Sometimes you need more than just a pencil and a sketchpad. Nowadays, students, artists, and professionals look for the best tablets for drawing and sketching. In the beginning, they were a little more than glorified old-school styluses that required specialized software and couldn’t do much else.
Nowadays, they’re high-end digital drawing tools that can replace many of your favorite apps and even some traditional art supplies—and we’re not just talking about sketching on them. If you want to learn how to draw or paint or just like playing around with different mediums without lugging around heavy equipment, check out these five of the best tablets for artistic endeavors.
Wacom Intuos Pro Large
PROS
- Compatible with both Mac and PC
- Durable build
- Excellent sensitivity and pressure
- Multitouch technology
CONS
- Not beginner friendly
Specs:
- Screen Size: N/A
- Active Area: 12.1″ x 8.4″
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2
- Pressure Levels: 8192 pressure levels
- Dimensions: 7″ x 2″ x 10″
- Connectivity: Bluetooth & USB
Creative workers love Wacom for good reason. A remarkably thin and light tablet, the Wacom Intuos Pro measures 16.8 by 11.2 inches and weighs only 2.86 pounds. But it’s durable nonetheless thanks to the black anodized aluminum and fiberglass composite resin. Extremely responsive to pressure, the battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 can tilt up to 60 degrees. To keep the stylus secure when not in use, it comes with a pen stand.
Because the Wacom Intuos Pro is a graphic drawing tablet, it lacks a screen. It may be connected wirelessly using Bluetooth or through USB to your Mac or Windows computer. You can easily scroll, zoom, and navigate your art using the tablet thanks to its multi-touch functionality.
If you want to be able to draw precisely, the Wacom Intuos Pro Large is a great choice. The large size of this tablet makes it easy to draw with precision, and its pressure-sensitive pen allows you to vary your stroke width and opacity as needed. It’s compatible with Mac and PC, so you can use it no matter what computer you have on hand.
Wacom Intuos Pro Large
XP-PEN Artist24 Pro
PROS
- 2K Display
- Battery-free pen
- Great pressure level
- Great sensitivity level
CONS
- Heavy and bulky
- Expensive
Specs:
- Screen Size: 23.8″
- Active Area: 20.74″ x 11.67″
- Stylus: PA6 Battery-free stylus
- Pressure Levels: 8192 pressure levels
- Dimensions: 24.88″ x 14.57″ x 1.76″
- Connectivity: HDMI & USB-C
XP-PEN Artist24 Pro is an extremely popular tablet for drawing if you want a larger screen size. The 24-inch version has a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 and comes with a pen that has 8192 pressure levels and 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. The pen can also be used as a regular mouse, making it easy to switch between tools while you’re working.
The screen is great for artists who need a large canvas: at 24 inches, it’s almost twice the size of other tablets’ screens. If you’re looking for something smaller, there are options like the 21-inch XP-PEN Artist22E Pro (which is a smaller version of this same model).
XP-PEN Artist24 Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
PROS
- Versatile tablet option
- 4096 pressure levels
- Excellent display
- Up to Core i7
CONS
- Stylus sold separately
- Expensive
Specs:
- Screen Size: 13″
- Active Area: N/A
- Stylus: Surface Slim Pen 2
- Pressure Levels: 4096 pressure levels
- Dimensions: 11.3″ x 8.2″ x .37″
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a convertible tablet that can be used in a variety of ways. It has all the benefits of a laptop, but with the portability and versatility of a tablet. The Surface Pro comes in both Core i5 and Core i7 models, which have up to 32 GB of RAM depending on the model.
The battery life on this device is excellent at up to 12 hours per charge with moderate use—so you can spend hours drawing and sketching away on its large 13-inch screen. Since the Surface isn’t really intended to be a drawing tablet, a pen isn’t included. But Microsoft also offers the Surface Slim Pen 2, a fantastic new pen, to go with it. The $129.99 Surface pen detects pressure at 4096 different levels and generates tactile feedback to mimic the feel of putting a pencil on paper.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
HUION Inspiroy H430P
PROS
- Uses battery-free stylus
- Good tablet stand
- Comes with Pen and pen stand
- Portable
CONS
- No tilt function
Specs:
- Screen Size: N/A
- Active Area: 4.8″ x 3″
- Stylus: PW201 Battery-Free Stylus
- Pressure Levels: 4096 pressure levels
- Dimensions: 7.36″ x 5.51″ x .31″
- Connectivity: USB
The Huion Inspiroy H430P is the tablet for anyone looking to get started with digital art. While it’s not quite as powerful as other pro-level tablets, it does come with a pen and pen holder, so you can start drawing right away. It also has a built-in rechargeable battery that will last up to 30 hours on a single charge. New users may benefit from high-quality work at a fraction of the cost of high-end equipment thanks to the tablet’s compact size and outstanding pen, which is supplied with the device.
Despite its little size, this device has four fast keys at the top of the active area, allowing you to quickly access the tools you use the most frequently. Additionally, the PW201 pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity is included with this drawing tablet. The pen compensates for its lack of tilt features by being pressure sensitive.
One of the most favorite features of this tablet is its stand—not only does it hold the device while you work, but you can fold it back into itself when not in use so your desk doesn’t look cluttered. The sleek design makes this device look great on any desktop or table surface. If you’re looking for something basic that won’t break the bank (and offers some fun extra features), then this might be just what you need.
HUION Inspiroy H430P
Apple iPad Air 2022
PROS
- M1 Chip Power
- Excellent screen quality
- Good battery life
- Versatile option
- Apple Pencil 2 compatibility
CONS
- No Thunderbolt 4
Specs:
- Screen Size: 10.9″
- Active Area: N/A
- Stylus: Apple Pen (2nd generation; sold separately)
- Pressure Levels: N/A
- Dimensions: 9.74″ x 7.02″ x 0.24″
- Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
The iPad Air is one of the best tablets for drawing, sketching, and everything in between. The iPad Air has a large screen that enables you to see your work clearly on the tablet. It also has a lightweight design which makes it portable and easy to carry around with you wherever you go. It also has enough memory storage for downloading as many apps as possible—like drawing apps—and still has room for other things such as books or music files. The Apple iPad Air’s Apple Pencil 2 compatibility, which offers one of the greatest and most realistic-feeling digital sketching experiences available, makes it one of the best drawing tablets you can buy.
The battery life on this device lasts up to 13 hours before needing another charge which means that if you are out somewhere without access to electricity then there will be no need to worry about running out of power while trying something new.
Apple iPad Air 2022
Tablets are great for drawing
Tablet use has evolved for artists due to many reasons. They’re portable, easy to use, and come in many shapes and sizes. They can be used for more than just drawing. The fact that they are generally small enough to travel with you wherever you go makes them perfect for on-the-go artists. There’s no perfect tablet for drawing out there. But finding the right tablet is entirely up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What tablet do most artists use?
Wacom Intuos Pro and XP-PEN are common tablets used by artists. -
Can drawing tablets work without a computer?
Standalone drawing tablets can work without a computer. But traditional drawing tablets need a computer to function.