As illustrators, designers and lovers of drawing you must have a portable drawing tablet that meets all the characteristics, particularities and functions that we need when working.
In the technology market, you will find a wide variety of exclusive tablets for drawing, among which you can choose the best one, according to your needs.
Next, we will know more information about what a portable drawing tablet is, the differences that exist compared to a graphics tablet, the factors to assess before making the purchase and the best drawing tablets that we will find for sale.
How to choose a graphics tablet
According to the experts, the most important characteristics to assess to correctly choose a graphics tablet are the following (in order of importance):
Pressure levels
Without a doubt, the most important aspect of any of these devices. The higher the pressure sensitivity, the better you can control the thickness of the lines you draw based on how hard you press the stylus on the tablet surface.
The most common are tablets that offer up to 2,048 pressure points. This is usually more than enough (it would be equivalent to trying to draw more than 2,000 shades of gray with the same pencil), and although there are models with higher pressure levels, in practice you will hardly notice the difference.
Size
Graphics tablet measurements essentially depend on your preferences and type of work. The bigger, the bigger the drawing area, but it will also take up more space.
The smallest measure about 6 x 4 inches (15 x 12 cm approximately), are less tiring (because you must move your arm less) and you can place them perfectly next to your keyboard. Many people even end up using them as a substitute for the mouse.
However, if you work with large monitors (20 inches or more) you surely need a larger tablet.
The largest ones reach or exceed 10 x 6 inches (approximately 25 x 15 cm), and occupy a space similar to that of a full keyboard. Its users are usually professional graphic designers who need a higher level of detail or constantly zoom.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of lines you can draw per inch (lpi). For practical purposes, determine the level of detail you can achieve with the tablet surface.
Most small graphics tablets have a resolution of 2,540 LPI, while the largest ones reach double: 5,080 LPI. Both are more than enough to reach professional detail levels.
Entry delay
Although it is not a factor that usually appears in the descriptions of the models, it is a fundamental characteristic.
The graphics tablet drivers are what determines which programs are compatible with it and the absence of input delay. And there is nothing more unpleasant than drawing and that the lines do not appear immediately.
Price
Price is a determining factor, especially when there is so much disparity between models.
Graphics tablets aimed at beginners, with lower levels of pressure and resolution, usually do not exceed 100 euros. The most professional tablets, those that incorporate a multi-touch screen or other extras can go beyond 500 euros.
TouchPen
Along with the graphics, the tablet is usually included a stylus, and you can find a huge variety of features between models.
There are pencils that do not require batteries or batteries, others are rechargeable and others are battery operated. Drummers often offer extra extras like quick functions or tilt recognition for fine strokes.
There are pencils that even allow you to change the tip to resemble a pen, charcoal pencil or brush. Although many manufacturers do not sell pens or nibs separately, Wacom markets several nib types and even stylus formats to suit the needs of its users.
Quick functions
Many tablets allow quick functions to be programmed directly on the stylus buttons or on the graphics tablet itself.
The buttons on the pen usually have the right-click and double-click function, although some models allow you to assign them to other functions. As for the tablet, usually the bigger the drawing surface, the more buttons you will find.
Some Wacom tablets, such as the Intuos tablets, also include a touch circle that allows you to control the zoom, brush size and rotation of the canvas, and to be personalized with additional functions.
In general, the greater customization capacity a graphics tablet offers you, the greater comfort and productivity.
Multitouch function and tilt recognition
Both characteristics usually separate what would be a tablet for amateurs from one for professionals. The multi-touch function allows you to use the surface of the tablet as if it were a trackpad of a computer, for example by zooming by separating two fingers or rotating the screen.
The Reconnaissance of inclination is a function to vary the type of layout as the angle at which the stylus is held. This offers even more control over the thickness and style of the lines but is a feature intended primarily for professional use.
Best portable drawing tablet
Here is a Buying Guide and Comparison of the Best portable drawing tablet with pencil designed for drawing: Find your model with Expert Reviews and Analysis
Lenovo Yoga Book Full HD
This is the Yoga Book model of the Lenovo brand that comes in metallic gray color. It has a 10.1-inch IPS screen with a 1,200 × 1,920 pixel Full HD resolution.
It works with a quad-core Intel Atom X5-Z8550 processor and with a speed of 2.4 GHz. The RAM is 4 GB, while the available storage space is 64 GB, it can be expanded by means of a microSD card up to 128 GB.
It contains the Android 6.0 operating system without LTE configuration. It has an 8,500 mAh lithium polymer battery with an autonomy of more than 15 hours of use on a single charge. It has an 8-megapixel front camera.
It has a paper pad and a Real Pen that detects 2048 pressure levels and works without a battery.
These accessories are included because when writing with the stylus on the paper the words or the strokes will be automatically digitized on the screen of the Yoga Book. This digital copy can be edited or shared in just a few seconds. The notebook is magnetized, so it is fixed to the surface.
It has a hinge that allows it to be opened and folded in 360 °, so it can easily be used in 4 different modes depending on the user’s needs, these are the creative mode in the flat aperture to draw or take notes, the exploration mode to be used as a compact tablet, playback mode for entertainment, and write mode for use as a laptop.
The panel shows the content both vertically and horizontally, as it includes an automatic rotation system.
It contains a Halo keyboard, which appears when needed. This is an artificial keyboard with optimized software that is capable of learning, autocomplete and autocorrect while you are typing, allowing precise and faster work. The open thickness is 4.05 mm and it has a weight of 690 g. This model is also available in black color.
Pros:
- It is with a portable, slim and very light design.
- Long battery life.
- It digitizes all the information that is written on paper.
Cons:
- The digital keyboard design is awkward to use.
- To open it in a portable mode, both hands must be used.
Best quality-price: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 T820
t is from the Samsung brand with WiFi connection, it comes in black. It has a 9.7-inch screen and a screen resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels. It works with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor and with a speed of 2.15 GHz.
The RAM is 4 GB and the internal storage is 32 GB, which can be expanded through a MicroSD card up to 256 GB. It has the Android 7.0 operating system and has a 6000 mAh battery with an operating time of approximately 12 hours. It comes with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera.
It includes a system consisting of four speakers that provide perfect sound from corner to corner and adapt to the position of the screen.
Besides, it has the S Pen with 4096 pressure levels, a design without refill, has a diameter of 9.4 mm and the tip is 0.7 mm thick, offering a comfortable grip just like natural writing and accurate. The weight is 431 g.
The back is made of shiny glass to offer a premium finish. This wifi model is also available in silver-tone, as well as it can be purchased with LET configuration for those who want to have a complete mobile device.
Pros:
- It supports HDR technology.
- It has a quite elegant design.
- It has four sound horns.
- The touch pen is one of the best on the market with a finer tip.
Cons:
- Glass design can be a brittle material.
- The keyboard is not included with the purchase.
- The S Pen does not have a hole for storage.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
The Microsoft brand has in its product catalog this model, which has a silver pen. Its screen is 12.3 inches and it has a resolution of 2736 × 1824 pixels.
This device works with an Intel M3, Dual-Core processor with a speed of 900 MHz. It contains a 4 GB RAM memory together with a 128 GB hard disk and an Intel HD Graphics 515 graphics card.
It has the Windows 10 Pro operating system and a battery with an operating time of approximately nine hours. The front camera is 5 MP and includes a 1080p HD video, and the rear camera has 8 MP autofocus and 1080p HD video.
It has a magnesium casing with the physical volume and power buttons, as well as stereo microphones, speakers with Dolby Audio Premium, and ambient light sensor. The weight is 766 g. Connectivity technology is through wi-fi.
Includes a built-in stand so the screen sits at any angle, even when docked. The Surface Pro 4 offers maximum performance and power, as it contains one of the 6th generation Intel Core processors and a version of Microsoft Office Suite, which brings Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, and Excel.
It has facial detection technology capable of recognizing various faces to log in and have access to its own profile.
The Pen has a pressure sensitivity of 1024 levels and one on the end contains an eraser, so when drawing you can easily remove any stroke as if it were a normal eraser.
This model can be purchased with a keyboard, with a mouse and you can choose either a Core i5 or Core i7 in the colors black and blue.
Pros:
- Big screen with good resolution.
- It has one of the best and most modern Intel processors.
- The pencil includes an eraser.
Cons:
- The keyboard is not included with the purchase.
- It is one of the most expensive on the market.
Apple iPad Pro
Apple makes this model for design in space gray, it has an 11-inch retina screen with True Tone and ProMotion technology. The screen resolution is 1668 px x 2224 px. It has a six-core A10X Fusion processor with a speed of 2.38 GHz.
The RAM is 4GB and the storage is 64, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB. It includes an iOS 10 operating system and a battery with a continuous use autonomy of 10 hours. This model has two cameras, a 12 MP rear camera and a 7 MP FaceTime HD front camera.
It is 6.1mm thick, has a Touch ID identity sensor, four speakers, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 4G LTE connectivity.
This model is also available in Gold and Rose Gold tones. It is a device with a great performance in the stylus, making it a good purchase option for drawing professionals.
Pros:
- Processor with six cores for high equipment performance.
- It features a lightweight, slim design with a great finish.
- The type of connectivity is through WiFi and LTE.
Cons:
- It does not include a stylus or keyboard.
- It is expensive.
The best: Wacom DTHW1320H
It is one of the tablets of the Wacom brand in black. It has a 13.3-inch screen with a WQHD resolution of 2560 × 1440. It integrates a powerful processor, specifically the Intel Core i7 with a speed of 3.3 GHz. It has a storage of 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM.
The operating system is compatible with MAC and Windows. The battery has an autonomy of 6 hours. This model has a 5 MP HD front camera and an 8 MP HD rear camera with Artec 3D Intel RealSense R200. It is 48 cm long by 26.4 wide.
he design of this device includes radial menus, programmable ExpressKey keys, and Touch Ring. This is a perfect model for drawing professionals who want to express their creativity since it has an ideal power to run 2D, CAD, and 3D creation programs. The connectivity is via Bluetooth and WiFi.
It contains a Pro Pen 2 digital pen that is capable of recognizing approximately 60 levels of tilt, three replaceable tips, two customizable buttons, a silicone-made rubberized handle, an eraser, and works without a battery.
This type is also available with a 16-inch screen, with support and with an Intel Core i5 and i7 256 GB processor.
Pros:
- The pen recognizes 60 levels of tilt.
- The camera performs 3D scans.
- Adobe RGB color gamut accuracy of 96%.
- It contains three USB 3.0 ports.
- Increased RAM memory capacity.
Cons:
- The battery is not removable.
- Low battery life.
- It does not include support or a keyboard.
The cheapest: ZenPad 8.0 Z380M
It is silver in color from the Asus brand. The screen is 8 inches with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The processor is Mediatek 8176 with a speed of 1 GHz and has a memory of 2 GB and 16 GB of hard disk, it can be increased to 128 GB.
The operating system is Android 6.0 and the battery has an approximate autonomy of 6 hours.
It has two cameras, the front with 2 MP and the rear with 5 MP.
Connectivity is through Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac. It weighs 430 gr and the thickness is 5.8 mm. Includes a stylus designed exclusively for this device, to offer a natural drawing and writing experience.
It features responsive multi-touch technology and millimeter precision, making this stylus perfect for tasks like painting, drawing, or designing. The pen recognizes 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and the battery lasts for 8 hours.
Pros:
- It is one of the cheapest models.
- Excellent screen resolution and processor speed.
- The model with an elegant design and metallic texture.
Cons:
- The battery is integrated, so it cannot be removed.
- The pen has only 1024 pressure levels.
- Little internal memory capacity.
the choice is dependent on your goals and how you gonna use the Tablet, So if you have any questions or wont to know about any of the portable drawing tablets feel free to mention it in a comment. also, you can see other articles just click here.
