How to Make Your Own Screen Drawing Tablet

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Drawing tablets come in two types, the one with a screen and the other without it.

A drawing tablet with a screen allows you to see your artwork/strokes right beneath your stylus.

This not only results in a much faster learning curve but also gives you an immersive drawing experience that a non-display graphics tablet can never match.

Since display tablets were very expensive, they were only used by professionals and artists who could spare thousands of dollars.

Beginners and hobbyists, on the other hand, were recommended normal non-display pen tablets.

But in the last few years, we have not only seen a massive drop in prices of good display tablets but also seen a number of new models being introduced that are specifically geared towards beginners.

These tablets are available in various sizes and resolutions, some even have buttons and dials on them. Others have a computer build right into them making them a standalone drawing device.

All these different brands, models, and variants of display tablets can be quite daunting to even navigate through.

We have done a throughout comparison of all the popular display tablets in the market and made a list of the most deserving candidates for being the best drawing tablets with the screen.

Our list consists of a wide range of tables to choose from no matter whether you are looking for a budget-friendly or top-of-the-line display drawing tablet.

Top recommendations – Drawing tablets with screen

Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus

• 15.6 Inch 4K display
• Great value for money
• Windows & Mac support
• Excellent stylus
• Premium build quality (metallic)

Apple iPad Pro

• 11/12.9 Inch
• Excellent Stylus (Apple Pencil)
• Great color accuracy
• Ultra-portable
• Good battery life

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

• 23.6 Inch 4K display
• Best stylus for drawing
• Windows & Mac support
• Anti-glare Etched glass
• Shortcut buttons

1. Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus – The best drawing tablet with screen

Our pick

Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus

An all-rounder with an excellent 4K display, extremely good color accuracy, a great stylus (battery-free), metallic build quality, and USB-C connectivity.

Ideal for 2D, 3D artists, animators, digital sculptors, photo/ video editors.

Great value for money.

Check on Amazon

Size, resolution, and the quality of the stylus are three of the most important factors to consider when looking for a drawing tablet with a screen.

The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus has the right mix of features that makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a good display tablet.

Its 4k resolution screen is the main star of the show. You get an impressive color accuracy – covering 145% sRGB color space and a 1200:1 contrast.

This highly color-accurate screen makes Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus a great option for doing any color-sensitive work such as graphics design, photo/video editing etc.

Its 16-inch screen is large enough to provide a great drawing experience at the same time compact enough to be carried in a larger backpack.

Stylus - Huion PW 517   (click to expand)

Stylus – Huion PW 517

A stylus plays a crucial role in providing a good drawing experience.

Huion has been making drawing tablets and styluses for a long time and improving with every generation.

The Kamvas 16 Plus comes with a battery-free Huion PW517 stylus which is almost at the same level as the Wacom's Pro Pen 2 in terms of precision and performance.

Thanks to the laminated screen, the pen tracking is super accurate. The pressure sensitivity, as well as the tilt sensitivity, is on point as well.

There are customizable buttons on the stylus that can be set to any shortcut of your choice. They are very handy when drawing.

The pen has an ergonomic shape that comfortably sits into hands and reduces fatigue on prolonged uses.

Build quality

Build quality

The build quality on this tablet is great as well. You get an all-glass panel at the front and a metallic alloy frame and the backplate.

It has 13mm of thickness and when combined with its great overall fit and finish, the tablet feels reassuringly good to hold in hand and work over it.

shortcomings

Shortcomings

The only complaint with the tablet is its average brightness. It has a max brightness of 200cd/m2 which is fine for a normal to a dark working environment. But not that great for a brightly lit room.

Who should get the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus

The Huion Kamvs 16 Plus ticks all the checkmarks. Whether we talk of the screen, the stylus, the build quality, or the freedom to use any platform, operating system, or application.

This tablet is ideal for 2D, 3D, animation, editing, rendering, or basically anything that you throw at it.

Due to its highly color-accurate screen and 4K resolution, this display tablet also serves well as an excellent secondary monitor.

Overall, the flexibility and versatility you get with this tablet, you don't get that with other tablets in the price category.

And that makes the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus the best drawing tablet with screen for digital artists.

PROs – What we liked

• 16 inch 4k resolution display
• Excellent color accuracy
• Glare-free matte screen with textured surface
• Great stylus (Huion PW517 – Battery-free)
• Metallic build and thin profile
• Comes with a tablet stand
• USB-C connectivity
• OS support – Windows, Mac, and Android
• Good for digital art, illustration, animation, 3D graphics

CONs – What needs improvement

• No shortcut buttons
• Huion Shortcut accessory needs to be purchased separately
• No-touch support
• Not ideal for bright indoor and outdoor uses (200cd/m2 max brightness)

Buy Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus on Amazon →Huion Store →

2. Apple iPad Pro – Most advanced display tablet for digital Artists

Runner-up

Apple iPad Pro (11 inch and 12.9 inch)

Most advanced stylus, excellent display, powerful processor, and best in class drawing performance, all in a compact form factor. Available in two sizes.

Amazon (11 inches)
Amazon (12.9 inches)

Apple iPads are increasingly becoming popular in the artist community. In the past few years, we have seen a number of artists use it as their main drawing device.

So what makes the Apple iPad Pro such a great option for artists looking for a display tablet?

One of the main reasons why artists love the iPad Pro so much is the Apple Pencil.

Earlier Wacom's Pro Pen 2 was considered the holy grail of styluses. But that changed with the arrival of the Apple Pencil.

Apple Pencil is hands-down the most powerful, reliable, and accurate styluses in the market right now.

It has great pen tracking, balanced pressure sensitivity as well as one of the best implementations of tilt recognition.

What is more important than the features is the overall feel of drawing with the stylus.

In a stylus you want the drawing experience to be as natural as drawing with a real pencil. The Apple Pencil delivers that.

Tilt support for shading

Thanks to the Promotion technology (120 Hz screen refresh rate) on the iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil can achieve a response rate of 9ms.

This results in a buttery smooth performance. The strokes drawing by the Apple Pencil literally seem to be coming out of the tip.

It may seem like a small thing but it definitely has a big effect on the overall feel of drawing on the Apple Pencil.

Power and portability    (click to expand)

Power and portability

The Apple iPad Pro is powered by Apple's M1 processors, which is the same processor that they use in Apple Macbooks. Meaning you get laptop-level power and performance on a compact device.

The M1 processor makes the iPad Pro the most powerful portable drawing tablet ever.

The tablet simply flies even when working with large resolutions, multiple layers, and heavy texture brushes.

Moving on to portability, iPad Pro is one of the slimmest tablets out there and comes with long-lasting battery life.

Screen brightness

Screen and Brightness

iPad Pro is available in two sizes, the 11 inch iPad Pro and the 12 inch iPad Pro.

The 11 inch iPad Pro has a max brightness of 600 nits.

Whereas the 12.9 inch iPad Pro uses a mini-LED screen that has a sustained brightness of 1000 nits and a max brightness of astounding 1600 nits.

Downsides of iPad Pro + Apple Pencil

Downsides of iPad Pro + Apple Pencil

As good as it is – the iPad Pro may not be the right drawing tablet for everyone. It has mostly to do with its size and OS-based limitations.

Starting with the size, the iPad Pro is available in two sizes 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. When you compare that with other display-based drawing tablets which come in 16, 22, 24 inch and even 32-inch screen sizes.

Many artists like the immersive drawing experience that you get when working on a larger display. you can't get that on the (relatively) smaller screens of the iPad.

Next, the software limitations. Some of the most popular applications which are often used by professionals and termed as "industry standard" are simply not available on iPad.

So if you are someone who in addition to making digital art and animation also dabble in 3D modeling, 3D sculpting, compositing, editing, and/or any combination of these tasks – The iPad Pro may not be the best choice for you.

Who should get the iPad Pro?

source: Affinity

Although the iPad may be lacking in 3d and animation apps, but when it comes to making digital paintings and illustrations, iPadOS has its own set of drawing apps that are as good as their desktop counterparts.

If you are someone who makes digital art, illustrations, comics, animation, and portability is your priority – you should definitely get the Apple iPad Pro.

PROs – What we liked

• Outstanding performance from Apple Pencil
• 2732 x 2048p high-resolution screen with beautiful colors
• High brightness for comfortable outdoor usage
• Lightweight and Portable
• Good battery life
• The most powerful processor on a compact device
• Excellent iPadOS specific art and illustration applications

CONs – What needs improvement

• Apple Pencil not included (purchase separately)
• OS lacks support for good 3D applications
• Shiny and Reflective screen
• Many traditional windows drawing softwares still not supported

Buy Apple iPad Pro 11 inch on Amazon →

Buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch on  Amazon →

3. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 – Most advanced display tablet for professionals

Upgrade-pick

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

One of the best drawing tablets in the market that is pretty much a great choice for any kind of digital creative work, no matter whether you work with 2D, 3D, photo, and video related tasks.

Comes with a 4K screen and available in 24 and 32-inch variants.

The larger display combined with a great stylus and a number of useful accessories makes this a drawing device that artist aspire for.

Check on Amazon

If you are a veteran or hang out in art communities, you probably know the name "Wacom".

The Wacom may not be that popular amongst giants such as Apple and Microsoft, but when it comes to digital art equipment, it absolutely dominates the market.

This is one of the devices that you would find in the hands of professions and in the offices of Vfx and movie studios.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 is for those who are looking for a top-of-the-line, dedicated drawing tablet that is specifically made for artists.

It has a whole set of drawing features that are very thoughtfully designed to make the drawing experience as immersive and convenient as possible.

Display – Size and Resolution

Starting off with its massive 24-inch 4K resolution and color accuracy of 99% Adobe RGB.

The feeling you get from drawing on this massive screen – you can't get that from an iPad or any smaller device.

You get a large area to move your hands around, plus you can see your whole artwork and work without needing to zoom in.

Stylus – Wacom Pro Pen 2

One of the most important reasons why professional artists love to use Wacom devices is its Stylus.

The Wacom Pro Pen 2 is one of the most regarded styluses. Its performance, how it handles pressure, how it responds to light touches – you don't get that in other styluses.

The stylus has an ergonomic design with a wider tip at the front which slowly tapers towards the back. It gives you better comfort. The front end of the stylus is made of a rubbery material that provides a better grip, especially on sweaty hands.

Shortcut Button – Wacom Expresskey Remote

There is a shortcut Remote called Wacom Expresskey remote included in the box. It has 17 buttons and a touch ring – all of which are programmable. You can assign them to any shortcut of your choice in any drawing or modeling software.

The shortcut remote works wirelessly and has magnets at the back with sticks to the side bezel of the tablet. Allowing you to place it anywhere you desire.

Tablet Stand – Comfort and Ergonomics

Working on this massive screen is not that easy. The Cintiq Pro comes with built-in foldable legs that give it a nice slope of about 19 degrees which feels very comfortable and inviting to work on.

For greater adjustability, you can get the Wacom Ergo Stand (Amazon) which is sold separately as an addon.

Ergo Stand for Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 (available separately)

The feeling you get working on a large screen drawing tablet, you can't get that on smaller screens.

On top of a large drawing tablet, the Cintiq Pro comes with a great stylus and an ecosystem of great accessories such as Wacom Expresskey Remote and different tablet stands.

You simply don't get this combination anywhere else. And that makes the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 a very well-regarded drawing tablet amongst the artist community.

For many artists, this is their dream drawing tablet. If that is you and you have reached that stage where you feel comfortable investing that kind of money, go ahead and get the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24/32.

PROs – What we liked

• Premium build quality, Sleek design
• Color accurate screen with 4k Resolution
• Superior drawing experience
• Responsive, accurate, and reliable stylus
• Wireless Shortcut Remote
• Textured drawing surface (etched glass)
• Built-in tablet stand (as well as mounting options for external stands)
• Ideal for –  Digital art, illustration, animation, photo editing, video editing, 3d modeling, 3d sculpting, Rendering, compositing or any other creative task

CONs – What needs improvement

• Expensive
• Heavy and takes up space
• Needs to be connected to a computer

Buy Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 on Amazon →

4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Portable Windows-powered display drawing tablet

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

A unique combination of Windows 10 computer in a compact tablet-like form factor, fully capable of running all your favorite Windows drawing apps.

Comes with a very capable Microsoft Surface Stylus and an inbuilt kickstand for the ultimate drawing experience.

Check on Amazon

If you want the power and benefits of a full-fledged Windows computer into a portable form factor – the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is your best option.

You can think of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 as a miniature computer.

Although there are plenty of portable tablets that come with stylus support, Where the Surface Pro 7 stands out is its ability to run all full versions of all your favorite Windows drawing software.

In addition to that, you can also use it for things like animation, photo editing, 3D work, and light video editing.

The Surface Pro is available in a single size with 12.3 inches of screen that has 2736 x 1824p resolution and 98% sRGB color coverage.

Microsoft Surface Pen

The Surface Pro 7 supports the Surface Pen which has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection. The Pen is not included in the box and needs to be purchased separately, which is a bummer.

The tablet also supports the Surface keyboard which also has a touchpad at the bottom. Essentially converting your tablet into a portable computer.

At the back, you can see the built-in kickstand. The kickstand can hold the tablet at any angle on the table. It is strong and sturdy enough to allow you to draw on it without stretching flat on the table.

We recommend the Surface Pro 7 to artists who want a compact display drawing tablet without compromising with their favorite drawing application.

The real strength of the Surface Pro 7 is in its practicality. It allows you to be away from your desk while still finish your projects.

You can take your existing unfinished project files and continue working over on Surface Pro 7 while on the commute or simply when you are away from your fixed setup.

If you already own some kind of drawing tablet, the Surface Pro 7 can also be a great secondary tablet.

PROs – What we liked

• 12.3-inch screen with good colors
• Compact and portable
• Well regarded Microsoft Surface Stylus
• Runs Windows apps
• Decent battery life
• Built-in kickstand
• Keyboard accessory supported (needs to be purchased separately)
• Available in multiple configurations

CONs – What needs improvement

• Only available in a single size (12.3 inches)
• Surface Pen needs to be purchased separately
• Relatively lower (400 nits) of display brightness

Buy Microsoft Surface Pro 7 on Amazon →

5. Xp Pen Innovator 16 – Value for money

Mid range champ

Xp Pen Innovator 16

Great display with excellent color accuracy, shortcut buttons, multiple dials, premium metallic build quality, and one of the best styluses with very stable and reliable perforamce.

All this at a very justified price makes it a great option for artists looking for a top-tier drawing tablet with no compromises.

Check on Amazon

It is often said, "quality comes at a price". Well, Xp Pen does not seem to agree with that.

They have managed to come with a drawing tablet that stands tall on all the benchmarks while still coming at a great price compared to what is available in the market in that segment.

As the name suggests, the Xp Pen Innovator 16 is a 16-inch display tablet that comes with one of the best displays in this segment.

The 16-inch tablet has a FullHD resolution which is sufficient enough for a 16-inch device. Where it really shines is its color accuracy.

Its screen has a color coverage of 125% sRGB which produces very accurate colors.

Probably the best thing about this drawing device is its shortcut options.

The Innovator 16 comes with a total of 8 programmable buttons located on the left-hand side of the tablet.

Along with the buttons you also get a rotating and a digital dial that help you with things like changing the size of the brush and eraser as well as pan, zoom, and rotate the artboard.

There buttons and dials are very handy when drawing, especially the dials that make the whole drawing experience fun and enjoyable.

Xp Pen PA5 Stylus

Xp Pen PA5 stylus

With Innovator 16 you get the Xp Pen PA 5 stylus. This is a battery-free stylus and comes with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as 60 degrees of tilt sensitivity.

This is one of the best styluses that Xp Pen has in their lineup, with improved initial activation force and overall a very balanced behavior.

It responds beautifully to slight changes to pressure, plus it allows you to customize the hardness or softness of the stylus as per your liking.

The build quality of the stylus is also really great. It has a very comfortable shape with great weight distribution.

Build quality

The sturdiness and the Build quality is one of the highlights of Innovator 16.

In spite of its relatively cheaper price, Xp Pen has still managed to give it a high quality all metallic fit and finish.

The tablet feels premium with everything well put together. It measures just 9mm in width and is compact enough to be carried into a backpack alongside your laptop.

So if you are looking for a drawing tablet with a screen that is high quality and has all the bells and whistles that you want, plus comes at a reasonable price – the Xp Pen Innovator 16 is the right option for you.

PROs – What we liked

• 15.6 inch screen
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 8192 level of pen pressure with ±60° tilt
• 8 shortcut buttons with a Digital + Physical dial
• Sleek and lightweight
• Comes with a tablet stand
• Lappable – can be used on your lap
• Extreamily high standard metallic build quality

CONs – What needs improvement

• No rubber pads on the back – can be unstable on smooth surfaces
• Does not work with Android devices
• Not ideal for an overly bright drawing environment

Buy Xp Pen Innovator 16 on Amazon →

6. Microsoft Surface Studio 2 – Two in one display drawing tablet for Professionals (Also Good)

Stylish

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

A desktop computer that transforms into a drafting table, comes with support for Surface Stylus.

Has a gorgeous 28-inch screen and a very elegant design that will elivate the look of your desk as well as your workspace.

Check on Amazon

If you are into design and aesthetics, you will love this one. The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is one of the most unique devices out there.

It is a combination of a desktop computer that turns into a drafting table where you can draw on.

The Surface Studio 2 has a massive 28-inch color accurate screen with a resolution of 4500 x 3000 and a pixel density of 192 PPI. Its 3:2 aspect ratio is great for productivity.

It comes with a Microsoft Surface Pen that has a pressure sensitivity if 4096 levels as well as tilt sensing technology. The performance of the surface pen is good enough for day to day to day usage such as editing, making sketches and writing notes.

Surface Studio hinge

The hinge of the Surface Studio has been designed to easily switch the computer from desktop to draft-table mode.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 in draft table mode (with surface Pen and Surface Dial) credit – devinknath

The hinge feels sturdy and is strong enough to support the screen at any angle. You can have a look at the working of the hinge in the official video from Microsoft.

The screen has multitouch support which makes it convenient to perform simple tasks such as zoom, pan, and rotate the Canvas.

The palm rejection on this drawing computer works flawlessly.

As awesome as the Surface Studio is – it comes with a steep price. With that said, there is no other drawing device with screen like Surface Studio.

It is perfect for multi-talented artists who can use it in desktop mode when doing tasks like graphic design and transform it into a drafting table when drawing with stylus.

The stylus support, the Surface Dial accessory, and the multi-touch support give you a very pleasing drawing experience that is very similar (or even better in some cases) to Wacom's Cintiq Pro lineup of tablets.

PROs – What we liked

• Massive 28-inch screen with multitouch
• Built-in Windows PC
• Great stylus with good palm rejection
• Runs all desktop-grade drawing, designing and modeling applications
• Well designed hinge for better flexibility
• Support for Surface Dial
• One of the best comfortable and ergonomic devices

CONs – What needs improvement

• Only available in one size (28 inches)
• Glossy display
• Expensive

Buy Microsoft Surface Studio 2 on Amazon →

7. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 plus – Best Android tablet with screen

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Android equivalent to Apple's iPad Pro.

Crisp Amoled screen, high pixel count, good brightness, 120hz refresh rate, and a very capable stylus "S-pen" with 9ms of response time makes it a great choice for artists looking for an Android based drawing device.

Check on Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is the Android equivalent of Apple's iPad Pro.

It is a compact display tablet that comes with excellent styles making it a great choice for digital artists.

The tablet is available in two variants measuring 11-inch and 12.4 inches in size and comes with a super high-resolution screen with great color accuracy.

The new Samsung S-Pen is the main reason what makes it a great choice for artists. Samsung has been making styluses for the past many years while constantly improving with every new generation.

This is the first time they have been able to match the Apple Pencil in terms of speed, performance as well as latency.

Thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate screen on the Samsung Galaxy tab S7+, the S Pen stylus has a latency of 9ms which is exactly the same as the Apple Pencil.

Even in terms of practical uses, you will love the way it feels and responds. The pressure sensing is great, it supports tilt sensing.

In terms of price is slightly cheaper than other tablets in the same category and the best part is the S Pen comes included in the box. You don't get this with iPad Pro or even the Microsoft Surface Pro 7.

Android drawing apps

The availability of drawing apps is an important factor to consider when buying any Android tablet for drawing.

Many of the popular Windows drawing apps are not available on Android. Even some popular tablet apps such as Procreate and Affinity are not available on Android.

With that said but there a lot of great Android drawing apps that you can check out.

PROs – What we liked

• Available in to sizes – 11 & 12.4 inches
• Most color-accurate display (AMOLED)
• Lightweight, compact and portable
• Good stylus performance
• Samsung DeX support
• Long battery life

CONs – What needs improvement

• Some very popular drawing apps are absent

Buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 onAmazon →

8.  Huion Kamvas 13 – Drawing tablet with screen for young artists and animators

Art students

Huion Kamvas 13

Entry level display tablet with mid-range features. 13 inch laminated, anti-glare screen with good color accuracy, comes with Huion's top end stylus, shortcut buttons and good build quality.

Check on Amazon

As we already mentioned, drawing tablets with screen have certain advantages that you can't get in normal screenless graphics tables.

If you are someone who has just started learning digital art, a display tablet can help you speed up your learning and provide you a more interactive drawing experience.

But you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a drawing tablet. No, not even half of it.

If you ever wondered – "Which is the most pocket-friendly display tablet that still provides an amazing drawing experience" – The Huion Kamvas 13 is the answer.

It is really surprising how many features you get in this entry-level drawing tablet. Starting off with the display.

Display qulaity, source: Huion

Huion Kamvas Pro 13 comes with a fully laminated matte screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 120% Adobe RGB color gamut.

It produces very accurate colors with deep blacks and sharp details. In fact, since this is a 13-inch screen with a FullHD resolution, the Kamvas 13 produces sharper images than Huion's 16 and 19-inch models.

On the left you will find 8 customizable shortcut buttons that help you makes quick changes like undo, redo, pan, scroll, and change the brush sizes.

In spite of being an entry-level tablet, Huion hasn't cheap out on specs. It comes with 3rd generation Huion PW517 styles. This is the same stylus that you get with some of Huion's top-of-the-line tablet models.

The stylus has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt recognition.

Also, since it is an EMR based stylus – it does not needs to be charged.

Overall, for the price you are paying – you are getting a solid deal.

This tablet is a great fit for art students and hobbyists who want to upgrade from a normal pen tablet to a display tablet.

It is also a very popular choice to give as a gift to your artistic friend or child.

PROs – What we liked

• Laminated anti-glare screen
• 13.3 inches 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Passive Stylus
• 8192 levels of pressure and tilt support
• Comes with a tablet stand

CONs – What needs improvement

• Just 4 shortcut buttons
• Does not come with a tablet bag/pouch

Buy Huion Kamvas 13 on Amazon →  Huion Store →

Which one of these tablets is the best option for digital art and illustration

Related:
Wacom Cintiq 16 vs Wacom Cintiq 22 comparison
Standalone drawing tablet
Wacom One review
Xp Pen Artist 15.6 vs Huion Kamvas pro 16

How to Make Your Own Screen Drawing Tablet

Source: https://essentialpicks.com/best-drawing-tablet-with-screen/

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