Wacom Cintiq 22 review | Creative Bloq
Our Verdict
The Cintiq 22 has the lowest price Wacom has ever offered for a drawing display of this size, with a well-judged feature set that enhances your drawing comfort. You can still get similar products for less, but Wacom’s emphasis on quality makes this a compelling option.
For
- Keen price point
- Very good drawing experience
- Built-in adjustable stand
Against
- Costs more than its direct rivals
- Relatively low screen resolution
- No built-in shortcut keys
Why you can trust Creative Bloq
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
The Wacom Cintiq 22 is the latest model in the company’s drive to make this famous digital art brand a whole lot more affordable. Within Wacom’s overall product line of electronic drawing aides, many of which can be found in our round up of the best drawing tablets, the Cintiq is a flat-screen display for your computer, which you can draw on with the provided stylus.
The range is neatly divided into two: Cintiq offers relatively basic displays at lower prices, while Cintiq Pro provides a premium experience – particularly a 4K display in larger models – with prices to match. The Cintiq 22 joins the Cintiq 16 in the more affordable sector.
- Wacom Cintiq 22 (Black) at Amazon for £899.99
The Cintiq 22 offers a full HD screen (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) – the same screen resolution as the smaller Cintiq 16. That immediately means there’s an important trade-off between the two: the Cintiq 22 gives you a physically larger drawing area for more comfortable, expressive arm movement while drawing, but the screen image is less sharp than on the Cintiq 16.
While the picture on the Cintiq 22 is a little soft compared with other Cintiq models, it’s comfortable to work from – and in all other respects, the drawing experience is excellent. The larger size compared with the Cintiq 16 really matters when you’re in an extended drawing session: it frees you up to make more extensive pen strokes.
The Cintiq 22 gives you a physically larger drawing area, but the image is less sharp than on the Cintiq 16 (Image credit: Wacom)
Apart from resolution, the other potential drawback of this display compared with the Cintiq Pro line is the colour gamut – how many colours the screen is capable of displaying. The quoted gamut for the Cintiq 22 is 72% NTSC, which puts it in the same league as a budget monitor. Cintiq Pro displays have a colour gamut of 94% NTSC. While that technical difference sounds damning, bear in mind that the Cintiq 22 is able to present 96% of the range of colours supported by the sRGB colour profile, which many designers and illustrators apply to their images by default.
The Cintiq 22’s screen surface is well-considered. The anti-glare glass surface is laminated to give it a slight texture, which gives a pleasing sense of bite as you move the stylus across it.
The technology that enables the Cintiq 22 and similar drawing displays to work means there are two planes you interact with: the glass you draw on, and the actual screen presenting the image you’re drawing.
Too great a gap between the two leads to a disconcerting disconnect between the point of your stylus and where your pen mark appears on-screen. The Cintiq 22’s gap is perfectly acceptable, although you don’t get the almost supernatural sense of connection the advanced optical bonding technology of a Cintiq Pro gives you.
The Pro Pen 2 is very comfortable to draw with (Image credit: Wacom)
The provided stylus, the Pro Pen 2, is easily capable of capturing your creative gestures: it offers 8,192 levels of pressure-sensitivity, as well as tilt sensitivity, where the angle at which you hold the pen affects the stroke. The stylus doesn’t need a battery either: it takes the power it needs from the electromagnetic properties of the screen. The same is true of the pen that comes with the rival Huion Kamvas Pro 22, but the cheaper XP-Pen Artist Display 22E Pro’s pen requires periodic recharging.
While there are other Wacom pens available, few artists should have any complaints with the functionality of the Pro Pen 2, and it has a satisfying heft that makes it comfortable with draw with.
The Cintiq Pro line comes with the same pen, although the Pro’s advanced drawing surface allows the use of soft felt nibs.
A stand built into the Cintiq 22 enables you to tilt the display to your preferred drawing angle. It’s a better solution than in the Cintiq 16, which uses foldable legs that tilt the display to a fixed angle.
While conventional drawing tablets without a display, like Wacom’s Intuos line, are capable of working over a wireless Bluetooth link, that isn’t yet realistic for a combined tablet and display. The Cintiq 22 uses USB-A for its drawing tablet connection, so you need an adaptor if your computer only has USB-C ports; and HDMI for its display connection.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the Cintiq 22 becomes apparent when you compare it with the model it replaces in Wacom’s lineup, the Cintiq 22HD. It’s a fair bit cheaper, at around $1,200 / £860 / €990 versus its predecessor’s $1,400 / £1,300 / €1,200. (The difference is most pronounced in the UK.
) That still doesn’t put it in the same price bracket as the Huion Kamvas Pro 22’s $900 / £680 / $775 or the XP-Pen Artist 22E Pro’s $400 / £500 / €550, but it’s still clear that Wacom is responding to the threat posed to its market-leader status.
The older Cintiq 22HD has a stand that rotates as well as tilts, plus ExpressKey shortcut keys to help you access favourite commands in your chosen software. However, the newer Cintiq 22 has a superior pen and a matt rather than smooth screen surface. As well as the price drop, you get a materially better drawing experience. If you miss the 22HD’s shortcut keys, you can buy Wacom’s ExpressKey Remote for $100 / £100 / €130 for the Cintiq 22.
The benefits of the Cintiq 22 compared with the Huion Kamvas Pro 22 and the XP-Pen Artist 22E Pro are more intangible. They’re a pretty close match for key features, although both rivals offer built-in shortcut keys. The Cintiq 22 still has a better overall feel, however, with superior build quality in both the display and the pen.
You have to weigh up the immediate gain of lower prices against the longer-term benefits of the Cintiq 22 just feeling a little more satisfying to work with. It’s a distinction that may not wash with the Cintiq 22’s target audience of students, keen non-professionals and jobbing artists.
Wacom Cintiq 22: Price Comparison
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8
out of 10
Wacom Cintiq 22
The Cintiq 22 has the lowest price Wacom has ever offered for a drawing display of this size, with a well-judged feature set that enhances your drawing comfort.
You can still get similar products for less, but Wacom’s emphasis on quality makes this a compelling option.
Richard is an editor and journalist covering technology, photography, design and illustration. He was previously editor at the magazines 3D World, Mobile Computer User and Practical Web Design, as well as deputy editor at Mac Format and commissioning editor at Imagine FX. He is the author of Simply Mac OS X.
Xencelabs Pen Display 24 review: big drawing tablet, big on quality
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a luxury drawing experience, then look no further than the Xencelabs Pen Display 24. This latest release from the digital art brand is a stunning device designed with artists in mind from the get go.
For
- Incredible drawing experience
- Accessories galore
- Designed by artists, for artists
Against
- Too big for some
Why you can trust Creative Bloq
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.
Find out more about how we test.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Xencelabs Pen Display24: Key specs
Product dimensions: 24.4 x 15.3 x 1.4in
Active area size: 20.75 x 11.7-inches
Active area aspect ratio: 16:9
Pen: Battery-free
Pressure levels: 8,192
Weight: 6.0kg (13.3 lbs)
Connection: Wired
Xencelabs is quickly becoming a more prominent name in the digital art space, competing with the likes of Wacom and Huion as one of the best around. In this review, I’m going to be taking a look at their latest flagship device – the Xencelabs Pen Display 24.
As an artist, I’ve used many drawing tablets in my time. From Wacom and XP-Pen to (most recently) the iPad, it’s fair to say I haven’t been shy to experiment with various brands. But Xencelabs has very quickly taken over as one of my favourite digital art brands, so much so we’ve actually put two of their tablets in our top four picks of the best drawing tablets overall.
So let’s take a look at just why I love this device so much.
- You can pre-order the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 directly from the Xencelabs store now.
Design and build
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
As the name suggests, this is a beast of a tablet. Measuring 24 inches in width, this screen tablet will easily take up a casual working desk, especially once set up with a laptop. Size isn’t the only way that this tablet excels – it is truly stunning to look at. The matte-finish glass is anti-glare, meaning that even in a brightly lit room with overhead lights, the screen will not reflect them. I tested the tablet in both an office setting and a brightly lit room with two windows, and at no point did I struggle with reflections.
One of my biggest gripes with drawing on the iPad is how easily smudged the glass is. It doesn’t matter how many times I wipe it down, the glass just seems to be haunted by an abundance of fingerprints and smudge marks.
The good news about the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is that it is smudge and mark resistant, and while drawing on this tablet I rarely had to wipe it down. When I did need to wipe it, the included Xencelabs microfibre cloth easily cleans away any smudges or fingerprints without having to apply too much pressure, which was a major selling point considering that your hand and fingers are connected to the screen at nearly all times.
The screen and casing are all one solid build, meaning there is no physical edging between the two to get in the way when your hand and arm are gliding across the surface, and the design as a whole feels very cohesive and slick. Even the three quick key buttons on the top-right of the screen are touch-based so they don’t sit out from the screen, further adding to that beautiful seamless effect.
The in-built tilt stand is easily adjustable – simply pull on the lever to change the viewing angle that is adjustable from 16 to 72 degrees. It feels really secure on the desk, especially once attached to the included rubber feet.
Extra features
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
The Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is packed full of extra features to make it a cut above the rest. It has the regular features of other products from Xencelabs, such as the Quick Key Remote and a pair of styluses, as well as the intuitive Xencelabs driver software. The driver is a lot more customisable than other digital art tablet software I’ve used – you can customise your usual features like pen pressure, assigned quick key commands and brightness all the way to more advanced features, such as choosing a custom colour for the LED light buttons.
One of the most prominent new features of this tablet, which I consider to be a major selling point, is the brand-new Virtual Tablet/Switch Display mode. This frankly genius command allows users to easily transition between which display their mouse is currently active on all from the pen display itself. Simply press the assigned Switch Display button and then move your stylus to the pop-up that is assigned to your multiple displays.
You can get a more detailed look at the feature in this YouTube video.
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
Another great feature of this Xencelabs Pen Display 24 comes in the form of the accessory clips that hold your extra devices on the side (such as styluses and the Quick Key Remote). Now, this may sound like a really basic feature, but during our hands-on session with one of the Xencelabs team, we found out the company has big plans for these seemingly simple parts. Xencelabs are all about developing products based on direct artist feedback so users can customise their devices as much as possible, and the same can be said for the clips. Xencelabs has revealed it will be releasing the base 3D models of these accessories so that budding 3D artists can customise the shape, colour and functionality to better suit their set-up. It’s a really fun inclusion and an exciting look at how much more customisable Xencelabs can make their products in the near future.
Quick Key remote & pen styluses
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
Easy access to your favourite Photoshop shortcuts.
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
A simple yet efficient build.
We’ve talked in depth about the Quick Key Remote before in our Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium review, but as such a vital part of the Xencelabs set up it’s important to mention it again. This fantastic little tool (that comes included in the price of your tablet) features nine buttons and a wheel dial that can be assigned any quick commands you desire to speed up your workflow.
The remote even features an LCD screen to show which commands are currently active, and a button in the centre of the dial means you can scroll through multiple presets with ease. You can assign a whopping 40 commands to the remote in total using the custom Xencelabs driver, and I found it to be a total game changer during my painting process without having to touch my physical keyboard once. This Quick Key Remote is connected to your main device via a USB dongle, so set-up is simple too.
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
Another great inclusion from Xencelabs is the two included styluses.
Xencelabs want their artists to have the most comfortable drawing experience possible and so they provide both a thicker and thinner stylus. The thicker offering is shaped after a traditional drawing tablet stylus that you find on most graphics tablets, whereas the thinner one is a lot more streamlined. It’s really reminiscent of an Apple Pencil, which as an artist who primarily uses Procreate for casual sketching nowadays, I really liked using. It feels very considerate of Xencelabs to supply more than one stylus for free, and the included case even holds a total of 10 replacement nibs if yours wears down over time. It’s easy to say that Xencelabs are generous in their offerings.
Drawing experience
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
My drawing experience with this tablet is one of the best I’ve ever had outside of my iPad. From the easy set-up to the comfort of the stylus in hand, you can tell that Xencelabs has taken every ounce of feedback from previous tablets and used it to make this the best drawing experience possible.
Once adjusted to best fit my input, pen pressure was incredibly accurate and felt like I was using a real pen or paintbrush. I experienced no lag or jitter in a good 10 hours of painting, and using the Quick Keys Remote meant that my workflow was efficient and speedy.
Drawing on a surface of that size is definitely something that takes some getting used to (especially if you’re going from an 11-inch iPad!) but now I never want to go back, as I recently mentioned. I loved getting to see my art at that size, and the matte finish on the screen meant I could easily discern details even in a brightly lit room.
As prior mentioned, this bundle comes with two styluses – one thicker and one thinner. Considering I use an Apple Pencil normally, it’s really nice to have a graphics tablet with a thinner stylus option that feels similar to Apple’s offering. The lower part of both styluses have a really nice rubberised texture too, meaning they’re comfy to hold during long drawing sessions.
Price
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
Price-wise, the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is currently available to preorder directly from the website and retails for £1,850. When looking at competitors selling tablets of a similar size, this is a pretty decent cost. The 24-inch Wacom Cintiq Pro retails for £1,999, so you’re already saving by not opting for the Wacom offering. The higher price tag does feel considerably expensive, but considering the quality of the tablet and the inclusion of plenty of accessories that would usually cost extra, I can’t really complain about the price point.
Xencelabs Pen Display 24: should I buy it?
(Image credit: Future/Abi Le Guilcher)
If my glowing review isn’t enough to convince you already, my answer to the above question is a resounding yes. If you’re looking to indulge in a tablet that feels professional and easy to use, this is the perfect pick for you. Of course, the higher price tag may be too much for some and the larger size is definitely something to be aware of – but if you’re looking to spend that amount of money you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into!
I can confidently say this is one of the best drawing experiences I’ve ever had.
The tablet and accessories are incredibly responsive and you can really tell that Xencelabs have built this device with the help of artists themselves, and I am really excited to see how this company will continue to grow as a serious competitor in the digital art world.
You can preorder the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 now directly from the Xencelabs website.
Xencelabs Pen Display 24: Price Comparison
No price information
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10
out of 10
Xencelabs Pen Display 24
If you’re looking for a luxury drawing experience, then look no further than the Xencelabs Pen Display 24.
This latest release from the digital art brand is a stunning device designed with artists in mind from the get go.
Abi Le Guilcher is Creative Bloq’s Ecommerce Writer. With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Design for Game and Film, Abi enjoys almost anything creative and will either be found crafting or gaming in her spare time. Her previous experience as a retail assistant at CeX means she has a wide range of knowledge in both technology and media and loves to keep up to date with the latest tech. Abi is an avid cosplayer and has most recently worked with PlayStation and Santa Monica Studio on a promotional campaign for the release of God of War Ragnarök.
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About XPPen
XPPen, established in 2005, is now one of the leading brands of HANVON UGEE, offering a variety of products for creating digital products, and is known worldwide for their innovations in digital art.
XPPen is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. The company has 6 foreign subsidiaries (branches), and more than 50 representatives, in more than 130 countries and regions.
With over a decade of experience in ink technology, XPPen believes that innovative, modern, and cutting-edge products and platforms can inspire a new generation of artists and enthusiasts to follow their dreams and experience self-expression.
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Best Drawing Tablets 2023: Top Drawing Tablets
Best Drawing Tablets 2023: Top 9 Drawing Tablets0047
We have selected the best drawing tablets for designers, illustrators
and photo editors.
If you’re a digital artist, choosing one of the best tablets
for drawing is critical so that you can bring your artistic
ideas to life. Whether it’s painting, retouching and image editing
or animation, there are many solutions available to you.
In years past, the best drawing tablets were limited to
only graphics tablets, which required wires and external screens, and
the artist was tied to a single workplace.
Artists are currently
two options are available. Graphics tablets offer a textured workspace
surface that requires connection to an external monitor, but there is no
interactive panels that allow you to draw directly on the tablet, as on
paper. If you are not sure which is the best choice for you, read on to
understand the main differences, we will also answer frequently asked questions
below.
Both graphic tablets and the vast majority of interactive tablets need to be connected to a PC or laptop, so if you need a more portable device for working outside the workplace, we would recommend one of the best tablets from Apple, Microsoft and Samsung, they promise to be the best option. Some of these tablets are listed below, and while they have fewer drawing features, they are highly portable and have the day-to-day functions of a full-fledged computer.
Digital art is becoming more popular and,
whether you are an illustrator who needs
display your work digitally, eliminating intermediaries, or by an amateur,
developing your skills, it is important to choose a device that suits your
needs.
Whatever your priorities, be it portability or
professional drawing experience, we will match something for you. Besides,
November has arrived, which means that Black Friday is just around the corner, stay tuned
favorable discounts and offers throughout the month, the best time to purchase
tablet for drawing.
We’ve tested every drawing tablet you’ll find on this list, focusing on the aspects that matter when choosing a new pen tablet, from screen pressure sensitivity to art features, accessories and more. If your choice falls on a classic graphics tablet that should be connected to a computer, we recommend that you also consider the best monitors. Not sure if you’ll be comfortable with your tablet? Check out our ranking of the best laptops and tablets for drawing.
1. Wacom Cintiq 22
The best drawing tablet – big, bright and beautiful.
Active drawing area: 49.5 x 29.2 cm | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | Battery powered: No | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels | Connection: HDMI, USB 2.
0.
Pros :
- Great drawing experience;
- Quality stylus;
- Robust yet elegant design;
Cons :
- No shortcut buttons;
Wacom is a big name in digital art and this
reputation is well deserved. Thanks to its excellent pressure sensitivity, the available
artist-oriented prices and features only in recent years
competing companies managed to compete with Wacom. Wacom Cintiq –
it’s a graphics tablet with a screen, and also Wacom’s answer to
competing general purpose tablets such as the iPad. You get a thoughtful tablet
for drawing with a large area for creativity, and we believe that this is the best
in its versatility, an option with a wonderful price, design and set
functions.
Based on tablet size, performance and resolution,
its price remains competitive and while other tablets and laptops
able to offer a bit more in terms of graphic work, a large
panel provides detailed operation on a smoother user interface.
interface. The 22-inch panel provides artists with enough room to
work; but even the smaller 15.6-inch panel is oversized and
the quality of most other tablets on this list. It is equipped with folding
legs that feel solid and reliable to use, they are neatly
attached to the back of the device, and you can also attach to
third-party tablet stand.
Cintiq is perfect for all artists – from hobbyists to
professionals – and, despite the fairly affordable price, offers
really impressive drawing possibilities. The tablet has incredible
high resolution 5080 LPI,
and in combination with the wonderful Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus, which understands 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and
Considered to be the best stylus available, the tablet is only as good as
is it even possible. The only downside is the lack of buttons.
quick access, but you can always purchase the Wacom ExpressKey Remote
separately.
2. XP Pen
Artist Pro 16
The best drawing tablet – professional quality at an attractive price.
Active drawing area: 34 x 19.3 cm | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | Battery powered: No | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels | Connection: USB-C.
Pros :
- Great stylus;
- Supplied with accessories;
- Very affordable price;
Cons :
- The stand is separate and feels cheap;
XP Pen –
one of Wacom’s main competitors,
offering tablets cheaper while still maintaining high performance
and design quality. The XP-Pen Artist Pro interactive display is lightweight and customizable with eight
programmable buttons that allow you to display the most frequently
functions used. There is also a dual control dial used for
panning, scrolling, zooming, or resizing the brush.
This tablet features a bright, fully laminated 1920 FHD panel
x 1080, and is also available in a variety of sizes – from miniature
11.
6-inch to massive 21.5-inch screen. XP-Pen is also planning a 23.8-inch model soon.
Maybe big screens are too heavy and small ones don’t have enough space, but
artist
Pro 16 especially
good for mobile artists.
XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 comes with an XP-Pen stylus that, thanks to the modern
intelligent chip X3
provides high performance – 8192 levels of sensitivity to
pressure and angle evaluation up to 60 degrees. However, it falls short of the Wacom Pro Pen 2 when it comes to responsiveness.
on tilt and the feel of drawing. It also comes with a separate stand for
a tablet (a bit flimsy), a drawing glove, and a comfortable, sturdy holder
for styluses.
For the money, the whole series of Artist Pro graphics tablets offers
excellent value for money, but you can get even more value with
regular discounts and sales that you will meet throughout the year. AND
while Artist Pro offers the best quality and features available in this
price point, the tablet feels a bit cheap and offers not the best
stylus/drawing feel, so the Cintiq easily outcompetes the competition.
3. iPad Pro
12.9 M1 (2021)
The best all-around tablet for both drawing and everyday use.
Active drawing area: 26.2 x 19.7 cm | Resolution: 2732 x 2048 (XDR) | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: unverified (requires Apple Pencil, optional) | Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
Pros:
- Incredibly powerful tool for content creators;
- Portable tablet;
- Beautiful OLED display;
Cons :
- More expensive than graphics tablets;
- No stand and accessories included;
Without a shadow of a doubt, the iPad Pro is the best general purpose tablet
for drawing, and his latest 12.9-inch model with M1 is a real gift for artists,
offering plenty of power, a great display, and a decent canvas size.
In addition, it is extremely portable, which cannot be said about competitors; How
mentioned earlier, all graphics tablets and tablets with interactive
screens must be connected to external devices.
And while iPad Air
(fifth place in our ranking of the best drawing tablets) lighter and
More affordable, the iPad Pro stands out with its bright 12.9-inch mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) panel. Of course, you can choose the 11-inch iPad Pro, which will be slightly
smaller and cheaper, but it has a simple screen that’s not that impressive.
The image is updated twice as fast as on
most other tablets, thanks to the iPad Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate, which means that
you have an extremely fast and responsive drawing canvas at your fingertips.
Add to that the impressive pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pencil 2, which will have to
buy separately, but the iPad Pro becomes a serious contender. The only thing not
missing is the tactile finish of the screen for a real pen-feel
paper, but you can fix this shortcoming by purchasing a protective film with
paper texture.
iPad Pro,
equipped with M1 chip,
is the most powerful tablet for drawing and image editing.
Plus, iPadOS is compatible with a range of creative apps so you don’t have to.
so much limited than on other tablets.
While the new 2022 iPad Pro model offers certain benefits, it should be noted that
that for artists there are not many changes regarding the 2021 tablet, therefore
we recommend keeping an eye out for discounts on the iPad Pro M1 (2021).
Read the full iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review / iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) .
4. Xencelabs
Pen Tablet Medium Bundle
The best pen tablet: no display, no problem.
Active drawing area: 26.1 x 14.7 cm | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels | Connection: USB-C to USB-A.
Pros :
- Fully customizable keys;
- Very tactile key response;
Cons :
- The bundled double cable is not flexible enough;
Although Xencelabs is not widely known
manufacturer, the company has undoubtedly made an impact on the industry since 2021,
when Xencelabs Pen Tablet came out.
Unlike our top three offerings,
that offer integrated panels, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a regular
graphics tablet that requires an external monitor, which makes the tablet
the best choice for those users who are more concerned about the fragile stylus,
than panels, as well as for users who are trying to meet the limited
budget. When it comes to expectations from a graphics tablet, it meets all
requirements, combining elegant and reliable design, portability and
performance at a reasonable price.
The tablet is ergonomically designed with a comfortable curved
front panel, which cannot be said about competing drawing tablets,
resistance is like real paper, easy to draw. In addition to the
tablet comes with two styluses without batteries that can be
program individually, along with 8192 levels of sensitivity to
pressure and a pencil case for them.
Also available with adjustable remote control
with shortcut keys, which in itself is a unique feature,
that differentiates the Xencelabs Pen Tablet from competing offerings.
AND
while the tablet is quite light and easy to transport, individual elements
mean that you have to take into account two additional components; but this
a small price for a comprehensive and high-quality setup.
5. iPad Air
(2022, 5 Gen)
The best drawing tablet for hobbyists – powerful, portable.
Active drawing area: 24.6 x 17.8 mm | Resolution: 2350 x 1640 | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: unverified (requires Apple Pencil, optional) | Connectivity: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
Pros:
- M1 chip provides performance;
- Excellent display;
- Portable tablet;
Cons :
- No Thunderbolt 4;
- The working canvas is not particularly large;
This is not an iPad Pro,
but the iPad Air is an extremely respectable choice for digital artists.
and given the substantially lower price tag, it’s a great option for hobbyists.
It still works on the M1 chip,
very powerful and smooth in creative applications, meanwhile the LCD panel with
2360 x 1640 resolution provides decent brightness and smoothness.
Like Pro,
it is portable and offers more flexibility than traditional graphic
tablets. You can use it for work and play, and then for
creativity, so we have here a great choice for emerging artists and
lovers.
The drawing experience on the iPad Air remains excellent in many ways
thanks to its compatibility with Apple Pencil
2, which is sold separately. As we mentioned above when discussing Pro, iPadOS is compatible
with a huge number of creative applications, which means that the choice is yours
spoils, nothing like traditional graphics tablets offer.
Read the full iPad Air (2022) review .
6. Wacom Intuos Pro
The best drawing tablet for professional artists – the industry leader.
Active drawing area: 22.4 x 14.8 mm | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels | Connection: USB, Bluetooth.
Pros:
- Natural drawing experience;
- Sensitive stylus tracking without delay;
- Works with both wireless and cable;
Cons:
- Bluetooth can slow down;
Wacom Intuos Pro is ideal for most professional
illustrators thanks to fantastic stylus tracking with virtually no
latency, tilt and pressure sensitivity (8192 levels) with excellent
drawing surface. In addition, Wacom sells a variety of sheets with
textures if you want smoother or rougher resistance.
Intuos Pro is thin yet durable, making it easy to carry around and also
It has a variety of ports for easy connection. User
tidy workplaces will be pleased to know that Intuos Pro also supports
wireless Bluetooth connection;
however, some users noted that this connection is not enough
fast.
Customer reviews praise the Intuos Pro for
incredible accuracy and convenience in drawing and, while it is actually
increases the cost, the price-quality ratio remains excellent. Tablet
comes with Wacom Pro Pen
2 and is also compatible with other Wacom styluses.
There is also a Paper Edition,
feature that allows artists to arrange their paper drawings on
Intuos Pro screen to convert your drawings to digital is a real dream
most illustrators.
7. XP Pen
Deco Pro
The best budget pen tablet – affordable but not easy.
Active drawing area: 27.9 x 15.2 cm | Battery powered: No | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 8192 | Connection: USB-C.
Pros:
- Slim and compact tablet for portable workstations;
- Scissor switches are fun;
Cons:
- White gets dirty quickly;
If you’re not ready to shell out for a Wacom Intuos Pro or
complete graphics tablet Xencelabs Pen Tablet, XP-Pen Deco will be yours
the next best choice for a graphics tablet.
XP-Pen gone
making some concessions to the design and usability of the Deco tablet to keep the price down;
but overall the client was impressed with its quality considering the pricing. His
sensitivity is no worse than most of the other favorites in this rating,
8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, although some users have experienced
difficulties with software drivers, whose work was sometimes clumsy. With active
drawing area of 28 x 15 cm, the tablet promises to be a great option
for users who are looking for a simple and fast device that will allow
draw and sketch, write or edit.
8. Wacom One
The best interactive display for students – affordable and lightweight.
Active drawing area: 29.4 x 16.5 cm | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Battery powered: No | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 4096 | Connection: USB-C, HDMI.
Pros:
- Easy to travel with tablet;
- More affordable than other Wacom devices;
Cons:
- Less sensitivity levels;
- Smaller working area;
Wacom One is one of the most affordable interactive tablets
industry giant, making it a great choice for students or even
children with a growing passion for graphic design.
Small at just 13 inches, it still delivers the high quality that Wacom is known for, providing great drawing experience at a reasonable price. Pressure sensitivity is in the middle range with 409With 6 levels, the interaction surface has a natural paper feel, making it ideal for everything from note taking to technical drawing. While Wacom One makes some concessions on pressure sensitivity, the tablet is ideal for saving money on digital art. It’s also great for photo and video editing thanks to its wide software compatibility.
Read the full Wacom One 9 review0048 .
9 Surface
Pro 8
The best drawing tablet for Windows.
Active drawing area: 28.6 x 19 cm | Resolution: 3000 x 2000 pixels | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: 4096 (with Surface Pen) | Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB, USB-C and Wi-Fi.
Pros:
- Runs on Windows 11;
- Very bright and responsive screen;
- Faster than previous Surface;
Cons :
- No stylus included;
- Not as well rated as other tablets;
Surface Pro
8 is the closest Microsoft product to full-fledged competition with Apple tablets; but he must not be left without
the attention of creatives who are considering the iPad Pro. However, it’s big
and an important step forward with Surface Pro
7, which we tested and found the tablet to be almost 50% faster.
Surface has a responsive and bright panel with a resolution of 2880 x 1920,
120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and Adaptive Color technologies. Simply put, he
shows good colors, detail and responsiveness, in addition, Surface Pro 8 is compatible with high-sensitivity
Surface Pen
(sold separately). On the other hand, the basic tablet configuration
comparable to iPad Pro
12.9, it should be noted that before the great screen that Apple offers, Microsoft still
far.
Similarly, tests have shown that the iPad Pro is generally
wins in performance. You can choose the best configuration,
but this will naturally increase the price.
Surface Pro
8 is a viable option for digital artists who need a tablet
able to work in the Windows ecosystem,
great if you need access to a full desktop version of Windows and
related software for creative tasks, such as Photoshop, it is much better in the field
multitasking than the iPad Pro.
Unfortunately, these are the rare aspects where the Microsoft drawing tablet wins.
if you are considering multi-purpose tablets.
Read the full Surface Pro 8 review .
10. Amazon
Fire HD 10 for Kids
The best tablet for kids – safe, affordable and reliable.
Active drawing area: 22.1 x 16 cm | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Battery powered: Yes | Stylus pressure sensitivity: N/A | Connection: USB, Bluetooth;
Pros:
- Retro design reminiscent of 90s peripherals;
- Momentary spring switch;
Cons:
- No pressure sensitivity;
specialized graphics tablets such as the Wacom One, it is unlikely that
a similar model will suit you for a start.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is a general purpose tablet that allows kids to
get used to drawing on the screen without the need to use additional functions,
including pressure sensitivity.
There are many great applications for drawing and
drawings, as well as many other applications that will help keep the child in
rainy day. This tablet does not offer a bundled stylus, but it is affordable and you will not
you have to use a lot of imagination.
If you want to offer your child a more mature
tablet version, you can also choose Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, which
includes excellent parental controls and an updated screen. Both models
can be found with great discounts during sales such as the upcoming
Black Friday.
How do we test drawing tablets?
To select the best drawing tablets, we reviewed
devices from major and smaller manufacturers, from Wacom and XP-Pen to Xencelabs and
general purpose manufacturers such as Apple and Microsoft. First of all
we used Adobe Creative Cloud software, the core ecosystem of most
professionals, but we also pay attention to free popular
programs such as Kitra and GIMP,
with different budgets.
Then we draw, write and experiment with
tablet to see how natural it is, identify any glitches to
make sure it is suitable for use in long sessions.
How to choose the best drawing tablet?
The most important thing when choosing a drawing tablet is to consider
art process needs: how, where and when do you like to draw?
If you like to draw on the go, no limits,
any cables, screens and computer, we would recommend using
a general purpose tablet like the iPad Pro or Surface Pro 8, which provide greater portability and
compatibility, while maintaining a quality drawing experience and a reasonable price.
If you care about price but don’t mind some
difficulties in learning, the best option would be a graphics tablet, which,
is generally more reliable. More delicate feather pads may lose
points in the portability department, but they offer the best drawing experience,
offering artists the feeling of drawing with pen on paper while supporting
artistic approach with its design and functions.
Which is better: graphics tablet, interactive or regular
tablet?
There is no definite answer to this question, which tablet for
drawing better depends on the artist to the artist and his needs. That’s why
it is important to understand the difference between each type of tablet.
Graphic tablets are the most affordable option,
because they require much less hardware. As a rule, they
react with great precision – if, of course, you can get used to looking
on the screen while drawing. Since they do not come with an integrated
screen, they are also more reliable. Thus, graphics tablets are
ideal choice for users who travel frequently, if you have
access to an external monitor or laptop that you can connect to
tablet.
Pen (interactive) tablets are significantly more expensive and
much more fragile, but it is much easier to master them in use, you do not have to
rely on custom buttons and labels for canvas navigation. Some
high-end interactive screens come with integrated
operating systems, which means you don’t have to plug them into
computer or laptop; but this entails significant costs.