Today, iPads and tablets come in all shapes and sizes. Every tech store has plenty of decent tablets, but how exactly would you know what suits your needs?

Easy. There are three leading tablets, each for a different skill. Simple pen display tablets have a built-in screen monitor, like a pen-to-paper. The user draws directly on the display, which follows that familiar intuitive feeling of drawing with a pencil. The pen’s strokes remain natural.

The pen tablet is the second most commonly used type, ranking among favorites with students or those looking for something on a budget. They don’t come with a screen but can be connected to PCs and laptops. You draw on the tablet, which will appear on your monitor. They’re super easy to store and travel with, but it’s not the best choice because it takes some time to get used to looking at a different screen than the one you are painting on.

The new tech giants taking over the industry are general-use tablets like iPads and

Androids. These tablets are for general use, meaning you can create art and perform everyday tasks like a laptop.

They are known for their practicality since they allow the user to create line art, drawings, illustrations, and other types of digital art. This article will compare every tablet's display quality, features, pen sensitivity, and overall performance for artists.

By the end, you will have a clear idea of which tablet best suits your needs and wallet! Let’s jump in.

Wacom fans should prepare for the new heavyweight - the Cintiq Pro 27 creative pen display. With incredible pen pressure sensitivity and numerous customizable options, the Wacom Cintiq is perfect for those more comfortable with a pen display than a pen tablet.

It has 8,192 sensitivity levels, and the Wacom Pro Pen 3 is the company’s most advanced sample yet! Besides new pen pressure power, the Wacom Cintiq offers 27 breathtaking display features in 4k UHD resolution. The 10-bit colors, 99% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3, make the display so beautiful. This is what makes Wacom an industry titan for color accuracy.

Used by animators and painters, their testimonials state that with the new Wacom Cintiq Pro, you can notice every small change in detail in your design, or artwork.

The display is also straightforward to follow. Only three side switches allow you the freedom to add, erase, swap, scroll, and adjust your center of balance with super precision. Depending on the price you are looking for (which starts at $1.599), the sizes range between 16’’,17’’, 22’’, 24’’, 27, and 32’’. With these versions, you will get your buck’s worth since they all share that striking 4K resolution.

The refresh rate is 120Hz, a significant upgrade from its predecessor. This allows the user to immerse themselves even more in their creation. Besides an easy-to-navigate display, an on-screen menu will enable you to shortcut various creative options.

The eight conveniently placed ExpressKeys let your strokes move freely.

The pen gestures are upgraded, presenting multi-touch features and setting up an easy setup for you to work with. There are integrated 4x standards ¼ inch mount options that let you mount your display on a tripod, phone, camera, or PC. Besides the attachable ability, there’s the extension table Wacom established that you can get. They provide reference materials across the screen, making it the perfect simple-to-follow sample for beginners and veteran users. The adjustable pen tray has all the necessary nibs and grips close to the hand, allowing no interruption during creation.

If you are not sold on the premium experience this Cintiq pro offers, you also get bonus software! Register your Wacom Cintiq Pro on the official website and receive a 3-month trial of Capture One, Paint EX, Toon Boom Harmony, and even Storyboards Pro. All these extensions give you versatile options for creative expression regardless of the type of artist you are.

Another of Wacom’s prized specimens is the Wacom Cintiq 22 animation display tablet. Similar to the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27, this Wacom 22 also has excellent pen pressure sensitivity levels. It is a little lower than the Pro version but still quite impressive, with 8192 levels. There is also a built-in tilt recognition, lag-free tracking, and two customizable switches allowing easy access.

Unlike its upgraded successor, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27, the Cintiq 22 will allow you to create better sketches, comics, pop art, or any digital illustration requiring precision and detail. Its standalone features, like the vibrant LCD and HD resolution, make it the company’s bestseller. The vibrant display showcases high resolution, exquisite brightness, and lifelike color quality.

The Pro Pen 2 follows each of your strokes with extreme responsiveness, allowing you to bring your ideas to life much faster on the screen. Another precious thing about the Pro Pen 2 is that you won’t ever have to charge it. The pen comes with this new powerful technology called EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) that charges your pen every time you use it.

Designed for artists who prioritize comfort, the rubber grip feels natural in the hand, and all the side buttons you usually need are within an inch of reach. These side buttons are a blessing because you can use them as shortcuts to fan-favorite premium software.

Besides having a super clear display, an anti-glare solution also removes distracting reflections in your surroundings. The display glass is so durable that scratch-resistant material is also included, making the tablet perfect for everyday use.

Wacom prioritizes comfort, so a handrest near the display allows your hands to relax when drawing. Due to the reduced parallax, you will not lose your cursor quickly and will find it exactly where you left it. It’s the perfect choice for artists looking for better fingertip control. The Wacom Pro Pen is quite responsive, allowing you to feel as if you were drawing on paper.

The adjustable stand (16-82 degrees) lets you set your display however you like so you can work comfortably in any position. Wacom also offers its new users a six-month Clip Studio Paint Ex subscription, perfect for creating concept art like manga and pop art.

If you want speed when drawing your sketches, look no further than the XENCELABS wireless drawing tablet! Xencelabs provides a quality drawing experience while also being budget-friendly. Unlike many of its competitors, this powerhouse of a pen tablet has impressive sensitivity levels, making it the perfect addition to any art student’s backpack.

The tablet has one-button access for pen pressure curve controls, making each stroke and drawing experience as light as possible. The pen sensitivity is also premium-quality, making it easy to adjust even for the heaviest hand. The curved gentle slope is one of the product's best features because it reduces tension and stress in your hands. The front edge is also 5mm thin, allowing for seamless artistic creation.

This wallet-friendly pen tablet comes with two standard, different-sized pens. You can easily switch between pens depending on your illustration. Two pens are easily customizable, with the 3-button pen having three programmable buttons plus an eraser. The other pen has a smaller barrel and is thinner than the 3-button pen. The thin version was designed to be handled like an artist would a brush, pencil, or ordinary pen. Like the 3-button pen, the Thin Pen has two assignable buttons and an eraser.

What makes these pens unique is that both are battery-free. The sensitivity levels are similar to Wacom’s Cintiq 22, with 8192 levels of pressure, 5080LPI pen resolution, tilt recognition, and no lags. The tablet is an all-in-one special with palm rests and an adjustable LED light ready to assist you in defining your active drawing area. The drawing surface aspect ratio is 16:9 native, meeting industry-standard monitors for a lower price. The active area (10.3” x 5.75”) aims at a minimal design for optimal comfort and functionality, especially if you are a student, budding artist, or art hobbyist.

The display is exact, so if you draw a circle, the screen will present you with a perfect circle. This amplifies your workflow, and you enjoy your experience working.

Like other industry giants, the Xecelabs display has even more side keys and speedy shortcuts. The five sets of 8 keys deliver 40 programmable functions per application. The installation is at the top of simplicity, with a user-friendly interface that allows you to access the settings quickly.

The top of the pen tablet effortlessly reveals all the necessary buttons. With the Quick Keys software, there are no limited restrictions or trials—all are available with a single setup. You are also given the option to modify, rename, or reset keys and device orientation based on your needs.

The display also includes a physical dial along with four settings with two functions: an OLED display that directly patterns each key movement

The Picasso Tab standalone drawing tablet is an experience that speaks for itself! One glance at the tab reveals its size, which is one of the largest in the industry. The screen is a whopping 14 inches, so you can replicate the exact feeling as you would with a standing canvas. Its standalone functionality adds to the authenticity an artist looks for when creating digital yet traditional art.

The Picasso X14 offers ample space for artists to unleash their imaginative illustrations. There is also the freedom of not needing to connect to a separate computer, monitor, or screen. The drawing experience is described by its manufacturers as “empowering artists to work autonomously while providing a seamless, immersive artistic experience.”

Besides being the largest portable drawing tablet, it is also packed with a full HD screen. Picasso’s X14 tabs are uniquely designed to be easily portable (no screen necessary), so creative creation can occur wherever inspiration strikes. The 14.1-inch super expansive screen size allows lots of space for artistic expression. There’s also attention to detail and accuracy while using the premium quality Stylus tab pen.

Serving up the latest technology, this Picasso tablet has a laminated screen designed to reduce parallax and provide a minimal pen-to-screen gap. The viewing experience is also one for the books because the anti-glare feature removes all distractions during work. Besides enhancing the viewing experience, no visible reflections allow artists to continue their natural and intuitive artistic process. Drawing on the X14 feels remarkably similar to paper, so you do not have to waste time getting used to new technology.

Picasso’s standalone tablet has premium software that lets you elevate your creative potential. The X14 includes unparalleled animation and sketching apps like Concept, Infinite Painter, and Flipaclip, which are already installed. These features to enhance your art also come with a specialized app called Artixo. This app provides tutorials and step-by-step descriptions tailored to beginners who want to develop their skills in a fun and understandable way.

The tablet’s memory is also one of its top-selling features. Equipped with 6GB RAM and an additional 128GB disk, it offers ample storage space for vast collections of high-quality pictures and illustrations.

Apart from being a drawing tablet, the Picasso X14’s octa-core CPU gives the artist a sliding experience. You can also use it as a laptop and watch Netflix movies on the gleaming screen. The ability to log onto your social media creates a graceful balance of leisure and work in one device. The transitions from an artistic hub to a portable entertainment center, like a large smartphone!

If you want a portable, easy-to-use drawing tablet that can be connected to other devices via Bluetooth, look no further than the Wacom Intuos Medium. This medium-sized wireless graphics drawing tablet also allows users to communicate with other premium software regarding digital creativity. The best part about the Wacom Intuos drawing tablet is that it is compatible with PCs, Mac OS, Chromebooks, and Windows. The Intuos is so intuitive.

Famous for its intuitive screen, the Wacom Intuos helps create unique works with greater precision and attention to detail. Designed for abstract sketches and obscure illustrations, it also lets you annotate assignments, import and make PDFs, and even do math equations. It is a fantastic gift for students of all ages who are new to sketching but have plenty of schoolwork and imagination.

The stylus pen that comes with it lets you freely unleash your ideas and transfer them to your tablet. With Intuos Medium, there is no need for a keyboard as the stylus pen is perfectly equipped to transfer your wildest ideas.

The Wacom Intuos Medium rivals leading industry tablet giants with superior precision thanks to its battery-free EMR, making the experience feel even more natural.

The Bluetooth feature is a nice blast from the past. A Bluetooth connection and a USB cable with the Wacom package will always be helpful. Wacom is known for its focus on comfort, so your drawing tablet enables you to draw on your couch, desk, or in nature.

This Wacom product contains software training as well.

In today’s market, choosing the right tablet depends on your needs as an artist. Pen display tablets like the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 offers a natural drawing experience with a stunning 4K display and 8,192 pressure levels. While premium in price, it’s a favorite among professionals for its precision and color accuracy.

For a more budget-friendly option, the Wacom Cintiq 22 delivers great pen sensitivity, an HD display, and an ergonomic design, making it ideal for digital illustrators.

Meanwhile, XENCELABS Wireless Drawing Tablet is a portable, affordable choice with customizable buttons and a smooth, paper-like feel.

If you want a standalone tablet, the PicassoTab X14 boasts a massive 14-inch display, eliminating the need for a PC connection. With built-in drawing apps and a laminated screen, it’s perfect for on-the-go artists.

Ultimately, the best tablet depends on your workflow. Professionals may prefer Wacom’s industry-leading accuracy, while students and hobbyists might find XENCELABS or PicassoTab more practical. Whatever your choice, investing in the right tool will elevate your creativity.