One question we get asked a lot is whether iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy tablet is going to replace traditional drawing tablets. It may happen soon but it really depends on your need and habit.
In order not to confuse you with industry terms like graphics tablets or drawing tablets, we are going to just call them drawing tablets and categorize them by looking at tablets which require computer connection and portable drawing tablets which are used as stand-alone.
We will show you the best 3 drawing tablets available in the market for each of the category below.
Computer-connected Drawing Tablets with Stylus
Traditional drawing tablet, or previously known as drawing pad, is a touchpad that comes with a stylus that has high levels of pen pressure sensitivity.
It requires users to connect it to a computer or a monitor before drawings can been seen and is therefore, considered as an accessory of personal computers.
This type of computer drawing tablets aims to provide a natural sketching/ drawing experience, as if you are drawing on actual papers and they usually come with a large drawing canvas.
They are long-lasting (especially those with no screen to break!) and easy to use.
As technology advances, manufactures are beginning to produce drawing tablets with screen, even when it has to be connected to a computer, so users can draw and see the art on the same screen simultaneously.
Professional artists tend to prefer drawing tablets to other multi-purpose tablets that support drawing and sketching.
Top 3 Computer-connected Drawing Tablets
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
Wacom is no doubt a leader in the drawing tablet industry, capturing over 80% of the market share since 2008.
Its latest professional-grade tablet model, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24, is one of the best drawing tablets. It comes with Wacom's most natural and advanced pen performance with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, eraser and virtually lag free tracking.
Its 24 inch LCD display has a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) with superb color accuracy.
XP-PEN Artist24 Pro
The XP-PEN brand manufactures middle price range drawing tablets. Its latest model XP-PEN Artist24 Pro gives you a large working area of 23.8 with a 2K QHD resolutions.
Although the tablet comes with a screen on it, it must be used with a computer.
Similar to Wacom Cintique Pro, the XP-PEN Artist24 stylus provides 8192 levels of instant pen pressure sensitivity.
The down side of this tablet is that it only supports Windows and Mac, it cannot be used with Linux OS or Chromebooks.
Huion Kamvas Pro 24
Huion produces drawing tablets at a much lower price than Wacom and XP-Pen but the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 still gives the same level of pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels with its rechargeable stylus.
The 23.8-inch drawing tablet has a 2.5K QHD resolution which is higher than XP-Pen but the price is more affordable than the others.
Standalone Portable Drawing Tablets with Stylus
The second type of tablet you can draw on is a portable drawing tablet with stylus. The millennials grew up using tablets, be it the iPad or Samsung tablets. They use it to check emails, browse website, watch movies, play games and so on.
In recent years, a number of tablets manufacturer saw an opportunity to incorporate drawing features into their tablets.
By including a stylus, this type of drawing tablet is fully functional on the go – it allows you to draw while seeing the output on the screen and you can enjoy all the other functions it supports.
Standalone drawing tablets are amazingly portable – you can take them anywhere and use them. No computer connection is required and you can enjoy a whole lot of entertainment supported by iOS and Android.
Their drawing capability is often weaker than the traditional drawing tablets which is understandable as they are positioned for beginners, instead of professionals.
Top 3 Portable Drawing Tablets
As one of the newer brands in the drawing tablets space, Simbans produces PicassoTab drawing tablets at an affordable price, which is great for students or beginners.
One can get the Simbans PicassoTab to get a taste of being a digital artist before investing more in professional equipment.
The tablet runs Android operating system and comes with 1280x800 pixels of resolution and a quad-core processor.
It supports multi-touch and multi-port output. The tablet set comes with a Simbans pen, high-quality tablet case, drawing gloves, universal power adaptor and pre-installed screen protector for free.
The Apple iPad Pro gives you two size options – 11 inch or 12.9 inch. The tablet combines impressive power and a large, beautiful display.
With iPad Pro, you enjoy every great experience Apple presents at a premium price compared to other options.
Samsung has always been famous of its screen/ display quality.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a 2-in-1 tablet which allows you to do almost everything – draw, sketch, work as if you are on a computer and enjoy all kinds of entertainment.
The S pen can be magnetically attached to the tablet for easy storage and charging.
