You’re ready for your next project. Or, are you? When was the last time you updated your graphics tablet?
A digital designer or artist is only as good as their tools. Don’t get stuck with subpar equipment. If your tablet is getting in the way of your creativity, it may spell disaster for your artistic genius.
Luckily, there are many different types of graphic tablets on the market. So, check out the latest offerings below for 2021. Find out the good, the bad, and the just right for you.
1. Huion H420 Tablet
2. Ugee M708 Tablet
3. XP-Pen Star03 Tablet
4. Wacom Intous CTL4100WLKO Tablet
5. Huion H610PRO Tablet
6. Huion KAMVAS GT-191 Drawing Tablet
7. Ugee 1910B Tablet
8. Wacom Intuos Pro PTH660 Tablet
9. XP-Pen Deco 01
10. Gaomon PD1560 Drawing Tablet
11. Huion Giano Drawing Tablet
12. Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition
4/5
Huion products dominate the graphic tablet market. But, is their reputation warranted? Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward.
However, the low price comes with some compromises in consistency.
This compact graphic tablet is only a little bigger than most smartphones.
First, the active area of the actual tablet is only 4 x 2.23 inches.
Lastly, many designers use the pen to scroll around their software programs. But, this stylus only scrolls up and down.
This graphic tablet may be a great option for artists who need a portable solution. Additionally, hobbyists or new designers may find this little tablet useful.
4.1/5
Looking for a budget graphic tablet with a large draw space? Ugee’s M708 may be the solution for you. Is it the best one on the market? Maybe not. But it makes a great backup tablet for illustrators who need an inexpensive alternative.
First, are you left-handed? If you are, you know that many tablets are not sensitive to your plight. The good news is you can reconfigure this tablet to accommodate the left hand.
You may have a love-hate visceral reaction to this one though. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about constant battery replacement. On the bad side, you are looking at downtime waiting for your stylus to recharge.
The sensitivity between stylus pen and monitor is relatively smooth.
Last, the drawing area for this tablet is large at 10 by 6 inches.
You may find the English directions basic and difficult to understand.
The drivers do not support Google’s operating system.
The Ugee M708 is a good option for designers just starting out. This entry-level tablet has many features that new artists may find appealing.
4.1/5
Need another large tablet in the budget category? The XP-Pen Star03 is another entry-level graphics tablet that performs relatively well. And, for the price, the features are as expected.
Like another tablet on this list, it also has a 10 by 6-inch workspace. This is a definite plus for designers who need to draw on a space larger than a smartphone.
The stylus pen is passive so it only works when you do.
This is a problem with many tablets. But the nib design for this tablet makes it more likely to happen.
If you are heavily reliant on hot keys you may be disappointed with this tablet.
The Star03 model is an option for a budget replacement tablet. Or, new users may find this large graphic tablet appealing. But, serious or professional users looking for a full-time replacement may want to look elsewhere.
4.1/5
Wacom is a major name in the graphic tablet world. And, aside from a few flaws, their Intous CTL4100WLKO model is exactly what you expect from this dependable brand.
This is why this tablet is a good option for users who need precision in their work.
Wireless or wired? Wacom gives you both options. And, the price difference between the two is relatively small.
You can use this tablet comfortably whether you are left or right handed.
What you are really paying for is the trusted name and reliability.
You may find yourself going through nibs at a faster rate than other tablets. This is the trade-off for the “paper-like” tablet surface.
The tablet is small, so precision artists who don’t need a large surface may like this option. Also, it is a pricey but great option for budding artists and hobbyists.
4.0/5
The Huion H610PRO is a large surface option for artists looking for a mid-range graphic tablet.
At 10 by 6.25 inches, you don’t have to settle for cramped space.
You get hundreds of hours on a single charge.
Finally, if you want to try out this tablet but are skeptical about how well it will work. You’re covered by a one-year warranty.
One of the biggest problems for many Huion tablets are the drivers. For many users they are a nightmare to install.
You may not reach live help at all. An easier option is to try email instead.
The H610PRO is a good option for both beginner and advanced artists. However, the potential difficulty setting up drivers may be a turn-off for many users.
4.2/5
If you are searching for a drawing tablet that allows you to see what you are drawing without staring at a separate screen, take a look at the KAMVAS GT-191. This tablet features an IPS screen that may make the steep price worth it.
What that means for you is a 19.5” screen at the broadcast standard 16:9 ratio. And the resolution is full HD at 1920 x 1080.
This tablet has a report rate of 233 PPS. This and the 5081 LPI give you faster recognition with minimal lag.
You can use thick strokes and ultra-thin details with confidence that your tablet will pick up these nuances.
If you are on a strict budget, you may want to look elsewhere.
You may need to calibrate the colors to make the accuracy adequate for serious design work.
This tablet is a good option for beginner designers and artists with deep pockets.
3.6/5
The Ugee 1910B is a good alternative graphic tablet with a 19” TFT screen. It has great responsiveness and sensitivity.
If you are one of those artists that need a lot of draw space, you have 19 inches to play with on this tablet.
The 2049 pressure sensitivity is just enough to make drawing pleasant.
Lastly, customer service for this company is very responsive and there is a money-back guarantee for this product.
At 15 pounds, this tablet is not portable.
For those users whose art doesn’t depend on true colors, this may not be a negative.
Mid-level artists to professionals may benefit from this price-conscious graphic tablet with a 19” display. Beginner artists also may like this tablet because it is easy to use. And the company has great customer support.
4/5
One of Wacom’s most popular offerings, the Intous series is loved by amateurs and pros alike.
Need a stylus that is responsive and sensitive to every stroke? Wacom’s new pen tech supports 8192 levels of pressure.
You don’t have to choose between buying one type or another. This one can be wired or wireless.
Navigation is a breeze by using the tablet surface like a touch pad.
This is a characteristic of all Intuos models.
And, if you opt to use Bluetooth with this tablet, you may experience some lag.
Professional designers swear by Wacom tablets. And, this model is really no different. This tablet is designed for an advanced user who needs precision and control in their work.
4.6/5
XP-Pen’s Deco 01 is one of the best budget buys on the market. And it’s a great option for beginners who want a quality tablet without the resulting price tag.
With 8192 levels of pressure, the stylus is as responsive as it needs to be for your detailed work.
This means that you don’t have to mess with charging cables or batteries.
In addition, the small and flat express keys won’t get in the way if you switch orientation.
This tablet does not have drivers for Google OS.
Although this tablet is supposed to work with all major drawing software, there’s some occasional unresponsiveness.
XP-Pen’s Deco 01 is a great alternative option for someone who is a beginner or on a budget. In general, it works reasonably well for the price and is easy to set up.
The Deco 01 has a special bonded surface that makes it very durable, and scratch-resistant.
4.4/5
The Gaomon PD1560 drawing monitor is a good alternative to other pricier brands.
The customer service support is very prompt and helpful. And, they seem to genuinely care about helping.
The stand adjusts from 10 to 90 degrees for you to get that perfect angle for longer periods of drawing.
This gives you smooth and natural lines.
Some brands allow for advanced calibration of your stylus. But this one only gives you 5 options.
For those who don’t like downtime for their stylus this may be a fatal flaw.
The unit is a bit pricey for a beginner. But, it’s okay for a professional looking for a mid-range or backup for their main tablet.
4.2/5
Professionals that need a wireless graphic tablet with a large surface may want to check out the Huion Giano WH1409. It’s the broad wireless range and long battery life make this a unique offering by Huion.
The Giano WH1409 has a very wide work surface. So, you don’t have to worry about space restrictions with its 13.8 by 8.6-inch area.
In addition, you don’t need to be physically restricted by proximity to your computer, too. You can wander up to 40 feet away while still working on your tablet.
Lastly, even if you are using wireless mode continuously your battery will keep going. You get approximately 40 hours of wireless work from one charge.
There are so many graphic tablets on the market now that have over 8K levels of pressure sensitivity. This downgrade may not be worth it for many users.
The problem with customer support is with the company as a whole. Unfortunately, driver problems may have you calling them more than you’d like. And, they are very slow to respond.
This is a decent option for those just getting started. Newbies may enjoy the extra work surface. And, it’s a bit cheaper than the professional brand competitors on the market.
Overall, this tablet is built sturdy. And, the outside casing appears like it may last for a long time without abuse.
4/5
Ready to upgrade your old Walcom device? This may be the best solution for you.
The compact footprint makes this a great option to travel with.
You can now capture pen-on-paper sketches and eliminates the need to scan them later.
The new Paper edition comes with a wireless option already installed. Previously you had to buy a separate kit.
The surface sheet is supposed to resemble natural paper. However, it may seem like natural chalkboard to for some people. You can buy new sheets if the standard one doesn’t appeal to you.
You could say that this is the side effect of the rough surface texture.
This graphic tablet would work well for someone who wants an upgrade from a starter Wacom. Or, for someone who is new to this famous series.
If you are in the market for a new graphic tablet that won’t break the bank, XP-Pen’s Deco 01 may be the right one for you. It offers a variety of standard features that you need, such as 8K levels of pressure. And, its passive pen doesn’t need batteries or recharging.
Additionally, you can readily adjust the orientation to use it left or right-handed. If you want to learn more about the Deco 01, check out this link.
New graphic tablets don’t come out very often. So, finding the right graphic tablet for your needs may be frustrating. But, if you are willing to make some compromises, you may find the right one for you.
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