When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
How large a drawing surface do you need?
Are you going to be drawing on the go, or exclusively at your desk?
Drawing on a graphics tablet, connected to a laptop.
Do you want a tablet thatll be suited to other creative tasks like video editing or photo retouching?
And, of course how much do you have to spend?
For more choices, see our guide to thebest drawing tablets.
Drawing on a graphics tablet, connected to a laptop.
Its a pressure-sensitive flat pad that comes bundled with a stylus.
This multi-equipment setup is cumbersome though, and makes you more desk-bound.
There are displays capable of running independently, likeWacoms Mobile Studio Pro these are also known as pen computers.
A pen display provides a more immediate drawing experience.
Coming in a variety of different sizes, pen displays are optimized for working creatives.
Needless to say, this is not going to be a sensible option for most people.
Plenty of artists in recent years have jumped ship from a Wacom to an iPad and not looked back.
The Mobile Studio Pro by Wacom is a self-contained pen computer.
And we say iPad, because that really is the frontrunner for digital creatives at the moment.
These function as full, Windows-operating computers but with all the specs you’d expect from a drawing tablet.
However, there are better choices for different types of users.
Drawing on an iPad Pro.
Generally, wed say that if youre an artist on a budget, get a graphics tablet.
If you need something premium and professional, get a pen display.
And if you need something versatile and travel-friendly, look at tablet computers.
Drawing on Procreate is many artists' preference.
Their durability also makes buying second-hand a more viable option.
An iPad is the more expensive choice, but it will provide the best tablet-optimised experience.
