This guide will help you choose the best drawing tablets for beginners. We have broken down the best drawing tablets on the market today based on a variety of factors, such as budget, connection type, and size, so that everyone from complete beginners to seasoned pros can find the right tablet for them. Most of the choices below are ones we have also tried,
This guide has the best digital art brands, like Huion, XP-Pen, and Wacom. We have also included a few computer tablets from Apple and Microsoft, which have both made great digital art apps over the years. We have a guide to the best tablets for students and the best drawing tablets for animation if you are looking for a tablet for the school. Check out the best drawing tablets for beginners if you are looking for art software to run on your shiny new computer.
Best Drawing Tablets for Beginners
| Products | Huion Kamvas 22 Plus | P-Pen Deco Pro Medium | Wacom One (2020) | Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) | Huion H430P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 22 inches | N/A | 13.3 inches | 15.6 inches | N/A |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | N/A | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | N/A |
| Pen Pressure | 8192 levels | 8192 levels | 4096 levels | 8192 levels | 4096 levels |
| Express Keys | 20 | 8 | N/A | 14 | N/A |
| Pen Tilt Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Connection | USB-C | Wireless & USB | USB-C | USB-C | USB |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac |
Huion Kamvas 22 Plus
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 21.5 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 8,192 levels |
| Pen Technology | Battery-free electromagnetic resonance |
| Pen Tilt Support | Yes |
| Express Keys | 20 programmable keys |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS |
Have you been looking at the Wacom Cintiq 22 further up the page but can’t afford it? The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus wants to say something. It’s a lot less expensive than the Cintiq, but it’s still a good writing tablet with a beautiful and large screen. It has a Full HD (16:9) screen.
The big selling point is that it’s made of etched anti-glare glass instead of an anti-glare film. The result is a pen display that feels great to draw on, with a drawing experience that’s tactile and very traditional. Overall, it is one of the best drawing tablets for beginners that you can buy.
This is a very amazing tablet. It has a design called “anti-parallax,” it covers 140% of the sRGB color space, and it can copy 16.7 million colors. The pen that comes with it is pretty good and will do the job. It’s a little plain, though, since it only comes with one type of nib.
Pros
- The large 21.5-inch display offers plenty of space for drawing and creative work.
- High-resolution screen with bright colors and good viewing angles.
- Includes a pen that supports tilt and pressure sensitivity for precise drawing.
Cons
- An external power source may be required, which limits portability.
- Some users have reported compatibility issues between drivers and certain software.
- The pen may feel slightly heavier compared to other models.
P-Pen Deco Pro Medium
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Active Area | 10 x 6.25 inches |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 8,192 levels |
| Pen Technology | Battery-free electromagnetic resonance |
| Pen Tilt Support | Yes |
| Express Keys | 8 programmable keys |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android |
If you want a cheap option to the Wacom Intuos Pro, the XP-Pen Deco Pro is a good choice. It costs about a third as much as the Intuos Pro, and it shows in some ways. It doesn’t quite have the quality feel of the Wacom, and the software drivers can be clunky, but when it comes down to it, it’s a good drawing experience.
You get a smooth surface to draw on and a pen with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. The tablet as a whole has won a Red Dot award for its design. This isn’t just a cheap knock-off—it’s a high-quality knock-off, and if you’re an artist on a tight budget, you should think about it, as our XP-Pen Deco Pro review shows. Currently, it is one of the best drawing tablets for beginners that you can buy.
Pros
- Medium sized tablet suitable for different drawing styles and preferences.
- Excellent pen performance with high sensitivity and tilt support.
- Programmable buttons and customizable touch wheel for convenient shortcuts.
Cons
- Some users have occasionally experienced issues with driver or software compatibility.
- The tablet’s surface may become scratched over time with intensive use.
- Limited availability of official technical support or customer service.
Wacom One
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 13.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 4,096 levels |
| Pen Technology | Battery-free electromagnetic resonance |
| Pen Tilt Support | No |
| Connectivity | USB-C, HDMI |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android |
Wacom has been known for a long time to be reassuringly expensive, so it’s good to see that the company is responding to new competitors by releasing a much more affordable drawing tablet to lure people away from cheaper brands. The Wacom One, which is not the same as past Wacom Ones, is a great, portable 13-inch tablet that is great for drawing and won’t break the bank.
It has a Full HD screen with 72 percent NTSC color and a film that prevents glare. The tablet also has little legs so you can stand it up when you’re out and about and want to quickly write down some thoughts. It’s the perfect tablet to put in your purse; read our full review of the Wacom One to learn more about what to expect from this device. Still, it is one of the best drawing tablets for beginners that you can buy.
Pros
- Reliable brand known for high quality drawing tablets.
- Compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems.
- Comes with a pen that offers good pressure sensitivity and accuracy.
Cons
- Relatively small drawing area compared to other models.
- Does not support a tilt function, which limits the brush effect.
- Higher price compared to some competitors with similar features.
Huion Kamvas 16
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 8,192 levels |
| Pen Technology | Battery-free electromagnetic resonance |
| Pen Tilt Support | Yes |
| Express Keys | 6 programmable keys |
| Connectivity | USB-C, HDMI |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS |
The improved Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) is a great choice if you want a good pen display drawing tablet for beginners. This is a pen display that can be used for many different kinds of art. It can also be used as a screen for playing video games, editing videos, and learning. For now, it is one of the best drawing tablets for beginners that you can buy.
In our study of the Huion Kamvas 16 (2021), we said that it has a full HD screen with great color accuracy, which makes it a good second screen. Our reviewer also mentioned that the stand for this device is sold separately, but it’s a good idea to buy it because it’s made to make drawing easy.
Pros
- Affordable option with a balance of features and performance.
- The 15.6-inch display offers a comfortable drawing surface.
- Included is a battery-free stylus that supports tilt and pressure sensitivity.
Cons
- Some users have reported occasional driver or connectivity issues.
- The screen may not have the same level of color accuracy as higher-end models.
- Limited availability of official technical support or customer service.
Huion H430P
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Active Area | 4.8 x 3 inches |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 4,096 levels |
| Pen Technology | Battery-free electromagnetic resonance |
| Pen Tilt Support | No |
| Express Keys | 4 programmable keys |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS |
Huion has been giving Wacom a run for its money over the past few years, with a range of drawing tablets that offer great features at great prices. If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure if you want to spend a lot of money on a tablet, the Huion H430P is a great way to test the waters. It has just enough features without spending a lot of money.
Even though the drawing area is small, the pen is sensitive enough to give you a good idea of how drawing tablets can help you be more creative. This tablet may not last long, but it’s a cheap way to get started. But keep in mind that this is a graphics tablet, not a pen display, so you’ll need to connect it to a separate screen to see what you’re writing.
The best thing to use is a computer, but a smartphone or other tablet will do in a pinch. In our study of the Huion Inspiroy H430P, we looked at why this small but powerful graphics tablet is a great choice for artists just starting out. Thus, it is one of the best drawing tablets for beginners that you can buy.
Pros
- Compact and portable design, suitable for use on the go.
- Affordable price, making it a good entry-level option.
- Provides good pressure sensitivity and accuracy when drawing and sketching.
Cons
- Smaller drawing area may be limiting for some users.
- Limited programmable keys or customization options.
- Some users have reported occasional driver or compatibility issues.
FAQs
A drawing tablet, also called a graphics tablet or pen tablet, is a device that lets people use a stylus or pen-like tool to draw, paint, and make digital art right on a digital surface. It has a flat surface that you can draw on and a pen that acts as the input device.
Pressure sensitivity means that the tablet can tell how hard you press on the screen with the pen. It lets you change the thickness and transparency of your strokes by how hard or softly you press on the tablet. Pressure perception is important for making art that looks natural and expressive because it is similar to how people used to draw and paint.
Most drawing tablets come with software already installed or give you access to free software that works with the tablet. Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Procreate (for iPad), and Krita (free and open-source) are all famous pieces of software. Before buying a tablet, it’s a good idea to check its specs and the apps it can run.
