anti-glare display for better visibility and to enable you to focus on your creativity without any distractions.

There are several kinds of drawing tablets that cater to different art styles depending on the mediums you use. Once you’re familiar with the key features and specs of a basic drawing tablet, you can pick a model to suit your preferred art style. There are multiple factors impacting a drawing tablet’s quality and functionality.

So, before you purchase one, here are a few key points to remember – the pressure sensitivity of the stylus/digital pen is extremely important since it can make or break your artwork, the screen size especially if you’re used to working with a particular canvas size, the resolution, responsiveness, stylus type and advanced features among others. Here are a few more categories within drawing tablets to look into.

The top panel of any regular device screen comprises three basic layers – display panel which is the bottom layer, touch layer which is right above the display panel that makes the device touch sensitive and top glass which is the top most layer and has scratch resistant properties.

On the other hand, laminated screens basically have the three layers laminated together as a single piece of glass display. Since the glue is not visible between the panels, the screen looks seamless. This is one of the main reasons why modern devices have adapted laminated screens on their displays.

Whether you opt for a wired pen drawing tablet or a wireless one, their features are essentially the same except that you can move a wireless pen more freely. A wireless control gives users the liberty to work at their convenience without being restricted by wire bundles. Additionally, the wireless version is more convenient to carry and keeps your work space tidy.

But the wired pen tablet has its own advantages in terms of performance stability, better signal transmission etc. which are important factors to consider while using a drawing tablet. You wouldn’t want any interference with your work as far as these factors are concerned, even though the wireless device offers free flow of movement.

The manufacturing cost of a wired tablet is also considerably lower than that of a wireless one since it is designed without a module for receiving wireless signal. You could pick the best version of the pen drawing tablet based on the criteria that’s most suited to your skill set.

In order to be able to present your artwork or creation in the best possible manner, you need to ensure that your drawing tablet has a screen with an anti-glare glass. Otherwise, the glare reflected on your screen not only affects your presentation but will also cause disturbance to your eyes.

It also influences your viewing angle, presentation of images, color and brightness in such a way that there is hardly any glare reflected on the screen. On the other hand, a display with ordinary glass will present your work in poor light and fails to avoid harsh glares with changing surrounding light.

It is also easily blurred with fingerprints while you work on the display, whereas an anti-glare glass can prevent the occurrence of this owing to its anti-friction display. If you have an anti-glare glass, this can easily be controlled by adjusting the screen brightness as well as the contrast.

Some pen tablets and displays are developed using electromagnetic resonance technology but are restricted to specific fields, owing to their specialty. Graphic designers can visualize how their work will appear on computer software such as Photoshop and CorelDRAW, using a drawing tablet to make initial sketches.

A digital drawing tablet will easily last you years and hence is a huge investment. Especially display-style tablets that come with screens for you to draw, sketch, doodle, paint, edit images etc.

While they may lean towards the expensive side, they’re extremely useful for artists who are heavily involved with digital work. So, purchasing a tablet suited to your design and creative preference is equally important.

Before you purchase one, ensure you measure your work area and estimate the display size you’d like to go for. Some models come in varying sizes but others have a single display with no other alternatives.

Apart from this, a few other aspects to take into consideration are the weight of the tablet, cable management, drawing surface, OS support or drivers and all the accessories it comes with such as stylus or digital pen.

This fierce competition has not only brought down the prices of drawing tablets – but has also pressured even the established brands to do better and come up with more competitive drawing devices.

As an artist, having multiple choices of display tablets to pick from is always a good thing. But more choices make the buying process a bit more confusing as you have a lot more options to filter through.

To help you find the perfect drawing device we spent some time shortlisting, comparing, and filtering out to finally make the list of most deserving candidates for being the best drawing tablet with screen.

So no matter whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, professional or someone looking to upgrade your drawing setup – this article will for sure help you find the perfect display tablet.

Large screen, good color accuracy, excellent stylus, amazing drawing experience, good build quality – All at a reasonable price, making it the best drawing tablet with screen.

What if you are an intermediate-level artist or simply a hobbyist, who does not want to be restricted by the limited features offered by a beginner tablet. At the same time, you cannot justify spending thousands of bucks on a so-called Pro-grade drawing tablet.

It is fully packed with features and comes with a larger 22-inch screen while still maintaining a reasonable price and superior build quality. All these qualities make the Xp Pen Artist 22 the best drawing tablet with screen.

To keep the prices in check, Xp Pen decided to go with a FullHD resolution. Now, a full HD resolution on a 22-inch screen may sound low, but in real-life usage, you don’t really notice the pixels and the display sharpness is good enough.

Having used this tablet myself, I can assure you that. You can check out our detailed Xp Pen Artist 22 review (new tab) to get more details on this matter.

Included with the tablet is an equally capable stylus. The Xp Pen PA6 stylus comes with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity with support for tilt sensitivity and two buttons on the side.

Most advanced stylus, excellent display, powerful processor, and best in class drawing performance, all in a compact form factor. Available in two sizes.

Starting with the size, the iPad Pro is available in two sizes 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. When you compare that with other display-based drawing tablets which come in 16, 22, 24 inch and even 32-inch screen sizes.

Many artists like the immersive drawing experience that you get when working on a larger display. you can’t get that on the (relatively) smaller screens of the iPad.

One of the best drawing tablets in the market that is pretty much a great choice for any kind of digital creative work, no matter whether you work with 2D, 3D, photo, and video related tasks.

The shortcut remote works wirelessly and has magnets at the back with sticks to the side bezel of the tablet. Allowing you to place it anywhere you desire.

On top of a large drawing tablet, the Cintiq Pro comes with a great stylus and an ecosystem of great accessories such as Wacom Expresskey Remote and different tablet stands.

You simply don’t get this combination anywhere else. And that makes the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 a very well-regarded drawing tablet amongst the artist community.

For many artists, this is their dream drawing tablet. If that is you and you have reached that stage where you feel comfortable investing that kind of money, go ahead and get the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24/32.

Great display with excellent color accuracy, shortcut buttons, multiple dials, premium metallic build quality, and one of the best styluses with very stable and reliable performance.

They have managed to come with a drawing tablet that stands tall on all the benchmarks while still coming at a great price compared to what is available in the market in that segment.

The tablet feels premium with everything well put together. It measures just 9mm in width and is compact enough to be carried into a backpack alongside your laptop.

So if you are looking for a drawing tablet with a screen that is high quality and has all the bells and whistles that you want, plus comes at a reasonable price – the Xp Pen Innovator 16 is the right option for you.

The most feature-packed 16-inch drawing tablet with an amazing screen, great stylus, and excellent build quality. Easily competes with tablets twice or thrice the price it comes for.

Huion has been making drawing tablets for quite a while, so they have a lot of experience in making some really good stylus. Their styluses are counted amongst the best and they are on par with the Wacom stylus.

With this tablet, they have gone even further and came with their Pen Tech 3.0 stylus with improved initial activation force and an overall superior stylus experience.

Overall, the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 2.5k is for power artists and professionals who want more than just the basics. A tablet they can push to the limits. If that is you, Kamvas Pro 2.5k is the right choice for you.

Often when we discuss drawing tablets with screens, we mostly focus on big-budget tablets. We often forget how far entry-level tablets have come compared to what was available just a couple of years back.

To keep the price in check, the Gaomon PD 1161 choose to go with the smaller 12-inch screen. But apart from that, it has all the features that you would usually see in larger drawing tablets.

On the left of the tablet, you will see there are eight programmable shortcut buttons. These can be very handy and can help you quickly change between brush eraser, undo-redo, add new layer, pick color from the canvas, and so on.

Overall, if you are on a tight budget but still want a very capable drawing tablet with screen – that will help you get started with digital art, the Gaomon PD 1161 is a perfect choice.

Comes with a factory-calibrated display for accurate colors out of the box. Has handy foldable legs as well as a VESA mount for third-party tablet stands for better ergonomics.

Wacom is popular for its high-end professional drawing tablets and they are the first choice of professionals, design studios, and movie production companies all around the world.

To address these issues, Wacom came up with their Cintiq 16 tablet. The Wacom Cintiq 16 has the same underlying pen technology as its pro-range counterparts – but it is smaller in size and way more affordable.

One of the first things you will notice about the Cintiq 16 is its outstanding build quality. Even though the tablet is made of plastic, it feels reassuringly high quality.

The tablet comes with a 15.6 inch FullHD IPS screen with 96% sRGB color accuracy. Unlike many other cheaper drawing tables, the screens of the Cintiq 16 are factory calibrated and show perfectly colors from the get-go.

So if you are someone who wants a tried and tested drawing tablet that you cannot really go wrong with, the Wacom Cintiq 16 is the best choice for you.

Entry level display tablet with mid-range features. 13 inch laminated, anti-glare screen with good color accuracy, comes with Huion’s top end stylus, shortcut buttons, and good build quality.

If you are someone who has just started learning digital art, a display tablet can help you speed up your learning and provide you a more interactive drawing experience.

If you ever wondered – “Which is the most pocket-friendly display tablet that still provides an amazing drawing experience” – The Huion Kamvas 13 is the answer.

In spite of being an entry-level tablet, Huion hasn’t cheap out on specs. It comes with 3rd generation Huion PW517 styles. This is the same stylus that you get with some of Huion’s top-of-the-line tablet models.

Using the best drawing tablets will allow you to design beautiful digital artwork with ease. There is a wide range of products when it comes to drawing tablets, from ones with screens to graphics tablets that have to be hooked up to an external monitor. Whether you"re new to the world of digital art, a student heading to school or a seasoned pro: be sure that our below list will have something for you.

Drawing on a tablet feels more natural than ever now thanks to advancing artist tech. There are three main types of graphics tablet: pen display, graphics tablet and tablet computers (and if you"re not sure the difference, we have a handy breakdown of each type at the bottom of this page).

Choosing the best tablet for your needs is where this guide comes in: we"ve put together a handy breakdown of the best drawing tablets on the market today based on a range of needs like varying budgets, connection and size so everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros can find the right drawing tablet for them.

We here at Creative Bloq have extensively tested many drawing tablets in our time. The below list contains many of the devices we"ve personally used and reviewed, meaning you can feel confident in our picks as they"re based on knowledge from experts in the digital art field. If you want some more information on our review process, check out how we test here.

This guide includes the major digital art brands like Huion, XP-Pen and Wacom, but we"ve also included a selection of computer tablets from the big players like Apple and Microsoft as they"ve developed some excellent digital art software over the years. If you"re looking for a tablet for the classroom, we have a dedicated guide to the best tablets for students and the best drawing tablets for animation. If you"re in education as either a student or teacher, you can currently get Rebelle 5 for free or save 40-per cent if you"re an artist. If you"re looking for art software to run on your shiny new tablet, why not take a look at the best digital art software. For now, let"s get down to business and find a tablet fit for you!

The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is a drawing tablet that strikes an optimal balance between power, design, portability and price, and in our opinion that makes it the best drawing tablet you can buy right now. Relative newcomers to the market, Xencelabs boast among their roster a number of Wacom alumni, who have brought their tablet design nous to this newer brand.

One of the most important aspects of a drawing tablet is the texture of its drawing surface, and the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium gets it bang on the money. As we said in our glowing five-star review of the tablet, the level of "bite" against the stylus feels exactly right, and it makes the tablet immensely satisfying to draw on. The pressure and tilt sensitivty are also practically pitch-perfect, and having two styluses bundled in is also great, as you can set them up for different uses (e.g. one for line drawing and one for shading) to enable quick swapping and a smooth workflow.

The iPad Pro offers the best of two worlds; if having the best drawing tablet simply isn"t enough for you, and you need to have the best tablet all round, there"s really only one choice: the all-new 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro. It"s so far ahead of the rest of the tablet market that it"s not even funny.

Not only is the iPad Pro powered by Apple"s blazing fast M2 chip for utterly stunning performance, it has a mini-LED XDR display with amazing brightness as well as local dimming to deliver astonishing contrast. Put the two together (and throw in the wonderfully smooth and intuitive Apple Pencil 2) and you have a near-unbeatable all-in-one system for creating digital art as well as showing it off to best effect.

So why, with all this, is it not our top pick? Well, it does depend on what you need. The iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2, 2022) is so powerful, and so priced accordingly, that if you are only looking for a drawing tablet and won"t need its many other features, it probably isn"t worth it, and a dedicated tool like those above will offer greater value for money. Still, let"s not lose sight of the fact that this is the one of the best overall tablets on the market right now, and one of the greatest for drawing, no question. If you do fancy a slightly cheaper alternative from Apple, we have the iPad Air lower down the list.

Wacom used to have the drawing tablet pretty much all to itself, but in recent years a whole load of challenger brands have turned up to take a bite out of its lunch, especially at the cheaper end of the market. However, despite increased competition the Wacom name is still very much one to be reckoned with, and as far as we"re concerned the Wacom Cintiq 22 is definitely one of the best drawing tablets you can get, especially for students who mean business.

With a 22-inch display, this is a serious tablet with a lot of room to play. It has Full HD resolution – not as many pixels as some newer, flashier tablets, but is more than enough for most people. You can get sharper screens on other Wacom tablets, but they tend to cost more, and this model is all about bringing Wacom quality with an affordable price tag. And let"s not forget that plenty of tablets, Xencelabs" included, don"t have a screen at all.

XP-Pen is one of the most well-regarded names in budget drawing tablets, and this 2022 refresh of a popular 15.6-inch tablet scored high points in our recent review. After spending a couple of months drawing with the tablet, our reviewer concluded that it has supremely solid fundamentals. Everything about the core drawing experience, from the high-quality display to the excellent X3 stylus, is very good indeed, and if you"re sourcing a tablet on a budget, it"s an excellent choice.

The latest generation of iPad Air, the Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) is a simply stunning tablet. It sports one of Apple"s M1 silicon chips, the new processors that are currently transforming the firm"s laptops, computers and tablets, making them into virtual powerhouses. The 5th Gen iPad boasts an M1 chip, a 2360x1640 IPS LCD panel that delivers 264 pixels per inch, an a maximum brightness of 500 nits. It"s an absolute powerhouse.

Microsoft"s Surface tablets have never quite achieved the cachet enjoyed by Apple"s iPad range, but the latest Surface Pro 8 feels a lot more like a challenge to Apple"s dominance. It comes in at around the same price as the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and Microsoft has clearly put in a lot of work to make this tablet look like a viable alternative, in terms of both looks and performance.

There"s plenty of power in even the basics model, which packs a Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and if that"s not enough for you there are even punchier configurations available, but be aware that this will drive the price up further still.Having Windows 11 is also a major boon for this tablet, as it means you can use the full desktop version of programs like Photoshop

When we tested it, we found the display to be excellent, with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 and the option to bump the refresh rate up to 120Hz. This makes it highly responsive when used with the Surface Pen stylus, though be aware you"ll need to purchase this separately.

For creating artwork on a drawing tablet you ideally need lots of room to work with as well as a pen that feels just like the ones you"d use on paper. In which case you should opt for the Wacom Intuos Pro Large, which delivers pretty much the most natural drawing experience you can get digitally.

Huion"s a name that"s been giving Wacom a run for its money over the past few years, with a range of drawing tablets that deliver impressive features at great prices. If you"re just starting out and not entirely sure whether a tablet"s something you want to drop a lot of money on, the Huion H430P is the perfect way to test the waters, delivering just enough features without costing you very much at all.

Yes, the drawing area is small, but the pen is sensitive enough to give you a true sense of the creative benefits drawing tablets can bring. It may not take long before you outgrow this tablet, but it’s a very affordable way to get started.

If you"re looking for a good entry level pen display drawing tablet then the updated Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) is a very good option. This is a pen display that can be used for many different types of art, as well as being used as a screen for playing video games, editing video and studying.

Wacom"s long had a reputation for being reassuringly expensive, so it"s good to see the company reacting to an influx of challengers by releasing a much more reasonably-priced drawing tablet to tempt users away from cheaper brands. The Wacom One (not to be confused with previous Wacom Ones) is a great little portable 13-inch tablet that provides a fantastic drawing experience but won"t cost you a fortune.

Been eyeing up the Wacom Cintiq 22 further up the page but can"t quite stretch to the price? The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus would like a word. It comes in significantly cheaper than the Cintiq, but this is still a quality drawing tablet with a beautiful and generously-sized display. It"s 16:9 and Full HD resolution.

The big selling point is that it"s made from etched anti-glare glass rather than having an anti-glare film; the end result is a pen display that feels really nice to draw on, with a drawing experience that"s tactile and distinctly analogue.

With an anti-parallax design, 140-per cent sRGB coverage and ability to replicate 16.7 million colours, this is a very impressive tablet. The pen that comes with it is basically decent and will do the job – it’s a little no-frills perhaps, with only one type of nib supplied.

Overall, as we noted in our Huion Kamvas 22 Plus review, this Huion tablet is a sound buy, especially when compared to competition at this price point from the likes of XP-Pen – it has better colour coverage and a generally better drawing feel.

This nifty little stylus has a range of compatibility options, meaning you can pair it up with many different tablet models. The built-in Bluetooth means you can easily connect to your devices wirelessly, and the excellent battery life means you don"t have to frequently charge it.

If the Apple Pencil doesn’t appeal or your iPad isn’t compatible, the Adonit Jot Pro is a stylish pen that works on any iPad (or Android tablet). The nib combines a fine-point tip with a plastic circle to register on the tablet screen.

Broadly speaking, there are three main types of drawing tablet. Each takes a different approach to the central challenge of helping you draw on your Windows PC or Mac as if you were drawing on paper.

In terms of drawing tablets, there"s everything from professional, high-resolution graphics tablets, to portable tablets that cost less than £40 and fit in a small backpack. There"s also a growing market of drawing tablets for little ones, and you can check out our dedicated drawing tablets for kids guide if this is something you"re looking for. Want to go unplugged for a bit? Have a look at our best lightboxes for more hands-on creativity. And if you"re looking specifically for a tablet for editing, see our best tablets for photo and video editing.

If you"ve been around computers for a long time, this is what you probably think of instinctively at the mention of a drawing tablet: a plain surface that you draw on with a stylus, with your work displayed on a separate computer monitor(opens in new tab). Graphics tablets remain the most affordable drawing tablet category. Their main disadvantage is the sense of ‘disconnect’ between the drawing surface and the screen, although most people get used to this quickly.

Pen displays consists of a flat-screen monitor with a pressure-sensitive surface that you draw on with a stylus. They don"t have the sense of disconnect that you might get with graphics tablets, and they"re more portable; however they cost more. Furthermore, you get a lot of cables between the display and computer (see the best computers for graphic design), and the display surfaces don’t offer the ‘bite’ that graphics tablets do.

Android and iOS devices like the Surface Pro and iPad Pro take on the other drawing tablets in two ways. You don"t need another computer: just download an art app and start drawing with your fingertip or a stylus. Also, when you want to use the Creative Cloud suite(opens in new tab) on your main computer, these can function as graphics tablets with apps like Astropad(opens in new tab).

Right now, we"re confident in saying that the absolute best drawing tablet you can buy is the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle, which comes with some super-cool features and is very affordable. If you want a more well-known name, the Wacom Cintiq 22 comes in next. This provides Wacom"s famous quality in a pleasingly large tablet at a surprisingly affordable price.

This is certainly true for display-style tablets that come with screens for drawing. They’re often pricier but tend to be easier for artists who do a lot of digital work. But finding a tablet you like is crucial.

There’s a reason professional artists & animators all use Wacom tablets and this is the best of the best. If you can’t fit a 22HD model on your desk I’d still recommend the 13HD since the hardware and drawing surface feels very similar.

That’s why I put together this guide organizing the absolute best display tablets on the market. If you’re looking for a great tablet with a display screen then you’ll definitely find something you like in this post.

That guide is an excellent place to start if you’ve never bought a tablet before, and/or if you’re looking to make a list of the most important features before you buy. With that said I’d argue display tablets have a bit more to consider.

The last thing you’d want is to buy a tablet that’s too big for your working area. Some models have a variety of sizes while others are just a single display with no alternatives. But tablet size should be the first thing you look at.

If your power outlet is located to the right side of your desk then you’ll need cables running along that side. How many cables would come with your tablet and how long do they need to be? Can they reach your outlet? Would they get in the way of other things on your desk?

Before deciding on your final tablet just make sure you get some measurements of your desk space and feel comfortable with the setup. If you can fit a large 22″ tablet on your desk with no space problems then you know what range you’re working with.

This is seriously the highest top-of-the-line tablet you can get. It’s used by professionals in all areas of the entertainment industry from Disney to Blizzard. Wacom has been around for years so it’s a trusted brand with some quality hardware.

The display is crisp with a fairly smooth surface to draw over. I noticed a bit of glossy-ness on the screen which was more of a mild annoyance than anything. If you adjust positioning to keep light directly off the screen it won’t make a huge difference(and it’s a slight sparkle at best).

And you can adjust the angle of the tablet to bring it up or down. I didn’t measure degrees but I’d say the lowest is almost completely flat(maybe 15°?) and the highest would be around 75°.

It runs behind the tablet and would need to go around whatever else is on your desk. Plus the cord is not super easy to “bend” so it’ll take some time to setup.

When it comes to a display tablet I tip my hat to the GAOMON PD1560. It’s a phenomenal mid-range tablet that really feels like a high-end computer with a much cushier price point.

Total resolution measures 5080 LPI which is above the norm and it responds great to pressure. I’m not sure if it’s the stylus or the screen but this feels just as responsive as a typical Wacom display tablet.

The rechargeable pen feels great and holds power for quite a while. The tablet stand is also very sturdy so you’ll have no trouble adjusting the display.

If you’re wary of straying from Wacom but you simply want to try something else then I’d suggest nabbing this GAOMON model. You may find yourself surprised at just how much this feels like a Wacom tablet.

Their Artisul D16 is the largest display tablet they make. It comes with a 15.6″ LCD screen and it has some of the most eye-popping colors I’ve seen in a tablet this size.

Full 1080p resolution and a brilliant backlight makes this tablet super easy to draw on from anywhere. At your desk, on your lap, or while traveling. It’s all good.

If you’re worried about glare on the screen this also comes with a matte screen protector totally free and pre-applied to the tablet. If you don’t want it just remove it.

Along the side of the tablet you’ll find 7 express keys that do feel really easy to access. I was surprised at how small the keys were but you adjust to them over a short period.

And I can’t get enough of this drawing experience. It has to be one of the best for any display tablet of this size. Specifically the Artisul stylus pen just feels so nice. It’s thick and easy to grip but doesn’t get in your way.

However between the two of them I really prefer the Parblo Coast22 display. I wouldn’t say it’s better than the GAOMON when comparing them against a Wacom. But I do think the Coast22 feels better relative to its size.

For a display tablet the Coast22 is fairly large measuring about 2 feet across. The screen itself measures at just under 2 feet and it comes with the same 1080p resolution you expect from a tablet this size.

The tablet itself is pretty sensitive to the stylus and the battery-free pen feels awesome to work with. But the delay can be annoying and this likely works better with a very powerful computer.

I would not say this delay is a nuisance. In fact, most of the time you won’t even bother to slow down because you’ll know how the pen marks will lay out. It’s just something I noticed that isn’t as common with Wacom tablets.

Looking over the actual display it’s pretty nice. It measures 21.5” across and takes up the majority of the tablet space. This tablet has an IPS display which many artists prefer, although I’ve personally never noticed much of a difference.

It seems crazy but it’s true. Huion still hasn’t put express keys into this model, which to me seems crazy. If you’re gonna buy a display tablet then wouldn’t you want at least a couple hotkeys for quick access?

I hadn’t heard much about the XP-Pen Artist16 Pro until very recently. We actually published a fantastic review of this tablet covering all its features and a full unboxing.

It actually reminds me of the Artisul tablet except it feels a little bigger and somewhat lighter to carry. It does use separate cables for HDMI & USB so it’s not too cluttered. But also not as simple as just one cord.

These cables pop out the back and run any way you want so they’re pretty flexible. I do notice the cord plug area can get hot with hours of use but it never feels unsafe or dangerous. Just one of those tablets that exudes more heat than it absorbs.

I also noticed while drawing at a higher incline there is more parallax. It’s not a huge problem and truthfully not something I would complain about. However you’ll notice this more if you’re coming from a higher-end tablet like a Cintiq.

They actually have a small lineup of display tablets but their highest quality option is the Ugee UG-2150. It comes with an IPS screen and measures about 21.5″ across. Total dimensions are 20″ W x 12.5″ H so the screen takes up the majority of the space.

It’s not a terrible screen but it’s not better than anything else here. Typical 1080p resolution, nice bright display, and strong color calibration with their drivers.

What I do like is the easily adjustable stand which has a switch right in the back of the unit. This lets you adjust the display angle with ease and change your drawing position fast. You’ll also find the backlight switch in this same area to adjust the lighting.

Cable management is a nuisance so ideally this would be a stay-at-home tablet that remains on your desk. It comes with an HDMI and VGA cable for the display, along with a USB cable and a power cord.

As far as display tablets go, this is a bit on the heavier side and the cables aren’t the most fun to manage. But considering all the bonus gifts you get, plus the incredible sensitivity from this display, it’s a great choice for any artist just nabbing their first larger display tablet.

But if you want a surefire trusted tablet that will last for years then I’d highly recommend a Wacom Cintiq 22HD. Or if you need a smaller model the Cintiq 13HD works just as well.

Both are incredibly powerful drawing tablets with brilliant displays, top-tier technology, and a warranty backed by a trusted brand used by professional animators & artists across the world.

Buying a display tablet is a big decision so you need to know what you’re looking for. That said, once you find what you want just grab it and start drawing!

While tablet options from Wacom do find their way onto a bunch of spots on this list, we’re settling on the XP-Pen Artist 12 (view at Amazon) for our Best Overall pick for a few reasons. It gives you excellent pressure sensitivity underneath a rich, color-accurate display. It lacks some extra controls, but it manages to give you almost everything you could want in a decent-sized drawing tablet for right around $200.

Gaomon’s 15.6-inch version (view at Amazon) offers a lot of the same functionality, but gives you more assignable buttons and of course, a bigger display. And if you have the money, you really can’t go wrong with Wacom’s Cintiq line for the breadth of quality and features available.

Wacom is one of the most popular brands of drawing tablet, and for good reason. Our top choices like the Wacom Cintiq 16 may be costly, but it offers a gorgeous 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 1080p resolution, and 8,912 pressure levels with the Pro Pen 2. For a more budget option, we like the Wacom One. It won"t break the bank, has a portable size, and solid build quality.

For beginners, we like Simbans PicassoTab. It comes with plenty of accessories, functions as a standalone tablet, and it has an active stylus right out of the box with Autodesk Sketchbook and Artflow preinstalled. We also like the Huion H420 for those new using a graphic monitor. For kids, we suggest the Flueston LCD Writing Tablet. It"s 10 inches and works similar to an Etch-a-Sketch with a black LCD display that reacts to the marks you make on it. For children, this makes the stylus feel like a market with pressure resistance, and it"s easy on the eyes.

We like the XP-PEN Artist 12 for animators. It features an 11.6-inch display, has programmable hotkeys, and has a pen with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity for the hand-sketched feel. It works with Windows 7, 8, 10, and Mac OS X even for versions as old as 10.8

We haven"t had a chance to put any of these drawing tablets through their paces just yet, but we"ll be trying each tablet with a variety of creative applications and machines to help determine the best-use scenario for each particular model. Because drawing tablets are all about bridging the gap between your inputs and seeing them on screen, our testers will also be judging each unit on its overall feel and ergonomics as well as their hard specs and compatibility.

While drawing tablets are more expensive, they’re a bit more intuitive because you draw with a stylus directly on the screen. Graphic tablets—which need to be hooked up to a computer—usually deliver a faster workflow because they’re backed by more processing power. They also don’t need to be charged and are usually more durable.

Pressure sensitivity determines how much you can vary the width of the lines you paint, based on the amount of pressure you apply to the stylus. The standard tablet offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, which should be more than enough for most creatives.

Drawing tablet prices can start as low as $30 and creep up to nearly $1,000. The difference in price is largely related to the display. The better the resolution and pressure sensitivity, the more expensive the tablet. But of course, if it doesn’t have a display, you’ll likely get it for a lower price.

It’s never been easier to express your creativity on your computer. With a tablet and a digital pen, you can paint or draw your next masterpiece directly into a digitally native platform. There are lots of great drawing tablets out there, from specialty devices for professionals and hobbyists, and versatile devices for everyday life whose artistic uses are just part of the picture. Whether you’re just getting started, or a professional artist in need of a new device, these are the best drawing tablets.

As a freelance technology critic for over 10 years, I’ve reviewed technology, including tablets, for publications including Popular Mechanics, Tom’s Guide, The Daily Beast, Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, and Bob Vila. I tested three of the items on this list and the rest of the selections are based on extensive research, conversations with artists, and reviews from other users.

For most people, a drawing tablet is a tool, not a toy. Picking the best drawing tablet for you will come down to your needs as an artist. Those needs may not translate one-to-one with tablet specs, so here’s a brief primer on the most important elements of the device. These are the places where the best drawing tablets will excel.

At home or in a studio, a larger tablet provides more room for those broad strokes and makes it easier to see what you’re doing. For some, however, it may make more sense to go with a smaller, lighter tablet that’s easier to transport. In general, larger tablets tend to be more expensive, so your choices may be limited by your budget.

Most drawing tablets come with a digital pen, also commonly known as a stylus. While all digital pens are styluses, not all styluses are digital pens: In general, a digital pen works in conjunction with a specific device or set of devices, offering variable pressure sensitivity and digital buttons. Since most tablets offer a pen by default, with only a few upgrade options, finding one that feels right is as important as any aspect of the tablet itself.

Ideally, your digital pen feels comfortable to grip and allows for smooth strokes. Its ability to simulate the various types of marks you make with a pen or pencil largely comes down to its sensitivity, measured in levels of pressure. A pen with high pressure sensitivity picks up even light pen strokes, making it easy to create different shades and shapes without digital augmentation. Right now, most professional drawing tablets come with styluses that feature 8192 pressure levels. Some less expensive drawing tablets, including multi-functional devices like the Microsoft Surface line’s Slim Pen 2, offer 4096 levels. In the same vein, many pro-grade tablet pens feature “60-degree tilt,” which allows you to press down on the pen tip from many angles, offering much a wider range of marks, and less frustration.

Depending on your tablet, battery life may be a major concern. While many dedicated drawing tablets plug directly into a PC for power, some are wireless and may need to be charged mid-project, especially if you also use it for taking notes, watching videos, and other things.

Some pens require charging, while others don’t. Digital pens for conventional tablets, like the Apple Pencil 2, draw power when attached to a tablet. Wacom (and, more recently, others) make battery-free digital pens that use a magnetic field emanating from the pen tip to achieve nuanced pressure sensitivity. While the phrase “battery-free” is somewhat disingenuous in some cases—many of them still need power from their tablets to power buttons and other features—they do not need to be charged for long stretches.

When choosing between a drawing tablet that has a pen with a battery or not, keep in mind that batteries provide convenience. With some pens,  a single charge can last for up to two months, but you will need to remember to charge the pen. A battery-free pen (like Wacom’s) does not require batteries or charging is extremely convenient… Until it stops working. While changing the batteries solves most of the problems associated with a battery-operated pen, you may have to go through the company’s endless list of troubleshooting steps to figure out what’s wrong with a battery-free pen.

No matter what tablet you have, you’ll need to connect it to a PC when you’re done to edit and/or share your w