What Tablets Are Good for Drawing and Artists

Whether you are thinking of buying a graphics tablet with screen for drawing, 3D modeling, graphic design or any other creative endeavour, here you will find the best pen display drawing tablets in terms of quality, price and reviews.

Drawing tablets with screen (also called pen display tablets, drawing monitors or interactive monitors) are graphics tablets with a built-in screen that, when connected to a computer, duplicates the image of the computer monitor, as if it were a second monitor, allowing you to draw on the screen of the tablet directly. An incredible sensation.

If in doubt, take this simple test to find out what drawing monitor is right for you.

If you want personalized assistance , let us know in the comments section and we will help you choose the right model for you. Just leave a comment and will get back to you as soon as possible.

The price of a drawing monitor is generally higher than a normal graphic tablet without a screen, but the experience of use is totally different and the satisfaction of drawing with them is much higher. In addition, prices are falling rapidly, due to the wide variety of brands and models available on the market. Nowadays it is not uncommon to see drawing tablets with screen from 200 or 300 dollars (or pounds).

Graphics tablets with screen are usually connected to a computer via USB+HDMI cable, in addition to a supply cable for powering the tablet itself. Some come with a single 3-in-1 cable (USB, HDMI and power all in one).

Sizes are measured in inches and they vary from 13 inches to 27 inches. If you are in doubt about which size to buy, take a look at our guide that explains which size of graphics tablet you should buy.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you buy something we get a small commission at no extra cost to you (learn more). This allows us to keep this website alive.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

• Difference between a "Drawing Tablet" and a "Tablet for Drawing"
• Drawing tablets with screen, recommendations for quality-price ratio
  

• Take this Test: Find your drawing tablet

• ​ Wacom pen display tablets
• Huion drawing tablets with screen
• Ugee graphics tablets with screen
• Gaomon drawing tablets with screen
• XP-Pen drawing tablets with screen
• Parblo graphic tablets with screen

Difference between a "Drawing Tablet" and a "Tablet for drawing"

Note: A Drawing Tablet (with screen or without it) is NOT the same as a plain Tablet (for drawing or for general use).

The difference is that graphics or drawing tablets are devices that you connect to a computer, while a Tablet by itself has its own operating system and hence you don't need to connect it to a computer.

In this article we cover Drawing Tablets (a.k.a. Graphics tablets) with screen, also known as pen display tablets or drawing monitors.​

If you are looking for Tablet computers with their own operating system, read this post about tablet computers for drawing.

Drawing Monitors, recommendations for quality-price and value

• BEST DRAWING MONITOR
• BEST VALUE

► Most powerful drawing monitor (cheaper than a Cintiq 22HD):

We have analyzed this product on this review.

► Recommended drawing tablet with screen for its quality-price ratio:

We have analyzed this product on this review.

Graphic Tablets WITH screen represent a HUGE improvement compared to tablets without a screen, for the following reasons:

• On graphic tablets WITHOUT screen you draw on the surface of the tablet, but you look at the computer screen (requires getting used to)
• On drawing tablets WITH screen you draw directly on the image you are viewing. Drawing directly on the screen has no comparison. It allows you to have absolute control over your strokes. In short, the improvement in comfort and sensations is abysmal.
• You won't want to go back to the traditional tablets if you try a graphic tablet with its own screen (I subscribe, based on my own experience and that of many users).

These tablets are optimized for use in Digital Illustration, Graphic Design, Photographic Retouching, 3D Design, and in general any intensive use of graphic or design programs, whether in 2D or 3D.

They are a good investment if you are a student of design or graphic and visual arts, for animation and 3D modeling, illustration, for professional photo retouching, or simply to enjoy creating to the fullest on your computer.

I have this budget and these requirements... What graphic tablet with screen should I buy, according to my needs?

With so many brands and models flooding in the market, it is normal to get a little confused and it may be hard to decide which drawing tablet with screen to buy.

That's why we've created our Pen Display Graphics Tablet Selection Tool to help you find the model that best suits your needs.

Simply answer these questions by indicating your priorities, and we'll recommend the best model for you.

Take this Test and Find the Best Drawing Tablet for You

Simply take this quick test to help you find the best drawing tablet for your needs.

 *** CLICK HERE TO START ***

What type of drawing tablet are you looking for?

• WITHOUT SCREEN
• WITH SCREEN
• TABLET COMPUTERS

All right, let's see what graphics tablets without screen we can find for you. First of all - Do you want Wireless functionality?

• No
• YES

Do you want multi-touch functionality?

• NO
• YES

Ok, so you are looking for a drawing tablet without Wireless or Multi-Touch functionality - What size do you prefer?

• S (SMALL)
• M (mediUM)
• L (LARGE)

• Huion H950P - tilt sensitivity! Battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 programmable shortcut keys.
• Huion H610 Pro V2 - tilt sensitivity! (on the V2 model) battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 programmable shortcut keys + 16 touch keys.
• XP-Pen Star 03 - battery-free pen with 2048 pressure levels and report rate of 233 RPS, 8 programmable shortcut keys.

[Start again]

• Huion H1060P - battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 12 programmable shortcut keys + 16 "soft" touch keys

[Start again]

Graphic tablets with Multi-touch (without Wireless):

• Wacom Intuos Pro S - tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. 2048 pressure levels (rechargeable pen), 8 programmable express keys+ Rocker Ring, Wacom quality)

[Start again]

Apart from Wireless, do you want to have Multi-touch functionality?

• NO
• YES

Ok, so we are looking for wireless graphics tablets (without multi-touch) - What size do you prefer?

• S (SMALL)
• M (mediUM)
• L (LARGE)

• XP-Pen Star 06 (battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, wireless, 6 touch keys + rotary dial)
• XP-Pen Deco 03 (battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, high report rate 266 RPS, 6 programmable shortcut keys + rotary dial)
• Wacom Intuos M CTL-6100WL - battery-free pen with 4096 pressure levels, 4 programmable express keys, Wacom quality.

[Start again]

• Huion WH1409 - Rechargeable pen with 2048 pressure levels, wireless, 8GB Flash Memory, 12 programmable shortcut keys.
• HUION INSPIROY Q11K V2 - tilt sensitivity! (on V2 model). Battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 express keys.

[Start again]

Graphics tablets with Wireless + Multi-touch functionality:

M size (medium):

• Wacom Intuos Pro M - tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. Pro Pen 2 battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, wireless, 8 programmable express keys + Rocker Ring, professional quality)

L size (large)

• Wacom Intuos Pro L - Tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. Pro Pen 2 battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, Wireless, 8 programmable express keys + Rocker ring, professional quality.

[Start again]

All right, so you are looking for a drawing tablet with screen. Let's see what pen display tablets we have for you - What is your budget?

• LESS THAN 300$/€
• more than 300$/€

For less than 300$/€ there are a few options of graphics tablets with screen, let's see what we can find for you in that price range:

In this price range you can get:

• XP-Pen Artist 12 (check price): 12 inch, 1280x800, 5080 LPI, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 266 RPS.

• Huion Kamvas Pro 12 (check price): 11.6 inch, Full HD 1920x1080, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 266 RPS, tilt sensitivity, 3-in-1 cable
• Parblo Coast10 (check price or see review): 10 inch display graphics tablet, 1280x800 resolution, 5080 LPI, battery-free pen with 2048 pressure levels, 200 RPS report rate.
• XP-Pen Artist 13.3 (check price): 13.3 inch, 1280x800, 5080 LPI, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels.

[St​ ​art again]

Ok, with a budget over 300$/€ you have many options - Do you require Multi-touch functionality?

• YES - MULTI TOUCH
• NO MULTI TOUCH

If you want Multi-touch screen then you pretty much have to go to a Wacom tablet - What size do you want?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' oR MORE)

• Cintiq 13HD (13 inch Full HD, 2048 pressure levels, tilt sensitivity) - Check price or See review
• Cintiq Pro 13 (13 inch Full HD, 8192 pressure levels, tilt sensitivity + multi-touch screen) - Check price or See review

[Start again]

• Cintiq Pro 16 - 16 inch, Ultra HD 4K, professional colour 94% Adobe RGB, tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. See price.

[Start again]

All right, no Multi-touch - Do you want Tilt sensitivity on your tablet?

• YES - TILT
• NO TILT

OK, with tilt sensitivity - What size are you after?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' OR MORE)

All right, no tilt sensitivity or multi-touch - What size are you after?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' OR MORE)

• XP-Pen Artist Display 13.3 - 13.3 inch, Full HD 1920x1080, battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable. Check price.

[Start again]

We are almost there... Do you want Express Keys on your tablet?

• NO BUTTONS
• YES - EXPRESS KEYS

With Express Keys:

• Huion GT-156HD V2 (15.6 inch Full HD, 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable, Express Keys) - Check price or see review
• Gaomon PD1560 (15.6'' Full HD, 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen Artist Display 15.6'' (15.6'' Full HD, battery-free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable) - Check price
• XP-Pen Artist Display 16Pro (15.6'' Full HD, professional color 92% Adobe RGB, 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review (*we highly recommend checking this one out)

[Start again]

We are almost there... 21.5 inch plus size - Do you want Express Keys on your tablet?

• NO BUTTONS
• YES - EXPRESS KEYS

21.5 inch Full HD 1920x1080, no Express Keys:

• Ugee UG-2150 (2048 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• Huion GT-220HD V2 (similar but with 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen Artist Display 22 Pro (pretty similar specs, also 8192 pressure levels) - Check price

[Start again]

21.5 inch Full HD 1920x1080, with Express Keys:

• Huion GT-221Pro (8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen 22E (2048 pressure levels)
• XP-Pen 22E Pro (8192 pressure levels) - Check price

[Start again]

What Operating System do you want on your Tablet?

• WINDOWS
• IOS
• ANDROID

Do you want a general use Windows tablet computer, or a very specialized tablet computer for digital creativity?

• General use
• SPECIALIST

What size do you prefer?

• 10.5''
• 12.9''

What budget do you have?

• LOW
• MEDIUM
• HIGH

Huion Pen Display Drawing Monitors

Huion pen display graphics tablets are a very viable alternative to Wacom's Cintiqs, at a much lower price. The smaller models can be found for around 200-300$ cheaper than the equivalent Cintiqs, and even more difference in price for larger 22-inch models.

Below we explain the entire range of Huion pen display drawing tablets, as updated as possible according to the official website in 2018. If you want more information about these tablets, you can visit Huion's official website (although often the manufacturers website don't clarify much, so here we explain break down everything for you).

1. Huion GT-191HD, 19.5 inch drawing tablet with screen

The Huion GT-191HD is one of the best options on the market in terms of value for money and nice balanced specs. You can see the specifications further down.

Check out the price and you will find out why it is considered one of the best drawing tablets with screen for quality-price ratio.

► Graphics tablet with screen recommended for quality-price ratio:

Huion GT-191HD features:

• PE-330 rechargeable digital stylus with 8192 pressure levels (it gets recharged with a USB cable)
• 19.5 inch, Full HD drawing monitor with 1920x1080 resolution, colour gamut 72% NTSC, 178 degree full viewing angle. This is a well balanced size, ample but not too big for most desks.
• 5080 LPI and 233 PPS report rate (a good figure to avoid broken lines and delays while drawing)
• No express keys on the tablet, only 2 on the digital stylus. Software shortcuts can be activated through the pen or through an optional buttons accessory (sold separately), or as many artists do, with a wireless keyboard.
• Adjustable stand, allowing inclination of the tablet from 20 to 80 degrees

You can typically find the Huion GT-191HD under 500$, which is without any doubt a great price for a graphics tablet with screen with specs like these.

Drawing tablets with screen with a full viewing angle of 178 degrees like the Huion GT-191HD allow you to see the image from virtually any angle without colour distortion

Strengths and weaknesses of the Huion GT-191HD:

• Strengths:

► Good value for money. A very good set of specs for a very decent price, makes this tablet the top of the list when it comes to quality-price ratio.

► 19.5 inch screen (larger than the 13 inch Cintiq 13HD, without being as large or as heavy as the Cintiq 22HD).

► Full HD screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 8192 pressure levels digital pen, for this price, is a really good deal.

► Huion is the 2nd best selling brand for drawing tablets

• Weaknesses

► The stylus is not battery-free, the screen is not multi-touch and it doesn't have a 3-in-1 cable. These are minor weaknesses and even with these it's still worth it. Things like multi-touch are quite rare and almost exclusive to more pricey Wacom tablets. A 3-in-1 cable would be convenient although not a requirement.

For all this, the GT-191HD is hands down one of the best options in the market right now in terms of quality-price ratio. User reviews are very positive overall for this drawing tablet. Here you can see further details and price for the Huion GT-191HD.

You can see a full review​ ​ of the Huion Kamvas GT-191 here.

2. Huion Kamvas Pro 20 (19.5 inch)

This would be the immediately superior version to the Huion GT-191HD.

The Huion Kamvas Pro 20 is the new powerful 19.5 inch drawing monitor by Huion. With its 16 programmable buttons and its 2 touch bars, plus the new battery-free PW500 digital stylus, this graphics tablet is the best 19.5 inch drawing monitor just now.

• 19.5 inch Full HD screen, 178 degree full viewing angle, anti-glare glass
• 8192 pressure levels, battery-free pen, 266 RPS and tilt recognition
• 16 programmable buttons and 2 touch bars

To be accurate, there is an intermediate model between the GT-191HD and the Kamvas Pro 20, and that is the GT-191HD "V2". However if you want to upgrade from the GT-191HD, it's better to buy the Kamvas Pro 20, as it has significant improvements over the GT-191HD.

Huion Kamvas Pro 20 features:

• New PW500 battery-free stylus, completely battery-free, 8192 pressure levels and with tilt support.
• Semi-professional 19.5 inch drawing monitor, Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, full viewing angle of 178 degrees. The 19.5'' size is pretty good for most desks.
• 266 RPS refresh rate, the highest on the market.
• 16 programmable buttons and 2 touch bars on the sides. Suitable for left-handed use without needing to rotate the tablet.

The Kamvas Pro 20 is considered a "semi-professional" pen display graphics tablet, meaning that it can be used at a very high level, even to produce professional-quality work (we strongly believe this device is perfectly suitable for professional artists).

Given its solid specifications, it can compete with the classic professional drawing monitors such as the Cintiq 22HD. An advantage of the Kamvas Pro 20 over the Cintiq 22HD is that the Kamvas Pro 20 is so much lighter, as it weighs in at 3.6Kg, whereas the Cintiq 22HD weighs in at 8.5Kg.

One of the key improvements on the Huion Kamvas Pro 20 is that it comes with the new PW500 battery-free digital stylus.

The PW500 digital pen is completely battery-free and it supports tilt detection, supporting +/-60 degrees of inclination of the pen. Tilt detection is one of those features that has been considered "premium" for a very long time and it is still a feature that very few graphics tablets can boast of.

​

Here is a summary of the Huion Kamvas Pro 20 pros and cons:

• Strengths:

► Battery-free digital stylus with tilt support.

► 19.5 inch is a pretty good size in most situations (more ample than the 13 inch Cintiq 13HD, without taking up so much space or being as heavy as the Cintiq 22HD).

► 16 programmable buttons and 2 touch bars.

► Huion is a reputable manufacturer (2nd best seller)

• What does it lack?

► If you prefer to have a very large drawing surface, then you might want to buy a 22 inch drawing monitor instead.

To wrap up, the Kamvas Pro 20 is currently one of the strongest pen display drawing tablets, given its solid and balanced specs. It clearly makes it into the Top 3 in terms of quality-price ratio and value for money.

If you want to know more about this drawing monitor, check out our full review of the ​​Kamvas Pro 20.

3. Huion Kamvas Pro 22 (21.5 inch)

[ Click to see it on Amazon ]

The Kamvas Pro 22 is the best Huion pen display drawing tablet by Huion, surpassing its antecessor, the GT-221Pro. This model has been released as part of the recent renewal of Huion's line of pen display drawing monitors.

Because of the powerful specs of this device, we have written a full review of the Huion Kamvas Pro 22, which you can check out on the following link.

4.  Huion GT-156HD V2 (drawing tablet with 15.6 inch screen)

Let's get started with one of the most compact of the Huion range of pen display tablets, the GT-156HD V2, a graphic tablet with 15.6 inch screen. This is one of the main competitors of the Cintiq 13HD, at a much lower price.

Huion GT-156HD V2 - specifications:

• Screen:
  • Size: 15.6 inches
  • Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (5080 LPI)
  • Color gamut: 72% NTSC
  • Viewing angle: 178º
  • Active area: 344.2 x 193.6 mm
• Pen:
  • Pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels
  • Report rate: 233 RPS
  • Detection height: 12 mm
• Interface:
  • 3-in-1 video (HDMI), data (USB) and supply
• Programmable buttons: 14 keys and 1 touch bar, on one side
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 432 x 264 x 14.8 mm
• Weight: 1.5 Kg (tablet), 3.8kg (packaged weight)
• Price: See price

You can usually find the Huion GT-156HD V2 at around 500€, a very low entry price for everything it offers. Keep in mind that, even being the smallest of its range, it has features that the other Huion tablets do not have, such as 3-in-1 cable (very convenient), programmable side buttons and a touch slider bar.

Huion GT-156HD V2 main specs:

• PE-330 pen with 8192 pressure levels, with rechargeable battery, no tilt sensitivity
• 15.6-inch Full HD 1920x1080 drawing monitor, 72% NTSC color gamut, 178º viewing angle
• 5080 LPI and 233 PPS report rate (good figure to avoid broken lines and delay in drawing)
• 14 programmable shortcut keys and a touch bar (useful for zooming and moving around the work area), on the left side (good for left-handed use simply by turning the tablet around)
• 2-position adjustable stand
• 3-in-1 power and data cable (very useful)

​

Vídeo review of the Huion GT-156HD V2:

In this video (watch the first 5 minutes) you can see a review and unboxing of the Huion GT-156HD V2.

Despite their extremely competitive price, the Huion pen display graphics tablets have really spectacular features. Many artists and graphic designers are already using these Huion tablets with very good results.

Another advantage of the Huion GT-156HD V2 is that it comes with a 3-in-1 cable for video, data and power. This is something very few graphic tablets have (some Wacom tablets like the Cintiq 13HD have it) and it is very useful because it increases comfort and reduces the number of cables, reducing clutter over your desk.

Here you can see what the 3-in-1 cable looks like.

The Huion GT-156HD V2 is one of the few display graphic tablets with a 3-in-1 cable, which is a plus

Huion GT-156HD V2 versus Cintiq 13HD comparison:

• What is the main advantage of this Huion tablet over the Wacom Cintiq? Clearly, the cost. Huion tablets are generally much cheaper than their Wacom Cintiq equivalents. Another advantage is that the Huion GT-156HD V2 has more pressure sensitivity levels than the Cintiq 13HD.
• What does this Huion tablet lack that the Cintiq 13HD has? Apart from the brand name, it doesn't have a battery-free pen or a multi-touch panel. Otherwise, the rest of the features are quite impressive. It has more pressure levels than the Cintiq 13HD (the Cintiq 13HD has 2048 levels, and Huion GT-156HD has 8192). It has Full HD 1920x1080 display, and good reviews from users who have tried it. All this at a much lower cost than the Cintiq.

As an additional feature, both the Huion GT-156HD V2 and the GT-220HD V2 include a digital drawing glove, which is useful to avoid erroneous pulsations with the palm of the hand on the tablet screen when drawing or writing.

5.  Huion GT-220 V2 (21.5 inch)

Yet another spectacular Huion drawing tablet, with a screen size of 21.5 inches in this case, that's a good alternative to the Cintiq 22HD at a much lower price.

Huion GT-220HD V2 pen display drawing tablet features:

• 21.5 inch Full HD display with 1920x1080 resolution, colour gamut 72% NTSC, full 178º viewing angle (no distortion on image or colour while viewing from virtually any angle)
• PE-330 digital pen with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, rechargeable, no tilt sensitivity
• 5080 LPI and 233 PPS report rate (good figure to avoid broken lines and delays while drawing)
• No programmable buttons, you can activate the software shortcuts through the stylus, or else you can add an optional external buttons accessory (sold separately), or just a wireless keyboard
• Multi-position adjustable stand, inclination from 20 to 80 degrees

Comparing the Huion GT-220HD V2 versus Cintiq 22HD:

• Advantages of the Huion GT-220HD V2 versus the Cintiq 22HD: The Huion is much cheaper (check out the price of the Huion GT-220HD V2 versus the price of a Cintiq 22HD), for the same size of screen.
• Disadvantages with respect to Cintiq 22HD: No battery-free digital pen (although the battery lasts one month and it gets recharged via USB in no time). No tilt sensitivity or multi-touch, and no express keys. The Cintiq 22HD does have these. The rest of the specs of the Huion GT-220HD V2 are very strong (8192 pressure levels, Full HD display, and very good user reviews). All of it at a much lower price than the Cintiq 22HD.

If we compare the Huion GT-220HD V2 with its younger "cousin" the Huion GT-156HD V2, the main difference is that the GT-220HD V2 is larger in screen size, although it comes without express keys, but with a better adjustable stand.

The GT-220HD V2 also comes with various accessories such as a drawing glove to avoid unwanted palm detection, as well as a screen protector.

6. Huion GT-221Pro (21.5'' screen drawing tablet with Express Keys)

Note: This model has been the best Huion pen display graphics tablet up until recently. However, since the recent launch of the new Huion Kamvas Pro series of pen display monitors, the new Kamvas Pro 22 has taken its place as the best of the range. Here you can read a full review of the Huion Kamvas Pro 22.

The GT-221Pro is the upgraded version of the GT-220HD V2, including a large amount of programmable express keys on both sides, as wells as slider touch bars on both sides.

Note: This drawing tablet has traditionally been in the Top 10 graphics tablets for it really is a rival of the Cintiq 22HD for less than half the price. However, since the launch of the new pen display monitor line-up by Huion, with its Pro models, probably the Kamvas Pro 22 will take its place in the Top 10.

Huion GT-221Pro features:

• 21.5 inch Full HD screen with 1920x1080 resolution, color gamut 72% NTSC, full viewing angle of 178 degrees
• 10 programmable Express Keys per side, plus a slider Touch Bar on each side. More ease of use and comfort, faster workflow with easy access to frequently used shortcuts.
• PE-330 digital pen with 8192 pressure levels, rechargeable, no tilt sensitivity
• 5080 LPI and 233 PPS report rate (good figures to avoid broken lines and delays while drawing)
• Adjustable multi-position stand, allows inclination of the screen from 20 to 80 degrees

Programmable Express Keys and sliding touch bars on each side of the Huion GT-221Pro.

Comparison: Huion GT-221Pro V2 versus Cintiq 22HD:

• Advantages with respect to Cintiq 22HD: As with other Huion tablets, this one is also much cheaper than the Wacom (check the price of the Huion GT-221Pro versus the price of the Cintiq 22HD), for the same screen size and incredibly close specs on both tablets. Additionally, the Huion GT-221Pro has more pressure levels (8192) than the Cintiq 22HD (2048).
• Disadvantages with respect to the Cintiq 22HD: No battery free pen on the Huion (although the battery lasts one month and it gets recharged through USB quite quickly), it does not have tilt sensitivity or multi-touch screen. Other than that, most users who have bought the Huion GT-221Pro are by the most part delighted with this drawing tablet and consider it to be of pretty much the same level of quality and performance as the famous Cintiq 22HD.

Like other Huion pen display tablets, this one also comes with accessories included such as drawing glove, digital stylus holder and spare pen nibs.

Just like the more expensive Cintiq 22HD, this is also a professional and semi-professional graphics tablet with screen for drawing, graphic design, digital illustration, 3D modeling, animation or any other creative activity, for half the price.

Summing it all up, the Huion GT-221Pro is a high spec drawing tablet which has pretty much all you could possibly ask from a graphics tablet with screen. Its specs are among the highest in the market, really on par with the Wacom Cintiq 22HD, for less than half the price. For all of the above, this tablet deserves to be included in the Top 10 drawing tablets.

Wacom Pen Displays

As you may already be aware of, Wacom is the leading brand in graphic tablets. They make models for all levels and of good quality, but their price is higher than other brands due to their prestige.

Wacom's range of pen display graphics tablets is called Cintiq, a name you've probably heard. Cintiqs are the reference graphics tablets with screen in the sector, especially as they are the most used at a professional level.

Is the price of Wacom's Cintiq pen display tablets justified? Or is it better to buy other brands such as Huion or Ugee? This is the eternal debate, and there are opinions for all tastes.

But being objective, we have to recognize that Wacom is one step ahead of the other brands. Wacom display tablets have things that other brands don't have, such as multi-touch functionality. Now, the decision to pay a little more for these extras, or for the added confidence that the Wacom brand brings to the table, depends on the end user.

Below we analyze the main Wacom Cintiq drawing monitors that you may be most interested in. The complete Cintiq range is very wide and we can't analyze all the models here (we'll leave that for another post), so let's just talk about the 13'' and 22'' models, which are probably the ones you might be most interested in. But know that Wacom has models up to 24 and 27 inches, more oriented to professional use. If you want to see the full range of Wacom interactive monitors, you can see all the models in Wacom's Cintiq range on the official website.

7.  Wacom Cintiq 13HD and Cintiq Pro 13 (13 inches)

Wacom's most compact 13-inch drawing tablets with screen are the Cintiq 13HD and the Cintiq Pro 13. The Cintiq 13HD is one of the most reputable drawing monitors on the market. It is used by students of design and visual arts, professionals of graphic design and digital illustration, as well as many companies.

The Cintiq Pro 13 is a superior version.

Cintiq 13HD and Cintiq Pro 13 features:

The Cintiq 13HD has a 13'' Full HD 1920x1280 screen, digital pen without battery with 2048 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity. In the case of the Cintiq Pro 13, it reaches 8192 pressure levels.

Although their names are similar, the Cintiq 13HD and the Cintiq Pro 13 have some differences. The Cintiq Pro 13 is a superior model, with multi-touch and more pressure sensitivity levels.

• Both the Cintiq 13HD and the Cintiq Pro 13 have Full HD display (1920 x 1080 pixels resolution), and a battery-free digital pen (you don't have to worry about recharging it or running out of batteries), with tilt sensitivity (for a long time, tilt sensitivity has been almost exclusively found on Wacom graphic tablets).
• The Cintiq 13HD has 2048 pressure levels, whereas the Cintiq Pro 13 has 8192 levels.
• The Cintiq 13HD does not have a multi-touch screen. The Cintiq Pro 13 does.

Cintiq 13HD - specifications:

• Screen:
  • Size: 13 inch
  • Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (5080 LPI)
  • Color Gamut: 75% Adobe RGB
  • Viewing angle: 178º
  • Active area:  299 x 171 mm
  • Multi-touch: No
• Pen:
  • Pressure levels: 2048
  • Tilt sensitivity: Yes
  • Battery-free pen: Yes
• Interface:
  • 3-en-1 video (HDMI), data (USB) and supply
• Express keys: Rocker Ring with 5 buttons, on one side
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 375 x 248 x 14 mm
• Weight: 1.2 Kg
• Price: See price

Cintiq Pro 13 - specifications:

• Screen:
  • Size: 13 pulgadas
  • Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (5080 LPI)
  • Color Gamut: 87% Adobe RGB
  • Vieweing angle: 178º
  • Active area: 294 x 166 mm
  • Multi-touch: Yes
• Pen:
  • Pressure levels: 8192 levels
  • Tilt sensitivity: Yes
  • Battery-free pen: Yes
• Interface:
  • Video (HDMI) and data (USB) through Wacom Link adapter, plus separate supply cable (not 3-in-1)
• Express Keys: No
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 360 x 235 x 13.9 mm
• Weight: 1.1 Kg
• Price: See price

On the following table you can see the differences between the Cintiq 13HD and the Cintiq Pro 13:

Model	Screen size	Battery-free pen	Pressure levels	Multi-touch	Tilt sensitivity	Screen resolution
Cintiq 13HD	13''	Yes	2048	No	Yes	Full HD 1920x1080
Cintiq Pro 13	13''	Yes	8192	Yes	Yes	Full HD 1920x1080

Video review of the Wacom Cintiq 13HD and Cintiq Pro 13:

If you want to see what the Cintiq 13HD or Cintiq Pro 13 look like, and get an idea of how they feel when it comes to drawing, check out these videos that will give you a feel for the size and how they really look:

Is it worth buying Wacom?

Wacom drawing tablets with screen are the top of the range, so they are more expensive than other brands.

As in all things, there are defenders and detractors of Wacom. There are those who say you pay for the brand, and there are those who say Wacom is the best. Some users reckon Wacoms tend to have less driver issues (this is difficult to measure). In any case, it is only fair to recognize that they have several things that almost no other graphics tablet has (or very few), such as:

• Tilt sensitivity
• Multi-touch screen (on the Cintiq Pro 13)
• 3-in-1 cable (on the Cintiq 13HD) for video, data and supply (very convenient)
• Superior color quality performance reaching levels of up to 94% Adobe RGB (Cintiq Pro 16), 97% Adobe RGB (Cintiq 27 QHD) and even 99% Adobe RGB (Cintiq Pro 24).

These are characteristics that we could call "Premium", it depends on the user whether to pay for them or not. There are those who find these desirable features and there are those who can live without them.

When buying a graphic tablet with screen for drawing, graphic design, animation or 3D modeling, you decide if these factors are important to you or not.

If you think Wacom Cintiqs are too expensive in comparison with other brands like Huion, Ugee, etc. take a look at the alternatives we analyze further down in this article. They are cheaper drawing tablets with screen, but with still very good specifications. Look at the prices of the Cintiq Pro 13 and Cintiq 13HD and tell us what you think in the comments section.

8. Wacom Cintiq 22HD (21.5 inches)

The Cintiq 22HD is a professional level 21.5 inch Full HD graphics tablet. It is part of Wacom's high-end range and it is designed to meet the most demanding expectations. This is a high quality graphics tablet with screen for drawing, graphic design, 3D or any other creative endeavour.

Cintiq 22HD characteristics:

• 21.5-inch Full HD screen (1920 x 1080 pixels). The screen surface is huge, it's like drawing directly on a computer screen.
• The digital stylus doesn't need batteries, and it has tilt sensitivity (something very few tablets have).
• 16 programmable buttons (8 on each side, ideal for left-handed and right-handed use), and 2 touch bars for easy zooming and desktop navigation.
• It features a multi-position stand that in addition to tilting the screen allows you to rotate it (this features is exclusive to Wacom)

Especificaciones de la Cintiq 22HD:

• Screen:
  • Size: 21.5''
  • Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (5080 LPI)
  • Color gamut: 72% Adobe RGB
  • Viewing angle: 178º (complete angle)
  • Active area:  479 x 271 mm
  • Multi-touch: No
• Digital stylus:
  • Pressure sensitivity: 2048 levels
  • Tilt sensitivity: Yes
  • Battery-free pen: Yes
• Interface:
  • Video (DVI)
  • Data (USB)
  • Supply
• Express Keys: 16 (8 on each side)
• Touch bar: 2 touch strips (1 on each side)
• Multi-adjustable stand: screen tilt and rotation
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 650 x 400 x 55 mm
• Weight: 8.5 Kg
• Price: See price

The Cintiq 22HD, a professional pen display drawing monitor

The Cintiq 22HD comes with a multi-adjustable stand that allows you to tilt the screen and also rotate it. This is a unique feature of this model. Rotating it is useful and convenient for drawing in a more ergonomic position (see the image below for a clearer view).

The 16 programmable buttons (8 on each side) speed up your workflow when drawing, comfortably and efficiently accessing the functions most used in drawing programs. Its two tactile strips (one on each side) are used to zoom or move around the workspace. The buttons can be reprogrammed to do the functions you use most often.

Programmable buttons are one of those elements that are considered a plus in graphic tablets, as they usually increase comfort and ease of use, and the Cintiq 22HD has 16 of them. Drawing tablets with express keys are usually a bit more expensive than tablets without side buttons, because buttons increase the cost of the hardware.

Is the Cintiq 22HD too expensive? What are the alternatives?

The breadth and comfort of a 22-inch interactive monitor for drawing is incomparable. Its large surface allows you to make wider strokes, work more comfortably, and the larger the screen the less tiring for your eyes in comparison to a smaller screen. The Cintiq 22HD is a professional drawing tablet with screen, so it's cost is on the high side.

This is how it feels to draw on a graphic tablet with a 21.5-inch screen. Maximum comfort.

However, if you would like to buy a graphics tablet with a 22-inch screen but the Cintiq 22HD is out of your budget, don't worry, as there are other 22-inch drawing monitors for less than half the price. Specifically, the Huion and Ugee brands offer 21.5-inch drawing tablets with Full HD screens and spectacular specifications at ridiculously low prices.

If you want alternatives to the Cintiq 22HD, for a much lower price (let me stress that again, MUCH lower), look at the following models:

• Huion GT-220HD V2 (see review) and Huion GT-221Pro (see review), both are 21.5 inch Full HD drawing tablets, for less than half the price of the Cintiq 22HD. The Huion GT-221Pro in particular is the most similar one to the Cintiq 22HD and is it's direct competitor, so check it out.
• Ugee UG-2150 (see review) is another 21.5 inch Full HD drawing tablet which you can also get for less than half the price of a Cintiq 22HD.

With tablets like these, if you want to have a graphics tablet with a 22-inch screen to draw and design big, the price is no longer an excuse.

Gaomon Graphics Tablets With Screen

Gaomon is another high-tech company developing graphic tablets and pen display drawing tablets. It is less known than other brands like Ugee and Huion, and it does have a more reduced portfolio of products, however they sell quite well and users are getting good results with their graphic tablets.

9.  Gaomon PD1560 (15.6 inch drawing screen)

Interestingly, Gaomon makes more drawing tablets without a screen than pen display tablets, and the PD1560 is actually the only graphic tablet with a screen that Gaomon makes.

Gaomon PD1560 drawing tablet features:

• 15.6 inch Full HD screen, 1920x1080 pixels and 5080 LPI, 89 degrees viewing angle.
• 10 programmable shortcut keys, on one side (suitable for left-handed users by rotating the tablet 180 degrees)
• Rechargeable digital pen with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, no tilt sensitivity, 233 RPS report rate (good enough to avoid delays while drawing and the dreaded broken lines)
• Multi-angle adjustable stand with screen inclination angle from 20 to 80 degrees
• 3-in-1 cable adapter

Gaomon PD1560 - specifications

• Screen:
  • Size: 15.6 inch
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD)
  • Colour gamut: 72% NTSC
  • Active area: 344.16 x 193.59 mm
  • Viewing angle: 89º
  • Contrast: 1000:1
  • Brightness: 250 cd/m2
• Digital stylus:
  • Pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels
  • Report rate: 233 RPS
  • Detection height: 10 mm
  • Response time: 25 ms
• Interface:
  • 3-in-1 adapter for video (HDMI), data (USB) and power supply.
• Shortcut keys: 10 programmable keys on one side
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 452.4 x 252 x 19.5mm
• Weight: 1.58 Kg (tablet), 3.28 Kg (packaged weight)
• Price: See price

Comparison: Gaomon PD1560 versus Huion GT-156HD V2, which one is better?

Here we are looking at two 15.6 inch drawing screens that many users compare side by side before buying. Both drawing tablets have a Full HD screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels and a digital stylus with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels. So, if we had to buy one, which one would be the winner?

In this case the specs comparison is quite close, as both tablets tie up in most specs, with the viewing angle of the screen being the only noticeable difference (the Huion GT-156HD V2 has the full viewing angle of 178 degrees but the Gaomon only has 89 degrees). Additionally, the adjustable stand is probably better on the Gaomon as it allows for multi-angle adjustment where the Huion one only has two positions.

Apart from these small differences, both drawing screens are quite similar so ultimately it is up to you to decide and both can give you good results. You can check the price of the Gaomon PD1560 here and that of the Huion GT-156HD V2 here.

Programmable shortcut keys on the Gaomon PD1560 pen display tablet

Gaomon PD1560 vs Huion GT-156HD V2 summary:

• Both are 15.6 inch Full HD drawing monitors with 5080 LPI.
• They both have programmable shortcut keys on one side (the Huion GT-156HD V2 has more buttons and it also features a slider touch bar for zooming and moving around the canvas).
• Both digital pens are very similar, with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels ans 233 RPS report rate.
• They are similar even on dimensions and weight (they are both compact and portable)
• The Gaomon PD1560 does not have the full viewing angle (it has 89 degrees), while the Huion does have the full 178 degrees viewing angle.
• The Gaomon PD1560 drawing tablet is the cheapest of the two.

Summing up, in this case we have to say it's technically a draw between these two models. For most users, price will be the deciding factor when deciding which of these drawing tablets with screen to buy. Here you can see the price of the Gaomon PD1560 versus the price of the Huion GT-156HD V2.

Ugee Graphics Tablets with screen

Ugee graphics tablets also have a decent market share and are a viable alternative to Wacom. Ugee drawing tablets are generally speaking even cheaper that the Huion ones.

On the next section we present the most interesting models of Ugee drawing tablets with screen. If you want more details about these drawing tablets you can visit Ugee's official website, although you may find that the information contained there is not very deep, so we have analyzed and compared these tablets here for you.

User reviews for Ugee drawing tablets are generally good, if anything some users have reported that driver installation may require a bit more messing around than for example Wacom tablets. In our experience, any graphic tablet can get driver issues sometimes no matter what brand they are, however these are software and not hardware issues and it's usually just a matter of reinstalling drivers.

In any case, Ugee graphics tablets are much cheaper than Wacom and even cheaper than Huion, which may turn the tables in their favour for some users.

10. Ugee HK-1560 (15.6 inch graphics tablet with screen)

With a 15.6 inch screen, the HK-1560 is the most compact Ugee pen display graphic tablet, also the cheapest one of this manufacturer.

Ugee HK-1560 features:

• 15.6 inch screen with 1920x1080 resolution (Full HD), 5080 LPI.
• No express keys
• Rechargeable digital pen with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, no tilt sensitivity, and a report rate of 200 PPS
• Multi-position adjustable stand

Ugee HK-1560 - specifications

• Screen:
  • Size: 15.6 inches
  • Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (5080 LPI)
  • Colours: 16.7 million
  • Active area: 344 x 194 mm
  • Viewing angle: 80 degree
  • Brightness: 220 cd/m2
• Digitizer pen:
  • Pressure levels: 2048 levels
  • Report rate: 200 RPS
  • Detection height: 10 mm
  • Delay time: 14 ms
• Interface:
  • 3 cables (not 3-in-1)
  • HDMI: 1
  • USB: 1
  • Power supply: 1
• Programmable buttons: No
• Compatibility: Windows y Mac
• Dimensions: 400 x 250 x 40 mm
• Weight: 3.8 Kg (tablet), 4.4 Kg (package weight)
• Price: check price

So, is it worth buying this drawing tablet?

As usual, it depends on your needs. If you want to spend little money, or you are looking for a drawing tablet with screen for beginners, then this may be a good choice for you.

It is high resolution 1920 x 1080, which is all right, however it only comes with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, while there are models out there like the Huion GT-156HD V2 with 8192 levels.

Comparison: Ugee HK-1560 versus Huion GT-156HD V2

Let's look at these two drawing tablets side by side since they have the same screen size and they may be competitors to each other.

• Both have a 15.6 inch screen (a nice portable size)
• Both screens are Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution (great).
• The Ugee HK-1560 has 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, while the Huion GT-156HD V2 has 8192.
• The HK-1560 does not have any programmable express keys, the Huion GT-156HD V2 does.
• The Ugee HK-1560 is cheaper than the Huion GT-156HD V2.

Summing up, the Ugee HK-1560 is a low cost drawing tablet in the medium size screen range. In exchange for its low cost, it has somewhat lower specs than its competitors.

11. Ugee UG-1910B (19 inch screen graphics tablet)

The Ugee UG-1910B, with a 19 inch screen, can also be a low cost alternative to Wacom. It is relatively similar to Huion's GT-191HD.

Ugee UG-1910B characteristics:

• 19 inch screen with 1440 x 900 pixel resolution (it's not Full HD). Viewing angle of 89 degrees.
• No programmable express keys
• Rechargeable pen with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, no tilt sensitivity
• 5080 LPI and 220 PPS report rate
• Multi-angle adjustable stand

Ugee UG-1910B - specifications

• Screen:
  • Size: 19''
  • Resolution: 1440 x 900 pixels (not Full HD)
  • Colours: 16.7 million
  • Active area: 402 x 255 mm
  • Viewing angle: 89º
• Digitizer pen:
  • Pressure sensitivity: 2048 levels
  • Report rate: 220 RPS
  • Detection height: 15 mm
  • Response time: 14 ms
• Interface:
  • 3 cables (not 3-in-1)
  • HDMI: 1
  • USB: 1
  • Power supply: 1
• Programmable buttons: No
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 429 x 318 x 51.6 mm
• Weight: 6.8 Kg (tablet), 8.2 Kg (packaged weight)
• Price: See price

Is it worth buying this drawing tablet (Ugee UG-1910B), or should I buy a Huion GT-191HD instead?

In the 19 inch screen size space, this drawing tablet would be the equivalent of the Huion GT-191HD, which is a bit more expensive but is actually Full HD and has 8192 pressure levels.

Although the price of the UG-1910B is quite good for a drawing monitor of its size, the fact that it is not a Full HD screen and the 2048 pressure sensitivity levels means that in many cases it may be better to pay a bit more for a Huion GT-191HD and get the Full HD and increased pressure sensitivity.

See the comparison below where you will see the picture more clearly.

​

Comparison: Ugee UG-1910B Versus Huion GT-191HD

• Both are 19 inch drawing screens
• Both are without programmable express keys, and both have adjustable multi-angle stand
• The Ugee UG-1910B is not Full HD, and it has 2048 pressure levels, while the Huion GT-191HD is Full HD and it has 8192 levels. Here the Huion GT-191HD wins clearly.
• Due to its lower specs, the Ugee UG-1910B is a bit cheaper.

As you can see, both models are quite close to one another. Therefore the decision of which one to buy depends on the end user. You can pay a bit more for the Huion GT-191HD to get the Full HD screen and the 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, or you can save some money and get the Ugee UG-1910B if you don't mind the slightly lower specs.

If we had to choose, we would probably choose the Huion GT-191HD, as the price gap is small and the possibility to have a Full HD screen and a better digital pen makes it worth.

​

12. Ugee UG-2150 (21.5 inch screen drawing tablet)

The last drawing tablet with screen from Ugee, the UG-2150, is the 21.5 inch pen display tablet offering of this brand. It is an equivalent to the Huion GT-220HD V2, but cheaper.

Ugee UG-2150 characteristics:

• 21.5 inch drawing screen with 1920x1080 resolution (we are back to Full HD). Complete viewing angle of 178 degrees and 5080 LPI.
• No programmable express keys (just like all the Ugee drawing monitors)
• Rechargeable digital pen with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, no tilt sensitivity, with a report rate of 220 RPS
• Multi-position adjustable stand

Ugee UG-2150 - specifications

• Screen:
  • Size: 21.5 inch
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD)
  • Colours: 16.7 million
  • Active area: 476.6 x 268.1 mm
  • Viewing angle: 178 degrees
• Digitizer pen:
  • Pressure sensitivity: 2048 levels
  • Report rate: 220 RPS
  • Detection height: 15 mm
  • Response time: 14 ms
• Interface:
  • 3 cables (not 3-in-1)
  • HDMI: 1
  • USB: 1
  • Power supply: 1
• Programmable buttons: No
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 517 x 321.89 x 30mm not including the stand
• Weight: 9.4 Kg (packaged weight)
• Price: Check price

Comparing the Ugee UG-2150 with the Huion GT-220HD V2, which one to buy?

These two 21.5 inch tablets are competitors to one another. Both have a Full HD digitizer screen for drawing with a complete viewing angle of 178 degrees, both have a multi-position stand and no express keys, so... What is the difference?

Basically the main difference is on the number of pen pressure sensitivity levels of each one. The Ugee UG-2150 has 2048 levels, whereas the Huion GT-220HD V2 has 8192.

Just like with the other Ugee vs Huion comparisons we have done before, we see again that the Ugee tablets tend to have a lower price at the expense of having some slightly lower spec somewhere. Otherwise, both are very similar to each other.

​

Comparison: Ugee UG-2150 versus Huion GT-220HD V2:

• Both have a 21.5 inch drawing screen
• None of them have programmable express keys, and both come with a multi-angle adjustable stand
• Both have the same resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels, and full viewing angle of 178 degrees
• The Ugee UG-2150 has 2048 pen pressure sensitivity levels, and the Huion GT-220HD V2 has 8192.
• The Ugee UG-2150 is cheaper

Summing up, we see the same trend again. The Ugee tablet is cheaper than the Huion, and in exchange it has some lower characteristic, in this case the pressure sensitivity levels of the pen.

Apart from that, if you are an artist doing digital illustration, graphic design or animation and 3D modeling, the Ugee UG-2150 is a pretty good drawing monitor with high screen resolution and its price is very competitive compared with Wacom tablets.

​

XP-Pen Display Drawing Tablets

XP-Pen is high-tech Japanese firm thact manufactures high quality graphic tablets and pen display tablets for artists, 3D modellers and animators. Their products are used by artists, students and creative professionals in the visual arts industry.

XP-Pen is one of those brands that literally flood the market with dozens of models, in contrast with other graphic tablets manufacturers such as Gaomon, Ugee, Huion or even Wacom, whose product portfolio is much shorter. On XP-Pen's official website you can actually see how their philosophy is to try to introduce a great variety of products on the market, trying to cover all bases and all possible user needs.

The XP-Pen display drawing tablets range consists of up to 9 models, from the smallest 10 inch screen size to the largest 22 inch drawing monitors:

• 1

  XP-Pen Artist Display 12 (12 inch)

• 2

  XP-Pen Artist Display 13.3V2 (13.3 inch)

• 3

  ​ ​XP-Pen Artist Display 15.6 (15.6 inch)

• 4

  XP-Pen Artist Display 16 (16 inch)

• 5

  XP-Pen Artist Display 16Pro (15.6 inch)

• 6

  XP-Pen Artist Display 22 (22 inch)

• 7

  XP-Pen Artist Display 22 Pro (21.5 inch)

• 8

  List XP-Pen Artist Display 22E (21.5 inch)

• 9

  XP-Pen Artist Display 22E Pro (22 inch)

As you can see, the XP-Pen range of pen display tablets is quite crowded, so we can't analyze every model, for this reason we have chosen to review the ones that you may be most interested in.

​

13. XP-Pen Artist Display 10S (10 inch screen drawing tablet)

This is the smallest pen display tablet of the XP-Pen offering, which may be a good option if you are looking for something lightweight and portable (as well as cheap) to be able to draw and sketch on the go, perhaps with a laptop.

It may catch your attention because of its ultra-thin profile (thinner than an iPhone). This drawing tablet is just 6 millimeters thin, while an iPhone 5 or 6 are around 7 millimeters thick.

XP-Pen Artist Display 10S - features:

• 10 inch display with 1280x800 pixels resolution and 5080 LPI. IPS display with full 178 degrees viewing angle.
• Battery-free digital stylus with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels, no need for batteries and it doesn't need to be recharged. Report rate of 266 RPS, even higher than other high-end drawing tablet screens.
• 6 programmable shortcut keys, on one side, suitable for both left-handed and right-handed use, by turning the tablet around.
• 3-in-1 cable adapter, something we find quite convenient and that not many tablets have

► Recommended drawing tablet with small screen:

XP-Pen 10S display drawing tablet - specifications:

• Screen:
  • Size: 10 inches
  • Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixel
  • Lines per inch: 5080 LPI
  • Active area: 217 x 136 mm
  • Full viewing angle: 178 degrees
• ​Digitizer pen:
  • Pressure levesl: 2048 levels
  • Battery-free pen: Yes
  • Report rate: 266 RPS
• Interface:
  • 3-in-1 cable adapter for video (HDMI), data (USB) and power supply.
• Programmable shortcut keys: 6 buttons, on one side
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 301 x 209 x 6mm (ultra-thin)
• Weight: 1.84 Kg (packaged weight)
• Price: See price

I am looking to buy a portable, lightweight drawing tablet with a small screen... Is the XP-Pen 10S worth it?

In our honest opinion, yes. Here is why:

• With its 10 inch screen, this drawing tablet is easy to carry around, it is super light, takes up little space, and it is ultra-thin (6 millimeters thin, less than an iPhone). This makes it perfect to carry around in your laptop bag and sketch anywhere.
• Technically its specs are pretty solid. Bearing in mind its a small screen pen display drawing tablet, it has pretty surprising specs such as a battery-free stylus with 266 RPS report rate (above some high-end graphics tablets), as well as a 3-in-1 cable which, as we have mentioned earlier, is a rare thing and it is definitely a plus for convenience.
• A decent screen, even for its size: the display panel is IPS (better than TFT) with a full viewing angle of 178 degrees. Additionally, the screen features an anti-reflective coating that, according to XP-Pen, reduces the glare by 56%. This is a really nice feature, especially for when drawing with this screen outside and it's sunny. The 1280 x 800 pixel resolution may not look like much, but bear in mind that we are talking about a small screen of 10 inches, so the pixel density actually works out to be pretty good.
• The price: you should be able to find this drawing tablet under 300$, actually closer to 200 than to 300.

But the screen of the XP-Pen 10S drawing tablet is not Full HD... Is this a problem?

No, because the screen size is 10 inches. Let's do some math:

The active area of the XP-Pen 10X is 217 x 136 mm (29512 mm2). The reolution is 1280 x 800 pixels (approximately 1 million pixels). Therefore, there are around 34.7 pixels per squared millimeter on the XP-Pen 10S screen.

If we compare this to a Full HD tablet, say the Huion GT-156HD V2 (a very good drawing tablet by the way), its active area is 344 x 193.6 mm and its resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels (about 2 million pixels), which works out be around 31 pixels per squared millimeter. The small XP-Pen 10S wins.

As you can see, 1280 x 800 pixels in a 10 inch screen tablet can produce more pixel density than a larger screen with Full HD resolution.

Another interesting aspect of this drawing tablet is that XP-Pen claims for this model to have a special anti-glare coating that reduces the reflections by 56%, even using it outside on a sunny day. Although difficult to measure, any glare-reduction device really helps when trying to draw on the screen of a graphics tablet.

​

Is the screen of the XP-Pen 10S too small?

If you are thinking of buying a compact drawing tablet with a 10 inch screen like the XP-Pen 10S, probably you want something lightweight and easy to carry around. The XP-Pen 10S fulfills these requirements easily.

Its size is ideal to carry it around in the pocket of your laptop bag. Its thickness is just 6 millimeters, so we are talking even thinner than the iPhone 6 which is 6.9 millimeteres thick.

On the image below you can get an idea for the real dimensions of the 10S:

This gives you an idea of the relative size of the XP-Pen 10S

It is quite likely though that a 10 inch screen drawing tablet is not the best choice for 3D modeling or animation, as this would not make your life easier when it comes to interacting with a complex user interface with small incons on screen. A drawing tablet of this size is better suited for things like sketching or digital painting.

​

Comparison between XP-Pen 10S and Parblo Coast 10

You can see this comparison further down.

​

14. XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro (15.6 inch screen drawing tablet)

Another good model from the Japanese XP-Pen, the Artist Display 16 Pro is a best seller in the 15.6 inch screen graphic tablets.

XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro features:

• 15.6 inch Full HD scree with 1920x1080 pixels resoution and 5080 LPI. Full viewing angle of 178 degrees and anti-glare coating that reduces the reflections by 56%.
• Rechargeable digital stylus with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels and 266 RPS report rate (better than average).
• 8 programmable shortcut keys, on one side, good for left-handed and right-handed use by rotating the tablet 180 degrees
• Multi-angle adjustable stand with 15 to 80 degrees screen inclination

► Drawing tablet with Full HD screen XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro:

XP-Pen 16 Pro - specifications

• Screen:
  • Size: 15.6 inches
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • Lines per inch: 5080 LPI
  • Active area: 344.16 x 193.59 mm
  • Full viewing angle: 178 degrees
  • Colors: 16.7 million
  • Color gamut: 92% Adobe RGB
  • Contrast: 1000:1
• Digital stylus:
  • Pressure sensitivity levels: 8192 levels
  • Battery-free pen: No
  • Report rate: 266 RPS
• Interface:
  • Video HDMI
  • Data USB
  • Power supply
• Programmable shortcut keys: 8 on one side
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 405 x 255 x 30 mm
• Weight: 4.22 Kg (packaged weight)
• Price: See price

Why the XP-Pen 16 Pro specifications are quite spectacular:

This is a summary of why this drawing tablet has pretty good specifications:

• To start with, the drawing screen is pretty high quality: it is a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution screen, with full viewing angle of 178 degrees, and additionally it includes XP-Pen's special anti-glare coating which they claim can reduce screen reflections by 56% even when working outside on a sunny day. Glare reduction in drawing tablet screens is a really important consideration, especially for those who like to work outside. Moreover, the color gamut of the screen on this graphic tablet is a step-up from the previous version.
• The digital stylus has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels and 266 RPS report rate. The 266 RPS report rate is a pretty good figure that you rarely see, even on high-end tablets. This means that this tablet should be less prone to broken lines and delays while drawing on the screen.
• 8 programmable shortcut keys on on side speed up the workflow and can be used both by left-handed and right-handed artists. Graphc tablets with express keys are usually more expensive, but this one manages to keep a low price for a tablet of these characteristics.

The XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro has a color gamut of 92% Adobe RGB. Does this mean that it's better than other similar drawing screens?

The color gamut on the XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro is 92% Adobe RGB. Other graphics tablets we have seen, in particular Huion, Ugee and Gaomon, have 72% NTSC.

Does that mean that this graphic tablet has better color quality than Huion, Ugee or Gaomon?

Yes and no. The key here is that this 92% is with respect to "Adobe RGB", not NTSC. Other tablets achieve 72% ofthe NTSC colour space, but this doesn't necessarily make them worse. Adobe RGB and NTSC are two different scales. In any case, 92% Adobe RGB is a really good figure for high quality colour.

How do you know that 92% Adobe RGB is a good figure for color gamut? Well if you take the Wacom's Cintiqs as a reference, this performance is only achievd by the Cintiq Pro 16 (94% Adobe RGB), Cintiq Pro 24 (99% Adobe RGB) and the huge Cintiq 27 (97% Adobe RGB). The XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro wins this battle versus the Cintiq 13HD, Cintiq 13 Pro, Cintiq 22HD and Cintiq 22HD Touch. Not bad.

To give you an idea, check the image below whe you can see the difference between the XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro and the previous model. As you can see, 92% Adobe RGB means lower colour distortion and a richer, more realistic colour.

Here you can get a feel for the difference between a high quality screen with 92% Adobe RGB color gamut and a lower color quality screen.

XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro, summing up:

This drawing tablet is a pretty good choice for its price range, as it has features that no other 15.6 inch screen drawing tablet has: 266 RPS report rate, extra colour quality and anti-glare coating layer. This alone could be enough to decide in its favour when comparing agains other graphic tablets.

Comparing the XP-Pen Artist Display 16 Pro versus the Huion GT-156HD V2:

• Both are 15.6 inch drawing screens, Full HD resolution, with 8192 pressure sensitivity levels on their digital stylus. Dimensions are quite close, although the Huion is a bit thinner.
• The XP-Pen is a bit more compact, but the Huion is thinner. Draw.
• The Huion GT-156HD V2 comes with a 3-in-1 cable, something quite useful that the XP-Pen 16 Pro does not have.
• The XP-Pen 16 Pro wins the digital pen battle with its 266 RPS report rate (the Huion has 233)
• On price, the XP-Pen 16 Pro wins, as it is a bit cheaper (you can see the price here)

Parblo graphic tablets with screen

We review one of the most well known graphic tablets with screen of the Parblo brand, which is their 10 inch model, the Parblo Coast10, widely known for its incredibly low price.

It is also famous for its simplicity, as it only uses one single USB cable, for everything.

15.  Parblo Coast10 (10 inch, low cost drawing tablet with screen)

If you are looking for a tablet with a small screen to draw or sketch on the go for a low price, the 10 inch Parblo Coast10 may be for you.

With a 10 inch screen you can sketch and do digital drawings and it gives you the advantage of being quite portable, easy to carry around with your laptop. However we don't recommend this model for 3D modeling/sculpting or animation, since the screen is too small.

Parblo Coast10 features:

• It only needs one cable (USB). It does not need any more cables for power supply or for video, it all goes through one single USB cable. This is the drawing tablet with screen that needs less cables of all.
• 10 inch screen with 1280x800 resolution. Viewing angle of 170 degrees.
• Battery-free digital stylus with 2048 pen pressure levels, no need for batteries or for recharging. Report rate 200 RPS (not very high).
• No programmable buttons
• Really lightweight, only 630 grams.

► The cheapest drawing tablet with screen: Parblo Coast 10

Parblo Coast10 drawing tablet - specifications:

• Screen:
  • Size: 10 inch
  • Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
  • Active area: 216.9mm x 135.6mm
  • Viewing angle: 170 degrees
• Digitizer pen:
  • Pen pressure sensitivity: 2048 levels
  • Battery-free pen: Yes
  • Report rate: 200 RPS
• Interface:
  • Single USB cable
  • No additional cables required for supply or video. All through one USB cable.
• Programmable shortcut keys: No
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Dimensions: 290 mm x 210 mm x 18.5mm
• Weight: 630 g (very light)
• Price: See price

What is the best of this drawing tablet with screen? And the worst?

The best:

• Its price. This is the cheapest drawing tablet with screen on this list. It can be found for less than 200$, although prices can fluctuate. It is a ridiculously low price for a drawing tablet with screen.
• Extremely easy to carry around. It only weighs 630 grams.
• It only needs one USB cable, nothing more. No additional HDMI cable, no additional supply cable, nothing. The tablet receives the data, video and power supply from the USB cable.

The worst:

• The driver installation process, especially on a Mac, is a bit tedious. If you have any issues with the drivers included on the CD that comes with the tablet, you can download the drivers for the Parblo Coast10 from the official Parblo webiste.
• The screen is not anti-glare, so if you are going to work outside (which is likely with this graphic tablet) you will have to crank up the brightness.
• It does not have a multi-angle adjustable stand like other tablets do, just a set of legs like those of a keyboard. Anyway, given how light it is, this is not an issue since you can easily hold it with one hand.

Parblo Coast10 pen display drawing tablet: Unboxing and drivers installation process video

In this video you can see the Parblo Coast10 being set up, and how to install the drivers.

Comparison: Parblo Coast10 versus XP-Pen Artist Display 10S

These two drawing tablets are the same size, 10 inch screen, the smallest and most compact size of drawing tablets. Below we have done a side-by-side comparison so you can decide to go for one or the other:

• Both graphic tablets have a 10 inch screen with the same resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.
• They both have a battery-free pen with 2048 pressure sensitivity levels
• The XP-Pen wins on report rate with its 266 RPS, while the Parblo Coast10 only has 200 RPS. For this reason, the XP-Pen 10S should provide a slightly more responsive drawing experience.
• The XP-Pen has a little bit more lateral viewing angle, although the Parblo Coast10 screen is almost up to par with its 170 degrees of viewing angle.
• Regarding cables, the Parblo Coast10 wins as it only needs a simple USB cable. The XP-Pen 10S is not bad either in this respect, as it features a 3-in-1 cable adapter.
• On price, the Parblo Coast10 is the winner, as it's the cheapest drawing tablet with screen.

You can check the price of the Parblo Coast10 here.

Wrapping up...

• Difference between a "Drawing Tablet" and a "Tablet for Drawing"
• Drawing tablets with screen, recommendations for quality-price ratio
  

• Take this Test: Find your drawing tablet

• ​ Wacom pen display tablets
• Huion drawing tablets with screen
• Ugee graphics tablets with screen
• Gaomon drawing tablets with screen
• XP-Pen drawing tablets with screen
• Parblo graphic tablets with screen

Still not sure what drawing tablet with screen to buy? Let us answer your questions

If you are still in doubt, we can help you. Leave us your questions in the comments section and we will help you decide what model is the best for your needs.

If you haven't done so yet,take this quick test (it's fun!) and you will discover the perfect Drawing Tablet for you.

As you have probably noticed, graphic tablets with screen are becoming cheaper due to the vast offering of models by different manufacturers, and nowadays it is not uncommon to see pen display tablets from 200 or 300$. So, if you want to enjoy drawing on one of these, the price is no longer an excuse.

If you need help understanding the specifications of graphic tablets or to learn how to choose one, have a look at our selection guide for graphic tablets.

We hope you find this info helpful.

Take this Test and Find the Best Drawing Tablet for You

Simply take this quick test to help you find the best drawing tablet for your needs.

 *** CLICK HERE TO START ***

What type of drawing tablet are you looking for?

• WITHOUT SCREEN
• WITH SCREEN
• TABLET COMPUTERS

All right, let's see what graphics tablets without screen we can find for you. First of all - Do you want Wireless functionality?

• No
• YES

Do you want multi-touch functionality?

• NO
• YES

Ok, so you are looking for a drawing tablet without Wireless or Multi-Touch functionality - What size do you prefer?

• S (SMALL)
• M (mediUM)
• L (LARGE)

• Huion H950P - tilt sensitivity! Battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 programmable shortcut keys.
• Huion H610 Pro V2 - tilt sensitivity! (on the V2 model) battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 programmable shortcut keys + 16 touch keys.
• XP-Pen Star 03 - battery-free pen with 2048 pressure levels and report rate of 233 RPS, 8 programmable shortcut keys.

[Start again]

• Huion H1060P - battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 12 programmable shortcut keys + 16 "soft" touch keys

[Start again]

Graphic tablets with Multi-touch (without Wireless):

• Wacom Intuos Pro S - tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. 2048 pressure levels (rechargeable pen), 8 programmable express keys+ Rocker Ring, Wacom quality)

[Start again]

Apart from Wireless, do you want to have Multi-touch functionality?

• NO
• YES

Ok, so we are looking for wireless graphics tablets (without multi-touch) - What size do you prefer?

• S (SMALL)
• M (mediUM)
• L (LARGE)

• XP-Pen Star 06 (battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, wireless, 6 touch keys + rotary dial)
• XP-Pen Deco 03 (battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, high report rate 266 RPS, 6 programmable shortcut keys + rotary dial)
• Wacom Intuos M CTL-6100WL - battery-free pen with 4096 pressure levels, 4 programmable express keys, Wacom quality.

[Start again]

• Huion WH1409 - Rechargeable pen with 2048 pressure levels, wireless, 8GB Flash Memory, 12 programmable shortcut keys.
• HUION INSPIROY Q11K V2 - tilt sensitivity! (on V2 model). Battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 8 express keys.

[Start again]

Graphics tablets with Wireless + Multi-touch functionality:

M size (medium):

• Wacom Intuos Pro M - tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. Pro Pen 2 battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, wireless, 8 programmable express keys + Rocker Ring, professional quality)

L size (large)

• Wacom Intuos Pro L - Tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. Pro Pen 2 battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, Wireless, 8 programmable express keys + Rocker ring, professional quality.

[Start again]

All right, so you are looking for a drawing tablet with screen. Let's see what pen display tablets we have for you - What is your budget?

• LESS THAN 300$/€
• more than 300$/€

For less than 300$/€ there are a few options of graphics tablets with screen, let's see what we can find for you in that price range:

In this price range you can get:

• XP-Pen Artist 12 (check price): 12 inch, 1280x800, 5080 LPI, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 266 RPS.

• Huion Kamvas Pro 12 (check price): 11.6 inch, Full HD 1920x1080, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 266 RPS, tilt sensitivity, 3-in-1 cable
• Parblo Coast10 (check price or see review): 10 inch display graphics tablet, 1280x800 resolution, 5080 LPI, battery-free pen with 2048 pressure levels, 200 RPS report rate.
• XP-Pen Artist 13.3 (check price): 13.3 inch, 1280x800, 5080 LPI, battery free pen, 8192 pressure levels.

[St​ ​art again]

Ok, with a budget over 300$/€ you have many options - Do you require Multi-touch functionality?

• YES - MULTI TOUCH
• NO MULTI TOUCH

If you want Multi-touch screen then you pretty much have to go to a Wacom tablet - What size do you want?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' oR MORE)

• Cintiq 13HD (13 inch Full HD, 2048 pressure levels, tilt sensitivity) - Check price or See review
• Cintiq Pro 13 (13 inch Full HD, 8192 pressure levels, tilt sensitivity + multi-touch screen) - Check price or See review

[Start again]

• Cintiq Pro 16 - 16 inch, Ultra HD 4K, professional colour 94% Adobe RGB, tilt sensitivity + multi-touch. See price.

[Start again]

All right, no Multi-touch - Do you want Tilt sensitivity on your tablet?

• YES - TILT
• NO TILT

OK, with tilt sensitivity - What size are you after?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' OR MORE)

All right, no tilt sensitivity or multi-touch - What size are you after?

• 10'' TO 13''
• MEDIUM (15'' TO 20'')
• LARGE (21.5'' OR MORE)

• XP-Pen Artist Display 13.3 - 13.3 inch, Full HD 1920x1080, battery-free pen with 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable. Check price.

[Start again]

We are almost there... Do you want Express Keys on your tablet?

• NO BUTTONS
• YES - EXPRESS KEYS

With Express Keys:

• Huion GT-156HD V2 (15.6 inch Full HD, 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable, Express Keys) - Check price or see review
• Gaomon PD1560 (15.6'' Full HD, 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen Artist Display 15.6'' (15.6'' Full HD, battery-free pen, 8192 pressure levels, 3-in-1 cable) - Check price
• XP-Pen Artist Display 16Pro (15.6'' Full HD, professional color 92% Adobe RGB, 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review (*we highly recommend checking this one out)

[Start again]

We are almost there... 21.5 inch plus size - Do you want Express Keys on your tablet?

• NO BUTTONS
• YES - EXPRESS KEYS

21.5 inch Full HD 1920x1080, no Express Keys:

• Ugee UG-2150 (2048 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• Huion GT-220HD V2 (similar but with 8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen Artist Display 22 Pro (pretty similar specs, also 8192 pressure levels) - Check price

[Start again]

21.5 inch Full HD 1920x1080, with Express Keys:

• Huion GT-221Pro (8192 pressure levels) - Check price or see review
• XP-Pen 22E (2048 pressure levels)
• XP-Pen 22E Pro (8192 pressure levels) - Check price

[Start again]

What Operating System do you want on your Tablet?

• WINDOWS
• IOS
• ANDROID

Do you want a general use Windows tablet computer, or a very specialized tablet computer for digital creativity?

• General use
• SPECIALIST

What size do you prefer?

• 10.5''
• 12.9''

What budget do you have?

• LOW
• MEDIUM
• HIGH

Are you looking for a cheaper graphics tablet that these?

Do you want a tablet that also serves you as a computer?

Recommended posts:

(3 votos, promedio: 5.00 de 5)

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Have you got any questions? Leave your comment and we will help you.How much is your budget?  Is there a particular tablet that you like?  With or without a screen?  Have you used a graphics tablet before?  How can we help you?

• How much do you want to spend, maximum?
• What are you planning to use your graphics tablet for?
• Any questions about a model in particular?

What Tablets Are Good for Drawing and Artists

Source: https://cosmosdigitalart.com/en/best-pen-display-drawing-tablets-with-screen-for-artists-graphic-design-3d-modeling/

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