I have several setups ready for testing and trying out drawing tablets. It varies over time and what I am doing. Below is my latest setup as of 2023/08/03.

#1 Primary desktop

• Computer: Minisforum Neptune HX99G

• RAM: 64GB

• Storage: 1TB

• Tablets

  • Wacom Intuos Pro Large (PTH-860)

  • Wacom Cintiq Pro 22 (DTH227)

  • Both tablets are connected at the same time

#2 Drawing desktop

• Computer: Microsoft Surface Pro 8

• RAM: 32GB

• Storage: 1TB

• XP-Pen Deco Pro XLW 2nd Gen (MT1592B)

• XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 2nd Gen (MD160QH)

#3 Testing desktop

• Computers:

  • Microsoft Surface Pro 8 - Primarily for testing with Open Tablet Driver

  • M3 MacBook pro - for testing manufacturer drivers

• Tablets: various

Overview

Drawing tablets allow us to intuitively use a digital pen. On this site, I collected all my notes about drawing tablets over the years. If you are looking to buy a tablet, wanting to get help with a problem with your tablet, or just want to understand the technology, then I think you'll find the information you need here.

Popular topics

• Product info - here you can find collected links, revies, information for many tablets and devices.

Contact

Chat

I run a small discord server for drawing tablets. This is where I can sometimes be found chatting about drawing tablets.

• In that list you can see

  • The tablet name, model number, and brand

  • When I purchased the tablet

  • Which store I purchased from

  • The year the tablet model was released

  • Whether the tablet was bought new or used

Overview

Most people buy drawing tablet to create digital art. I've collected some links below to help them get started on this journey.

The role of drawing tablets

I do recommend you get a drawing tablet for digital art, but remember you don't have to force yourself to use a tablet for everything.

Many people use tablets in addition to other techniques. For example, some people draw on paper and then photograph or scan the drawing to get it into their computer. From there, they just finish up their work with a drawing tablet.

Videos

• Digital art
• Learning to draw and paint

Social

Equipment

My hobby concerning drawing tablets is centered largely around creatives - people who are drawing, sketching, etc. Despite using tablets for well over a decade, only in 2022 did I discover people were using drawing tablets for games. And some of these games are quite popular.

osu!

osu! is very popular

They have about 1.7M monthly active users who play osu!

How osu! players use drawing tablets

While creatives tend to use their drawing tablets in standard ways, osu! players do a number of quite surprising things:

Active area size

• Players use tablets of various sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. Small is the most popular based on the videos I've seen.

• Players often customize the active area to be surprisingly small - much smaller than even the default active area. In the video above, notice how the player moved the pen only in a tiny region of that tablet.

Drivers

• • OTD has less lag than manufacturer drivers

  • OTD is highly customizable through it's plug-in system

  • OTD works across many tablet models

  • OTD works on Windows, Mac, and Linux

Drag vs hover

• Drag players play with the pen touching the surface of the tablet.

• Hover players don't let the pen touch the tablet surface.

Clicking

There are various clicking styles used by osu! players.

• click by tapping the pen on the tablet

• click by using the keyboard

• click by alternating between the pen tapping and keyboard presses

Tablet expertise

Some osu! players - at least the ones I communicate with regularly - are remarkably knowledgeable about drawing tablets.

They know a tremendous amount about the hardware, drivers, etc. Some conduct original research and testing of tablets. Some write code for OpenTabletDriver.

I would consider them absolute experts - far beyond any drawing tablet reviewer out there and myself.

They are also incredibly sensitive to microscopic behaviors, latencies, etc. in drawing tablets - far more than someone who has typically has used tablets only for creative tasks.

Advanced customization

Players do advanced customization of osu! through OpenTabletDriver plug-ins. Some examples:

• Circular/Elliptical tablet areas

• Rotated tablet areas

• Live active area randomization

Picking a drawing tablet for osu!

FPS games

Players using drawing tablets for FPS games is less common than for Rhythm games, but this is the preferred input device for some people.

Drawing tablets are heavily used for creating educational content. For example you've probably seen the Khan Academy videos and those are created with a drawing tablet.

Easy tablet choices

For this you want high reliability and durability and you DO NOT need to spend a lot of money buying a fancy tablet. And for those reasons I'll keep the recommendations short:

What features you need

• Pressure support - Will help you strokes look more natural. All drawing tablets have this pressure support.

• Tilt - not needed for education use. More of an artist thing.

• Tablet buttons (aka. ExpressKeys) - I think they can come in very useful for people. For some people these are critical. No harm in getting them, you can always disable them.

• Size - Medium or Small. I always recommend medium. Even though some people are OK with small tablets, I do see a far number of people say the small size makes their hand feel cramped.

My recommendations

Pen tablets (no screen)

• One by Wacom Medium (CTL-672)

  • Pressure: YES

  • Tilt: NO

  • Tablet Buttons: NO

  • Wireless: NO

• Wacom Intuos Medium (CTL-6100 or CTL-6100WL)

  • Pressure: YES

  • Tilt: NO

  • Tablet buttons: YES

  • Wireless: Only the CTL-6100WL supports wireless

Pen displays (have a screen)

• XP-Pen Artist 12 GEN2 (CD120FH)

  • Pressure: YES

  • Tilt: YES

  • Tablet buttons: YES

  • Wireless: NO

• XP-Pen Artist 13 GEN2 (CD130FH)

  • Pressure: YES

  • Tilt: YES

  • Tablet buttons: YES

  • Wireless: NO

• Wacom One GEN1 (DTC-133)

  • Pressure: YES

  • Tilt: YES

  • Tablet buttons: NO

  • Wireless: NO

Which tablet does Sal Khan use?

Sal Khan uses a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium for his videos. That is an AMAZING tablet, but honestly overkill. You can get by with a much less expensive tablet.

Which specific model of Intuos Pro he is using?

• The pen does not look like the Wacom Pro Pen 2 that comes with the PTH-660

• The USB-cable connects with a thicker end and is not the L-shaped connector that comes PTH-660

• The back of the tablet has the older Wacom branding.

Resources

If your are a creative, then it's pretty obvious why there's a benefit to using a drawing tablet instead of a mouse when you are drawing.

Some people simply want to use the drawing tablet as a mouse replacement. They can definitely serve this purpose.

My personal experience

I did this for about 10 years. Although I always had a mouse connected, 99.9% of the time I used a drawing tablet.

Size

I used a MEDIUM sized tablet - something the size of a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium.

For a few years I a SMALL sized tablet - something the size of a Wacom Intuos Pro small. When I was using the small tablet, I was in a non-artistic phase so I was not drawing with it much.

I generally recommend MEDIUM sized tablets as a mouse replacement, but SMALL can work also.

Wrist pain

One of the reasons I avoided using the mouse was that it was causing wrist pain. The pen was helpful in reducing the pain. However, if I do draw a lot over a month or so, I can develop wrist pain. So a drawing tablet might help, but it will not eliminate these kinds of problems.

Holding the pen while typing

To make it easier to switch between typing and using the pen I ALWAYS held the pen in my hand even when typing.

When drawing I held it like you would normally hold a pen, but when I switched to typing, as I extended out my fingers the pen I would rotate the pen so the tip is pointing up and to the side.

Pen pressure

The vast majority of drawing tablets support pressure sensitivity. For a mouse replacement, tilt is not important.

Pen tilt

The vast majority of drawing tablets support tilt. This is useful for art. Even then not all artists use the tilt feature. For a mouse replacement, tilt is not relevant.

Sturdiness

Modern mice are incredibly sturdy devices. They don't even have moving parts except for the buttons. You could drop them from your desk and they will still work.

Drawing tablet pens are much more sensitive. They have more delicate and sensitive parts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you DO NOT DROP THEM. Sometimes they work perfectly after that. But they can malfunction in all sorts of ways after a drop. And keep in mind that the pens are not cheap. If you need to buy a replacement it will be anywhere from $35 USD to $90 USD.

Pointer positioning

Aspect ratios

Moving the pointer vs clicking

In a a mouse, you can independently move and click. This means you can move the pointer without accidentally clicking.

The same thing works with drawing tablet pen. But you should realize how it works.

• To click - you tap down on the tablet with the pen

• To move AND click at the same time - you press down on the tablet and move the pen. The click lasts as long as you are touching the tablet.

Holding pointer position completely still

With a mouse this is SUPER EASY you can jsut not move the mouse. And it is EASY to keep a mouse still. You can even let go of the mouse from your hand the pointer won't move.

With a drawing tablet, this is actually very hard. Because you have to HOVER the pen at the exact same spot above the tablet. That is very hard to do, because any motion of your hand will often move the pointer.

Not clicking

It's easy to avoid accidental clicks with a mouse.

With a pen you have to HOVER. And if you accidentally touch the surface it will count as a click.

Drivers

For the vast majority of mice, you can just plug them into a computer and they will "just work". This is because the computer has drivers for mice already installed.

That isn't quite the case for drawing tablets. You will need to install the tablet driver.

Compatibility with apps

Once you install the tablet driver, the tablet is compatible with all applications.

Wired vs Wireless

Mice can be:

• Wired only

• Wireless only

• Wired + Wireless

Drawing tablets can be

• Wired only

• Wired + Wireless

There are no drawing tablets that are wireless only.

Wireless issues

Latency - There is a little extra latency when using wireless. Some people don't use wireless for this reason.

Interference - Usually tablets use Bluetooth. You may find that devices liek phones when they are close to your tablet may interfere. Usually this takes the form of an unresponsive pen or stuttering of pointer position as you move.

Tablets that work well as mouse replacements

Lots of them would work. The easy choices are:

• One by Wacom Small (CTL-472)

• One by Wacom Medium (CTL-672)

• Wacom Intuos Small (CTL-4100)

• Wacom Intuos Medium (CTL-6100)

Other brands also have tablets that work as mouse replacements, but the safe choice is Wacom because of their track record of reliability.

Resources

Overview

Taking notes is a popular scenario for drawing tablets.

On the other hand some people enjoy taking notes with pen tablets (screenless tablets) or pen displays (screen tablets).

General considerations

Besides locating the position of the pen there are two pen features to discuss.

• pen pressure - this is somewhat useful for taking notes because it will make your notes look a bit more natural.

• pen tilt - for taking notes, I don't think this is very important at all. And many note taking apps ignore this feature entirely.

Using pen tablets (screenless tablets)

Some people can work very well with using a pen tablet for taking notes. Though I'm not one of these people. The chief difficulty in taking notes with the pen tablet is that you cannot see what you are writing and instead you have to look at the screen of your computer. Some find this difficult for taking notes . But for others it works very well.

Considerations:

• Size. Small pen tablets don't offer much space for writing and it can feel cramped. A medium pen tablet is better, but then it takes up a bit more space.

• Wireless. You might prefer to get a pen tablet that supports a wireless connection. Because it can be a little irritating to have the tablet always physically connected to the computer.

Recommended pen tablets

If you do want to use a pen tablet for taking notes here are some devices that will work well and don’t cost too much. You can even find them for less cost on eBay.

• Wacom One Medium (CTL-672)

• Wacom One Small (CTL-472)

Using a pen display (screen tablet)

Pen displays, because they do have a screen, generally feel more natural for note taking than a pen tablet. However the chief problem with the pen display is that it requires connection with the computer.

Considerations:

• Size - a 13" or smaller pen display should work fine. In fact 13" may even be a bit large for this purpose.

• Wireless. A pen display will always have at least one wire that needs to be connected to the computer.

• Power. The pen display will draw a significant amount of power from your laptop. And this will really reduce the battery life of your laptop.

• Dropping the tablet. If you are note taking in a location where you might drop your pen display, in many cases you will either experience a cracked screen or simply break the tablet entirely.

Applications for taking notes

Resources

Wacom

Huion

Go to the bottom of the page to find links to contact Huion support

XP-Pen

Gaomon

service@gaomon.net

Overview

If you just acquired a drawing tablet and want to start using it, this guide will lead you through the basics.

Get prepped

• Read the manual for your tablet. You don't need to even open the box. You can download the manual from the manufacturer website.

Don't drop the pen

• If drop the pen to the floor, usually it will be unharmed.

• When you are not using it make sure its stored in such a way it doesn't fall off your desk.

• HOWEVER, sometimes a pen seems to hit just right and the fall can damage the pen.

Prepare for replacing your pen

The pen has somewhat delicate parts inside and is the most likely thing you will break. If you lose or damage your pen, there are some things you need to know:

• Pens are surprisingly expensive to replace.

  • Some pens cost half the cost of the tablet

  • Some pens (especially Wacom Pro pens) are more expensive than the tablets of other brands.

Install the tablet driver

• You need the tablet driver installed for the tablet to work correctly.

• You can go to the manufacturer site and download the driver and install now before your tablet even arrives.

• If the tablet driver is installed, when you connect the tablet with USB cable the driver will just detect the tablet and the pen will work as soon as it comes close to the tablet (about 10mm)

• The drivers install an app you can use to configure the driver. The apps have different names depending on your tablet brand

Connect the tablet

• Pen tablet - There will be a simple USB cord. These days the cords are all USB-C cords.

  • Some pen tablets ALSO support wireless connection. For now ignore wireless. It just adds more complication. Get it working with a cable first

The NO SIGNAL problem with pen displays

How the pen & tablet work with the computer

• If the pen is in range (about 10mm) of the tablet or touching the tablet , then moving the pen will move the mouse pointer.

  • If the pen is not touching the tablet, it will be like your are not pressing down any mouse buttons

  • if the pen is touching the tablet, it will be like you are holding down the left mouse button

• In drawing apps which are pen aware can take advantage of other features like pressure and tilt.

• If you are using a drawing program, You don't need to hold down any button for it to draw, just put touch the pen to the tablet.

Active Area (aka Working Area)

• The active area on the tablet is the region of the tablet that is sensitive to the pen.

  • Wacom calls this the "Active Area" in their docs. In their driver, it is called "Mapping"

  • Huion calls this the "Working Area"

  • I will always call it the "active area" because that is the oldest term for it.

• Go into the driver and and find the active area and get familiar with what it looks like. It's one of the most common things you'll need to adjust.

Map the Active Area to a single display

• This step is needed for pen tablets (the ones without a screen)

• The active area can be mapped to 1 of your displays or multiple displays.

• For now, map the active area to a single display.

Match aspect ratios between the active area and your display

• This step is needed for pen tablets (the ones without a screen). You don't have to do this for other kinds of tablets.

• This step is important for pen tablets. If you don't do this there will be a distortion as you draw - in other words tracing out a perfect circle on the tablet will draw an oval on the screen.

Windows

Apps

Overview

Almost certainly you've used a mouse with a computer, and this this document will help you understand how using a drawing tablet with its pen differs from using a mouse.

Positioning strategy

Stroke smoothness in drawing apps

With a drawing applications you'll notice that the strokes drawn with a mouse have a rougher stair-step effect and in general are not as smooth.

Position smoothing (aka "stabilization") is one of these techniques. However, Some apps may allow position smoothing with drawing tablets but not with mice.

Here's what Krita currently does:

• Basic smoothing: applies ONLY to drawing tablets

• Weighted smoothing: applies BOTH to drawing tablets and mice

Here's what Clip Studio Paint does:

• Stabilization: applies ONLY to drawing tablets

Clicking and moving the pointer

With a mouse, you move the pointer and clicks only happen when you take a very conscious effort to click a mouse button.

A drawing tablet feels very different. To move the pointer and avoid clicking you hover the pen over the drawing tablet (up to about 10mm) and this will move the pointer without clicking. If you touch the pen to the tablet however, this will count as a click.

So with a drawing tablet you have to get used to hovering and only pressing down when you want to click.

Keep the pointer on a single pixel (without clicking)

With a mouse it's usually pretty easy to put the pointer on a single pixel and keep it there. You can just move the mouse and once the pointer is where you want it, it's easy to hold the mouse in that position. Or you can even let go of the mouse and the pointer will stay there.

Drawing tablets feel very different in this regard. First, you can't touch the tablet with the pen you have to hover the pen over that spot. While it is very easy to hover in a general location (a couple of pixels wide) its much harder to keep the pen over a specific pixel while hovering because you hand will move around a bit. Also most drawing tablet pens are sensitive to the tilt of the pen, and so if you tilt the pen it may cause some movement in the mouse pointer.

Keep the pointer on a single pixel (while clicking)

Mice are really good at this. Once the pointer is where you want it, you can click the buttons and this can be done without changing the pointer location.

This is much harder with a pen. First there is the general difficulty of keeping the pointer on a specific pixel. And then, if you press the buttons on the pen, this will almost always change the position of the pen and thus the pointer.

Application considerations

if you are drawing strokes or painting in an app like Clip Studio Paint or Krita, then a drawing tablet will feel MUCH more natural.

If you are layout out shapes and creating vector shapes in applications like Illustrator, a mouse might actually be better because they are easier to keep in a specific pixel location. For example, I normally just use a mouse when I use illustrator.

Ergonomics > Wrist Pain

Using a mouse can place strain on your wrist. Drawing tablets are generally less stressful on your wrist. However, they also can place strain.

Power

Mice get their power from either a cable or they use batteries.

Modern drawing tablets all support wired connection through USB. Some tablets also support wireless connection through bluetooth.

The pens for a modern drawing tablet neither use a cable nor do they have batteries. Instead they get power simply from being near the drawing tablet.

ProTip: Match aspect ratios when using a pen tablet

Overview

The easiest way to understand what it feels like to draw on a drawing tablet is to compare it to drawing with pen and paper.

A pen display works just like pen and paper in the sense that you can exactly see what you're drawing. More specifically your eyes are looking at what you're drawing.

With a pen tablet things are very different - your hand is drawing in one place but you're looking somewhere else to see what's being drawn. So fundamentally using a pen tablet works differently than pen and paper.

Getting strokes right the first time

Because it is more clear what the pen is doing with the pen display many people who use append display say that they “get the stroke right the first time”.

With a pen tablet people often feel like they have to make the stroke multiple times to get it right and have to press undo to erase Any errant strokes.

I would generally agree with this feeling. When I want to get a drawing done faster especially if I have a general sense of what it is I want to draw then I do work faster with the pen display and I find that I have to press undo far less often.

Dealing with your hands

With a pen display, things are natural. You see the pen in the same place the stroke is being drawn - just like when you use pen and paper.

And just like pen-and-paper, your own hand and the pen will block your eyes from seeing the display. The easy solution to this is to reposition your eyes or take advantage of the canvas zoom and rotation features of your drawing app.

With a pen tablet, you are looking at a monitor but drawing somewhere else with your hand. Fundamentally this is no different than using a mouse. So this is kind of a convenience actually since you never have to worry about the positions of your hands. They can be anywhere and they will never block what you see.

Adjustment period

Because a pen display works like pen and paper almost everyone can immediately start using a pen display. It's just kind of obvious how it works. And especially these days with so many people having used devices like iPads. They know how to deal with the screen that they can interact with.

For pen tablets things get a little more complicated. I would say that 80% of people can immediately or at least in a few minutes get comfortable using a pen tablet. Another 10% of people will take anywhere from a couple of days to maybe a couple of weeks to adjust to a pen tablet. And the remaining 10% of people will never be able to adjust to a pen tablet. For them it will never feel natural to use. And they are better off getting a pen display.

Unfortunately without trying a pen tablet it's really difficult to tell if you would fall into the 10% of people who just can't use pen tablets..

Matching aspect ratios

With a pen display, the active are and the screen have the same size. This means the pen will draw exactly where you see it draw.

Overview

There are three kinds of drawing tablets. This document is discussing how you might choose between a pen tablet and a pen display.

• pen tablets - that don't have a screen

• pen displays - that do have a screen

• standalone tablets- that have a screen and you can use them without being connected to a computer

Approach

Choosing between a pen tablet and pen display is not easy. There is no single answer that applies to everyone.

This document will identify the different dimensions across which you can compare a pen tablet and a pen display. And it will identify those cases in which pen tablets have an advantage and those cases in which a pen display has an advantage.

And ultimately the goal is to provide you enough information so that you can make an informed decision.

Details

Dispelling common myths

MYTH: A pen display is inherently better than a pen tablet

REALITY: Neither is inherently better. Which one you should use depends on a lot of factors

Pen displays look really fancy and cost much more than a pen tablet. And it would be natural to think that this means that pen displays are in some way fundamentally better than a pen tablet. That is absolutely not true. Pen tablets have their own merits. So do not think about a pen tablet as simply a lower cost option that you have to “settle for.” For many people it is the right answer.

MYTH: Professional artist only use pen displays

REALITY: Professional artists use both pen displays and pen tablets

Another common myth is that professionals only use pen displays. Again this is absolutely not true. There are many professional artists who use pen tablets out of preference and or doing high quality professional work with those pen tablets.

MYTH: People naturally prefer using a pen display. The only reason they use pen tablets is because they are cheaper.

REALITY: Lots of people try pen displays, and go back to pen tablets

I see countless stories of people who love using their pen tablet but feel the need to get a pen display and then when they tried the pen display they realized that the pen tablet worked much better for them. And then they end up returning.

MYTH: Pen displays let you create better art

REALITY: Both pen displays and pen tablets can create equivalently good art

Some people worry that the quality of art they want to produce can only be produced by a pen display. You shouldn't let that worry you. People have been producing amazing art with pen tablets for decades. There are definitely some benefits to using a pen display, but the quality of art than can be made is not a factor.

Advice for first-time tablet users

If you are just getting started using a drawing tablet - for example maybe this is going to be the first tablet you own - my advice is to start with a pen tablet. And learn to use it and if you can't adjust to a pen tablet in a few weeks then return it and get a pen display.

Need to be used with a computer

WINNER: TIE

Both pen tablets and pen displays need a computer to work. They can't be used standalone like an Apple iPad.

Posture

WINNER: Pen tablets

Cost

WINNER: Pen tablets

Pen tablets cost much less than pen displays. Even the most expensive pen tablet cost less than the majority of pen displays.

• Pen tablets cost between $50 to $250. The most expensive on the market is $500 and often discounted to $400.

• Pen displays start at around $300 and can go up to about $1300. Wacom professional pen displays are in a special price category and can cost from $2500 to $3500.

Reliability

WINNER: Pen tablets

Pen tablets are the clear winner for reliability. Pen tablets are very simple devices compared to pen displays. They have far fewer components. And so there's just less of a probability that something will go wrong with the hardware of a pen tablet. And the components they have are not as delicate.

Cabling

WINNER: Pen tablets

Pointer lag

WINNER: Pen tablets

All tablets have some amount of pointer lag. But in my observation pen tablets have less pointer lag than pen displays.

Wireless connectivity

WINNER: Pen tablets

Many pen tablets support wireless connectivity. These days that is via Bluetooth.

However no pen displays support wireless connectivity. You will always have at least one wire connecting your end display to your computer. And if you have a larger pen display - anything at 16 inches and above - it's almost guaranteed you'll have at least two wires - one going to your computer and one for power.

Taking notes

WINNER: Pen displays

Surviving a fall

WINNER: Pen tablets

If you knock a pen tablet off your desktop and it hits the floor almost certainly nothing bad will happen. Pen tablets generally don't have any moving parts aside from maybe some buttons. But if you drop a pen display almost certainly that pen display will be severely damaged by the drop. This could shatter the glass of the pen display. Or it could do some severe internal damage to the display panel that's inside the tablet. And this damage to a pen display is not user repairable and it's often extremely expensive to have it repaired if it is even possible to repair.

Most of the time when I've seen someone have significant damage to their appendix display the cost to repair is as much as a new pen display.

Power requirements

WINNER: Pen tablets

Hand covering what you are drawing

WINNER: Pen tablets

In many ways a pen display mimics how it feels to draw with pen and paper. Usually this is an advantage. However it also has some of the same limitations of pen and paper. In particular with the pen display your hand and arm are between you and what you are drawing. So quite naturally you have to accommodate for this. You might have to draw from a different angle or rotate the canvas.

A pen tablet of course separates what you see from where you draw. And so your hand is never in the way of what you are drawing.

Physical size and weight

WINNER: Pen tablets

Pen tablets are considerably thinner and weigh less.

Drawing experience

WINNER: Pen displays

• Pen displays have a more natural feel because you looking at the same place your are drawing. With a pen tablet you are drawing in one place but looking somewhere else.

• Most people feel like they have press UNDO much less frequently with a pen display because the stroke more often goes where they intended.

• With a pen display you do have to ensure you configure the tablets active area to map to your display so that there is no distortion. With pen displays you don't have to do this.

Portability

WINNER: Pen tablets

Given their size and weight and need for a single cable (or even wireless capability) pen tablets have a lot of advantages for carrying around with you.

Diagonal wobble

In my testing I have found no clear pattern that indicates that pen tablets or pen displays are prone to more or less diagonal wobble. Instead it seems to be linked to the specific tablet model involved.

Pen pressure handling

The behavior of a tablet with regard to pressure (IAF, max pressure, etc.) depends on the pen that is used, not the tablet.

There are a few exceptions - there are 1 or 2 tablets that I think do a particularly bad job of pressure independent of the pen, but those are exceedingly rare.

You can use both kinds of tablets

Videos

Overview

We would all like to have completely brand new equipment. However used tablets maybe a way to save a little extra money.`

My experience with used drawing tablets

• pen tablets - Pen tablets are generally very reliable devices and are fine to buy used I own many used pen tablets, some over 25+ years old that still work.

• pen displays - I have purchased one used pen display.

Tablet age

Older drivers

Which brands for buying used

Used Wacom Intuos professional tablets

There are some factors you MUST take into account when buying them used. I've summarized those issues in this video below. In the description of the video, please make sure to note the errata.

Even though this video is about used pen tablets, I think it may be useful even if you are looking to purchase a used pen display.

Likewise even though this video is about professional tablets, the topics raised also apply to consumer level tablets.

Notes on Wacom drivers

Alternative to Wacom drivers for older tablets

Testing out a tablet before you buy

Buying online

You can find many tablets on eBay and I've had a good experience with the 25+ tablets I've bought from there

• All but 1 worked out-of-the-box

• Reading the item description...

  • I made sure the surface didn't have any visible signs of wear

  • That the tablet came with a pen

  • That the tablet came with the cables it needed - this is very important if the tablet used proprietary cables

Tablet Manufacturers on eBay

Some manufacturers directly sell new and used/refurbished tablets on eBay

Surface texture

A used tablet's surface might be almost pristine or it might be heavily used and exhibit a lot of surface wear.

• Ideally you get one that is not heavily worn.

• Small scratches or OK if they can not be felt through the pen.

More here:

Pens

Keep in mind you may get a nice price on a tablet, but it may not come with a pen. So verify whether a pen is included or not before you purchase.

If you need to buy a pen or you break your pen, keep in mind that

• You have to make sure you find the exact model number of pen that is compatible with your tablet. A random pen from the same brand may not be compatible.

• Replacement pens can be very expensive even if they are a decade old. For example, older Wacom Pro Pens can be very expensive (>=$100).

• Replacement pens can be incredibly hard to find on the used market.

• In the used market, sellers do not sell the pen by itself. So you may even have to purchase ANOTHER tablet with a pen. I've personally had to do this myself.

Nibs

Often, depending on the tablet and how you draw, the pen nib wears down as you use a pen.

• Verify whether your purchase includes spare nibs or not.

• Compatible nibs may be difficult to find.

• Compatible nibs may be difficult.

Reddit threads

Introduction

I want to help you make an informed choice when purchasing a drawing tablet. My goals are to (1) save you money, (2) ensure you aren't disappointed with your purchase, and (3) prevent you from damaging your tablet or pen.

Buying guide videos series

If you prefer a watching a video ... I've got a playlist here:

My recommendations

Choosing the type of drawing tablet

The most fundamental choice to make is the kind of drawing tablet you want:

• pen tablet - does NOT have a screen and requires a computer to use

• pen display - has a screen and requires a computer to use

• standalone tablet - has a screen and can be used my itself without being connected to a computer.

Basic guidelines

• If you really need need one that is standalone get an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Brands

Product info

Core drawing tablet features

• • Initial Activation Force (IAF) is smallest pressure that activates the pen. In general you want a pen that has a low (<=3gf) IAF. Modern drawing tablet pens are around this value.

  • The maximum pressure is the most pressure the pen can detect. The pressure range is the difference between the maximum pressure and IAF. Higher maximum pressure means that the pressure range is wide and is better for drawing because it lets you have better control over how pressure affects your stroke.

  • The difference between the max pressure and IAF is the physical pressure range. A range of 300gf is GOOD. 400gf and above is very good. Not all brands publish this information for their pens but some do. If you can't find the information ask customer support or ask people in the community.

  • Pressure levels - the physical pressure range is divided into segments - each segment is a pressure level. They go from 0 to some number like 8192. Despite what marketing says, I believe you only need 2048 pressure levels. All modern tablets have at least 4096 level, and the vast majority have 8192, and a few have 16K. In other words, EVERY tablet has enough pressure levels. So don't worry about choosing a tablet based on pressure levels.

• EMR resolution - This is how accurately the tablet can sense different positions of the pen. In other words, this is the tablet's ability to detect very tiny position changes. Most tablets have a reported LPI of 5080. 5080 lines per inch translates to 200 lines per mm. Without getting into details, Wacom tech is superior here, but if you are drawing you will not notice this. You don't need to worry about this spec. All modern tablets have enough resolution.

Secondary features

Pen display topics

Connections & cabling

Pen tablets can all be connected with a single USB cable. Most pen tablets even support wireless connectivity - usually via Bluetooth. Be aware that many tablet models have wireless and non-wireless versions with slightly different names and model numbers. Be sure which one you are buying.

Pen displays ALWAYS require at least 1 cable. As the pen display size starts getting to 16" and above, they tend to require at least 2 cables due to the increased power required by the display. Pen displays have many more connection options. Its a common mistake to buy a pen display and then realize you have no way to connect it to your computer. So please invest time understanding connection options BEFORE you make a purchase. More here:

OS and device compatibility

Drawing tablets well work with computers and laptops running popular operating systems. More here:

• Macs

Drawing tablets work to some extent with other kinds of devices. More here:

Ergonomics

• Thickness - Pen tablets are very thin these days - about 8mm. Smaller pen displays can be around 10mm larger pen displays can be 35mm.

• Legs - Many pen displays (not not all) have foldable legs on the back. This allows you to keep the pen display at a slight angle on your desk which makes it a bit easier to see and draw on. Pen tablets do not have legs. If you want to place them at an angle, you will need to find and purchase some other solution.

Use Cases

Look at model numbers, not just names

Applications

Buying used drawing tablets

Power

Picking tablets with more recent tech

Drawing tablets have been released over many years. That means when you shop online you are going to be seeing many models both old and new and that can get very confusing.

• Wacom - Wacom models from any year are good quality. However keep in mind over time their latest drivers will drop support for older models.

• Huion & XP-Pen - Huion and XP-Pen have so many models and some that use older pen tech are released in the same year as tablets that use newer pen tech. The easiest way to know whether you are getting a truly more modern tablet is be looking at the pen it is compatible with.

  • XP-Pen: Look for tablets that have X3 in their name

    • These are the X3 Elite, X3 Roller, and X3 Pro

  • Huion: Look for tablets that use more recent Huion PenTech versions:

    • PenTech 3.0: PW517, PW515, PW110

    • PenTech 3.0+: PW500, PW500S - in my research these are clearly better pens than PenTech 3.0. In terms of pressure range as good as PenTech 4.0.

    • PenTech 4.0: PW600, PW600S. The PenTech 4.0 Pens are better than the PenTech 3.0 pens

Preparing for a drawing tablet

Overview

Pen computers are standalone drawing tablets with screens that you can use without being attached to a computer. Essentially they are laptops that work with an EMR pen that are specifically designed for drawing and are made by drawing tablet brands such as Wacom.

Examples of pen computers are:

• Wacom Mobile Studio Pro

• Huion Kamvas Strudio

Even though some people love using pen computers, I do not in general recommend buying one.

Key characteristics of a pen computer:

• Run a desktop OS - these are intended to be full-fledged personal computers. As of 2023, all pen computers run Windows.

• Have a battery - because they must be run without being connected to a source of power

• Pen tech - It varies. Some use EMR, some use MPP, some use AES.

Examples

• Huion Kamvas Studio

• Wacom Mobile Studio Pro

Alternatives to pen computers

Instead of pen computers, I recommend looking at the other kinds of standalone devices: pen-enabled mobile devices or pen-enabled laptops.

pen-enabled mobile devices

• Apple iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S series tablets that use the Samsung S pen

pen-enabled laptops

• Microsoft Surface Pro

• Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro

Another alternative is to use a normal drawing tablet that is connected to a small mini-pc or laptop. This will allow you to draw in different locations even though dealing with the additional cabling may be cumbersome.

Cost

Pen computers are incredibly expensive.

For example the Wacom Mobile Studio 16 (2019) cost $3500 at time of release.

I certainly do not recommend pen computers for people who are just getting started with drawing tablets. I will always recommend that you go with cheaper alternatives. And the reason for this is simple: You may find that the wrong experience doesn't live up to your expectations.

Upgradability

Pen computers typically have very limited upgradability compared to using a normal drawing tablet that requires a PC.

Typically once you buy pen computer you'll be stuck with those specifications in terms of memory processor speed and GPU for the entire lifetime of the device. If you are going to purchase a pen computer please verify how upgradable it is before you make the purchase.

if you use a non-standalone drawing tablet attached to a PC or laptop, you can either upgrade the PC or get a new laptop with significantly upgraded specs.

Customer support

Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Dell sell a lot of laptops and all-in-one systems. These companies have built world-class customer support organizations and support systems to ensure that their customers are getting the help they need when a customer has a question or something goes wrong with these complicated devices.

The truth is that drawing tablet manufacturers aren't as big as these companies. They handle a much smaller volume of products and users and you may find that their customer support may not be as helpful as these larger companies.

Repairs

As with most laptops and all-in-one systems a pen display is typically not intended to be user-serviceable. If something goes wrong it's going to be difficult to fix by yourself. Not only are these computers often not designed to be opened. Even if you are successful in opening the case and fixing whatever problem there is it will most certainly void your warranty.

If you need to have the pen computer repaired by the manufacturer. You are going to find that both the process is difficult and the cost is extraordinarily high.

You cannot take these devices into a local retail store for the tablet manufacturer to take a look at. You'll have to send the pen computer back to the manufacturer and you will have to pay for the cost of shipping. And the repair cost can be as expensive as getting another laptop.

Video

Read the user manual

The user manual contains so much information that can help you understand if the tablet will work for you. It'll answer most of the questions you'll have about connecting the tablet and the basics of how it works. It will also give you a chance to familiarize yourself with potential problems you might encounter and how to handle them.

If you read the user manual before you make a purchase you'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

The key thing you want to understand from a user manual is:

• How to install the driver

• how the tablet will connect to your computer. This is especially important to understand if you are planning on purchasing a pen display.

Pen tablets vs pen displays

Because it is so common that people struggle with the decision between getting a pen tablet and pen display. You should go into the purchase decision knowing that each kind of tablet has its advantages.

Many people think that pen displays are simply inherently better. This certainly is not true. I strongly suggest you carefully consider the strengths and weaknesses of both.

Tablet brands

There are many tablet brands. I usually stick to talking about and recommending tablets from Wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, and Xencelabs. That's because I have owned many of those tablets and I believe there's a large enough community of users of those tablets that if you need help you're likely to find it from them.

Community size

Based on my experience with tech products when a user of a product has a question or needs help more than 50% of the time they get their answer or help not from customer support but rather from other users in the online community.

In other words the community around a drawing tablet brand has a great impact on your satisfaction with that tablet.

That's why I tend to recommend the brands that I do because they have so many users that I can see online.

Since Reddit is a popular online location for discussions around drawing tablets here are some numbers that help you see how big these communities are.

Understand how the tablet will connect to your computer

For pen tablets this is pretty easy. All pen tablets can connect with a USB C cable. And some pen tablets can also support wireless connectivity.

In the user manual you'll find diagrams like this for a pen tablet.

For a pen display wiring them up is much more complicated. There are more cables and ports involved. And more requirements on those cables and ports.

The user manual will show diagrams like these below indicating how pen displays may connect to a computer.

With pen displays you should also be very clear about which cables come in the box. Sometimes it user manual may show you how to wire up the connections. But sometimes some cables are not included. So it's best to understand that before you make a purchase.

In addition to just understanding how the cables are connected for pen display you also have to make sure your computer has all the ports that are needed and that they meet the requirements.

To help you understand this I recommend you watch this video on connecting a pen display.

Test the ports on your computer

Once you know how a once you know how the connection should work even before you order the tablet you should confirm if the ports on your computer will work as intended.

A pen tablet will lead you to a simple USB port. So you can verify it works by testing that port with a mouse or some other similar input device.

For a pen tablet you should verify any ports used to transmit a display signal work.

In particular because using a pen display essentially counts as adding another monitor to your computer. You should make sure that your computer can support as many simultaneous displays connected as are needed to account for both your monitor and the pen display.

Use model numbers not names

So many tablets are on the market right now and many of them have confusingly similar names.

For example Wacom has one series of tablets called Wacom 1 and another series of tablets called one by Wacom. They have very different levels of quality, they are different types of tablets, and they have different ages. If you rely on name alone you're likely to buy the wrong tablet.

Another example are names like these from XP pen which are confusingly similar.

Ultimately the way you can avoid purchasing the wrong tablet is by making sure you know the model number.

Do not stress out about the numbers of pressure levels.

These days it's very fashionable for drawing tablets to advertise that they have 8000 levels of pressure or 16,000 levels of pressure. In my analysis the vast majority of users only need about 2000 levels of pressure and could get by with far less. Almost every tablet on the market today has more than 8000 levels of pressure and only a handful have 4000. So any tablet you buy will have enough.

Be prepared to handle common problems

• Ensure you know how to contact customer support.

• Ensure you know the warranty and how (if needed) you can can return the tablet to the manufacturer or to the retailer (example: Amazon) you bought it from

Check the reviews

Never purchase a tablet without looking at the reviews first.

Some reviewers to explore:

Verify the model number, not just the model name

Tablet names are confusingly similar. So much so, that I've seen people order the wrong tablet just because the names were close.

• NEVER order by using the name of the tablet alone.

• ALWAYS verify you have ordered correct model number.

Make sure your working environment is usable

• Ensure you have enough space on your desk for the tablet and where your keyboard will be placed

Overview

You need about 2000 levels of pressure could probably get by with a lot less.

These days it's very fashionable for drawing tablets to advertise that they have 8000 levels of pressure or 16,000 levels of pressure. In my analysis the vast majority of users only need about 2000 levels of pressure and could get by with far less.

Reasoning

The quick summary is that the number of pressure levels has to be quantized or reduced into certain visible aspects of your artwork.

So for example if your pen supports 8000 levels of pressure but your brush size is 100 pixels - then there are only 100 different possible Brush sizes. In other words many of those 8000 levels of pressure map to the same brush size. By extension the same logic applies to transparency. Most people are using 8 bit transparency which results in 256 possible transparency values. So many of those 8000 pressure levels mapped to the same exact transparency value.

There are some very specific conditions where someone might need more than 2000. But based on what I've observed those cases are incredibly rare and very specialized.

If you are interested in playing osu with a drawing tablet, then do not rely on recommendations from drawing tablet reviewers. They focus on the needs of the creative users. Don't rely on my recommendations for the same reason.

If you do want a quick answer now though, these two tablets are excellent for osu.

• One by Wacom Small (CTL-472)

• One by Wacom Medium (CTL-672)

You could also buy one of these tablets below, which are also great for osu, but they are very expensive and are not any better for osu than the ones listed above.

• Wacom Intuos Pro Small (PTH-460)

• Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (PTH-660)

• Wacom Intuos Pro Large (PTH-860)

Wacom guidance (with caution)

Introduction

If you are new to drawing tablets, after reading this guide you'll understand how these devices work and be prepared to use one or to purchase one.

Basics

Position tracking

A drawing tablet lets you use a digital pen (also called a stylus) as an input device. As you move the pen on the tablet, your computer's "mouse pointer" mirrors the motion of the pen. This is first key feature of a drawing tablet - the accurate tracking of the pen's position.

• If a drawing tablet does not have a screen, then the pointer will move on one of you monitors.

• If a drawing tablet has a screen, then the pointer will move on the tablet's screen.

Clicking

Every time you touch the pen to the tablet, your computer will interpret the contact as pressing a mouse button. If you tap quickly, it is interpreted as a mouse click. If you press down and move the pen it is just like you are holding down a mouse button and moving the mouse.

Hover

The tablet tracks the pens position up to about 10mm from the surface of the tablet and will move the pointer even if the pen is not touching the tablet. This is called hover and is very important because it lets you reposition the pointer without drawing or clicking.

Pressure sensitivity

A drawing tablet knows how hard you are pressing down on with the tip of the pen. This is called pressure sensitivity. Pressure is very important for creative applications. For example, a painting application a can change the size of your brush strokes based on the pressure. So small amounts of pressure result in thin strokes and pressing down harder will make the strokes thicker.

Pen tilt

Most drawing tablets also detect how the pen is tilted relative to the surface of the tablet. This pen tilt detection is also useful for creative applications. For example, it can also be used to alter the size of stroke such that increased tilt results in an thicker stroke.

Device options for drawing tablets

Pen tablets

Pen tablets are the simplest and least expensive kind of drawing tablet. They are often called: "screenless tablets" or "non-screen tablets".

• They DO NOT have an embedded display

• They REQUIRE A COMPUTER to be used.

• They REQUIRE A MONITOR attached the the computer or that the computer is a laptop.

The key skill required to use a pen tablet is that you must adjust to your hand drawing on one surface (the tablet) while you are looking at another surface (your monitor). Most people can adjust to this immediately or within a few days, but some people find this weird and for them one of the other device options may be a better choice.

Pen tablets cost between $50 to $500.

Pen displays

Pen displays are drawing tablets that have an embedded display panel. They are also called: "screen tablets", "display tablets".

Key attributes:

• They DO have an embedded display

• They REQUIRE A COMPUTER to be used.

A pen display may look like a laptop or an iPad which are standalone devices. However unlike those devices:

• A pen display will always have to have at least one cord coming from it that is connected to a computer.

• A pen display does not contain a battery. It must always get power through a cable attached to a power supply or from the computer directly.

Pen displays cost between $300 to $3500.

Standalone tablets

Pen-enabled mobile computers

These are NOT drawing tablets, but because they are very very similar to pen computers in that they are standalone and you can use a pen to draw with them - we can talk about them as an viable alternative to a pen computer.

But the key difference is a pen computer is intended for drawing, whereas a mobile computer with pen support is meant for general purpose use, but also you can use a pen do draw.

Sometimes the drawing experience with a mobile computers can really rival that of a pen computer. Sometimes they even use the same pen technology. But other times, they use a different technology and the drawing experience is not as good or may be missing features. So you have to carefully choose which devices you pick here.

In this category I think the Apple iPad provides the most compelling experience, followed closely by a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.

Pen computers

Pen computers cost between $1000 to $3500.

What people do with their tablets

• Drawing - Of course, many people use drawing tablets for drawing, sketching, painting, photo-editing etc. All the fundamental creative tasks.

• Whiteboarding - especially with so many online meetings and remote learning. Many people use a drawing tablet with virtual whiteboard software.

• Educational videos - They are popular for creating videos in the same style as "Khan Academy".

• Document markup and review - They are useful for going through documents and annotating them with other notes and corrections.

Brands

Core features

• Pen power - Drawing tablet pens get their power by being near the tablet itself. They don't even contain batteies. Usually the pen has to be withing abou 10mm for it to get power from the tablet.

The active area

Tablet size

Drivers

Connecting the tablet to the computer

All pen tablets can be connected with a single USB cable. Many pen tablets (but not all) can be connected wirelessly - for example via Bluetooth.

Applications

Pen nibs

Drawing with a tablet vs a mouse

Other topics to explore

I love creative tech. I've been using drawing tablets for a long time and wanted share what I learn.

Why "TheSevenPens"?

When I started my YouTube channel I had seven pens from my drawing tablets.

Now I have more than seven pens.

Tablets I own

My tablet setups

Key resources

Relationship to tablet manufacturers

• I don't have any relationship with tablet manufacturers such as Wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, etc. I'm just an enthusiast.

• I do not receive tablets from manufacturers. Every tablet I have is a personal purchase.

• I do attend public demo events either online or in person if I can.

General

Q: Which brands of drawing tablet should I get?

Q: Which an iPad better than a drawing tablet?

Q: Can I use a drawing tablet with my iPad or iPhone?

Q: Can I use a drawing tablet with a Chromebook?

Q: What size drawing tablet should I get?

It really depends on a lot of factors.

• For pen tablets - I recommend a MEDIUM size (about 11")

• For pen displays - I recommend a MEDIUM size (about 16") though many start off with a 13" and I personally prefer a 22"

Q: Should I update the tablet firmware?

Q: Should I get a pen tablet or pen display?

Pen Displays

Q: Why does my pen display have a sparkly grain/noise/greasy look?

Q: Can I use a pen display as a normal monitor?

Q: Why does my pen display show a temporary after image?

Q: Can I use a pen display without plugging in the HDMI cable?

Q: How do I make my pen display mirror what is on my monitor?

Q: How do I enable mouse mode on a pen display?

The drivers that manufacturers release for their drawing tablets support Mouse Mode often only on their pen tablets but not on pen displays.

Q: Can I fix a dead pixel on my pen display?

General

Q: Is it normal for pen to lag?

Q: Can I extend the length of my cables?

Q: What subreddits exist for drawing tablets?

Q: Can I replace the surface of my pen tablet?

Q: What should I do if I spilled water on my tablet or pen?

Pens

Q: Can I use a metal nib with my pen?

Q: How do I connect my pen to my drawing tablet?

Q: My pen is lost/broken. Can I just buy a replacement pen or do I have to buy a new tablet?

You just need to buy a pen of the SAME EXACT MODEL and it will work with your tablet. You don't even have to connect it - just bring it close to your tablet and it will work.

Drivers

Q: What do I do if a driver no longer supports my tablet?

Q: Can I have two tablet drivers from different manufacturers installed at the same time?

Q: How to I completely uninstall a tablet driver on Windows?

I don't use these devices myself. Here are some popular ones.

• Onyx Boox Note Air3

• Remarkable 2

• Amazon Kindle Scribe

Overview

Below, here are tablets I would personally recommend separated by device type. These recommendations are centered around using the tablets for drawing.

Resources

Overview

If you already have a pen tablet (a screenless tablet) and are considering getting a pen display (a screen tablet). There are a few considerations you should take into account.

Each kind of tablet has its own advantages

If it feels "weird" to draw on your pen tablet

One thing that I often hear is that people find that it feels weird or strange to draw on a pen tablet like their hand isn't drawing what they expect it to draw.

So if your tablet is feeling weird, try matching the aspect ratios and give it a few more days. You might find that after this change you enjoy using your pen tablet much more.

Overview

Companion Video

My size categories

I've given convenient labels ("small", "medium", "large") to drawing tablets. This will make it easier to talk about their sizes. These categories are based off the standard sizes that Wacom uses. The sizes here are approximate. For each category a typical value is provided, and also a range of values.

Manufacturer size categories

Manufactures also sometimes provide size categories in the names of their pen tablets. But don't trust the size categories - always calculate the actual diagonal distance when comparing sizes.

Here's are some great examples:

• The XP-Deco L is much closer in size to a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium than the Intuos Pro Large.

• Inspiroy 2L is sort of in-between a medium and large size.

Considerations

Here's what you should consider in your choice

• What is your natural drawing style? some people draw a lot from the wrist and others use much larger motions driven from their elbows and shoulders

• Do you have enough space on your desk?

• Do you intend to be mobile and use the tablet in different locations?

Size recommendations

Pen tablets size

• Small (7") pen tablets are good for scenarios where the focus is less on creating strokes. For example, if you need to simply use a tablet as a replacement for a mouse, then a small tablet will work fine. One creative task that works great with small tablets in photo editing - since it doesn't typically require "drawing". Most people who are drawing would find using a small tablet, to feel very "cramped".

• Medium (11") pen tablets are the best combination of size, cost, and ergonomics for most people interested in drawing tablets and is my standard recommendation. Medium tablets are the minimum size I would recommend for anyone who is interested in drawing, sketching, painting, or any creative task that requires drawing with strokes.

Pen tablet size vs monitor size

Pen display size

• SMALL (13") pen displays may be good choices for children.

• If you are drawing the minimum size I would recommend is MEDIUM (16"), though many people work very effectively with SMALL pen displays.

• LARGE (24") are great but they do occupy a lot of space so ensure you have a desk that is big enough.

• I think the best balance is around 20" to 22" - these provide enough space to draw on without being to cumbersome, occupying too much space on a desk, or being difficult to move.

Impact of pen display size

• Anti-glare sparkle - For a given anti-glare treatment, the higher the pixels-per-inch of the display, the more anti-glare sparkle you will notice. For example using the same anti-glare treatment a 4K 24" display will show less AG sparkle, than a 4K 16" display.

In relation to paper size

Some of you like to think of a tablet size relative standard papers sizes. The tablet below shows the paper sizes with their diagonal size and you can see how specific paper size matches my standard tablet sizes

Videos

Overview

These are highly-curated recommendations for people who are just beginning to get into drawing tablets.

• All these tablets deliver the basic experiences and a reasonable price

• Some of these tablets are missing so-called "pro" features.

Below you'll find my beginner-friendly recommendations for:

• pen tablets (no screen)

• pen displays (have a screen)

• and standalone tablets.

Pen tablets vs Pen displays

My recommendation for beginners is to start with a pen tablet (medium size) and get used to that first. Pen displays have pros and cons - don't assume they are better.

Pen tablets

These are tablets WITHOUT a screen that need to be connected to a computer (some support wireless) to work.

If I had to pick one item on this list, I would recommend the One by Wacom CTL-672 for true. It's reliable and has a good drawing experience. The Huion Frego is a new tablet (released in 2024) that is also a terrific beginner choice.

• Wacom Intuos series
• XP-Pen Deco series

Pen displays

These are tablets WITH A SCREEN that need to be connected to a computer. No pen displays are wireless. 13" is a good way to get introduced to pen displays. Though I do think ultimately 16" is a better size longer term.

SMALL 13"

MEDIUM 16"

Standalone tablets

These are tablets that don't need to be connect to a computer.

• • NOTE: You will have the buy the Apple Pencil 2 separately. It does NOT come with the iPad.

• • NOTE: The Samsung S Pen COMES WITH the tablet.

Overview

These are recommendations for pen tablets (screenless tablets): tablets that do not have screens and have to be connected to a computer.

Recommendations by size

Looking for something else?

Notes

Overview

This is a list of some things you should check when you (a) first set up your drawing tablet or (b) have an opportunity to inspect the drawing tablet before you purchase it.

This will save you a lot of headaches and disappointment later on.

Testing before you setup the tablet

• Tablets usually have a list of things they come with. This list will include things like cables cleaning cloths, pen nibs , etc. The list might be printed on the box, or it might be on a piece of paper inside the box, or it might be a list on the website of the tablet brand.

  Verify that you have all the things you're supposed to have.

• Examine the screen carefully with your eyes. You're looking for scratches or areas where the surface is worn out. If it's a new tablet you shouldn't see anything like that.

• Sometimes it might be difficult to see scratches so you might want to shine a bright light across the surface at an angle to identify any scratches.

Getting prepared for functional testing

Then install any applications you need. I strongly suggest you install Krita from Krita.org. It's free and its behavior is consistent so it makes it an ideal application to test the functionality of a drawing tablet. So even if you don't plan on using Krita it's a very useful tool for troubleshooting.

Mobile phones can interfere with the operation of a tablet. Keep them away.

Ensure there isn't anything magnetic underneath the tablet. Some stands use magnets. Don't place the tablet on top of an electronic device like a laptop.

Basic functional testing

Connectivity

• Conduct the tests with a wired connection.

• Any then verify they work with wireless connection

Drawing

• Check if the pen can draw in all locations on the active area

  • Just draw a lot of lines alll over the screen. You want to ensure that there aren't any gaps were you can't draw and that the position of the pen is accurately tracked.

• Check if the pressure going from 0% to 100%

  • First do this in the driver. They usually have some regio where you can test the pressure.

  • Then do this in an application. I suggest using Krita.

  • You want to ensure that:

    • The pen isn't "stuck" at 0% pressure or 100% pressure

  • You may notice that the pressure is "jumpy" any low pressure this is normal for EMR pens. You can use pressure curves to control this.

• Check tilt works in all directions

  • draw some strokes and tilt the pen in different directions.

  • do this in multiple locations across the active area

Pen display pen tracking accuracy

• With the pen held vertically and not moving, check that the pointer is close to the tip of the pen.

• With the pen held at a 45 degree angle and not moving, check that tilt compensation is working. As you tilt the pen check to make sure the pointer doesn't deviate too far from the tip of the pen. A little bit of drift is normal. Keeping the pen at 45 degrees, rotate the pen in a full circle.

• Check that location of pen is tracked accurately in over the entire surface of the tablet

Express keys

• Check if all the buttons, dials, work. A quick way to test this is to map the buttons to keypresses. Then you can open a notepad app and press the express keys and see it typing things

Pen display features

• Check for stuck or dead pixels

• Check for basic color and brightness

• All tablets have some pointer lag. Usually it is very obvious in pen displays. Verify if you are OK with the amount it has.

• All pen displays have some minor edge and corner inaccuracy in tracking the pen location. Check this to see how much there is and if you are OK with this.

• Verify you are OK with the anti-glare sparkle on the screen. Some people are very sensitive to this.

Surface

Take your pen and move it around the surface.

There should be no rough patches. There should be no cuts or scratches deep enough that you can feel them through the pen. More here:

Top Picks

• • FEATURE LIMITATION: NO TILT

Good, but overpriced

• • FEATURE LIMITATION: NO TILT

Poor performers

• • AWFUL PRESSURE HANDLING: BAD LOOKING STROKES

Overview

These are recommendations for pen displays: tablets that have have screens and have to be connected to a computer.

Recommendations

Looking for something else?

Notes

Top picks

• XP-Pen Deco
• XP-Pen Deco Pro

Good, but overpriced

Older but works well

• • Little bit of an older Huion tablet with older tech. But it does work fine.

Seems OK but haven't spent much time with it

Poor performers

• • NOT RECOMMENDED: SUBSTANDARD PRESSURE HANDLING

Top Picks 16"-17"

Top Picks 19"

Value with compromises

• • LOTS OF AG SPARKLE

• • EXCESSIVE DIAGONAL WOBBLE

Videos

Overview

If you're primarily interested in drawing or notetaking I think pen-enabled mobile computers are your best options.

The two real options in this space are:

• Apple iPads + the Apple Pencil

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S devices

Basics

Formally, these are not drawing tablets, but they can work just like one. And often I think they are your best choice for a standalone tablet. These include products such as Apple iPad Pros and Samsung Galaxy S series tablets.

• Operating system: a mobile OS (iOS, ChromeOS)

• Scenario: General purpose

• Pen tech: varies. Apple Pencil, AES, EMR

Apple iPads

Apple iPads can play the role of a drawing tablet very well. Do keep in mind, the Apple Pencil does not come with an iPad so you will have to purchase the pencil separately

The vary quite a bit in price, below are three models I personally own. You will find many others that work also.

• Apple iPad Air (4th gen and later) ($600)

• Apple iPad Pro 11 inch (4th gen and later) ($800+)

• Apple iPad pro 12.9 inch 6th gen ($1100+)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S series

As an alternative to the Apple ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series of tablets is compelling. One great advantage of the Galaxy Tab S series is that they come with the Samsung S pen. So that keeps the cost down.

There are many models available over the years, so it is likely you can find something that works for your budget. Below are three that I have personal experience with. But many others might suit your needs.

• • There are two versions:

    • 6GB RAM + 126GB storage ($450)

    • 8GB RAM with 256GB of storage ($520)

    • Both will work, but I always recommend getting more RAM for drawing apps.

• • There is a 2020 version. Avoid it.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A Series

Devices from Huion and XP-Pen

Huion and XP-pen have also released android tablets in this category.

Resources

Overview

The are true drawing tablets in that they are the most popular digital pen technologuy (EMR) and are intended to provide the classic drawing tablet experience in a standalone form factor.

• Operating system: currently all run Windows

• Scenario: Intended for artists

• Pen tech: EMR

Beware

I recognize that some people LOVE the experience of using a pen computer. But cannot in good conscience recommend them.

Options

• Huion Kamvas Studio 16 ($1700)

• Huion Kamvas Studio 24 ($2400)

• Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 ($2500)

• Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 ($3500)

Overview

These aren't really drawing tablets. They're laptops that you can use for drawing also. The drawing experience with these devices is not as good as a dedicated drawing tablet but they may be enough for what you need.

• Operating system: currently all run Windows

• Scenario: General purpose

• Pen tech: varies. MPP, EMR

These kinds of devices are really for general purpose use. So if what you want is a full operating system where you can use things like Microsoft Office, or the full version of Photoshop, etcetera. Then these suitable choices for a standalone tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4/5 360

This is a 2-in-1 laptop that folds over. The drawing experience is good - not super great but good.

Pen information:

• Tech: Wacom EMR

• Pen compatibility: These devices also works with the the Wacom CP-913 pen. And many people choose to use the Wacom CP-913 instead of the S Pen.

Recent models:

• Samsung Galaxy Book5 360

• Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360

Microsoft Surface Pro

This is a slate-type laptop. This drawing experience is OK. It's better suited in my opinion for notetaking or whiteboarding rather than drawing.

Pen information

• Tech: MPP (similar to AES)

• Comes with pen: NO. You have to buy The Surface Slim Pen 2 separately.

Overview

These are recommendations for standalone tablets: tablets that have have screens and can be used without a computer. A standalone drawing tablet is ideal if you need to draw away from home or away from your desk.

Recommendations by device type

• • I recommend this type if mobility is your highest priority and you don't need to use a desktop OS and desktop apps.

• • I recommend this type if you need the full power of a desktop OS and desktop versions of applications.

• • I do not recommend this type. Too expensive to buy. Too expensive to repair. Limited or no upgradeability.