These days, pen and paper are out—it’s far easier to reach for one of the best drawing tablets. Drawing tablets mimic the experience of putting pen to paper, but provide a closer look at your drawing with stunning clarity and vibrant colors that jump off the screen. We spent hours researching and putting some of these to the test ourselves to find the overall best, which includes the Wacom Intuos Pro Large—our overall favorite. It features a large, yet lightweight work surface and multiple pressure sensitivity levels that help make your strokes more accurate.
The best drawing tablets can help turn your stylus strokes into a digital masterpiece.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
But, we have six more recommendations to fit a variety of needs and budgets. Some come personally recommended by our staff, while others—like the Apple iPad Pro—are among the best overall tablets on the market. Whether you’re a creative professional, artist or someone who likes to dabble in sketching from time to time, any of the below drawing tablets can help you bring your creative visions and artistic creations to life. For more digital inspo, check out our guides on the best digital notebooks and the best writing tablets.
Work surface: 12.1 x 8.4 inches | Battery powered: Yes | Supported OS: Windows, Mac | Pressure sensitivity levels: 8,192 | Dimensions: 16.8 x 11.2 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds
Best for: Professional creatives who need enhanced drawing control.
The Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro is a versatile and slim pen-based drawing tablet. It has a large 12-inch active surface and customizable ExpressKeys for one-touch access to common actions and a battery-free stylus pen. The Intuos Pro works with Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects and other applications so you can work across multiple programs to complete major drawing projects. It provides comfortable, near lag-free operation, too.
The tablet comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, although it also works with the optional Wacom Airbrush Pen, for example. It feels sturdy in hand—whether it’s positioned on your desk or your lap. You can also use it wired or with built-in Bluetooth for a wire-free setup, if you prefer.
What our writers say: “After some time with the Wacom Intuos Pro Large, I’m in love. It’s large enough to easily capture detail, but doesn’t weigh you down while you work. There is a generous draw area, and the Pro Pen 2 feels like an absolute dream to hold in your hand.”
Work surface: 23.8-inch, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel display | Supported OS: Windows, Mac | Pressure sensitivity levels: 8,192 | Dimensions: 24.9 x 14.6 x 1.8 inches | Weight: 15.5 pounds
Best for: Pro creatives seeking a massive, high-resolution stationary drawing tablet.
The XP-Pen Artist Display 24 Pro is an expensive drawing tablet aimed at professionals looking for a tremendous digital drawing canvas. It has a 23.8-inch, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel display, with support for 90% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. The 2K display sets this model apart from others drawing tablets with screens. It enables attention to detail that’s not possible on mere 1080p displays, and it is large enough to provide an expansive work surface. It also connects to your computer via a USB-C cable.
Flanking the display are 20 customizable shortcut keys and two red dial wheels to give greater control over app-based features like zooming. The XP-Pen is compatible with all the popular applications (including Adobe Photoshop and CAD tools). It includes a battery-free, PA2 stylus which supports up to 60 degrees of tilt. This tablet has an adjustable stand that allows it to be used on any flat surface or tilted to the optimal angle for viewing and drawing.
Pros:
Large, color accurate 2K display
Excellent drawing/writing accuracy
20 customizable shortcut keys, two dial wheels
Cons:
Work surface: 10.3 x 5.8 inches | Battery powered: Yes | Supported OS: Windows, Mac | Pressure sensitivity levels: 8,192 | Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.2 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 4.5 pounds
Best for: Ergonomic productivity with two styluses, one thin and one thick.
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a multipurpose art pad with a 10.3 x 5.8-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio workspace. It sets itself apart by including two battery-free and virtually lag-free stylus pens—one with a thin-profile barrel with two programmable buttons and the other with a wider barrel and three programmable buttons. Each stylus responds to 8,192 pressure levels and up to 60 degrees of tilt support.
Xencelabs also includes a handheld Quick Keys remote, with an OLED display and a dial to program up to 40 shortcuts per application—such as changing brush size or zoom level. You also get access to programmable buttons that work with dozens of applications. This tablet connects to any PC or Mac wirelessly via an RF dongle or with a wired USB cable.
Pros:
Includes useful Quick Keys remote
Active area has 16:9 aspect ratio
Two different-size styluses, each with 8,192 pressure levels
Cons:
No touch-screen finger gesture support
Best Features
Huion
Huion Kamvas Pro 24 4K
Work Surface: 23.8-inch, 3,840 x 2,160-pixel display | Battery powered: Yes | Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Android | Pressure sensitivity levels: 8,192 | Dimensions: 23.2 x 14.33 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 13.9 pounds
Best for: Exceptional detail when drawing art or editing images.
The Huion Kamvas Pro 24 4K provides a 23.8-inch display with 4K UHD resolution and HDR support. You get an active area of 20.75 x 11.7 inches. This large creative space allows you to see and interact with your work clearly, even when crafting the most minute details. It offers a 178-degree viewing angle and 140% of the sRGB color gamut. This allows you to manipulate over 1.07 billion colors. The result is terrific color accuracy and detail on a large, anti-glare display.
This drawing tablet works with the company’s latest PenTech 3.0 stylus (which offers 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and up to 60-degree tilt support). It includes a built-in stand for one position (adjustable options sold separately). The tablet offers USB-C connectivity to a Windows PC, Mac or Android device.
Pros:
4K UHD resolution display
Display offers anti-glare surface
Includes Huion PenTech 3.0 stylus
Cons:
No shortcut keys built-in
Adjustable stand sold separately
Expensive
Work Surface: 10 x 6.25 inches | Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Android | Pressure sensitivity levels: 8,192 | Dimensions: 14.2 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds
Best for: A novice artist or young person getting started.
If you’ve never used a graphics tablet and you’re not sure if one of these devices can improve your workflow, try experimenting using this inexpensive device—and yes, that’s the price for both the tablet and stylus. The Huion Inspiroy H1060P makes feature compromises to achieve its low price, but it is a great way to test the waters and see if a drawing tablet is right for you. This tablet has a 10 x 6.25 active area—large and functional enough to get the job done for drawings, signatures or sketches. It offers four programmable buttons on the top of the work area. The included battery-free stylus has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity.
In addition to working with a wide range of Windows PC and Mac applications, the device pairs with many Android mobile devices, too. It connects via a micro-USB cable. Built into the tablet are 12 hard and 16 soft express keys.
Pros:
Very affordable
Has 12 hard and 16 soft express keys
Stylus does not require a battery
Cons:
Uses a micro-USB cable connection (not USB-C)
Apple
Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro
Work surface: 11-inches, 2,388 x 1,668-pixel touchscreen display | Battery powered: Yes | OS: iPadOS | Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.0 x 0.2 inches | Weight: 1 pound
Best for: Optimizing your work day with Apple’s ecosystem and for collaborative work.
The 11-inch iPad Pro (2022) is a multipurpose tablet with a plethora of drawing and artist apps available. When you pair it with the Apple Pencil 2 (sold separately for $129) and the right apps, it serves as a standalone drawing tablet with precise stylus control for handwriting, drawing, painting, illustrating and more. You can then save your work and transfer it to any other computer or mobile device. If you use a Mac and Apple’s Continuity feature, you can connect the iPad to your Mac and use the Apple Pencil to annotate on your Mac, too.
The iPad versions of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop offer full compatibility with their computer counterparts. This configuration includes 512GB of storage.
What our writers say: “Apple’s newest iPad Pro is a mature, iterative update of the best iPad you can buy,” says Apple expert David Phelan in his review. “The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 looks like last year’s model, but it’s way faster and offers the neat upgrade of the hover mode for Apple Pencil.”
Pros:
Vast assortment of optional stylus-compatible apps
Full-featured productivity tablet
10-hour battery life
Cons:
Expensive path to drawing
Apple Pencil 2 stylus sold separately
Work surface: 14.4-inch, 2,400 x 1,600-pixel touchscreen display | Battery powered: Yes | OS: Windows 11 | Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.0 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 3.8 pounds
Best for: Drawing on a full-featured Windows laptop.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stands out among 2-in-1 laptops—all of which have touchscreens and stylus support. This model has a 2K touchscreen display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, so it’s both highly responsive and displays graphics that showcase vivid colors and impressive detail—which is ideal for creative professionals. Uniquely, the display can tilt forward for drawing at a comfortable angle; or it can flatten out like a tablet.
Together with the optional Surface Slim Pen 2, you can draw, illustrate, paint or annotate on-screen with ease. The display’s flexible design gives you control over how you want to work in your favorite applications. Inside sits a 12-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The battery lasts up to 19 hours.
Pros:
Beautiful 14.4-inch touchscreen display
Transitions easily from a full-featured laptop computer to a tablet
Lightweight and easy to transport
Cons:
Limited built-in ports
Just three fixed viewing positions
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team brings decades of experience in the technology sector, using our expertise and testing to provide comprehensive, well-rounded reviews that you can trust. This story in particular was written by contributors Jason R. Rich and Lena Borrelli who specialize in all things tech-related. Jason Rich has accumulated hours of in-depth product research and has conducted firsthand testing, including for the writing of this story.
Lena has spent several years within the tech space, first working for a web marketing company and now as a freelance writer for her company, LilyMarie Creative. Her work has most recently been published on sites like ZDNET, TIME, ADT and Home Advisor.
Our study compares models based on critical features like design, weight, connectivity, and compatibility. As professionals, we constantly use computer mice throughout the day, so we relied upon our own experience to cultivate this list. Additionally, we looked at what the users themselves have to say, consulting countless customer reviews to obtain a greater picture of overall performance and longevity.
How We Chose The Best Drawing Tablets
We start by doing extensive research, follow it up with hands-on testing and then consult with product experts and industry leaders to help us compile the roundup of products featured within an article.
Our goal is to recommend the very best products in each category, in this case by carefully evaluating each drawing tablet’s drawing or work surface, display resolution (if applicable), stylus pressure sensitivity, connectivity, overall product quality, its value and its price. We also paid attention to what special features are offered by each product that set it apart from the competition.
What To Consider When Buying A Drawing Tablet
First, consider whether you want a drawing tablet with or without a screen; or whether you want a standalone tablet to use for drawing. Next, think carefully about which applications you plan to use with the tablet and how you expect it to enhance your workflow, creativity and productivity.
With a wide range of drawing tablet options, everyone can find something that meets their needs and … [+] budget.
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Once you have a general idea about what you need and how you plan to use the drawing tablet, consider the specific features, functions and connectivity offered to decide which drawing tablet best meets your needs. Let’s look at some of the most common factors to consider.
Price: How Much Does A Graphic Tablet Cost?
The average price of a drawing tablet can range from $60 to over $1,000. In general, tablets without a screen cost less than those with one. If you’re looking for a drawing tablet with a screen and more advanced features, expect to spend around $800.
Popular Brands: Including Wacom, Huion and XP-Pen
For years, Wacom has been revered as a top choice for many creatives thanks to its professional-grade features. However, some Wacom machines are costly (the Wacom Cintiq Pro 17 runs over $2,000). Huion and XP-Pen offer similar features and reliability as the Wacom Cintiq, but for much less.
Size: How Do I Know What Size Graphic Tablet To Get?
The best way to determine the right size for you is to consider which is more important for your needs: the ability to apply intricate details to an image or portability. The size of a drawing tablet affects how much you can zoom in/out, how much detail you can add and the ease of your hand movements. Generally, larger drawing tablets are better for more complex images. “A larger surface area provides more room for adding intricate art details,” says tech editor Rebecca Isaacs. Smaller tablets are better for those who want to travel with their tablet, since they tend to be lighter and more portable.
Popular Types: Including MacOS, Windows OS and Android
There are three main types of drawing tablets when it comes to compatibility: those that support MacOS, Windows or Android. Drawing tablets that support MacOS work with Apple computers, while tablets compatible with Windows can work with Microsoft, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, Lenovo, LG and Razer systems. If a drawing tablet supports Android, it’s compatible with certain Samsung phones and mobile devices.
Resolution: What Resolution Should A Graphics Tablet Be?
A drawing tablet’s resolution refers to the number of lines or pixels per inch (PPI) detected from a pen or stylus. Typically, the higher the resolution, the more accurate your lines will be. Most people should look for a resolution of at least 2,000 PPI, but if you often work on large art pieces with complex details, you’re better off with a drawing tablet with at least 5,000 PPI.
Warranty: How Long Is The Warranty On a Drawing Tablet?
Most drawing tablets are covered under a one-year limited warranty. This includes tablets from Wacom, XP-Pen, Huion, Apple and Microsoft.
What Is The Best Tablet For Drawing?
We recommend the Wacom Intuos Pro Large for most people because it comes with a large workspace with a resolution of 5,000 lines per inch for more accurate drawing, plus it has over 8,000 pressure sensitivity levels to detect the thickness of each stroke.
What Is The Best Drawing Tablet For Beginners?
If you’re new to graphic design, we recommend starting with the Huion Inspiroy H1060P. It’s more affordable than most drawing tablets, and it features a large workspace and enough pressure sensitivity levels to draw easily.
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