In the past, I used paper and pencil to draw whatever I wanted. There were no other options or techniques. Traditional methods could create something even better and more realistic than newer techniques. But times have changed, electronic devices are more accurate and can even draw more realistically, and we have come to sound the best tablet for adobe illustrator.
This software and many other platforms allow you to draw like a pro, from easy to intermediate. The problem was that if something went wrong, you had to erase the area. Sometimes, the sheets need to be replaced. Worst of all, you have to erase everything you have drawn. There are many other problems related to software and the use of new technology. There is also a big brand of software called AI, which means “Adobe Illustration”.
And for that, you need the best tablet for Adobe Illustrator. Many artists have several brushes, pencils, and charcoals of different sizes to further sharpen their sketches. Today, there is always the problem of having the software but not the device to run the application.
Also, there are many software applications available, such as Autodesk and Photoshop. Because of these factors, many artists are switching to this device for its reliability and editing methods. Some proles have keyboards and mice that work fine upon startup. Line drawings in general are very difficult to draw with a mouse and keyboard.
Best Tablets for Adobe Illustrator | Comparison Table 2022
Top Quality | 5 Star Pick | Great Prices
Image | Title | Buy | |
---|---|---|---|
Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet with HD Screen, Graphic Monitor, 8192 Pressure-Levels (DTK2260K0A) 2019 Version, Medium | Wacom | Check Price | |
2021 Apple 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi, 256GB) - Space Gray | Apple | Check Price | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD – Platinum | Microsoft | Check Price | |
XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro Drawing Tablet with Screen Computer Graphics Tablet 120% sRGB with 8192 Levels Tilt Function Battery-Free Stylus, 15.6 inch Pen Display with 10 Shortcut Keys & Red Dial | XP-PEN | Check Price | |
HUION Kamvas Pro 24 4K UHD Graphics Drawing Tablet with Full-Laminated Screen Anti-Glare Glass 140% sRGB - Battery-Free Stylus 8192 Pen Pressure and KD100 Wireless Express Key, 23.8 Inch Black | HUION | Check Price | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4", 64GB WiFi Tablet Angora Blue - SM-P610NZBAXAR - S Pen Included | SAMSUNG | Check Price | |
XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 Drawing Tablet 10x6.25 Inch Graphics Tablet Digital Drawing Tablet for Chromebook with Battery-Free Stylus and 8 Shortcut Keys (8192 Levels Pressure) | XP-PEN | Check Price | |
HUION H420 OSU Graphics Drawing Tablet Signature Pad with Digital Stylus and 3 Express Keys | HUION | Check Price | |
Lenovo Tab M8 Tablet, HD Android Tablet, Quad-Core Processor, 2GHz, 32GB Storage, Full Metal Cover, Long Battery Life, Android 10 Pie, Slate Black | Lenovo | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Tablets for Adobe Illustrator | 2022 Products Overview
1. Wacom Cintiq 22
- A more affordable pen Display with Wacom Pro Pen 2 technology, 8, 192 pressure levels, low activation force and tilt recognition. Its amazing precision and reduced Parallax provide the most natural drawing experience.
- Cintiq’s 21.5” 1920x1080 HD Display provides you with clarity to see every detail of your work. The scratch-resistant Anti-Glare surface prevents distracting reflections as you create
- See your creations in vibrant color on the cinqs HD display (16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC/Cue 1931 typical). Work as long as youd like with the battery free pen that charges off the screen while you create
- Connect to your computer with the convenient HDMI and USB cables and get into the perfect position with the included adjustable stand that lets you adjust how you want to work
- What’s in the box: Wacom Cintiq 22 pen display, Wacom Pro Pen 2, detachable pen holder with 3 replacement nibs (standard) and nib removal tool, Adjustable Stand, HDMI & USB 2.0 cables, AC adaptor, power cable (1.8m), quick start guide
- Level up your digital art skills by learning 3D sculpting with 3-months of ZBrush 2021 or create comics, manga, concept art, illustrations with 6-months of Clip Studio Paint EX
2. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch
- Apple M1 chip for next-level performance
- Stunning 11-inch Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color
- TrueDepth camera system featuring Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
- 12MP Wide camera, 10MP Ultra Wide camera, and LiDAR Scanner for immersive AR
- Stay connected with ultrafast Wi-Fi
- Go further with all-day battery life
- Thunderbolt port for connecting to fast external storage, displays, and docks
- Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
- Four speaker audio and five studio-quality microphones
- Support for Apple Pencil (2nd generation), Magic Keyboard, and Smart Keyboard Folio
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- Next-gen, best-in-class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally
- Faster than Surface Pro 6, with a 10th Gen Intel Core Processor – redefining what’s possible in a thin and light computer. Wireless : Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible. Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
- More ways to connect, with both USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
- Standout design that won’t weigh you down — ultra-slim and light Surface Pro 7 starts at just 1.70 pounds.Aspect ratio: 3:2
- All-day battery life upto 10.5 hours, plus the ability to go from empty to full faster — about 80% in just over an hour
- Free Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below).
5. HUION Kamvas Pro 24
- Pro-level Picture Quality: Enjoy the 4K UHD (3840x2160) resolution in a large 23.8 inch screen, which can effectively reduce the frequency of zoom in and out of the canvas and switch windows to highly increase the efficiency. Combined with full-laminated screen and 178° viewing angle, HUION Kamvas Pro 24 4K monitor can present you with clearer images and more details.
- Precise Color Expression: Featured with industry-leading Quantum Dot technology, Kamvas Pro 24 4K can provide you more natural-looking green, vivider red and deeper black with a stunning 140% sRGB color gamut and 1200:1 contrast ratio. Combined with 1.07 billion colors(8bit+Hi-FRC color depth) and HDR technology, it can show you amazing, more life-like color reproduction and ensure professional artists immerse in the creation.
- Upgraded Accessories: Kamvas Pro 24 4K pen display is equipped with a 20° metal integrated stand for drawing assistance. Meanwhile, it has vesa hole on the back for monitor arm(not included). New felt nibs have more stable pen stroke and stronger friction to make the pen more like a real pen. With the included mini keydial KD100 you can program your most used shortcuts to make operation more efficient.
- Multiple Interfaces: Kamvas Pro 24 4K graphics monitor supports both HDMI & DP signals, you can easily connect it to your desktop, PC, or mac. Besides, you can also use the USB-C to USB-C cable to connect your laptop or Android devices, please make sure the USB-C port of your devices must support USB 3.1 Gen1, DP 1.2 and above standards.
- Stable Compatibility: Kamvas Pro 24 4K drawing screen supports Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.12 or later and Android devices that support USB3.1 GEN1 and DP1.2. It is also compatible with most digital art software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, SAI, Krita, GIMP, etc.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
- S PEN INCLUDED: The included S Pen makes it easier than ever to write notes and personalize photos and videos, all without needing to charge. The S Pen attaches magnetically right to your tablet and is always ready to go.
- SLIM METAL DESIGN: Take this sleek, lightweight tablet anywhere. Its slim design slips right into your bag and comes in your choice of stylish colors.
- ENTERTAINMENT READY: A vivid, crystal clear display draws you into content while dual speakers with sound by AKG supply spacious Dolby Atmos surround sound. With discovery powered by Spotify, setting a personal soundtrack to your waking moments has never been easier.
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY: A long-lasting battery lets you stream for up to 12 hours¹ on a single charge. The fast-charging USB-C port allows you to quickly get back to where you left off when you need to recharge.
- ONE UI CONNECTIVITY: Sync up multiple devices and double down on your todos with Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Use it as a hotspot and create share-ready content all at once.
- DEX EXPERIENCE: Get more done each day by turning your Galaxy devices into an expanded desktop workstation. Send multiple windows to the devices of your choice and control them all from your Galaxy Tab S6 Lite like a boss.²
- ¹Battery power consumption depends on usage patterns. Results may vary. ²DeX will be available on R OS or above.
7. XP-Pen Deco 01 V2
- Features Type-C input design, easy to plug in and out. The Deco 01 V2’s expansive tablet is big and brilliant, yet still designed to break through the limit between express keys and drawing area. 10 x 6.25 inch working area, so you get more space to create or get work done. TheDeco 01 V2’s thickness is only 8mm, it is the thickness one of all the high level graphic tablets, you can carry it anywhere without any burden
- The Deco 01 V2 can be used with Windows 10/8/7, MAC OS X 10.10 or above and Android 6.0 or above and Chrome OS 88.0.4324.109 or above. This tablet is compatible with Photoshop, SAI, Painter, Illustrator, Clip Studio, and more. Deco01V2 drawing tablet is compatible with most major software including: ibis Paint X, FlipaClip, Medibang, Autodesk Sketchbook, Zenbrush, Artrage, and more
- The Deco 01 V2 supports up to 60 degrees of tilt brush effect and delivers smoother and more natural lines and strokes, while also giving you the ability to add shading to your creation. Our latest Battery-free P05 stylus technology provides 8192 levels of instant pen pressure sensitivity―Providing you with groundbreaking control and fluidity to expand your creative output. No charging required
- Designed for both right and left-hand users, 8 fully customizable express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform. The one-click toggle allows you to switch between Pen and Eraser instantly. The driver allows the shortcut keys to be attuned to many different software
- We’ve adopted the newest High Tech IC, to make lines flow smoother and perform better. The Deco lights up on the ends of the drawing area, so you can create, even in the dark. XP-Pen provides one-year warranty and lifetime technical support for all our pen tablets/displays
8. HUION H420 Drawing Tablet
- Huion H420 is an affordable graphics tablet with responsive digital pen, perfect for kids and beginning artists to draw,sketch,edit photos. It lets you draw and write naturally and comfortably as you would on real paper.Suitablet for both left and right handed users.
- It also can be used for playing OSU game. No need to install driver. Just plug and play!H420 digital drawing tablet is only 7mm in thickness and 165g in weight. Slim and compact design with an active area of 4x2.23 inch makes it perfect for limited desktop space and easy to carry out when on a trip.
- H420 drawing pad can replace the computer mouse and keyboard to enhance your work flow. You can use it handwritten edit,diagram,annotate on whiteboard in Zoom, Team and Xsplit while streaming or broadcasting or in Word, Powerpoint, OneNote and more for taking notes,signing document,jotting down ideas while web conferencing or remote working.
- There are 3 customizable express keys on the H420 tablet and 2 on the digital pen. You can set up the press keys to your favorite shortcuts in Huion driver, such as Scroll,Undo,Eraser.
- System requirements: USB port, Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.8 or later. Huion H420 is compatible with most drawing software including Adobe Photoshop, paint tool sai, illustrator, corel draw, corel painter, sketchbook, manga studio, clip studio paint,and more.
9. Lenovo Tab M8
- Stunning performance and stylish design combine in this quick, powerful Android tablet, powered by a Quad-Core, 2.0 GHz processor and Android 9 Pie
- The modern, refined look and feel are accentuated by the full metal cover and 82% panel-to-body ratio
- The stunning 8 HD (1280 x 800) display brings you a crisper and brighter image, so you can watch your favorite movies and shows without missing a detail
- Stay connected with built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), and capture the moment with front and rear cameras
- Long-life battery – Watch or browse all day long without the need to recharge with 5000 mAh battery capacity
The Best Tablet for Adobe Illustrator: What to Consider
Ask yourself. What do you use your tablet for? Are you drawing or editing? What is your budget? Do you have a brand preference? Then determine if you need a tablet with a screen, what size, what kind of pen you need, etc.
Brand.
When I was studying graphic design, the most famous brand of drawing tablets was Wacom. Now there are many other brands to choose from besides Wacom, such as Huion and Ex-Pen.
For general graphics tablets, Wacom, Huion, and Ex-Pen offer different types of tablets: graphics tablets (without screens) and pen displays (tablets with screens).
Apple and Microsoft offer computer tablets that can be used for purposes other than hobbyist drawing and design. At the same time, there are fewer options to choose from.
With or without a screen
Ideally, a tablet with a screen is more practical for drawing, but this comes at a cost. If you are a professional illustrator, we recommend a tablet with a screen because it is more comfortable and accurate for drawing.
A tablet that can trace on paper is also a good choice. For example, the Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition is amazing for illustrators because they can draw on paper on top of the tablet.
Looking at the screen and drawing on the tablet (two surfaces) can sometimes be uncomfortable if the tablet is small because you have to move around frequently and zoom in on the board.
Operating System.
Some tablets are only compatible with certain operating systems. For example, the iPad Pro is only compatible with macOS, and the Microsoft Surface is only compatible with the Windows operating system. So it is a good idea to check the specifications before ordering.
Fortunately, most tablets are compatible with both Mac and Windows, so you can use them depending on the device you have.
Size/Display
Size is more a matter of preference. Some people prefer smaller tablets because they are more portable and less bulky on a small work desk.
In addition to the tablet’s size itself, the tablet’s active work area should also be considered. Some people prefer larger tablets because they have a larger active work area and are more convenient for drawing or manipulating large images. Personally, I think the average size is around 15 inches.
When purchasing a tablet with a screen, the screen is a factor to consider. Usually, screens with full HD resolution work very well. If you work with color a lot, you may want to choose a screen that covers a wide color gamut (92% RGB or higher).
If you do a lot of illustration, a medium or large tablet with a nice screen is recommended.
Pen
There are many different types of pens, most modern pens are pressure sensitive, but some are more pressure-sensitive than others. The higher the pressure sensitivity, the closer the pen is to the natural feel of drawing by hand.
For example, a pen with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity works well, while a pen with 8192 levels will allow you to create amazing graphics. Tilt sensitivity is also important, as it detects and controls the lines you draw.
Some tablets do not come with a pen and must be purchased separately. Most pens are compatible with various tablets, but it is a good idea to check compatibility before purchasing.
Wacom generally has pretty good pressure sensitive pens, and they have many different models to choose from; the Apple Pencil is also quite popular, but it is more expensive.
Budget
Cost is always a consideration, especially when budgets are limited. Fortunately, there are good, affordable tablet devices on the market. So you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good quality, functional tablet.
Generally, graphics tablets are more reasonably priced than pen displays or tablet PCs. Graphic tablets usually come with a pen, so there is no need to spend extra money on additional accessories.
There are, of course, lower-priced pen displays available, but overall they are somewhat more expensive than graphics tablets. They also vary by brand and specifications.
Processors and GPUs
Adobe Illustrator has very specific recommendations for the specifications required for the software to run properly. Most pen computers meet all requirements, as do notebooks, so this should not be a problem for pen tablets and pen displays, but for tablets that support the application version of Adobe Illustrator, you will need a higher-end model (M1) or else the I recommend it because the application will constantly crash and will not be able to handle heavy work.
The only tablet that can fully run Adobe Illustrator is the Microsoft Surface with SSE 4.2 support.
Storage and RAM
Adequate storage space and virtual memory are essential for design software and applications. Therefore, choosing +8GB RAM and +256GB storage space will ensure smooth operation of Adobe Illustrator as well as any other applications you may need to use while working.
Software Compatibility
We would like to say that all tablets are compatible with Adobe Illustrator, but unfortunately that is not the case. A few years ago, the Adobe Illustrator Draw app was available for Android, but it has now been replaced by Adobe Fresco, which is good for raster graphics, but not for vectors.
There is an option for the iPad model, but the app has some limitations that could be problematic for experienced graphic designers and artists who are used to the desktop version of Adobe Illustrator.
For pen tablets, pen displays, and pen computers, there are no major issues other than downloading the drivers and using them correctly.
Scrollers
Scrollers are pads that allow you to move from one point to another most efficiently when working in Adobe Illustrator.
It acts like the scroll wheel on a typical computer mouse. This feature can be ignored, but it is very useful when you need to move quickly from one brush to another.
Many graphic designers like to use this feature to facilitate their illustrations.
Battery life
There is nothing more annoying than having your mobile device shut down at the wrong time in the middle of a project. Even if you save it, it won’t always do so, and you’ll lose valuable time plugging in your device and waiting for it to recharge. That’s why a long-lasting battery is so important. Choose a model that can provide at least 10 hours of use.
Performance
Finally, the performance of the tablet plays an important role in the overall drawing experience.
Tips/Helpful Information
No matter what device you use, Adobe Illustrator can be tricky. You can jump in and try it out, but it is always best to be prepared. If you want to know how to get started, this video will help.
Learning the basics is great, but once you get the hang of the program, you’ll probably want to take it to the next level. The best way to do that is to study Illustrator in depth with a guide like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please also see the following questions to help you choose a graphics tablet for Adobe Illustrator.
Can I use Illustrator on a Samsung tablet?
Adobe Illustrator is not yet available on Samsung tablets. However, if you have a Samsung tablet, you can draw with any available drawing program and transfer the file to Adobe Illustrator.
Do I need a tablet for Adobe Illustrator?
If you are an illustrator, you should definitely get a tablet because it will help you improve your drawing. Drawing with a tablet makes lines and strokes look more natural than drawing with a mouse.
If you do typographic design, logos, branding, or vector graphic design, a tablet is not a must.
Which is better, Wacom or Huon?
Both brands have a good selection of tablets; Huion’s tablets are more affordable and Wacom has better style.
Is it difficult to draw with a graphics tablet?
Switching from drawing on traditional paper to drawing on a tablet can be a bit disconcerting at first, to be honest, as you may not get the pressure right and the tips of the pens are generally thicker than a regular pen or pencil.
What is the difference between a graphics tablet and a drawing tablet?
In general, a graphics tablet does not have a screen (but does have a pen screen), while a drawing tablet does. Drawing tablets can be used without being connected to any other device, while graphic tablets must be connected to a computer or laptop.
Final Words.
A good tablet makes working with Adobe Illustrator easier and more efficient. Drawing and coloring are the best examples of this. You are here today to simplify your workflow.
If you choose a tablet to support your daily graphic design work in Adobe Illustrator, a graphics tablet will suffice. For digital drawing, I would choose a tablet with a screen or the Intuos Pro Paper Edition.
I hope this article will be of help to you.
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