The best drawing tablets

Unleash your inner creativity with one of the best drawing tablets.

drawing tablet

by Isabel Martins |
Updated on

Drawing tablets are a great way for artists and professionals to unleash their creativity as well as produce their next piece of work - and we've rounded up the best drawing tablets for you.

We understand that all digital artists, such as graphic designers, will have varying needs when it comes to finding the best drawing tablet. Whether you've got a tight budget or you're specifically searching for one that has a large screen, we've got you covered. Our best drawing tablet guide features a wide range of tablets, so you won't be stuck for choice.

And if you've just started out, check out our best drawing tablets for beginners list. But if you're not sure you're set on a drawing tablet, why not read our best tablets guide, too?

Best overall

Description

Apart from being one of the best iPads overall, the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is also the best drawing tablet out there. With a large screen and a drawing area of 10.32 x 7.74 inches, this is ideal for any professional artist or creative individual. We also love its incredibly fast performance due to the A12Z Bionic Chip, as well as its impressive display thanks to the 2,732 x 2,048p resolution.

Pros

  • Impressive display

Cons

  • Doesn't come with the Apple pencil

Best of the rest

Wacom Cintiq 22Amazon
Price: $1299.95
Alternative retailers
Adorama$1299.95View offer
Dell$1299.95View offer
Best Buy$1299.99View offer
Walmart$1305.99View offer

Description

A close runner-up is the Wacom Cintiq 22, boasting a drawing area of 19.5 x 11.5 inches, as well as a great resolution. What we also love about this is its high pen pressure sensitivity, which will allow you to produce high-resolution drawings and more easily distinguish between thicker and thinner lines.

Pros

  • High-pressure pen sensitivity

Cons

  • Not the best screen resolution

XP-Pen Artist15.6 Pro 15.6 Inch Graphics Drawing Tablet Pen DisplayAmazon
Price: $359.99

Description

If you're on a budget or you're looking for the best value for money drawing tablet, then look no further. The XP-Pen is an excellent choice. Coming in at just under £399, this tablet features a decent resolution as well as a large drawing area of 13.54 x 7.62 inches. You're also saving money as this tablet comes with a pen.

Pros

  • Great pen pressure sensitivity levels
  • Large drawing area

Cons

  • Does not come with a stand

Description

Another excellent option is the Huion Kamvas Pro 24. With very high pen pressure sensitivity levels, as well as a superb resolution and a large drawing area of 20.7 x 11.6 inches, it's easy to see why this is one of the best drawing tablets on the market right now.

Pros

  • Impeccable resolution

Cons

  • Expensive

Description

Without question, this is Windows' best drawing tablet. If you're looking for an impressive and sharp resolution, as well as a great pen pressure sensitivity then the Microsoft Surface Book is the one for you. It also features powerful performance and a superb design. This tablet is, however, very expensive, so if you have a tight budget, this may not be the one for you.

Pros

  • Impressive resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels

Cons

  • Very expensive

FAQs:

What software will I need?

Although there are plenty of computer programs that support drawing tablets, we've found that the best software is Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. They support drawing tablets, are fairly easy to use and will help you produce your most impressive work. However, you'll need to purchase a subscription.

What is the Pen pressure sensitivity?

This is the amount of Pen pressure the tablet registers. It gives you an excellent level of control, which will allow you to produce high-resolution drawings and more easily distinguish between thicker and thinner lines.

What features should I look for?

One important feature is the size of the drawing tablet. Larger tablets will cost more money but will offer greater precision. Smaller options are inevitably the cheapest, but they're not ideal for professional artists.

Another significant consideration is the Pen pressure sensitivity. The higher this is, the easier it will be for you to produce high-quality sketches and drawings.

Isabel Martins is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology.

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