Contents
If you are an artist or a designer, you know how important it is to have a tablet that can unleash your creativity and enhance your productivity. A tablet can help you sketch, draw, paint, edit, animate, and more with ease and precision. But with so many options available in the market, how do you choose the best one for your needs? In this article, we will review some of the best tablets for artists and designers in 2023, based on their features, performance, compatibility, and price. We will also list the pros and cons of each tablet to help you make an informed decision.
Wacom Cintiq 22
The Wacom Cintiq 22 is a premium drawing tablet with a screen that offers a large and immersive drawing experience. The 21.5-inch full HD display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a color accuracy of 72% NTSC. The display also has an anti-glare coating and an adjustable stand that lets you work at different angles. The Wacom Cintiq 22 comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and virtually no lag. The pen also has two customizable buttons and an eraser on the end. The tablet has 16 programmable express keys and a touch ring that give you quick access to your favorite shortcuts and commands. The Wacom Cintiq 22 is compatible with Windows and Mac OS, as well as various drawing software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, and more.
Pros:
- Large and high-quality display
- Excellent pen performance
- Ergonomic design and stand
- Customizable express keys and touch ring
- Compatible with various software
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- No touch functionality on the screen
- Requires a separate power source
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is one of the best tablets for artists and designers who want a versatile and powerful device that can handle any creative task. The iPad Pro has a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels and a color accuracy of P3 wide color gamut. The display also has ProMotion technology that adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, True Tone technology that adapts the color temperature to the ambient light, and HDR10 support that enhances the contrast and brightness. The iPad Pro is powered by the Apple M1 chip, which delivers fast performance and long battery life. The iPad Pro works seamlessly with the Apple Pencil 2nd generation, which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, magnetic attachment, wireless charging, and double-tap gesture. The iPad Pro also supports various accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, the Smart Keyboard Folio, and the Smart Folio Cover. The iPad Pro runs on iPadOS 16, which offers many features for artists and designers such as Sidecar, Scribble, Split View, Slide Over, App Library, Widgets, and more. The iPad Pro also has access to thousands of apps on the App Store that cater to different creative needs such as Procreate, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator Draw, Autodesk Sketchbook, and more.
Pros:
- Stunning and responsive display
- Powerful performance and battery life
- Smooth and precise pen input
- Versatile accessories
- Rich features and apps on iPadOS
Cons:
- Expensive
- No expandable storage
- Limited ports (only one USB-C port)
- Requires adapters for external monitors or devices
Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a unique tablet that can transform into a laptop or a studio mode with its detachable keyboard base. The Surface Book 3 has a 13.5-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels and a color accuracy of sRGB color gamut. The display also has a 3:2 aspect ratio that gives you more vertical space for your work. The Surface Book 3 is powered by the Intel Core i7 processor, which delivers fast performance for multitasking and intensive tasks. The Surface Book 3 also has up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage for your files and projects. The Surface Book 3 works well with the Surface Pen, which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, magnetic attachment,
and eraser on the end. The Surface Pen also has two customizable buttons that let you access your favorite shortcuts or commands. The Surface Book 3 also supports other accessories such as the Surface Dial, the Surface Arc Mouse, and the Surface Dock. The Surface Book 3 runs on Windows 10 Pro, which offers many features for artists and designers such as Windows Ink, Snip & Sketch, Paint 3D, and more. The Surface Book 3 also has access to various software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, and more.
Pros:
- Versatile and innovative design
- High-resolution and bright display
- Fast performance and storage
- Smooth and accurate pen input
- Compatible with various software
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- No Thunderbolt 3 support
- Battery life varies depending on the mode
XP-PEN Artist Pro 15.6
The XP-PEN Artist Pro 15.6 is an affordable drawing tablet with a screen that offers a great value for money. The 15.6-inch full HD display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a color accuracy of 88% NTSC. The display also has an anti-glare coating and a laminated screen that reduces the parallax effect. The XP-PEN Artist Pro 15.6 comes with the XP-PEN PA2 pen, which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and virtually no lag. The pen also has two customizable buttons and a battery-free design. The tablet has eight programmable express keys and a red dial that give you quick access to your favorite shortcuts and commands. The XP-PEN Artist Pro 15.6 is compatible with Windows and Mac OS, as well as various drawing software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, and more.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Large and high-quality display
- Excellent pen performance
- Customizable express keys and dial
- Compatible with various software
Cons:
- No touch functionality on the screen
- Requires a separate power source
- Stand not included
- No eraser on the pen
Wacom Intuos Pro
The Wacom Intuos Pro is a professional graphics tablet that offers a smooth and natural drawing experience. The tablet has a sleek and compact design that fits easily on your desk or in your bag. The tablet has a large active area of 8.7 x 5.8 inches that gives you enough space for your work. The tablet also has a multi-touch surface that lets you zoom, pan, rotate, and navigate with your fingers. The Wacom Intuos Pro comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and virtually no lag. The pen also has two customizable buttons and an eraser on the end. The tablet has eight programmable express keys and a touch ring that give you quick access to your favorite shortcuts and commands. The Wacom Intuos Pro is compatible with Windows and Mac OS, as well as various drawing software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, and more.
Pros:
- Smooth and natural drawing experience
- Sleek and compact design
- Multi-touch surface
- Excellent pen performance
- Customizable express keys and touch ring
Cons:
- Expensive
- No screen
- Requires a connection to a computer or a monitor
- Battery life varies depending on the usage
Conclusion
These are some of the best tablets for artists and designers in 2023 that can help you create amazing artworks and designs. Each tablet has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you should consider your needs, preferences, budget, and compatibility before buying one. We hope this article has helped you find the best tablet for your creative endeavors. Happy drawing!
