8 Best Graphics Tablets for Graphic Designers and Their Reviews 2023

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It’s a good time to be a graphic designer.

As technology continues to grow, so do the options for designing inspired creations.

With such a diverse market, you’ll first need to consider what it is you need out of your graphic design tablet.

Are you looking for screen size?

Do you need the newest and best hardware or are you looking for the best value?

Are you just starting out and want something that caters to a beginner’s level?

Or could it be you’ve been honing your skills and now you’re ready to get serious and design your way to a new career?

Let’s take a look and help you find the right fit.

1. Huion KAMVAS PRO 20 GT-192

Huion is a well-known for their graphic design tablets, and with the KAMVAS PRO 20 it’s no wonder.

Newer than the GT-191 — which has a rating of 4.3 stars on Amazon after 395 reviews — the Pro 20 is one of the newest options on the market, just arriving at Amazon in November 2018.

This tablet is slim and portable, but is for more advanced users based on price point ($699 on Amazon) and reliance on external devices and software.

The first thing you’ll notice is the gorgeous 19.5 inch display, giving you plenty of space to design your heart out.

It’s built with anti-glare design which will help to alleviate the fatigue on your eyes caused by hours and hours of productivity.

It’s easy on the eyes in other ways as well, boasting a 100sRGB wide color gamut that will dazzle you with 16.7 million colors.

So the canvas is good, but what about the brush?

This Huion device offers plenty in that department as well.

Consumers have been pleased with the inclusion of a two digital pens, one of which is operates on a battery and another that is rechargeable.

You’ll be empowered by 8,192 levels of pen pressure, supported by +/- 60 degrees of tilt recognition giving you the accuracy and flexibility of a real brush.

The Pro 20 also comes with a multi-angle adjustable stand, offering you the ability to choose an angle between 20 and 80 degrees.

Pros & Benefits

• For advanced users with 266 PPS report rate, 8,192 levels of pen pressure, and 60 degrees of tilt recognition
• Large display boasting dazzling colors and anti-glare
• Connects to computer or laptop and offers compatibility with Photoshop, Illustrator, Krita, Autodesk Sketchbook, and more

02. Gaomon PD1560

The Gaomon PD1560 was released back in September 2017, making it an intriguing option if you want to make an economical decision.

And indeed, many of the reviews on Amazon say just that about this graphic tablet.

Currently available for about $360, the PD1560 comes with a 15.6 inch display, and boasts an impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 233PPS report rate.

Similar to the Huion Kamvas Pro 20, the PD1560 has 8,192 Levels Pen Pressure, offering you the precision of multiple angles and accurate responsiveness.

The pen is rechargeable.

There are plenty of ancillary features on this model as well.

The adjustable stand works like its competitors, offering a 20 to 80 degrees adjustable stand.

If you like efficiency at the push of a button, this might be the right tablet for you.

It boasts 10 shortcut and 5 menu keys so you can keep the creative flow, well, flowing.

The battery life gets 4.4 stars on Amazon, so you can be confident a dead battery won’t power down your motivation.

There are no compatibility issues with this tablet either; it works with Windows 7 or later or Mac OS 10.11 or later.

You can also pair it with most popular painting software.

The PD1560 offers a decent tablet with an economical price tag, offering a little bit of everything and settling right snug in the middle of value and quality.

Pros & Benefits

• Plenty of the features of higher end models without the high price tag
• Supports a good workflow with adjustable stand, good battery life, and customizable keys
• Proven winner with consumers, 75% of the 251 reviews on Amazon are five stars

03: Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium)

Wacom is another vendor with a firm grip on the graphic drawing tablet market.

At $345, the Intuos Pro is as good a value as any.

Specifically, we’ll focus on the medium-sized version of the Intuos pro, though there is an economical, smaller format, and also a large version that gives more space but costs about $135 more.

It boasts many of the same features as the models we’ve spoken of so far, including the 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, is compatible with Windows 7 or later and Mac OS 10.10 or later, and customizable “Express Keys.”

Wacom also states that the new Pro Pen 2 is their best yet, with “exceptional tilt-response” and “lag-free” tracking.

Another perk that isn’t on all of the models out there is Bluetooth compatibility.

You don’t need to be tethered to your laptop or computer to use the Intuos Pro.

The medium Intuos Pro is also very portable, weighing in at just 1.54 pounds.

One of the most interesting things about the Intuos Pro is that for about $50 more, you can buy the “Paper Edition,” which captures editable versions of actual pen-on-paper sketches and transforms them digitally.

There’s some polarizing opinions of this in the customer reviews, but that flexibility creates some intrigue over comparable models.

The Wacom Intuos Pro is approaching 800 reviews on Amazon and 59% of reviewers gave it a five star rating.

If you’re a more seasoned graphic artist, this model might be one of the more attractive options for you on the market.

Pros & Benefits

• Flexible subset of options including screen size and the unique Paper Edition
• Well built and light by a reputable player in graphic tablets
• Bluetooth enabled, perfect for users who don’t want to be tethered to a PC or laptop

04: Apple iPad Pro

Because how can you leave Apple out of an article about technology?

With the support of the wildly popular Apple Pencil, Apple’s iPad Pro must be a part of the conversation.

 The iPad does so much more — of course — than a regular graphics tablet, and comes in a variety of screen sizes and hard drive capacities.  

For now, we’ll focus on the 11-inch 64GB iPad Pro.

Coming in at $769, you know you’re paying for a premium product from the world’s most famous tech company.

This latest model boasts a Retina display with ProMotion technology and True Tone technology.

The True Tone is just Apple’s name for a technology that’s used throughout the industry.

It refers to a display which adjusts automatically based on environmental lighting.

The device can be unlocked with Face ID, and runs on an A12X Bionic chip.

 The 2nd generation Apple Pencil is not included; you’ll have to purchase one separately for a whopping $145.

Essentially, this is a great graphics tablet that doubles as an Apple product with all the bells and whistles.

All of that in a single package will certainly cost you if you want to acquire it.

 That being said, it’s received 4.4 stars on Amazon and previous versions of the iPad Pro suggest that you can purchase with the confidence you’ll be creating on a quality product.

 Obviously, for graphic designers, the pen is a must so you’re out of pocket more than those just purchasing it for browsing and swiping.

Pros & Benefits

• Dependable hardware by a consumer favorite
• Doesn’t need another device like most other high-end graphics tablets
• Plenty of extras, as it’s a full tablet with state of the art tech
• The second edition of the Apple Pencil is arguably the most realistic and smoothest such tool on the market

05: XP-Pen Artist 22E Pro

Draw big, or go home. Or something like that.

This model is huge, it’s beautiful, and it’s well loved. Create to your hearts content on 21.5 inches of gorgeous 1920 x 1080 resolution.

The driver that supports the graphics has enough power to support 4k displays.

You won’t lose out on any of the features in some of the smaller models we’ve looked at already either, including the 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and customizable keys.

In fact, because of the size, the Artist 22E gives you 16 keys to set up the way you want them.

Even more impressively, this beast can pivot on it’s stand between 15 and 85 degrees, which is more than some of the others can boast.

While you won’t pay for the extra functionality of the iPad, the sheer size of this model and its beautiful display will cost you $499.

At that kind of price tag, you would expect consumers to be very critical and want their money’s worth.

Well, the reviews on Amazon suggest it’s worth the investment, tallying up a score of 4.0 stars after 97 reviews.

Pros & Benefits

• Large, beautiful display, just can’t easily lug it to Starbucks
• A little bit extra over the competition, including 4k support and 16 customizable keys
• Great reception from users

06: Huion H610 Pro

We’ve gone over five models for potential professionals, now we move along to the less expensive beginner or casual models.

After some of our previous prices, it might surprise you that the H610 is on Amazon for $60.

This is a fantastic tablet if you’re looking for a low-risk investment to try your hand at artistic craft.

The screen size is smaller at 10 inches by 6.25 inches.

There’s no tilting stand like the more expensive models, but you do get the 8,192 pressure standard.

And while the higher-end model certainly have more punch like the 4k support or the True Tone technology, you’ll still get compatibility with Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.11 or later, and the ability to work with mainstream programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Manga Studio, and more.

The best argument for the H610P is the body of reviews: a whopping 70% of the 182 reviews on Amazon scored five stars for this model.

Overall, the H610P scores 4.3 stars.

Just starting out?

You can probably hone in than the H610 to fire up your graphic design or drawing hobby.

Pros & Benefits

• Inexpensive, but not cheap, a perfect beginner’s choice
• No sacrifice on features, pen pressure, or compatibility
• Might be the the best rated graphic tablet on the market when weighing scores and quantity

07: Huion INSPIROY Q11K

Huion scores its second tablet in a row and third on this list.

The Q11K is at the higher end of the less expensive models, currently priced at $120 on Amazon.

Its workspace is a little larger than the H610, offering a slightly more expansive 11 x 6.87 inches field in which to pen your creations.

You’ll get the same elite pen pressure as the other tablets we’ve discussed at 8,192, but it’s notable on this one because that’s four times the amount of the previous version of this model (2048).

Also seemingly standard on a lot of these tablets are the customizable keys, and this model doesn’t disappoint with 8 of these keys to help your work flow.

While a lot of these models seem to have similar bells and whistles, there’s usually one feature that stands out on each one.

The Q11K is no different.

This one boasts a 2.4 GHz wireless connection. This means you can use this tablet without being tethered to a PC or laptop (so long as you’re in wireless range, of course).

According to Huion, this wireless connection can last up to 40 hours without being plugged back in.

When you combine the wireless feature with the model’s weight of 1 pound, you’ve got yourself the most mobile and un-encumbering model of the bunch.

Pros & Benefits

• Light as a feather and free as a wireless bird, it’s the perfect model for the artist on the go
• Slightly larger screen than the lower end models
• Over 60% of 96 users give this model full five stars

08: XP-Pen Deco 01

If you’re really unsure that you want to invest in a digital graphics tablet, but you want to give it a go with minimal risk to you, consider the Deco 01.

At a price point of $60 on Amazon, you could have yourself this sweet piece of technology for about the same as a standard video game.

The features are familiar: 8,192 levels of pressure, compatibility with recent versions of Windows and Mac OS, Photoshop, Clip Studio, and much more. 8 express keys.

The screen is small: just 10 x 6.25 inches, and as a whole the Deco 01 weighs 1.3 pounds.

So, besides the great price, what separates the Deco from the rest of the pack?

Well, it’s got a passive Stylus, meaning that you’ll never have to charge it or change its battery.

And in a neat little feature, one that doesn’t seem to be utilized in this niche of tablets, there’s a light in the end of the drawing area.

While that might not be important to many of us, if you’ve got a young child or you stay up after your partner has gone to bed, that could be what separates this little guy from the competition. Keep drawing, even after dark!

What really jumps out about the Deco though is the consumer response.

Over 277 reviews, the Deco 01 scores a dazzling 4.3 stars, with 65% of users giving it full marks at 5 stars.

Pros & Benefits

• Low-risk, minimal cost option for the beginner
• With the light in the display, it serve as a professional’s second tablet to keep on the nightstand for that late night inspiration
• Light & small, well-aligned for a compact lifestyle like a student or public commuter

 

 

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