As technology further advances, higher specs and new features were added to digital devices like drawing tablets. Now, more than ever, digital artists get to have more freedom to create wonderful art pieces, thanks to limitless features and improved quality.
A drawing tablet with screen is one of the most in-demand products in the market today. It became popular among digital artists as it provides more convenience and good features compared to a typical drawing pad. There is more to love about it apart from its innovative screen feature. For once, several drawing tablets can allow you to work on other things than digital art.
Reasons to Buy a Digital Art Tablet
The screen feature for drawing tablets provides a more innovative performance and convenient use. A standard graphic tablet can be difficult to use, especially to new or casual artists. With a drawing tablet with screen, both new and professional artists and illustrators can experience a much more smooth and natural feel since it aims to help artists transition from traditional to digital sketching, easily and naturally.
There are many things to love about this digital drawing pad, and here are some of them:
- Help artists transition naturally from traditional to digital art-making
- Relatively easier and more convenient to use
- Provides more customizable setting and several shortcut access
- Displays vibrant, life-like images
Our Best-Recommended Drawing Tablets with Screen for Every Artist
When buying a drawing tablet with screen, you should consider its specs and features. More than anything, you should find a product that caters to your needs and budget. While most drawing pads are expensive, there are some affordable ones that can equally give you a better working performance.
Here are 8 of our top picks to help you shop for the right device:
Apple iPad Pro 2020
If you are looking for some of the best laptops for animation, you might want to consider checking out Apple’s 4th Generation iPad Pro 2020. With its 12.9-inch edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, you can experience better quality and brighter images even under direct sunlight. It also has ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 Wide Color display technologies which can give a more vibrant yet natural-looking image display.
Without a doubt, this product makes the best drawing tablet as it can handle long hours of continuous use of up to 10 hours. More than that, it is powered with A12Z Bionic Chip with Neural Engine which provides incredibly faster and smoother performance, outpacing most PCs in the market today. With this, you can create a series of animations, an advanced web design, and even some architectural sketches.
- A12Z Bionic Chip with Neural Engine
- 12.9-inch Liquid Retina Display with True Tone, ProMotion, and P3 Wide Color
- Long battery life of up to 10 hours
- Apple Pencil, Magic TrackPad, and Smart Keyboard Folio support
- Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity
- USB-C port and connector
Wacom Cintiq 16
Ideal and best-recommended for students and casual artists, Wacom Cintiq 16 can let you easily and naturally adapt from traditional to digital art-making. This 15.6-inch drawing tablet with screen comes with a free battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 that has a low activation force and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, giving precise and lag-free strokes. New aspiring artists can also expect a vibrant and HD quality display with its 16.7 million colors and 72% NTSC (CIE1931) typical color gamut.
To provide convenience and comfort to users, this compact Wacom tablet was designed with an anti-glare film coating and built-in foldable legs. Of course, it also has an HDMI port to let you connect it with your computer and work with almost any drawing software like Paint Tool Sai, Paintshop Pro, Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.
- 15.6-inch HD display (16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC/CIE1931 typical)
- Battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition
- Anti-glare and scratch-resistant
- 3-in-1 HDMI connectivity
- Built-in foldable legs
Wacom Cintiq 22
This Cintiq 22 drawing pad from Wacom has pretty similar specs and features with Cintiq 6. It also comes with a free Wacom Pro Pen 2 and has a vibrant, HD clarity display. One obvious difference it has is that it provides artists a much wider display of 21.5-inch, making it a great drawing table with a screen for professional illustrators. Since it has a large screen, it is much suitable for illustrators that work from home or company studios.
Compared to Cintiq 16, this model has an adjustable stand to let you work with ease and maximum comfort. Also, sketching directly on its screen would feel natural as it has a low parallax and precise support pen.
- 21.5-inch HD display (16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC/CIE1931 typical)
- Battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition
- Anti-glare and scratch-resistant
- 3-in-1 HDMI USB2.0 connectivity
- Adjustable stand
GAOMON PD1161
Like Wacom tablets, GAOMON PD1161 works like a drawing monitor that lets artists draw directly on the screen. Its 11.6-inch screen provides a vivid display as it has a 1080P HD IPS monitor and 72% NTSC (100% SRGB) color gamut. Moreover, with its viewing angle of 178%, you can still expect to see similar crisp and saturation even when viewed sideways.
One unique feature of this model is its 8 customizable press keys on its left. With this, you can work faster and more efficiently as you can use these keys as shortcut keys. If you are left-handed, you don’t need to worry as you can easily set your device in left mode. Considering its features, GAOMON PD1161 is pretty affordable, making it one of the best cheap drawing tablets on the market.
- 11.6-inch 1080P HD IPS monitor
- 16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC (100% SRGB) color gamut
- 178 degrees viewing angle
- Battery-free Pen AP50 with 8,192 pressure levels
- 8 customizable press keys 5 menu keys
- Mini HDMI and Type-C interface support
Wacom One
Wacom One is a 13.3-inch display tablet that caters to various artists and users. This drawing tablet with screen features natural surface friction and HD screen, making it a perfect device for digital drawing, interactive slides presentation, documents annotations, and even for photo and video editing. You may use it with a pressure-sensitive Staedtler Digital Pencil to ensure smoother and precise strokes when sketching.
Many artists and illustrators prefer this brand and model. Not only because it is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Android devices but it also often comes with free access to some great creative software like Adobe Lightroom, Bamboo Paper Pro, and Clip Studio Paint Pro for the first few months. Since it’s compatible with Windows computers, you can also use this to creatively edit files and presentations.
- 13.3-inch HD display
- Natural surface friction
- Staedtler Digital Pencil pressure-sensitivity
- Mac/Windows/Android compatibility
- Free access to some creative softwares
XP-Pen Artist 15.6
With its 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS 16:9 Display and 178 degrees viewing angle, artists and illustrators can experience significantly vivid, sharper, and life-like colors. It can also display 4k images, letting you draw with sharp details. If you want to experience the promising performance of F900 High Tech IC, then better get this XP-Pen Artist 15.6 drawing tablet with a screen. Each stroke with its P05R digital pen will feel more smoother and precise.
Similar to GAOMON PD1161, this drawing pad has 6 customizable shortcuts keys that are placed near its edges to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed users. Aside from that, its battery-free pen and back cover are covered with a rubber mat to provide additional convenience and support. Since it’s compatible with Windows and Mac, you can certainly use various creative software like Procreate with this device.
- 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS 16:9 Display
- 178 degrees viewing angle
- Battery-free P05R digital pen with 8192 pressure levels
- 6 customizable express keys
- F900 High Tech IC
Huion KAMVAS Pro 12
This lightweight digital drawing tablet from Huion features a 11.6-inch IPS screen which is suitable for on-the-go artists and illustrators. KAMVAS Pro 12 can display high-quality images and vivid colors since it has a 16.7 million colors, 120% sRGB color gamut. You can surely have a great experience with this as its screen is fully laminated, coated with anti-glare film, and has 178 degrees viewing angle. It also comes with a battery-free PW507 pen which has 8,192 pressure levels and tilt function.
With its 4 customizable press keys and touch bar, you can conveniently sketch faster and enhance your productivity. Similar to Wacom Cintiq 22, this drawing tablet with a screen has an adjustable stand with 6 available angles to help artists work with maximum comfort. You can do various activities with this as it’s compatible with Mac and Windows devices.
- 11.6-inch IPS display
- 16.7 million colors, 120% sRGB color gamut
- Fully-laminated, anti-glare screen
- Battery-free PW507 pen with 8,192 pressure levels and tilt function
- 4 customizable press keys and touch bar
- Adjustable stand with 6 available angles
Microsoft Surface Book 3
Microsoft Surface Book 3 convertible laptop offers several screen sizes, large storage capacity, and great configuration options. Powered with quad-core 10th Generation Intel Core processors, this can provide really fast and smooth performance. It also features a high-resolution PixelSense display which gives sharp and vivid images.
With large storage, great display, and hybrid design, this device makes an amazing drawing tablet with a screen for professional artists and illustrators, especially that it is run by NVIDIA GTX GeForce GPU. Using Surface Pen, you can experience a lag-free, precise, and smooth drawing even with tilted angles. As this is originally built as a laptop, you get to have more freedom to install softwares and use a keyboard and mouse, making it the best laptop for web design.
- NVIDIA GTX GeForce GPU
- 13.5-inch, 15-inch High-resolution PixelSense Touchscreen Display
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB storage capacity
- Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core Processors i5/i7
- Hybrid, convertible device
- USB-A, USB-C interface support
Things to Consider When Buying a Digital Tablet
Whether you are a new aspiring artist or a professional one, reviewing the specs and features of a digital tablet with a screen that you are buying should be necessary. Doing this will help ensure that you get the device that is right and perfect for your needs. Each spec and features contribute and greatly affects the performance of your device. That is why it is important that you familiarize yourself with its terms and descriptions.
To help you out, here are first five things that you should consider before buying:
Tablet Size and Weight
The first thing that you should consider is the size and weight of your device. Drawing tablets come in different sizes. You can find 11-13-inch compact ones which are suitable for on-the-go artists and illustrators. On the other hand, some display tablets can go as big as 21.5 inches, like Wacom Cintiq 22, which is ideal for home and office studio artists.
So, access first which type of artist you are. Then proceed to find models that can cater to your needs and lifestyle. The size of your drawing tablet is important more than you ever think as this can greatly affect your work performance and efficiency.
Display Quality
Since you are working with 2D and 3D art and illustrations, it is important to have a device that offers high-definition, sharp, and vivid display. Look for a drawing tablet with a screen that has at least 16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC/CIE1931 typical color gamut to experience a display with life-like images.
You should also prioritize devices that offer at least 1920X1080 HD quality displays for detailed and clear images. If you can, aim for a drawing tablet that features a 4K display for sharper and detailed images.
Screen Type
Working long hours in front of your drawing pad can strain your eyes. That said, get a device that has an anti-glare film coating. Apart from protecting your eyes, it can also help you work more efficiently as it balances out the lights and colors on the screen.
To help you draw and paint smoothly, choose one that has a full-laminated screen. With this, you can experience a more natural-feel stroke when sketching. This is highly recommended for artists who would like to transition from traditional to digital art-making.
Digital Pen Support
Of course, you would also need to have a good-quality input pen to help you work faster and efficiently. Although most of the universal stylus sold in the market works well with any touchscreen device, it is better to buy one that has a good precision level. If you want precise and sharp strokes, look for an input pen with at least 8,192 pressure levels and title recognition.
Customizable press keys also greatly help you work faster and efficiently. With this feature, you can access menus and buttons of your creative software without using a keyword. This is highly recommended for illustrators, video editors, and 3D animators.
Check out our top picks for universal digital drawing pens:
Adonit Pro 4
Adonit Pro 4 is a luxury-looking disc stylus that is compatible with all touchscreen devices. With its sleek design and body made of aluminum, this digital pen can pass off as a regular fountain pen. Its streamlined pen clip design also allows you to easily store it in your tablet pouch, handbag, or even in your pockets.
This can be used as a good support pen for a digital tablet with a screen as it features a fine point tip, giving precise line strokes. Since it is a disc-type stylus, your sketch tablet can be free from scratches and wears even after months of average use. Not to mention that it also helps bring more stability to your work. Overall, Adonit Pro 4 is a good digital pen for casual artists, gamers, and even students and office workers.
- Soft Touch Precision PET Disc
- Fine Point Precision
- Sleek Design with Streamlined Pen Clip
- Aluminum Body and Copper Cap
- Replaceable Disc Tip
Intuos4 Ink Pen
This stylus comes from the Wacom brand. So, if you are using a Wacom tablet, Intuos4 Ink Pen can give you a more precise and smooth performance. With this, artists and illustrators can trace and illustrate their original artworks more easily and accurately. It can also be used to input additional hand-written texts and sketches.
With its comfortable design and ballpoint tip, Intuos4 Ink Pen lets users draw and paint more naturally and conveniently, especially when partnered with similar brand devices. Given its features, this stylus is ideal for every artist or non-artists alike. While it may look like a typical universal stylus, this Wacom stylus allows you to trace conventional artworks directly into your art tablet.
- Comfortable, Pen-Like Design
- Replaceable Ballpoint Tip
- Precise and accurate tracing even on 10mm-thick pads
- Compatible to touchscreen devices
Wacom Pro Pen 3D
Wacom Pro Pen 3D is an input pen best for 3D artists and animators. Similar to Wacom Pro Pen 2, its tip features 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition, providing fast, smooth, and precise drawing performance. Aside from that, artists can use this for long hours since this is battery-free and cordless. The only difference it makes is its 3 customizable side switches are primarily provided as additional. Accessible control keys for 3D programs and applications. With this, you can work faster and more efficiently on your 3D projects.
Wacom Pro Pen 3D is best partnered with Wacom Mobile Studio Pro, Wacom Cintiq Pro, and Wacom Intuos Pro 2017. It can also be used with any creative softwares and applications supported by Windows and Mac.
- 8,192 Levels of Pressure Sensitivity and Tilt Recognition
- 3 Customizable Side Switches
- Cordless and Battery-Free
- Replaceable Nibs
- Eraser Free
- Compatible with Mac and Windows applications
Interface Support
While there are tablet computers like iPad Pro 2020 and Microsoft Surface Book 3 that you can use as superior-quality drawing tablets, there are still several ones that cannot work independently. For once, Wacom display tablets need to connect with Mac or Windows devices to work. That said, it is important that you get a device that offers several interface support.
HDMI is probably the most common interface available to most art tablets, especially on older models. However, several brands now use various interface supports like USB2.0, Type-C, USB-A, and USB-B to provide more options and convenience to more artists and illustrators.
To Sum It Up
A drawing tablet with screen is a great device for new and professional artists who want to transition from conventional to digital art-making. It offers various amazing features like a significantly vivid display, high precision level, and convenient and smart design. More than that, it provides a more innovative way of making art and it also encourages good and balanced productivity.
Different brands offer different specs and features, that is why it is important to familiarize yourself with several models to see what is fit to your needs. If you want something that you can also use aside from doing digital art, you may consider buying either Apple iPad Pro 2020 or Microsoft Surface Book 3. However, if you only need a display tablet, you can choose a device from Wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, or GAOMON.
The key here is to find a drawing tablet with screen that features an HD display that has an anti-glare and full-laminated screen. It also should have a compatible input pen that has at least 8,192 pressure level and tilt recognition. Once it has its key features, you can expect to perform with ease, convenience, and great results.
