There are numerous products available to assist you in creating your best digital art, ranging from tablets with their screens (pen displays) to tabs that must be connected to an external monitor (drawing tablets) to the portable choice (tablet). Whether you’re new to digital art, a student returning to school, or a seasoned veteran, this list has something for you.
We’ve compiled a simple analysis of the best drawing pills on the market today based on various requirements, including budgets, connectivity options, workloads, and size. We’ve also evaluated the drawing tablets on this list, spending hours working with them to ensure we can confidently recommend them.
We reviewed the key digital art companies such as Huion, XP-Pen, and Wacom. Still, we also included a range of computer tablets from significant players such as Apple and Microsoft because they have developed some fantastic digital art applications. If you need a tablet for the school, we offer separate guides for the best tablets for students and the best budget drawing tablets (which are sometimes different). Let’s get down to business and find you a tablet!
01. Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is a drawing tablet that hits an excellent balance between power, design, mobility, and pricing, making it the best drawing tablet you can get right now. Xencelabs, a relative newcomer to the market, has several Wacom veterans on their team who have transferred their tablet design expertise to this newer business.
The texture of a drawing tablet’s surface is one of its most significant features, and the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium nails it. The level of “bite” against the stylus feels correct, as we stated in our gushing five-star review of the tablet, and it makes the tablet very enjoyable to draw on. The pressure and tilt sensitivity are also nearly ideal, and having two styluses included is wonderful because you can set them up for different tasks (e.g., one for line drawing and one for shading) to allow for quick changing and a fluid workflow.
“This tablet is well priced, offering tremendous value for money,” said our reviewer. If it’s too expensive for your budget, Xencelabs also makes a lesser version.” To understand more, read our Xencelabs Pen Tablet medium package review.
02. iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2, 2022)
If having the best drawing tablet isn’t enough for you, and you need the best tablet all around, there’s just one choice: the all-new 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro. It’s so far ahead of the competition in the tablet market that it’s almost comical.
The iPad Pro is not only driven by Apple’s blazing fast M2 CPU for completely remarkable performance, but it also includes a mini-LED XDR display with incredible brightness as well as local dimming to give astonishing contrast. When you combine the two (along with the delightfully smooth and intuitive Apple Pencil 2), you have a near-unbeatable all-in-one solution for making digital art and displaying it to the best effect.
So, with all of this, why is it not our top pick? It all depends on what you require. If you’re only looking for a drawing tablet and won’t need its many other features, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2, 2022) is probably not worth it, and a dedicated tool like those above would offer better value for money. Still, let’s keep sight of the fact that this is one of the best overall tablets on the market right now and, without a doubt, one of the best for drawing. The iPad Air is farther down the list if you want a cheaper Apple option. For an early peek at what this device is capable of, check out our hands-on iPad Pro (M2, 2022) review.
Xencelabs takes the top slot in our best drawing tablets guide, but we love their products so much that we had to include another. The Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is the tablet brand’s most recent release, and it is presently available for presale directly on the website.
But what makes this tablet so exceptional? If you can’t tell by the name, it’s massive. This 24-inch wide-screen tablet is a true beast of a device. The screen features a one-of-a-kind anti-glare glass that is smudge and scratch resistant. We found the screen comfortable to draw on when testing this tablet. During extended use, the display makes no noise and never gets hot and uncomfortable to lean on. This tablet also features a new Switch Display function, which allows you to instantly switch between whichever display you’re working on without dragging your mouse over to it, all from the pen display screen. This will help artists to open and move files more rapidly. It was undeniably a game changer during our hands-on Xencelabs pen display 24 reviews.
This package also includes accessories and cords to ensure you have everything you need to start painting. The tablet includes a built-in stand, different stylus clips, and the incredible Quick Key Remote. Significant additional extras include a drawing glove, cleaning cloth, and rubber feet to ensure this tablet sits securely on your desk.
Wacom used to dominate the drawing tablet market, but in recent years, a slew of challenger brands have emerged to take a bite out of its lunch, particularly at the lower end of the market. However, despite the rising competition, the Wacom brand remains a force to be reckoned with. The Wacom Cintiq 22 is one of the finest drawing tablets you can acquire, especially for students who mean business.
Our review found that the 22-inch display offers plenty of creative room. It features a Full HD resolution, which isn’t as many pixels as some more recent, flashier tablets, but it’s plenty for most people. Sharper displays are available on other Wacom tablets, but they are more expensive, and this model is all about offering Wacom quality at an accessible price. Not to mention, plenty of tablets, including Xencelabs’, lack a screen entirely.
The Wacom Pro Pen 2, which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt sensitivity, makes the Cintiq 22 such a joy to use. Wacom has been around for a long time, and it’s difficult to imagine an artist complaining about the Pro Pen 2. It works extremely well.
Wacom tablets have the advantage of being the industry standard. Hence, learning to use one is an excellent first step for students and individuals trying to enter digital art professionally. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t consider other tablets; it’s just something to consider. Learn more about the Wacom Cintiq 22 in our review.
XP-Pen is a well-known brand in budget drawing tablets, and this 2022 revamp of a popular 15.6-inch tablet received good marks in our previous review. After several months drawing with the tablet, our reviewer found it has extremely good fundamentals. Everything about the basic drawing experience is superb, from the high-quality display to the amazing X3 stylus, and it’s an excellent pick if you’re looking for a tablet on a budget.
There are a few quibbles around what isn’t in the package. While the XP-Pen Artist 16 (2nd generation) is largely compatible with various operating systems, if you want to use it with ChromeOS or Android, you’ll need to source your own USB-C to USB-C cable, which could be more convenient. Also, while common for tablets at this price point, the XP-Pen Artist 16 (2nd gen) does not come with its stand.
The Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022), the most recent edition of the iPad Air, is a truly gorgeous tablet. It uses one of Apple’s M1 silicon chips, transforming its laptops, computers, and tablets into virtual powerhouses. The 5th Generation iPad includes an M1 chip, a 2360×1640 IPS LCD panel with 264 pixels per inch, and a full brightness of 500 nits. It’s an utter beast.
The Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022)’s Apple Pencil 2 compatibility makes it one of the best drawing tablets you can buy, delivering one of the smoothest and most natural-feeling digital drawing experiences on the market. This was one of many things we found to commend in our Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) review, where we also talked about how this tablet blurs the boundary between the Air and the premium iPad Pro series. The Pros are superior, with brighter screens and quicker refresh rates, but they are also more expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget, the Air is your best bet.
This one-of-a-kind tablet from the low-cost company Huion features the award-winning Huion Inspiroy Dial. This helpful little tool lets you quickly cycle through the commands and tools you can attach.
In our hands-on review, we found the left-hand dual-dial Quick Key panel of the Inspiroy Dial 2 to be the actual design star. The two dials may be programmed with up to three actions each, and cycling through them feels rewarding due to the dial’s gentle clicking as it moves.
This is an excellent choice for beginner and professional artists looking for a sleek, modern device. It feels more user-friendly than more pricey ones without sacrificing quality.
Microsoft’s Surface tablets have never had the cachet that Apple’s iPad line does, but the latest Surface Pro 8 feels more like a threat to Apple’s dominance. In terms of appearance and performance, Microsoft has certainly put in a lot of work to make this tablet appear realistic.
Even the simplest model has plenty of power, with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. If you need more than that for you, more powerful configurations are available, but be aware that this will raise the price even higher. We found the display outstanding when we tested it, with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 and the option to increase the refresh rate to 120Hz. This makes it extremely responsive when used with the Surface Pen stylus; however, be aware that you must purchase this separately.
This tablet runs Windows 11, which is also a huge plus, as it allows you to use full desktop versions of programs like Photoshop rather than fumbling around with tablet apps. This tablet makes sense if you’re already in the Windows ecosystem. Our Surface Pro 8 review delves further into this tablet and compares it to prior generations.
If you’re searching for a good entry-level pen display drawing tablet, the Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) is a great choice. This is a pen display that may be used for various types of painting and a screen for video gaming, editing, and studying.
Our Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) review noted that this device features a full HD screen with great color fidelity, making it ideal as a good second screen. Our reviewer also noted that while the stand for this device is offered separately, it is definitely worth the purchase because it is ergonomically constructed to make drawing simpler.
Wacom has long had a reputation for being reassuringly costly, so it’s good to see the business responding to an inflow of challengers by producing a much more reasonably-priced drawing tablet to entice people away from cheaper manufacturers. The Wacom One (not to be confused with prior Wacom Ones) is a brilliant tiny portable 13-inch tablet that gives a fantastic drawing experience while not costing you a fortune.
Its Full HD display offers 72% NTSC color and an anti-glare treated material, and the tablet even comes with little legs for standing up when you’re out and about and want to jot down some thoughts quickly. It’s the ideal tablet for slipping into your day bag; read our detailed Wacom One review to learn more about what to expect from this device.
Huion is a brand that has given Wacom a run for its money in recent years with a line of drawing tablets that provide outstanding features at low pricing. If you’re just getting started and need to figure out whether a tablet is something you want to spend a lot of money on, the Huion H430P is the ideal way to test the waters, delivering just enough features without breaking the bank.
Although the drawing area is small, the pen is responsive enough to give you a full sense of the creative benefits of drawing tablets. It might be soon that you outgrow this tablet, but it’s a affordable way to begin started.
Be aware that to view what you’re drawing, you must connect it to an external display because this is a graphics tablet rather than a pen tablet. Although a smartphone or tablet will do the job in a pinch, a monitor is ideal. Our Huion Inspiroy H430P review discussed why this small but powerful graphics tablet is an excellent choice for beginning artists.
12. Huion Kamvas 16 (2021)
If you’re searching for a good entry-level pen display drawing tablet, the Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) is a great choice. This is a pen display that may be used for various types of painting and a screen for video gaming, editing, and studying.
Our Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) review noted that this device features a full HD screen with great color fidelity, making it ideal as a good second screen. Our reviewer also noted that while the stand for this device is offered separately, it is definitely worth the purchase because it is ergonomically constructed to make drawing simpler.
Wacom has long had a reputation for being reassuringly costly, so it’s good to see the business responding to an inflow of challengers by producing a much more reasonably-priced drawing tablet to entice people away from cheaper manufacturers. The Wacom One (not to be confused with prior Wacom Ones) is a brilliant tiny portable 13-inch tablet that gives a fantastic drawing experience while not costing you a fortune.
Its Full HD display offers 72% NTSC color and an anti-glare treated material, and the tablet even comes with little legs for standing up when you’re out and about and want to jot down some thoughts quickly. It’s the ideal tablet for slipping into your day bag; read our detailed Wacom One review to learn more about what to expect from this device.
14. XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium
The XP-Pen Deco Pro is a good option if you’re looking for a low-cost alternative to Wacom’s Intuos Pro. It’s roughly a third of the price of the Intuos Pro, and it shows in spots; it doesn’t have the quality feel of the Wacom, and the software drivers may be clunky, but when it comes down to it, it gives a great drawing experience.
The tablet boasts a smooth drawing surface and a pen with 8,192 levels of pressure sharpness, and the entire design has won Red Dot awards. As our XP-Pen Deco Pro review attests, this isn’t just a reasonable knock-off; it’s a premium knock-off, and if you’re an artist on a budget, it’s worth considering.
Have you been admiring the Wacom Cintiq 22 further up the page but need help to justify the price? The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus would want to say something. It is substantially less expensive than the Cintiq, but it is still a good drawing tablet with a lovely and adequately sized display. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio and a Full HD resolution.
The main selling point is that it is made of etched anti-glare glass rather than anti-glare film; the end effect is a pen display that feels particularly lovely to draw on, with a tactile and authentically analog drawing experience.
This tablet is amazing, with an anti-parallax design, 140% sRGB coverage, and the ability to recreate 16.7 million colors. The pen with it is adequate and will do the job; it’s a touch basic, with only one type of nib available.
Overall, as we noted in our Huion Kamvas 22 Plus review, this Huion tablet is a good buy, especially when compared to the competition at this price point from companies like XP-Pen – it has better color coverage and a more natural drawing experience.
FAQs
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