Graphic design is a huge industry, and more and more people are getting into it every day. If you’re one of those people, then you know that you need a good tablet to do your best work. So, what’s the best tablet for graphic design? We’ve got five perfect options for design beginners, pros, and those on a budget! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional, we’ve got the perfect tablet for you—with affiliate links for easy purchase. Keep reading to learn more about our top five picks, other contenders, and how we made our decision!
Top 5 Picks for the Best Tablet for Graphic Design
We’ve done the research and put together a list of the best tablets for graphic design, perfect for anyone from beginners to experienced professionals. Below are our top five picks, based on affordability, features, versatility, and more. Read on to learn how we chose each entry, and be sure to explore our full reviews of each tablet to see what made them stand out to our team!
1.) Best Tablet for Graphic Design Beginners: Wacom Cintiq 22
The Wacom Cintiq 22 is the best drawing tablet for beginners, hands-down. It’s easy to use and comes with everything you need to get started, including a free copy of Corel Painter Essentials (digital art software). The Cintiq 22 also has great build quality, with a durable construction that will withstand years of use.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Extra-large display (22″)
- 60 FPS
- High-resolution and pressure sensitivity
Cons
- Non-portable due to size and tethering requirement
- Expensive
Curious about the Wacom Cintiq 22 and what makes it the best drawing tablet for beginners? Check out our full Wacom Cintiq 22 review.
2.) Best Tablet for Graphic Design on a Budget: GAOMON PD1560
If you’re searching for the best cheap drawing tablet, look no further than the GAOMON PD1560. This tablet is great for beginners and experienced artists alike, offering a 15.60-inch drawing area and 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. Plus, the GAOMON PD1560 comes with eight shortcut keys and a detachable stand, making it easy to use and transport.
Pros
- Compact design with left-mode options
- Ten customizable buttons
- Accessories included
- 1920×1080 Resolution
Cons
- Wired connection required
- Pen must be charged
Still not sure if the GAOMON PD1560 is the best cheap drawing tablet for you? Read our full GAOMON PD1560 review.
3.) Best Drawing Tablet for Graphic Design: Huion Kamvas Pro 13
The Huion Kamvas Pro 13 is, in our opinion, the best cheapest drawing tablet with screen responsiveness, fidelity, and color accuracy. It’s a great tablet for beginners and experienced artists alike. It has a 13.0-inch IPS display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and 178-degree viewing angles. The tablet also has eight Express Keys, 20 customizable shortcut keys, and an adjustable stand.
Pros
- Beautiful, sleek, modern design
- Large, bright screen
- Precise and sensitive pen
- Affordable
Cons
- Wired connection required
- Lack of color options
Why is the Huion Kamvas Pro 13 the best cheapest drawing tablet with screen fidelity? Explore the features that make it so unique in our Huion Kamvas Pro 13 review!
4.) Best Standalone Tablet for Graphic Design: Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13
We know that many of you are searching for the best standalone drawing tablet, and we’re happy to report we’ve found it: the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13! This tablet is a powerhouse, with an Intel Core i type of processor and up to 16 GB of RAM. Plus, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 comes with significant amounts of solid-state storage, up to 512GB. That’s plenty of space for all of your design files!
Pros
- Standalone tablet – no connection required
- High-end performance with powerful processor
- ExpressKey Remote
- High-capacity storage options
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
To learn more about why we consider the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 the best standalone drawing tablet for graphic design, browse our full Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 review to see what stands out about this amazing gadget.
5.) Best Tablet for Graphic Design on Android: Huion H610 Pro v2
Not only is the Huion H610 Pro v2 the best budget drawing tablet with a staggering price of $50, but it is also the best Android tablet for drawing thanks to its unique (in this list) Android compatibility. If you’re looking for a great tablet for graphic design that won’t break the bank, the Huion H610 Pro v21 is the best cheap drawing tablet on our list and is perfect for beginners.
Pros
- Abundance of customizable buttons (8 press keys, 16 soft keys)
- 233PPS report rate for smooth, accurate strokes
- Android compatible
- Extremely affordable
Cons
- Not a display tablet; no screen
- No wireless capabilities
As the best Android tablet for drawing and the overall best budget drawing tablet, the Huion H610 Pro v2 could be the best graphics tablet we’ve encountered. Want to learn how much more bang you get for your buck? Read our Huion H610 Pro v2 review for the vitals on this fabulous and frill-free tablet.
Other Contenders for the Best Tablet for Graphic Design
Before we started exploring the entries above, we did a head-to-head comparison of two of the best tablets on the market in 2021: the Wacom Cintiq Pro and the Apple iPad Pro. These two didn’t quite make the list, as there were more feature-packed (MobileStudio) or budget-friendly (Cintiq 22) Wacom options and the iPad has limited compatibility due to iOS, but they’re both still amazing tablets for graphic design and we felt they deserved an honorable mention here.
Wacom Cintiq Pro: Best Tablet for Graphic Design Contender
The Wacom Cintiq Pro is one of the best tablets for graphic design due to its features and capabilities. It has a large screen, making it great for precision work, and comes with the Pro Pen stylus which is very precise and pressure-sensitive. It’s compatible with Mac and PC, and it has swoon-worthy features.
Pros
- Large screen size
- Pressure-sensitive Pro Pen stylus
- Mac and PC compatible
- Toothed, matte display
Cons
- Expensive
- Not a standalone tablet
Apple iPad Pro: Best Tablet for Graphic Design Contender
The Apple iPad Pro is another one of the best tablets for graphic design. It has a large screen, making it great for precision work, and comes with the Apple Pencil stylus which is very precise and pressure-sensitive. It’s obviously compatible with Mac and other iOS devices, and it has some other great features as well.
Pros
- Large screen
- Precise Apple Pencil stylus
- Compatibility with Mac and other iOS devices
- Magic Keyboard
Cons
- Price
- Lack of compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem
How We Chose Our Top Picks
To choose our top picks for the best tablet for graphic design, we took into account a few factors. First, we looked at screen size and resolution. A large screen with a high resolution is important for precision work. For tablets without a screen (graphics tablets), we substituted active area and fidelity for these criteria. Second, we considered compatibility. The best tablet for graphic design should be compatible with the software you’re using.
Third, we looked at features like pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. Pressure sensitivity is important for precision work, and palm rejection helps to avoid accidental input from your hand while you’re working. Finally, we considered price. We wanted to find a balance between features and affordability.
Final Thoughts
The best tablet for graphic design is the one that meets your needs and budget. If you’re a beginner, we recommend the Wacom Cintiq 22. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the GAOMON PD1560 is a great choice. For those on a tight budget, the Huion Kamvas Pro 13 is a good option. If you need a standalone tablet, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 is our top pick. And finally, if you’re looking for an Android tablet for drawing, the Huion H610 Pro V2 is our best budget pick.
When it comes to finding the best tablet for graphic design, there are many things to consider and hundreds of quality (and not-so-quality) options to choose from. We hope our list has helped you narrow down your options and find the perfect tablet for your work. Thanks for reading!
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