Best Drawing Tablets for Beginners

Choosing the best drawing tablets for beginners can be complicated, especially considering the many new brands available on the market. The best part about choosing entry-level tablets is that they have become very affordable in recent years.

Additionally, you are not limited to graphic tablets without screens — you can also get a good pen display tablet that is both affordable and beginner-friendly.

Top 3 Drawing Tablets for Beginners

1. Wacom One 13 Touch: Best Overall
2. Huion Kamvas 13: Affordable tablet for Professionals
3. XP-Pen Deco MW: Best Budget Beginner Drawing Tablet

Wacom One 13 Touch: Best Overall

1. Display: 13.3-inch
2. Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels
3. Color Accuracy: 99% sRGB
4. Pen: Wacom One Standard Pen
5. Pressure Sensitivity: 4096 levels
6. Tilt Recognition: Yes
7. Pen Buttons: 2 customizable buttons
8. Technology: Electromagnetic resonance
9. Connectivity: USB-C
10. Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Android

The Wacom One 13 Touch (2025 edition) is our top pick for any beginner. It’s a pen display tablet that features a large 13.3-inch multi-touch screen with Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution.

You’ll be able to view your work on a rich, color-accurate display thanks to the Full HD resolution and 99% sRGB color gamut. It also includes anti-glare glass technology to reduce eye strain.

The tablet comes with the Wacom One Standard Pen, which is battery-free thanks to EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) technology. It supports tilt recognition and offers a smooth, lag-free drawing experience.

The pen is ergonomically designed and includes two customizable shortcut buttons. The package also includes 10 replacement nibs and a nib remover. While the 4096 pressure levels may be a bit low for complex art, they are more than adequate for beginners.

The Wacom One 13 Touch connects to computers via USB-C and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Chromebook, and Android. Unfortunately, while the tablet is ideal for beginners and students, it is priced on the higher side.

Huion Kamvas 13: Affordable With Professional Features

1. Size: 13 inches
2. Type: Pen Display
3. Resolution: 1920 x 1080 px
4. AG Glass: Anti-glare matte film
5. Brightness: 220 nits
6. Gamut Volume: 120% sRGB
7. Pen: PW517
8. Pen Technology: Battery-free
9. Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 levels
10. Tilt Support: ±60°
11. Shortcut Keys: 8 programmable buttons
12. Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, Linux

If you’re looking for a tablet with professional features at an affordable price, the Kamvas 13 is your best option. It features a 13-inch Full HD screen with excellent color accuracy (120% sRGB) and brightness (220 nits).

The included PW517 pen is battery-free, supports tilt, and offers 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. While there are no buttons on the pen itself, the tablet includes 8 programmable shortcut keys.

What makes this tablet stand out is its easy-to-use interface, professional-grade performance, Android support, and lightweight, portable design. It’s great for drawing on the go and can even connect to a smartphone. Whether you’re editing photos, creating comics, or doing digital painting, the Kamvas 13 is an excellent choice.

XP-Pen Deco MW: Best Budget

1. Type: Graphic Tablet
2. Active Area: 8 x 5 inches
3. Pen Pressure: 8192 levels
4. Resolution: Uses computer display
5. Connectivity: USB, Bluetooth
6. Compatibility: Windows, macOS
7. Pen: X3 Elite Plus
8. Shortcut Keys: 8

The XP-Pen Deco MW is one of the best budget-friendly drawing tablets without a screen. It’s a simple and cost-effective option for beginners.

It offers a large 8 x 5-inch active drawing area, and the X3 Elite Plus stylus provides a paper-like drawing experience with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity.

However, the pen feels slightly too light, which may affect control, and the tablet’s surface can get slippery during extended use.

For connectivity, it supports both USB and Bluetooth. The downside is that it only works with Windows and macOS — there’s no Android support. Still, with its large drawing area, wireless connectivity, and customizable shortcut keys, the XP-Pen Deco MW offers excellent value for money.

What to consider when choosing drawing tablets for beginners

1. Display
2. Pressure Sensitivity
3. Compatibility with Software and Devices
4. Price and Portability

Screen

The display is one of the most important parts of a drawing tablet. It will display the artwork or photos that you are working on with your tablet.

Beginners can use either a pen display or a graphic tablet. Both connect to a computer, but the latter has no built-in screen.

A large screen or working area size will give a better user experience than a small one. For tablets with a screen, you need at least 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution and above for the best user experience. Graphic tablets will use your computer screen resolution.

Customizable Shortcut Keys

It will allow you to set quick navigation options on your tablet to your most common functions and will greatly increase your workflow once you get used to it. 

Some tablets have them on the body, while on others you need to buy a separate remote button device. Some have many keys, while others have few. The more keys, the better. 

Stylus Pen

The pen pressure sensitivity needs to be above 8192 levels, which determines the pen drawing accuracy. 8192 levels is the best, although 4096 levels can still be used by beginners. 

You need a battery-free stylus pen. This means that you do not have to keep connecting the pen to a computer or tablet to charge.

The ergonomic design on the pen needs to be comfortable and mimic a real pencil for comfortable usage. Pen resolution is measured in LPI, or lines per inch. You need a stylus pen with at least 5080 LPI resolution.

Compatibility with Software and Devices

Some tablets are compatible with MAC and Windows, while others work with Windows, MAC, and Android. This means you can use them with both computers and Smartphones. The best option for you will be compatible with all three operating systems.