We Reviewed The Best Tablet For Illustrator
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If you are related to creative designing in any way, the drawing tablet is your best friend. It is one gadget that you just can’t do without. But choosing the right option among the best tablets for Illustrator available in the market now might not be that easy. First of all, Wacom does not have a monopoly in this segment anymore.
Several other brands like Huion and XP-Pen have given serious competition with their high-performing drawing tablets at wallet-friendly prices. If you are a movie or a pro struggling to weigh the options correctly, we have listed the best drawing tablet for Adobe Illustrator in one comprehensive guide. Let’s see which one wins your vote!
The ones listed below are best suited for professionals, but check out the best tablets under 100 dollars reviewed by our team if you are looking for cheaper alternatives.
Best Tablets For Illustrator
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Battery-Free Stylus
|
HUION KAMVAS 22 Graphics Drawing Tablet with Screen
|
9.7
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
Speed up workflow
|
Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro Digital Graphic Drawing Tablet
|
9.5
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
Easy to use
|
Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet with HD Screen
|
9.1
|
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|
Includes Accessories
|
XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Drawing Monitor
|
8.8
|
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|
Very Affordable
|
Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet
|
8.6
|
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|
Budget friendly
|
HUION KAMVAS Pro 16 Graphic Drawing Tablet with Screen
|
8.2
|
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 |
HUION KAMVAS Pro 12 GT-116 Drawing Tablet
|
8
|
Check Price On Amazon |
1. HUION KAMVAS 22 Graphics Drawing Tablet with Screen
- 21.5inch anti-glare Screen
- 3in1 Type-C cable
- Good Pressure Sensitivity
- 120%s RGB gamut
- Adjustable stand
- Compatible with almost every software
- USB-A port
If you are looking for a drawing tablet that performs well without burning a hole in your pocket, the Huion Kamvas 22 is a blessing. It isn’t a standalone tablet as you will have to connect it to your laptop or PC before you can start drawing.
It comes with a massive 21.5-inch Full HD display that gives an enjoyable drawing experience. Another advantage of this tablet is the many accessories that are bundled with it.
Drawing Pen
You get the advanced Huion PenTec 3.0 technology. It has a Capacitive Pressure Sensor which gives impressive sensitivity for each stroke.
There are 8192 pressure levels and lag-free tracking for better line tapering. Lines go from thin to thick without any breaks, and the shorter nibs help improve the accuracy.
You also get a glove bundled with the tablet. The drawing pen is battery-free and has a lower-positioned nib for better reach on the screen.
Surface
The highlight of this drawing tablet is that there is virtually no gap between the screen and the pen’s nib. This allows for a very natural drawing experience.
The laminated display has a matte finish for an enhanced paper-like feel. There is a lot of active drawing space for longer strokes.
The surface is anti-glare and scratch-resistant, which increases its durability. It is very intuitive and registers each stroke well.
Display
The 21.5-inch Full HD display with a 1920x1080p screen resolution lends an immersive drawing experience. It has an anti-glare coating to minimize glare even when there is a strong light source close by.
It is one of the best-laminated displays for Illustrator. Colour accuracy is at its best on this laptop. You get 120% color coverage on the sRGB color gamut and 16.7 million colors to produce every detail as it is.
The pictures are life-like because of the quantum-dot technology, also used by Samsung’s QLED monitors. The 178-degree wide view angle allows for more viewing positions and comfort.
Stand
Fitting the stand is pretty straightforward– you have to put four screws in, and it’s done. The stand has a good build quality and has two rubber feet to keep it firm on the desk.
You can manipulate the screen’s tilt to whatever angle you like, just not perpendicular to the table. There are three vents at the back of the display for heat dissipation so that you can work for longer hours.
Bundle
When we say that the Huion Kamvas 22 is a complete package, we mean it. You get many accessories that you otherwise have to buy separately bundled with the tablet.
You get ten spare pen nibs, pen nib remover, a holder which accommodates the pen both vertically and horizontally, a cleaning cloth, and an artist glove!
- All accessories are included
- Excellent color coverage
- Affordable
- Lacks express keys
2. Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro Digital Graphic Drawing Tablet
Features
- Up to 8192 pressure levels
- Multi-Touch technology
- Free Boris FX Suite for 3 Months
- Light In weight
- Connects with MAC & PC
Despite not being a standalone drawing tablet, the Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro gives strong competition to other tablets in this segment.
It has a convenient 16.8″x11.2″ size that makes it one of the most portable options on this list. You still get plenty of room for large arm movements. It comes with the reliable Wacom Pro Pen 2.
You also get two months of Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro subscription-free, which is a bonus with its wallet-friendly price.
Drawing Pen
The PTH860 Intuos Pro comes with Wacom’s best pen technology so far, the Pro Pen 2. It has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity which lends a realistic pen-on-paper drawing experience.
It has excellent responsiveness but may feel overly sensitive with the default settings.
Changing them according to your comfort and requirements will help. You can paint, do texture painting, draw concept designs, or sculpt lag-free using the Pro Pen 2.
Despite being affordable, you still get all the features of a high-end drawing tablet, like incredible tilt recognition.
Surface
You get this tablet in three sizes; small, medium, and large. Choosing the large 12.1-inch display increases your functional workspace.
So it is easier to work if your artwork needs large arm movements. The surface is multi-touch and has express keys, which can be customized to be your keyboard shortcuts of choice.
You can even use it to zoom, scroll, and navigate with your fingers like a trackpad. With built-in Bluetooth connectivity, it is a treat to use this drawing surface.
Of course, you have to connect this to your PC, tablet, or laptop and install the necessary drivers before beginning to draw.
Display
If you are looking for a massive screen with lots of real space for you to work on, the Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro isn’t the best option. But if you are interested in portability, the 16.8-inch (with 12.1 inches of active drawing space) drawing surface is perfect.
It is very slim and lightweight, so it is easy to carry around. It comes with ExpressKeys, which you can change according to your favorite keyboard shortcuts.
The Touch Ring is your go-to control for adjusting brush size, canvas rotation, scrolling, and other functions. This, combined with the Multi-Touch technology, make using this tablet as easy as using your smartphone.
System Requirements
You need to have a laptop or PC with a USB port, Windows 7 or later (64 bit), Mac OS 10.12 or later, and Bluetooth Classic for your Wacom Intuos Pro to work.
You get the USB cable with the tablet. You also get the Boris FX Suite for free for the first three months with the purchase.
Bundle
Unlike the Huion Kamvas 22, you don’t get those many accessories bundled with this tablet. But you don’t need many of those, given this isn’t a standalone drawing tablet.
You get the drawing tablet, the Wacom Pro Pen 2, and a pen stand. The pen stand doesn’t have a good grip over the pen.
- Affordable
- Wacom Pro Pen 2
- Portable
- Pen stand grip isn’t as tight
3. Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet with HD Screen
Features
- Wacom Pro Pen 2 technology
- 21.5 Screen size
- 3 replacement nibs
- 72% NTSC (CIE1931) Color Gamut
- Adjustable Stand included
Wacom makes the best drawing tablets for Illustrator. The Cintiq 22 drawing tablet combines productivity with affordability. It comes with the advanced Wacom Pro Pen 2 technology, which is highly responsive to all strokes.
The massive 21.5-inch HD display is a treat to draw on. It gives more real estate for you to work on. The anti-glare display is a boon for long illustrating sessions.
It is perfect for both novices and pros to hone their Illustrator skills. However, it isn’t very portable due to the extra active space for drawing.
Drawing Pen
The Wacom Pro Pen 2 can render all your gestures with the 8,192 pressure levels it offers. The tilt sensitivity (+-60 degrees) adds to the authentic pressure change of real brush/pen strokes when you change the angle.
You don’t need to charge the pen separately as it charges through the display itself. It is battery-free. You get three replacement nibs bundled with the tablet.
The pen gives you a very natural drawing experience with extreme control.
Surface
Wacom’s Cintiq 22 has a 21.5-inch HD display. You get a lot of active workspace to draw in, and It comes with scratch-resistant and anti-glare coatings.
It navigates reasonably well through the problem of the two planes– the glass you illustrate on and the display showing your strokes.
You won’t have a smooth drawing experience if the gap is inconsistent. Wacom’s Cintiq 22 has a tiny gap, just as not as perfect as the Cintiq Pro.
Display
Cintiq 22 has a massive 21.5-inch HD display, a delight to work on. You can produce more extensive strokes in the extra screen space.
It has a 1920×1080 pixels screen resolution, the same as the smaller Cintiq 16 model. The picture quality is quite sharp and vivid. The tablet covers 72% of the NTSC color gamut, which isn’t far behind competitors.
It is capable of presenting 96% of the sRGB colors, which designers extensively use. If you are looking for the best tablet for Adobe Illustrator, this is one of the top contenders.
Stand
You get a built-in Adjustable Stand with the Cintiq 22. You can tilt the display according to your preference. You can get the stand at the exact angle you are comfortable with.
You get convenient HDMI and USB ports to connect your computer to this tablet.
Bundle
The box includes the Cintiq 22 display, the Wacom Pro 2 pen, three detachable replacement pen nibs, a nib stand, an adjustable stand, USB 2.0 cables, and a nib removal tool.
- Excellent drawing experience
- Anti-glare display
- Wallet-friendly
- Heavy
- Comparatively lower screen resolution
4. XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Drawing Monitor
Features
- 120% sRGB
- 8192 Level Pen Tilt Function
- Built-in Tablet Stand
- Customizable buttons
The XP-Pen Artist Pro drawing monitor is the budget alternative to the superior Wacom tablets. So if you are a novice or a hobbyist who can ignore the drawbacks, do not hesitate to buy this.
The drawing pen comes with passive stylus technology and competitive 8192 pressure levels. The big 15.6-inch screen has excellent color coverage even in this price range so that you can make realistic illustrations.
You also get plenty of accessories bundled with the tablet.
Drawing Pen
The battery-free stylus has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60-degree tilt recognition. This allows for great precision while drawing and eliminates parallax.
The tilt recognition is lacking compared to the Wacom Pro Pen 2, and the line quality is inconsistent. You may also notice some lag when drawing long lines.
But if you can set these flaws aside depending on your creative zone, you can have a decent drawing experience on the XP-Pen Artist Pro.
Surface
The drawing surface is not very big and not very small- the perfect size gives space to draw and is quite portable. The 15.6-inch surface is capable of producing highly vivid pictures.
It is laminated and bonded for reducing parallax. It also has an anti-glare coating, which can be removed if you like. The bundle includes an anti-fouling glove.
You have the Red dial on the left, allowing better control of zoom in/zoom out, fluidity, etc. It is the best tablet for Illustrator that is not Wacom or Apple.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full HD drawing display with a 1920×1080 screen resolution is excellent. You get 120% sRGB and 88% NTSC color coverage.
The color accuracy could be better but still brings out all that your artwork wants to portray. It has a 60-degree tilt function which mimics a realistic tilt effect.
You also get a wide 178-degree viewing angle for more working positions.
Stand
The XP-Pen Artist Pro comes with a stand with foldout legs. It is similar to setting up Wacom’s Cintiq 22. The stand’s build quality is unsatisfactory as the screen gets pushed down on applying pressure.
That could also result from the fact that the screen just rests on the stand instead of being attached. You don’t get VESA mount support or holes for mounting.
Bundle
Inside the package comes the drawing tablet, a built-in stand, replaceable pen nibs, an anti-fouling glove, and a pen stand.
It also comes with a cleaning kit that includes gloves, a cleaning brush, and a microfibre cloth. All this at this price is a steal deal.
- Low parallax
- Value for money
- The stylus isn’t as sensitive
5. Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2
Features
- 18 Pen Nibs
- Battery-Free Stylus
- 8192 Pen Pressure
- 11 inch active area
Huion makes drawing tablets that give tough competition to the market leader, Wacom. Wacom became the generic name for a drawing tablet. But, Huion’s Inspiroy Q11K V2 shatters that perspective.
It has a sleek design that is compatible to give wireless connectivity. The features and accessories provided surpass competitors if not match them.
The tilt recognition is excellent, which gives a very realistic drawing experience. The build quality is surprisingly good, and Huion has upgraded the drawing surface to include a multi-touch display. Let’s see what all it has to offer.
Drawing Pen
The Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 comes with a battery-free stylus. You do not need to plug it in to charge it. It has 8192 levels of pen pressure and a 2.4G Wireless Connection so that the tablet is easy to carry around.
It is not top-heavy and gives a very natural drawing experience. It has excellent pressure detection, although you might find it glitching at times. There are two customizable buttons on the side of the pen too.
Surface
This drawing tablet features a full 8-button panel on the left-hand side of the screen. You can set the functions of these buttons according to your preferences.
The surface is smooth, and the drawing pen can glide well on it. It has a textured surface which gives it a realistic paper-like feel when drawing.
It is compatible with Windows or macOS, and you can simply plug the USB wireless receiver in and get started.
Display
Huion’s Inspiroy Q11K V2 has a gigantic 27.94-inch display. If you are looking for a tablet with lots of active drawing space which doesn’t cost you a fortune, this is it.
The drawing area is approximately an A-4 size sheet, which gives you enough room for larger pen movements and strokes. Despite being this big, the screen is just 880g and easy to move around. The gap between the screen and the pen isn’t much.
System Requirements
The Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 is compatible with Windows 7 or later and Mac 10.11 or later versions and supports all mainstream drawing applications like Adobe Illustrator, Autodesk, Photoshop, etc. The drawing tablet is very user-friendly, and you wouldn’t face any problems adjusting to the controls.
Bundle
The Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 packs a bunch of accessories inside the box. It offers the PW500 battery-free stylus, ten extra pen nibs, the PH05 pen holder, a micro USB cable, and an artist’s glove.
You get all this at less than half the price of a Wacom drawing tablet.
Pluses
- Excellent performance
- Plenty of drawing space
Minuses
- Minor lags
6. Huion Kamvas Pro 16
Features
- Full-Laminated
- Battery-Free Stylus
- 8192 Pressure Sensitivity
- 6 Express Keys
- 1 Touch Bar
If you have a mid-size drawing tablet in mind, you can opt for the Huion’s Kamvas Pro 16. It is loaded with new and upgraded software to make your drawing experience as flawless as possible.
It is very affordable and packs all the features of a premium drawing tablet.
You may encounter minor offset issues, but they can be avoided by adjusting the settings. No accessory is spared in the box, so you don’t have to worry about buying them individually.
It is a high-performing, sleek tablet, definitely one of the best tablets for Illustrator.
Drawing Pen
The drawing pen that comes bundled with the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is quite sleek. It feels very close to holding a pen or a pencil. This gives a very enjoyable and natural drawing experience. The PW507 battery-free pen tapers towards the top and bulges at the bottom for a better grip.
There are two customizable buttons raised above the surface so that you can find them without difficulty. Line quality is very consistent, and line quality remains the same when you apply equal pressure. It has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt recognition.
Surface
The full laminated screen has an anti-glare coating, which reduces parallax to a great extent. The stylus moves on the screen are very smooth, and the drawing experience is very realistic.
The distance between the pen nib and the screen is the lowest possible, so you get the feel of drawing on paper. The brightness is well suited even if you have harsh lighting in the room.
There are six express keys and a one-touch bar, which you can customize according to your convenience. The touch bar can be used for zooming, scrolling, and adjusting the brush settings.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full laminated HD IPS-type display with a 1920×1080 pixels screen resolution is sure to give you a stunning and smooth drawing experience.
The color accuracy is excellent and matches competition; it covers just around 120% of the sRGB wide gamut with over 16 million colors. The default settings need to be adjusted slightly to get the best results.
The IPS-type display allows many different viewing angles.
Stand
The stand is not included in the original bundle but has to be purchased separately. It is made mostly of metal, and the build quality is decent.
If you prefer drawing at an angle (which is also healthier for your back), only opt for it. The stand has seven fixed angles, and that is not very convenient.
Bundle
You get the battery-free PW507 stylus, ten pen nibs, one PH05 pen holder, a pen nib clip, a 3-in-1 cable, an anti-fouling glove, a tablet stand, a cleaning cloth, the screen, and the power adaptor.
When we talk about a steal deal, this is what we mean. A note– you must remove the protective film the screen comes with as that is intended for damage protection during shipping only.
Pluses
- Excellent color coverage
- Good drawing stylus
Minuses
- Stand lacks angles
- Alignment is slightly offset
7. Huion Kamvas Pro 12
Features
- Full Laminated Screen
- Tilt Function Battery-free Stylus
- 4 Press Keys & 1 Touch Bar
- Durable Construction with Adjustable Stand
The Huion Kamvas Pro 12 is a new addition to the long line of Kamvas tablets that have given tough competition to Wacom alternatives.
This is a great portable display with excellent color accuracy. The drawing experience is very smooth with the PW507 pen. It has excellent accuracy and ensures the natural transition between lines.
This tablet is loaded with features but still fits your budget. The highlight of this laptop is that it doubles up as a conventional drawing tablet as you can switch off the screen.
Drawing Pen
The Huion Kamvas Pro 12 has a battery-free PW507 pen. As is prevalent in drawing tablets, it has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels. The +-60 degrees of tilt recognition and 266PPS report rate make the stylus sensitive to each and every stroke you make.
The relatively wide gap between the screen and the nib of the pen induces considerable parallax, which is one drawback of this tablet.
Surface
The 11.6-inch active drawing space isn’t the biggest on the list, but it is very portable. So if you want a drawing tablet that you can easily carry around, this is perfect.
The screen is fully laminated and has an anti-glare matte coating to reduce the strain on your eyes. The screen adapts very well to harsh glare or light and produces crisp and vivid picture quality.
Display
The 11.6-inch HD display is very vivid and produces very sharp results. The color accuracy on this tablet is also competitive. It covers 120% of the sRGB color gamut and 85% of NTSC.
Doing color-critical work won’t be a problem at all. There are 4 Express keys and one Touch Bar on the left-hand side of the display.
The Express Keys can be customized to your favorite shortcuts, and the Touch Bar adds an element of comfort to common operations like zooming in or out.
Stand
The tablet comes with the same stand that all Huion tablets have. It has fixed adjustable angles, so you cannot raise or push the screen according to comfort.
Build quality-wise; the stand is made mainly of metal with a little bit of plastic and rubber grips.
Bundle
The box includes a pen stand with ten replacement nibs, an adjustable stand, the battery-free PW507 drawing pen, a nib clip, and an anti-fouling glove. You also get a 3-in-1 cable and a cleaning cloth for the display.
Pluses
- Top-notch performance
- Sturdy aluminum chassis
Minuses
- Parallax
The Verdict
We’ve helped you navigate through the best tablets for Illustrator. Now you can make the right choice and buy only the best!
By Sam Rhodes
Hi, I’m Sam Rhodes, a passionate tech reviewer, and gamer. I started Geekyslug with the motive of sharing my knowledge about tech gadgets like gaming laptops, tablets, graphic cards, keyboards, and whatnot.
I also share troubleshooting guides, helping people resolve issues with their gadgets. When I’m not writing, I prefer playing Valorant, Call of duty, GTA5 or outdoor activities like skateboarding and off-roading on my bike.
