A drawing tablet is a godsend for digital artists. You can connect it to a PC and create drawings or sketches with the included stylus. There are two types of drawing tablets that you can buy — one with a screen and one without. While ones without a screen are affordable, drawing tablets with screens offer a lot more features. They are also more accurate.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional looking for a tablet for digital art, consider getting one with a display. You get the ability to view your drawings in real-time on the tablet itself. This way, you don’t have to rely on the external monitor of your PC.
We’ve listed some of the best tablets for drawing with screens across various price points. Pick the one that’s best suited for you. Before that, here are some other articles we think may interest you –
- Do you read a lot of books on the go? Consider getting a tablet for reading books and taking notes.
- If you primarily want to take notes though, E-ink tablets for note-taking are the way to go.
- Are you looking for an inexpensive tablet? We have a list of budget tablets for under $100.
Let’s take a look at drawing tablets with a screen and pen.
1. VEIKK VK1200
Screen size: 11.6-inch | Customizable keys: 6 | Pressure levels: 8192
If you were considering a drawing tablet without a screen since it’s more affordable, then you should check out the VEIKK VK1200. To wit, the tablet is a much better option as the unit’s display takes the overall experience up a notch. At the same time, the tablet doesn’t cost too much either.
The 11.6-inch display on the VEIKK tablet is a great addition at this price point. In fact, the VK1200 is one of the cheapest drawing tablets with a screen that you can buy. This makes it a great option for both students and beginners. Despite the low price, the brand hasn’t compromised on premium features.
For starters, there’s a 1080p laminated display that covers 72% of the NTSC color gamut. While it’s not the best in terms of color accuracy, it’s more than acceptable at this price. Another highlight is the 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity along with support for tilt functions. Buyers are particularly fond of this feature as it lets you can make strokes of different thicknesses with ease. The VEIKK VK1200 works with both Windows and macOS.
If you can extend your budget slightly, you can also consider the XP-Pen Artist 12, which gets a better-designed stylus along with a free suite of drawing software.
2. XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro
Screen size: 13.3-inch | Customizable keys: 9 | Pressure levels: 8192
An 11.6-inch canvas may not suffice for everyone’s needs. In that case, consider getting the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro. As the name suggests, this tablet offers a big 13.3-inch IPS display to accommodate large portraits or paintings.
Since we are on the topic of the display, the screen on the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro covers 88% of the NTSC color gamut and 123% of the sRGB color gamut. This ensures better color accuracy compared to VEIKK VK1200. The wide viewing angles add to the experience when using the display on the tablet.
Just like all the other drawing tablets on this list, the Artist 13.3 Pro has a battery-free stylus. On the left side of the tablet, you get eight customizable buttons accompanied by a dial. These additions make the tablet easy to operate even for beginners.
Several users who have switched from more expensive drawing tablets from renowned brands like Wacom to the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro claim that the experience has been more or less similar.
3. Wacom One HD
Screen size: 13.3-inch | Customizable keys: Nil | Pressure levels: 4096
Wacom is one of the most renowned brands in the drawing tablets space. The Wacom One HD is their entry-level drawing tablet aimed at first-time users. While it misses out on some premium features, Wacom’s strongest suit is its wide array of creative apps.
Despite being priced higher than the VEIKK VK1200 and the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro, the Wacom One HD only offers half the levels of pressure sensitivity. This means that you may not be able to draw or sketch with as much precision or leverage minute levels of brush thickness when you’re drawing. You don’t get any customizable buttons either.
However, due to Wacom’s popularity, the One HD is compatible with a wide range of design software. In fact, the brand also bundles in a 6-month subscription to some of its popular apps when you purchase the tablet.
The general consensus among users of the One HD is that while it is a good drawing tablet, there are better options with more features available at a lower price. This makes it hard to recommend the tablet unless you are specifically looking for a product from Wacom.
4. Wacom Cintiq 16
Screen size: 15.4-inch | Customizable keys: 2 | Pressure levels: 8192
If a 13-inch display also doesn’t fulfill your needs, the huge 15.4-inch screen on the Wacom Cintiq 16 will surely grab your attention. Not only is the display big but Wacom has worked on ensuring uniform brightness levels across the screen which is somewhat of a rarity in the tablet’s price bracket.
Apart from the enormous display, there’s not much that separates the Wacom Cintiq 16 from the rest of the pack. The 1080p resolution makes a comeback and so does the IPS LCD tech. One improvement compared to the aforementioned One HD is that the Cintiq 16 supports 8,196 levels of pressure sensitivity. This translates to precise strokes while drawing.
The stylus included with the Wacom Cintiq 16 also seems to have improved. To that end, the tablet’s Pro Pen 2 can work at extreme angles which aids in providing a paper-like feel when drawing. The Cintiq 16 is targeted at professionals and hobbyists looking for a premium and reliable drawing tablet. Several users in the reviews section claim to have used the Cintiq line of Wacom products for several years with no major red flags. This is a positive sign for potential buyers.
5. Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13
Screen size: 13-inch | Customizable keys: 6 | Pressure levels: 8192
All the drawing tablets mentioned so far need to be connected to a computer in order to work. However, the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13 is a standalone drawing tablet with a screen and a built-in OS. This makes it portable since you can use it without relying on a secondary device.
The Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13 is equipped with Intel’s 8th-gen i7 processor paired with Iris Plus Graphics. This essentially makes it a portable computer in the form of a drawing tablet. If you’re a designer who travels often, a standalone drawing tablet like this one can be a blessing.
Apart from this, the 13.3-inch display has a crisp 2K resolution. For smooth performance, Wacom has bundled in 16GB of RAM along with 512GB of SSD storage. Despite carrying a hefty price tag, professional artists seem to love the Studio Pro 13 — thanks to the convenience it brings to the table.
There are very few options for an all-in-one drawing tablet such as this one from Wacom. So if it fits your use case, be prepared to splurge. And, if you’re feeling extra generous, then you can also snag the 16-inch variant of the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13.
FAQs for Drawing Tablets With Screens
Yes, all the drawing tablets mentioned above are compatible with macOS.
While an iPad when paired with the Apple Pencil is a good combo for digital artists, you cannot use it in conjunction with a PC. As a result, you are limited by the number of applications and software support. You may also be limited in terms of precision when using an iPad in place of a dedicated drawing tablet.
All the tablets mentioned above are compatible with any drawing stylus of your choice. However, we recommend using the pen that comes in the box with the tablet for optimum compatibility.
Digitize Your Art
The best way to create digital artwork is by using a drawing tablet with a screen. This way, you can ensure your drawings are precise without relying on an external screen. When you’re not drawing, you can even use these tablets as extended monitors with your PCs.
Last updated on 22 May, 2023
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