The blending of technology and imagination has given artists and graphic designers an outlet to bring their imaginations to life and nowhere is this more apparent than with a drawing tablet with a screen.

While there are many options out there, many artists prefer a drawing tablet with a screen because the portability makes them very convenient. Today, we thought of sharing our best drawing tablets with a screen to give any artist the option to take their work to a new level.

First, though, let’s take a look at our choices and how you can pick the best drawing tablet with screen for beginners for your needs.

If you prefer a tablet with no screen, see our post on the best standalone drawing tablets.

Top 3 Most Popular Drawing Tablets with Screen

These are the three best selling monitors on Amazon right now:

How do you choose the right drawing tablet with screen?

If you do a search on Google for a drawing tablet with a screen, the results can be intimidating with all of the options out there. So, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Well, thankfully, we’ve gone through this before and we’d love to share our tips with you.

Pressure sensitivity

If you’ve ever read our articles regarding tablets, you’ll notice that one feature we focus on is pressure sensitivity. The higher the sensitivity is to the pressure you use will give you more control over how your designs look.

The harder you press will affect the drawing, allowing you to be more precise with your artwork. A good pen sensitivity will also allow you to create shading effects for your drawings.

Stylus – Yes or No?

If you’re a graphic designer or artist, you’re not going to use just anything to create artwork. You wouldn’t use a pencil on your drawing tablet, would you? We didn’t think so.

Choosing a drawing tablet that comes with a stylus can not only let you create great designs but also save you money.

You want to see if the stylus is battery-operated or rechargeable. Some stylus will be battery-free saving you time and even more money. If the drawing tablet you’re choosing doesn’t come with a stylus, check out our picks for the best stylus.

Compatibility

In a world of Windows, Android, and macOS fans, choosing a drawing tablet that works with the software you choose is crucial.

If you prefer using programs from Adobe to create amazing pieces of art, you may want to focus on tablets that run Windows or Android operating systems as Apple’s products don’t support the full versions of those programs.

Conversely, if you’re a Procreate fan, you may want to look at Apple’s line of tablets. While they aren’t specifically drawing tablets, Procreate is an amazing program that is only available on the macOS platform.

Multi-touch capability

A drawing tablet should be as easy-to-use as possible and be responsive to any touch that you may need to make to create the design in your mind.

While some drawing tablets do not offer multi-touch capability, we feel that they are lacking something to provide an artist with an intuitive experience.

Overall design

Ask any professional artist or graphic designer and they will probably tell you that one of the most important things in any gear they use is its overall design, especially ergonomically.

Artists may use their gear for long periods, especially if they’re in a groove or up against a deadline. Having a drawing tablet with a design that is ergonomic will help the user remain comfortable without fatigue or strain on their muscles.

Best Drawing Tablets with Screen

1. Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet (Editor’s Choice)

The best drawing tablet with screen overall

Whether you’re just getting your feet wet in the world of graphic design or looking to upgrade your gear, the Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet is a great choice.

Relatively speaking, the tablet comes at a great, affordable price and is squarely aimed at design students and anyone looking to break away from the options that XP-Pen and Huion offer artists.

With a beautiful 1080p display, everything you create will look outstanding, especially with the included Pro Pen 2 that features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, meaning that from shading to thick lines, everything will look how you expect it to be.

The tablet also comes with built-in flip-out legs to provide you with a 19-degree angle to work at. This can set it apart from other options out there that may require you to buy a stand and spend more money than you may be comfortable with.

Between the price, performance, and features the Cintiq 16 provides new and experienced artists, it’s no wonder why it tops our list.

Pros	Cons
➕ Affordable price	➖ No 4K display
➕ Silent operation	➖ No-touch capability

 

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2. GAOMON PD1161

The best budget drawing tablet with a screen

Not everyone is born with a limitless credit card that allows them the convenience of buying anything they need or want. While that can be disappointing news to hear, the good news is that there are options out there for everyone, regardless of budget and the PD1161 from GAOMON is a great example of a high-quality drawing tablet with a screen that can fit any budget.

With an 11.2-inch screen that beautifully displays your artwork in 1080p, plus tilt technology that helps enhance the pressure sensitivity, anything you create on the tablet will be accurate and gorgeous. Speaking of the included stylus, it’s battery-free, meaning that you can draw all day and night without having to recharge or run to the store for more batteries. It works using resonance technology, which is a fancy way of saying that you can draw forever if you wanted to. Throw in customization shortcut buttons and you’ve got a great tablet for those budget-conscious designers.

Pros	Cons
➕ Great pressure sensitivity	➖ Some may not like the smaller size
➕ Lifetime tech support

 

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3. Huion KAMVAS GT-191V2

The best value drawing tablet with a screen

The term ‘value’ gets thrown around a lot, especially when it comes to tech gear. To us, the best value combines price, features, and performance. A great example that checks all three boxes is the KAMVAS GT-191V2 from Huion. At a whopping 19-inch screen, it can provide you with an incredible amount of real estate to draw on. Plus, with a 1080p resolution and laminated, anti-glare screen, it will feel like you’re drawing on paper but with a decidedly more beautiful appearance.

Adding to its overall value is the inclusion of a very responsive, battery-free pen that provides an excellent experience and near-perfect accuracy. Couple that with a viewing angle of 178 degrees, and support for more than 16 million colors, the GT-191V2 drawing tablet easily checks all of our boxes when it comes to providing you with great value.

Pros	Cons
➕ Tablet provides a great experience every time	➖ Not the most portable option
➕ A larger screen allows for more free movement

 

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4. XP-Pen Artist 12

The best portable drawing tablet with a screen

Before technology made almost anything a possibility, graphic designers were relegated to being stuck behind a drawing table, creating designs with co-workers, bosses, and other people always around. Not the greatest creative environment. We’re a big fan of portability and breaking out of the office and the Artist 12 from XP-Pen is one of the best drawing tablets with a screen that we’ve found to take out into the real world.

With a design that gives it a premium feel without the premium price, the Artist 12 tablet provides the same 1080p resolution that many other drawing tablets with a screen come with plus an NTSC Color Gamut of 72% that makes anything you create vivid and colorful. The battery0free P06 stylus is incredibly accurate and includes a digital eraser on the end, which is a nice surprising feature. Overall, the Artist 12 from XP-Pen is a great drawing tablet that is perfect for anyone looking to break away from the office, whether it’s downtown or at home.

Pros	Cons
➕ Super responsive and precise stylus	➖ Screen size may be cumbersome
➕ Comes with an adjustable, collapsible stand	➖

 

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5. XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro

The best mid-tier drawing tablet with a screen

If you’re an experienced artist, you know what gear will and will not work for the designs you’re trying to create. The Artist 15.6 Pro from XP-Pen is an excellent mid-range drawing tablet with some advanced features that will appeal to beginners and more experienced artists alike. These features include color accuracy of 120% and a visual angle of 178 degrees. This could accuracy and visual angle are bolstered by the tablet making it easy to zoom in and out on your creations to touch upon the finer details or see the image as a whole.

The laminated screen provides the perfect surface for the battery-free pen to work flawlessly and the reduced glare of the tablet makes working late into the night easier, which in turn, means more creative time, which is the point right? Designed with a slim profile, the Artist 15.6 Pro is also a great portable option as well and is a great choice for professionals, students, or even hobbyists.

Pros	Cons
➕ Impeccable sensitivity and color rendering	➖ Can be expensive
➕ The screen has reduced glare and a smooth feel	➖

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