Best Tablets for Drawing & Digital Art

If you draw digitally, the tablet matters more than almost anything else. Here are the best picks for every budget.

What matters for drawing

For digital art, three things matter: the stylus (pressure sensitivity and low latency), the display (color accuracy), and the app ecosystem. Get those right and the rest follows.

Procreate (iPad) and Samsung Notes/Clip Studio (Android) are the best art apps. Check that your favorite app runs on the tablet before buying.

iPad vs dedicated pen displays

An iPad is the best all-rounder — a great screen, Apple Pencil, and Procreate. It’s also a full tablet for everything else. A dedicated pen display (Wacom, Huion) plugs into a computer and is purely for drawing — cheaper, but single-purpose.

If you already have a computer and only draw, a dedicated pen display is the best value. If you want one device that draws and does everything else, get an iPad or Galaxy Tab.

Drawing on a budget

You don’t need to spend $1,000+. The iPad Air or a Huion pen display deliver pro-level drawing for much less. Start with what fits your budget and upgrade the stylus later.

The bottom line

Most artists are best served by an iPad Air or Pro with Apple Pencil and Procreate. Android artists should look at the Galaxy Tab S10. Budget buyers: a Huion or Wacom pen display is the smartest money.