8 Best Drawing Tablets That Feel Just Like Drawing on Paper

The Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet is a fan favorite among budding artists and more experienced creators alike thanks to its ease of use and features like a built-in anti-glare film on the screen and two size options, depending on whether you want a sizable display (21.5-inches) or something more compact (15.6-inches.)

The HD display provides clarity and a detailed picture as you work, and the Pro Pen 2 has virtually no lag make your strokes appear on screen exactly as you intended. The pen also features hot keys you can customize to your liking (although the tablet itself does not) and offers 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt-recognition for precision. Besides being a bit pricey, the only drawback is that the Cintiq can’t be used solo—it needs to be connected to a computer.

The Deco Mini7 comes with a USB-C adapter to let you work across various digital platforms, including Chromebooks and even your phone. This drawing tablet also offer eight hot keys—impressive for a smaller model—and is super portable weighing in at just over half a pound. The accompanying pen offers 60 degrees of tilt support to help you bring your art to life with a mix of soft and sharp lines as needed. If you’ve been considering getting into digital art, starting with the Deco Mini7 is a solid choice. It’ll give you a feel for drawing within a digital medium and it won’t break the bank.

Wacom’s Intuos drawing tablet comes in three models: Intuos S, Intuos S with Bluetooth connectivity, and Intuos M with Bluetooth connectivity. All three models come with the option to download up to three software packages and each tablet features four hot keys for optimized customization.

Additionally, each model comes with a pen that offers 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels and also has two customizable hot keys built-in to the side for fast and easy access. The accompanying pen also has interchangeable flexible and felt tips stored inside the body of the pen to suit your unique drawing style. Thoughtful details—like the pen tray—make this a favorite among artists of all levels. Plus, starting around $80 makes it an affordable option, too!

Wacom touts the Intuos Pro as the professional standard. This model is available in three sizes (S, M, and L), each with built-in Bluetooth connectivity. The small tablet comes with six built-in hot keys (dubbed ExpressKeys by Wacom) and the medium and large models each feature eight hot keys. The Pro Pen 2 boasts an impressive 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels.

Plus, the Intuos Pro comes in two additional models: the Intuos Pro Paper Edition in sizes medium and large. These models also come with the Pro Pen 2 in addition to Wacom’s Finetip pen (also featuring 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels) and a built-in paper clip so that artists can more easily transition from working on paper to digital. The Paper Edition drawing tablets let you start sketching directly on the tablet or on paper with the ability to edit your work digitally.

This drawing tablet features an 11.6-inch display and, depending on what type of computer you have, it doesn’t require an adapter to plug into it—the tablet comes with a 3-in-1 USB cable. The Artist12 Pro also has a built-in dial and hot keys for a customizable experience while in use. Plus, the pen offers up to 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels to recognize when you want to draw thick and thin lines or add shading. There is almost zero parallax, so you can see exactly where the cursor is and draw with precision.

The Wacom One lets you edit videos, drawings, and annotate documents as needed, and it is a great pick for professional artists and newbies alike.

A generously sized 13.3-inch screen allows a lot of room for letting your imagination run wild, and the included creative software is compatible with Windows, Mac, and some Android devices. In the event you want to try more than the included ergonomic One pen, this tablet is also compatible with leading digital pen brands as well.

This drawing tablet was designed to feel like you’re working on paper and offers natural-feeling surface friction as you work, plus minimal reflection for an authentic paper feel.

Another computer first, drawing tablet second, there’s almost nothing the Surface Pro 7 can’t do. Illustrators will appreciate the sophisticated design and the fact that this tablet is essentially an extension of a full desktop. If you’re a professional who mainly works in the Adobe creative suite, using the Surface Pro 7 will make working on the go easier than ever before. Like the iPad Pro, you’ll have to shell out extra cash for the Surface Slim Pen, as this tablet doesn’t come with one.