The Best Tablets For Graphic Design In 2023

The best tablets for graphic design will allow you to easily create digital art or graphic design with ease. Many professionals in recent years have turned to tablets to work on their art and graphics projects.

Many brands have come up providing a wide range of drawing tablets to choose from. The wide range of tablets can make it difficult to narrow down and choose the best one for you. That is where this guide comes in.

A good drawing tablet should provide a fast, handy, responsive and clear view electronic option to complete your projects. It should also allow you an option to use it remotely with ease for instances that you are working out of office.

There are 3 options for the types of tablets you can choose from. These are Graphic Tablets, Pen Tablets and tablet computers. We have discussed them at the end of this article incase you are not sure about them.

In this article, we have thoroughly researched the different brands from those art centered brands such as Wacom and Huion, to more general purpose options such as Samsung Galaxy and iPads.

There are different types of tablets, and your choice is highly dependent on your needs. You have to identify what you want your tablet to handle and know the key differences between several types of tablets.

Best Tablets For Graphic Designers

1. Apple iPad Pro Best tablet for graphic design
2. Wacom Studio Pro professional Graphic Design Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 lite Best budget Graphics Tablet
4. Simbans Picasso 10- Inch
5. Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) Best graphic design tablet for beginners
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ Samsung Tablet For Graphic Design
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Best Windows Tablet
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Android Tablet Alternative
9. Wacom Cintiq 22- Inch Tablet Wacom Drawing Tablet with a screen
10. Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet Best large screen drawing tablet
11. HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 Best Huion Drawing Tablet with a screen
12. UGEE M708 Best Tablets for Graphic Design no Screen
13. HUION H420 is Cheapest Tablet for drawing no Screen
14. HUION H610 Pro V2

Best Standalone Tablets for Graphic Designers

If you prefer a tablet that does not depend on your computer and comes with both a screen and computer to install your software, here is a list of the best.

1. Apple iPad Pro Best tablet for graphic design
2. Wacom Studio Pro professional Graphic Design Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 lite Best budget Graphics Tablet
4. Simbans Picasso 10- Inch
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ Best Samsung Tablet For Drawing
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Best Windows Tablet
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Android Tablet Alternative

Best Graphics Drawing Tablets with Screen

If you prefer a tablet with a screen but needs to connect to your computer for software, then these are our top picks.

1. Wacom Cintiq 22- Inch Tablet Wacom Drawing Tablet with a screen
2. Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet Best large screen drawing tablet
3. HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 Best Huion Drawing Tablet with a screen
4. UGEE M708 Best Tablets for Graphic Design no Screen
5. Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) Best graphic design tablet for beginners

Best Drawing Tablets Without a Screen

If you are ok with a screen less tablet then here are the best picks

1. HUION H420 Cheapest Tablet for drawing no Screen
2. HUION H610 Pro V2

Apple iPad Pro Best Tablet for Graphic Design

Apple iPad Pro Specifications

1. Large 12.9-inch screen
2. Perfect Apple Pencil
3. Best color accuracy
4. Good battery life
5. Wide HD Display
6. Easy to set up
7. sleek and Portable

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch is our pick for the best tablet for graphic design. The iPad Pro is an industry-standard with top-of-the-pile features you need in a professional tablet.

First of all the Apple iPad is a standalone tablet and does not need a computer connected to use it. You can easily install applications on it and use it as your full graphic design studio.

Alternatively, you can also connect the iPad to a computer and use the software on your pc computer without having to install it. As a graphic designer, the screen is a very important part of any tablet. It is where you view and work on your work. The display on both Apple iPad 11 and 12.9 inch options is spectacular with liquid retina screen display at 2388 x 1668p (11-inch) and 2732 x 2048p (12.9-inch) resolution.

The screen is bright enough to use in bright light environments with 1600 nits peak brightness for 12.9 inches and 600 for the 11-inch tablet. Additionally, the tablet comes with True tone sensitivity.

This means that your tablet automatically detects environmental lighting and adjusts to the surrounding without having to keep adjusting.

When designing and drawing, you need an accurate color display such that the color you set on your software is the exact color displayed. The Apple iPad’s color accuracy is also good and the view is clean and vibrant.

The screen refresh rate can go up to 120 GHz with Promotion technology that makes the Apple pencil draw on it without lags. This is one of the most important aspects of a perfect tablet for graphic design. A slow-running tablet can be very annoying to Graphic designers and artists. It also has a direct effect on the speed of your output. You do not want to use a device that keeps slowing down and can not handle opening many tasks at a go.

When it comes to speed, this tablet is super perfect. The Apple iPad 12.9 inch and 11 inches both come with a powerful Apple M1 Processor. This processor is faster than most graphic design computers with a 3.2 GHZ speed. It can easily run almost all graphic design, video editing, and animation applications you may want to use with ease.

This processor speed combined with 8 GB to 16 GB RAM ensures the tablet can easily multitask. To store your files, you will have from 128 GB to 2 TB storage space options. You can also expand using an external memory card slot up to 1 TB.

One downside of getting this tablet is that despite the very expensive price tag, the tablet does not come with a free pencil and you will have to buy it separately. This makes the overall price quite high compared to other drawing tablets.

Despite that, the Apple Pencil 2 is one of the best Stylus pens on the market today. The tilt recognition and pressure sensitivity, combined with the ergonomic shape that mimics a normal pen make for a great user experience.

Wacom Mobile Studio Pro

Best professional Drawing Tablet

1. Large 16 inch screen
2. Runs Windows Apps
3. Perfect Pen Pro pen 2
4. Best Professional
5. Has shortcut keys
6. Matte display
7. 4K display

Wacom Mobile Studio is a massive tablet from Wacom specially designed for creatives who are serious about their craft. This tablet takes the spot as the best professional-level tablet for both artists and Graphic Designers.

There are 2 alternatives for Wacom Studio pro you can choose from. You can either choose the larger but more expensive Wacom Studio Pro 16 or the smaller screen size Wacom Studio Pro 13.

As the name suggests, the main difference between the 2 tablets is the screen size. Although both are large enough for any graphic design software, the Wacom Studio pro 16 is better with a 16-inch screen size compared to 13 inches on the Studio pro 13.

Carry out your projects with high clarity and precision with this 16.5″ 4K/UHD display and a resolution of 3840×2160. The screen gives you a chance to see the tiny details of your work, all thanks to 85% Adobe RGB coverage.

The smaller tablet has a 2540×1360 pixel resolution which is perfect and in full HD. The Wacom Studio Pro 16, therefore, seems to be the better pick with a 4k view but HD is good enough for designers.

You hardly find a tablet with advanced computing like Wacom Studio Pro. This tablet is a beast in data processing and fast data transfer.

The tablet is powered by Intel Core i7 and has a system memory of 16GB and 512GB SSD storage, enabling you to work efficiently anywhere you are.

You can now draw with extraordinary precision with Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity levels. Generally, Wacom Studio Pro is an excellent tablet with high-end features ever found on a tablet. However, we don’t recommend this tablet if you’re starting.

Samsung Galaxy S6 lite

Best budget Graphic Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy S6 lite is one of the best standalone drawing tablets you can get on a budget. For a very cheap price, you will get access to Samsung’s premium technology such as the very nice Samsung S Pen.

The screen size is quite decent at 10.4 inches in size and very clear thanks to the 1200×2000 pixels resolution. Among the cheapest drawing tablets, this one will give you the best value at a perfect rate.

We have discussed more of its features in Best Portable Drawing Tablets Review. Next is a cheaper but closely priced tablet, great for sketching and beginner artists.

Simbans Picasso 10

If you’re looking for an affordable tablet for your graphic design needs, then Simbans Picasso might steal your heart. The tablet comes with pre-installed apps like Sketchbook and Autodesk that make enable you to draw and take notes easily.

The Simbans Picasso has an HD screen, a storage of 32GB, and 2GB RAM, and runs on a Quad-Core processor that makes it easier for this tablet to handle multitasking efficiently.

You can connect this tablet to your television via an HDMI port or immerse yourself in the world of entertainment by streaming your best shows using a WIFI connection.

This tablet comes with an excellent quality table case, a universal power adapter, drawing gloves, and a pre-installed screen protector when you purchase it.

Wacom Intuos Pro Best graphic design tablet for beginners

If you are a beginner, then Wacom’s Intuos Pro PTH660 is the best pick. For such a great price, Wacom Intuos is one of the cheapest tablets that have a screen. The screen is 13.2” x 8.5” with an 8.7 x 5.8-inch active area size.

You will use the new near-perfect Wacom 2 Pen that boasts high lag-free tracking, sensitivity, and with tilt recognition. The technology used to make it is industry standard and has been borrowed by top brands such as Samsung to make their Samsung Galaxy S Pen.

Unfortunately, it does not come with a free Wacom 2 Pen and it will cost you a little extra to get the pen and drawing glove.

Wacom Intuos Pro is a perfect budget-friendly tablet for any beginner graphic designer or artist that will help you before moving to more complex drawing tablets.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Best Windows Tablet for graphic design

Microsoft devices are known to be the best, and this Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is no exception. This tablet is the newest model, and just like its predecessors like the Surface Pro 7, it has incredible features that will turn your creative dreams into reality.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a 13-inch touchscreen tablet that carries all the laptop’s features. The tablet has a memory capacity of 128GB and a maximum screen resolution of 28801920 pixels enabling you to watch your favorite videos with excellent precision.

Powered by Intel Core i5, Surface Pro comes with Windows 11 home making it efficient to carry out your creativity smoothly. With a speed of 4.2 GHz, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, this tablet can run multiple programs at high speed without any lags.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+

Best Android Standalone Graphic Tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ is another powerful device for multitasking, all thanks to Snapdragon 865+ processor and 8GB RAM.

This tablet has a large screen, although not too big, but much better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 with an AMOLED display and a resolution of 2800×1752 pixels that enables you to view projects with high clarity. You can also watch your favorite shows and movies with an excellent resolution of 1440p.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ has a storage memory of 128GB and a memory card slot, so you can expand the storage to 1TB by buying a memory card.

Galaxy Tab 7+ comes with a well-balanced S Pen with excellent quality and a sturdy build. The pen has a rubber nib, and it draws so well on the smooth matte surface of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ screen; we love how the pen magnetically attaches to the tablet.

You don’t have to worry about parallel reflex because this tablet has a laminate display coupled with a refresh rate of 120Hz, reducing the lag between the pen and cursor position.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 6

Pop up your tablet and draw on the go with this portable standalone tablet from Samsung. One thing that makes Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 a darling is its slim, portable, and lightweight design, unlike the Wacom Studio Pro.

Despite its design, which you might think comes at the expense of other features, this tablet is super powerful and has a good storage space of 128GB. Galaxy Tab 6 is a great tablet that handles multitasking pretty well without lags, thanks to its powerful mobile processor.

Short battery life can hinder you from working for long, especially if you’re far from a power source. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 has a battery life of 15 hours on a full charge, giving you to work throughout the day without recharging the tablet.

The 10.5-inch AMOLED display enables you to view your projects in high precision, and you also get to enjoy some great hits on the quad speakers tuned by AKG.

If you want a PC experience, you can instantly purchase a compatible keyboard and turn this tablet into a PC.

Wacom Cintiq 22- Inch Tablet

Best overall drawing Tablet with a screen

Wacom is another company that has grown its popularity by producing high-quality drawing tablets with screens and those without screens.

This Wacom Cintiq tablet is one of the biggest brands with a 22-inch screen and a whooping resolution of 1980 by 1080HD. Cintiq 22 tablet also has an anti-scratch screen that resists any scratches, and you can draw outdoors without having to worry about reflections, all thanks to its anti-glare surface.

The Wacom Cintiq 22 comes with a Wacom Pro Pen 2 technology with 8192 pressure levels coupled with tilt recognition technology for a smooth drawing experience.

If you’re looking for an on-screen drawing experience, then this tablet can provide you with all your creative needs.

Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet

Best large screen drawing tablet with a screen

Most graphic tablets with large screens come with a hefty price because the bigger the screen, the higher the price, but Artisul D22S has changed the narrative.

If you are shopping for a graphic tablet on a tight budget but want a tablet with a big screen, you might want to check out this fantastic product. The tablet is not the cheapest graphic tablet with a screen, but it certainly offers value for your money.

Artisul D22S has a 21.5-inch screen giving you enough real estate to work on your creative projects. The tablet has a whopping 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, enabling you to work with high accuracy.

The screen has an anti-glare film that blocks reflections, and it comes with a drawing stand. Get creative without the stress of recharging your stylus pen because it’s battery-free, and one thing we can’t forget to mention is that this pen has a 60-degree tilt.

We loved this drawing tablet, but there’s one downside we feel that the company could have considered the resolution. The screen is too big for 1920 by 1080 resolution.

HUION KAMVAS Pro 13

HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 is another great graphic tablet with a screen that features 13.3-inch screen and 120% sRGB color gamut. The fully laminated screen with full HD resolution enables a great viewing experience.

The KAMVAS Pro 13 tablet has a set of 4 express keys that you can customize for a smooth workflow experience, and the touch bar enables you to reach the shortcuts of the keyboard or mouse.

This HUION tablet comes with a battery-free stylus with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilting recognition technology which feels like a regular pencil offering you a natural drawing experience.

The HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 can be connected to other devices via 3 in 1USB-C cable and HDMI when it comes to connectivity. This tablet is also compatible with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10,12, and ChromeOS 88 or later.

You can run several creative programs like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Lightroom, and SAI, among others programs.

UGEE M708

Best Tablets for Graphic Design Without Screen

UGEE M708 takes the mantle when it comes to picking the best graphic tablet without a screen because and that is because of its massive active drawing area of 10 by 6 inches. The surface of this tablet has a paper feel, making it super easy to sketch and draw.

UGEE M708 offers 8192 pressure sensitivity levels that allow you to draw precise lines effortlessly depending on the pressure you put on the pen.

This amazing tablet is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and MacOs 10.10 and above. You can also run creative software like Photoshop, Comic Studio, SAI, Infinite Stratos, Illustrator, 3D MAX, Pixologic Brush, and AutoDesk MAYA, among other programs.

Another thing we love about this tablet is how simple and easy the setup process is and the fact that both right and left-handed people can use it. With the eight express keys, we could customize the keys to improve productivity.

HUION H610 Pro V2

HUION H610 Pro is another popular and cheap drawing tablet with features mostly found in high-end tablets. This tablet offers Android compatibility and comes with a battery-free pen.

The active drawing area of 10 by 6.5 inches might not be so big, but it is enough for an artist to explore the creative world.

 You can connect the tablet to your Android phone and make mobile-friendly drawings because the tablet reduces the active area when set in phone mode. We didn’t like that the tablet is only compatible with Android, so this means that you cannot connect this tablet to an Apple phone.

Apart from Android, this tablet is compatible with Windows 7 or later and Mac 10.11 or later versions. HUION H610 Pro V2 works with popular creative programs like Corel Painter, Clip Studio, Photoshop, Krita, Zbrush, Illustrator, and Manga Studio, among others creative programs.

The tablet has an Innovative tilt control technology that provides you with pressure detection and cursor position to create precise and natural lines. Drawing on HUION H610 Pro is just like painting on canvas because of the natural feel when working.

You can increase your productivity by customizing the eight express keys and utilizing the 16 soft keys to streamline your work.

HUION H420 USB Drawing Tablet

HUION H420 is a popular tablet just like its sibling HUION H610 Pro V2, and it has been bought widely not because it has the best features, but because it offers value for your money.

This tablet has a small active area of 4 by 2.23 inches, and many people call it a signature tablet due to its small design. HUION H420 also has 4000LPI resolution and pen pressure of 2048 levels.

With this tablet, you get three express keys, and you can scroll pages using the pen by simply pressing the middle button over your tablet’s working area.

We highly recommend this tablet to entry-level creatives who want to taste waters in the sea of creativity.

How to choose the best tablets for Graphic Designers

While their functions are similar, tablets were designed with different features to cater to people’s needs. Some tablets come with a massive drawing area or display, and some come with smaller active areas.

Your choice depends on what you want your tablet to do for you. You can choose a simple graphics tablet or go for a pen display, or better still, settle for a standalone tablet. It all depends on your needs.

In this section, we will discuss some of the things you need to consider when purchasing a tablet for graphic design.

Active Area

The active area refers to the amount of space available for you to draw on. This means that the larger the active area a tablet has, the greater the space to draw on.

Pick a tablet with a screen size that fits your creative needs. However, you need to understand that it doesn’t mean a large active area is the best. The ideal size for you goes down to your needs.

Tablet Type

There are different types of tablets like flat screen, on-screen and portable tablets. Table tablets are the cheapest, and they are super light. If you purchase a flat tablet, you’ll need to connect it to your PC as a peripheral, so it reflects on the computer screen when you draw.

On-screen tablets are also connected to a computer, and they are some of the most expensive tablets. You can draw on the same screen as your tablet with an on-screen tablet.

Portable tablets are well-equipped tablets with operating systems like macOS, Android, and Windows. A portable or standalone tablet doesn’t need to be connected to a computer, and you can draw with it anywhere.

Pressure Sensitivity

When choosing your graphics tablet, you want to make sure that your check its pressure sensitivity levels. Choose a graphic tablet with pressure sensitivity of at least 3000 for professionals and 1024 to 2048 for armatures.

Resolution

When we talk about the resolution of a graphic tablet, we mean the number of strokes that can be executed per inch. If you’re a professional and need something for professional projects, then a resolution of 2540 LPI and above is ideal.

Stylus

A stylus pen is also called an optimal pen, and there are two different types of stylus; a pen with a battery and a pen without a battery. Most stylus pens with batteries seem heavy compared to stylus without batteries.

If your tablet uses a stylus with batteries, then you’ll need to replace the batteries or recharge the batteries from time to time.

Hot Keys

Also known as express keys, hotkeys give you the flexibility of accessing shortcuts directly without using a mouse, thus saving you time. You can customize your express keys the way you want to fit your needs.

Scrollers

Some graphic tablets come with scrollers. Maneuvering your tablet’s screen using a stylus, especially when handling complex artwork. You can zoom in and out with scrollers and move around your artwork easily.

Connection

Tablets come in two forms for connection, corded and cordless or wireless using Bluetooth connection. Corded or wired tablets rarely have connection issues, but the wires can frustrate you at times. Wireless graphic tablets give you the freedom to work without stress from cords, but you might face connection problems.

What are Tablet computers or Standalone Tablets?

This is a tablet that you can use without connecting it to a computer. Standalone tablets have an inbuilt computer, and they handle everything without a computer connection. The best thing about this type of tablet is its portability. They are also referred to as portable drawing tablets.

The second type of tablet must connect to a computer to use. You can either use one with a screen or one that does not have a screen. Although they are cheaper than a Standalone Tablet, they are still very effective and highly recommended for graphic designers when you get a good one.

What are Pen tablets?

Pen tablets have their own screens but no computer to host the drawing apps and software. You must connect to a computer to use them. They are also called drawing tablets with a screen

What are Graphic tablets?

Graphics tablets are the cheapest tablets you can buy. They lack both an inbuilt screen and a computer. This means that they must connect to a computer to use. Most of them are priced under 100$. However, do not despise them because of their cheap price, they can work effectively as design tablets and are highly recommended for beginners. Wacom Intuos is a good example.

Do graphic designers need to Have a tablet?

A tablet is an awesome addition to improving your workflow as an artist or designer. Luckily a drawing tablet is not a must-have for graphic designers. However, it is a sure way to work faster and easier, especially for digital artists and illustrators.

The pen-to-paper feel on a tablet screen and using a natural like pen instead of a mouse can be a more comfortable user experience for graphic designers. It is however important to note that you do not have to get an expensive device to work.

For example, Wacom Intuos is one of the best tablets for beginners. It is a very cheap tablet, probably under 100$, and apart from having to work in a small working area, can work as a good tablet for designers.

Final Word

If you are a beginner looking to start off then the Simbans Picasso 10- Inch or Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) is a great pick. However, the latter is a screen tablet and needs a computer to work. Simbanns Picasso stands alone but is normally good for sketching mostly. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite is the best you can get on a budget, for top-notch Samsung technology.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are the best Android Tablet For Graphic Design

Wacom Studio Pro does not need a computer and is a professional-level tablet although it’s a bit expensive. You do not necessarily need a stand-alone device unless you prefer portability over price. Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet is affordable and with a large screen display.

Best Tablets for Graphic Design

1. Apple iPad Pro Best tablet for graphic design
2. Wacom Studio Pro professional Graphic Design Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 lite Best budget Graphics Tablet
4. Simbans Picasso 10- Inch
5. Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) Best graphic design tablet for beginners
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ Samsung Tablet For Graphic Design
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Best Windows Tablet
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Android Tablet Alternative
9. Wacom Cintiq 22- Inch Tablet Wacom Drawing Tablet with a screen
10. Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet Best large screen drawing tablet
11. HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 Best Huion Drawing Tablet with a screen
12. UGEE M708 Best Tablets for Graphic Design no Screen
13. HUION H420 Cheapest Tablet for drawing no Screen
14. HUION H610 Pro V2

Best Standalone Tablets for Graphic Designers

If you prefer a tablet that does not depend on your computer and comes with both a screen and computer to install your software, here is a list of the best.

1. Apple iPad Pro Best tablet for graphic design
2. Wacom Studio Pro professional Graphic Design Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 lite Best budget Graphics Tablet
4. Simbans Picasso 10- Inch
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+ Samsung Tablet For Graphic Design
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Best Windows Tablet
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Android Tablet Alternative

Best Graphics Drawing Tablets with Screen

If you prefer a tablet with a screen but needs to connect to your computer for software, then these are our top picks.

1. Wacom Cintiq 22- Inch Tablet Wacom Drawing Tablet with a screen
2. Artisul D22S Graphic Tablet Best large screen drawing tablet
3. HUION KAMVAS Pro 13 Best Huion Drawing Tablet with a screen
4. UGEE M708 Best Tablets for Graphic Design no Screen
5. Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) Best graphic design tablet for beginners

Best Drawing Tablets Without a Screen

If you are ok with a screen less tablet then here are the best picks

1. HUION H420 Cheapest Tablet for drawing no Screen
2. HUION H610 Pro V2

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