Best Drawing Tablet Reviews UK 2023 – Top 10 Comparison

Last Updated On June 1st, 2022

A graphics or drawing tablet is a great way to enhance and seriously upgrade your digital drawing experience. Drawing tablets come with a wide variety of options that can affect the device’s responsiveness and clarity so it’s important you choose one that will improve your drawing capability, not hinder it. Don’t worry though, finding the best drawing tablet for your needs will be easy with a little bit of help from our top 10 reviews and buying guide article.

We will discuss everything you need to know to be able to find a drawing tablet that will ensure you can keep on creating and enjoy the process while you do it.

Best Drawing Tablet Reviews – Top 10 Picks

1. Ugee M708 (Editor’s Choice)

Ugee M708

The Ugee M708 is our top pick for the best universally compatible drawing tablet. Aside from its compatibility, we love its extra-large drawing area that is less restrictive and the fact that it is good for an artist of any skill level.

Features

The Ugee M708 drawing tablet weighs 658 grams so we wouldn’t consider it to be lightweight but its large drawing area easily makes up for this. In fact, the added weight makes it feel more sturdy and stable which we like for this model. The Ugee’s battery-free stylus pen has super high responsiveness with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity to help pick up even the most delicate strokes in real-time.

This drawing tablet also has fantastic resolution with its 5080 LPI. It features USB connectivity and has eight shortcut keys for a highly customisable and efficient experience. The Ugee tablet also comes with eight extra pen tips, a cleaning kit, a drawing glove, a pair of white anti-static gloves, and a one year warranty.

Cons for the Ugee M708 drawing tablet include its pen being slightly more fragile due to reports of the end snapping off and the screen’s surface being less smooth which could possibly interfere with your tactile experience.

Dimensions: 355.6 x 215.9 mm

Work Area: 254 x 152.4 mm

Pros:
  • Universally compatible
  • 8 shortcut keys
  • Large drawing area
  • 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity
  • Good for all artist skill levels
Cons:
  • Pen may be more fragile
  • Rougher screen may affect your drawing

2. Simbans PicassoTab (Luxury Choice)

Simbans PicassoTab

The Simbans PicassoTab is the top luxury choice on our best drawing tablets list. This best drawing tablet with screen has a crystal clear view, high connectivity, and also gives you access to games, social accounts, and video streaming all in one place.

Features

The Simbans PicassoTab weighs 550 grams, and has a versatile Android operating system that opens up a world of possibilities. It comes with 64GB of storage and you can add up to 128GB more with the addition of a micro-SD card. This drawing tablet features 1280 resolution, a 2-megapixel front camera, a 5-megapixel back camera, and has Bluetooth, GPS, USB, HDMI, and Micro HDMI connectivity options.

In addition, this tablet comes with a bundle of accessories that include a stylus, a leather case with the ability to stand up by itself, a drawing glove, a universal charger, and a pre-installed screen protector. It also comes with a one year warranty.

The Simbans PicassoTab’s included stylus is less precise and has less sensitivity overall making this a less ideal option for advanced artists. However, you could always upgrade the stylus to increase performance somewhat. This tablet also has a shorter battery life so we recommend keeping the power lead handy.

Dimensions: 26 x 17.3 x 1 cm

Work Area: 10 inches

Pros:
  • Variable connectivity
  • Leather case included
  • Android operating system
  • Crystal clear screen
  • Built-in camera
Cons:
  • May have a shorter battery life
  • May need to upgrade the pen

3. Huion H420 (Best Value)

Huion H420

The Huion H420 is our best value choice for the best digital drawing tablet. This black coloured graphics tablet is also good for a beginner artist, doesn’t require you to install any new drivers, and comes with lots of extra accessories.

Features

The Huion drawing tablet is compact and lightweight weighing only 132 grams. It features a USB connection port and is compatible with most major graphics programmes on either Mac or Windows. The Huion’s stylus has an impressive 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity which pairs well with the hefty 4000 LPI resolution of the active area.

Three express keys on the face of the tablet and built-in pen scrolling allow you to improve your efficiency while drawing and completing tasks. This graphics tablet comes with all the accessories needed to get you started on this new drawing tablet. It comes with four spare pen tips, a drawing glove, a cleaning kit, and a basic wool liner case.

Be aware, the Huion H420 has a battery-operated pen, so you will need to occasionally change its batteries, and it does not come with a warranty.

Dimensions: 112 x 176 mm

Work Area: 101.6 x 56.6 mm

Pros:
  • Excellent value
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Good for a beginner artist
  • No install required
  • Comes with lots of accessories
Cons:
  • May need to purchase batteries for the pen
  • May not include a warranty

4. Wacom Intuos S (Best with Bluetooth)

Wacom Intuos S

We chose the Wacom Intuos S as our Editor’s Choice for the best graphic drawing tablet because it has superior responsiveness, is good for all skill levels, and comes with a collection of creative software. It is available with either a pink, black, or green coloured frame.

Features

The Wacom Intuos S graphic drawing tablet weighs 250 grams, comes with a battery-free pen that has an impressive 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and has a 2540 lines per inch (LPI) resolution on the active drawing area enabling you to make highly detailed and varying line strokes. It conveniently features both Bluetooth and USB connectivity options and four shortcut keys paired with a pen tray above the active area.

The Wacom Intuos S comes equipped with five creative software programme downloads to get you up and running smoothly. The programmes included are Bamboo Paper, Sign Pro Plus, Corel Painter Essentials 7 (90-day license), Corel Aftershot Pro 3 (90-day license), and Clip Studio Paint Pro (two-year license). Extra pen nibs are also included and you can opt for a larger size model if you want.

Criticisms for the Wacom Intuos S include a shorter USB lead and less durable pen tips. Also, three of the creative software programmes have licensing time limits and you’ll have to pay to continue using after the limits expire.

Dimensions: 20 x 16 cm

Work Area: 15.9 x 9.4 cm

Pros:
  • Bluetooth enabled
  • 5 Creative software downloads
  • Excellent pressure sensitivity
  • High resolution
  • Superior responsiveness
Cons:
  • May have a shorter USB lead
  • May have less durable pen tips
  • You may have to pay to continue your software subscriptions

5. Richgv LCD Graphics (Best for Kids)

Richgv LCD Graphics

The best drawing tablet on our list for kids is the LCD Graphics by Richgv. This drawing tablet is both user-friendly and safe for your eyes. It is available with either a blue, green, pink, or black frame.

Features

The Richgv LCD Graphics tablet is lightweight weighing only 154 grams. It features an LCD writing screen with a large active area, a convenient cutout on the top that locks the stylus in place to help prevent it from being misplaced, and a long-lasting built-in button battery that is easily replaceable.

This graphics tablet has two control buttons. One that locks the screen and prevents you or your kids from accidentally deleting drawings too soon and another button that allows you to completely clear the screen with a single push. Richgv also has other models with varying screen sizes and offers an upgraded model that is waterproof as well.

The Richgv LCD Graphics drawing tablet is not the best in bright sun as the screen becomes less legible. Other cons include it not having any connectivity options and not being a good choice for more serious artists.

Dimensions: 25.3 x 16.4 cm

Work Area: 260 mm (diagonal)

Pros:
  • Great for kids
  • 4 fun colour options
  • LCD screen
  • One button lock
  • One button screen clear
Cons:
  • May not be great in direct sunlight
  • May not feature connectivity

6. Gaomon M10K (Best with Shortcuts)

Gaomon M10K

The Gaomon M10K is another great option to make our best digital art tablet list. We love that it has a large active area for drawing and lots of convenient tablet shortcut options.

Features

The Gaomon M10K weighs 695 grams and is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems via the USB connection port. It features a highly sensitive ArtPaint passive pen that is battery-free and has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. This tablet has a high 5080 LPI resolution for the drawing space to further improve its drawing capability.

The best drawing tablets will help you become more efficient, that’s why the Gaomon M10K tablet features 10 express keys, a canvas zoom, and a brush stroke zoom for easy access to the tasks you use most. It also has a pen carrier on the side and comes with eight extra pen tips.

This Gaomon tablet is not compatible with Linux or Android phones. Also, it should be noted that you may experience a slight pen delay and this model of Gaomon’s tablets doesn’t have a radial function.

Dimensions: 240 x 360 mm

Work Area: 255 x 159 mm

Pros:
  • 12 shortcut keys
  • 8192 pen pressure sensitivity
  • Battery-free pen
  • Expansive active area
  • High resolution
Cons:
  • Slight pen delay may be possible
  • May not be compatible with Linux or Android phone
  • May not feature radial function

7. Gaomon M106K Pro (Best with Power-Saver)

Gaomon M106K Pro

Next up on our best drawing tablets list is another Gaomon product, the M106K tablet. We chose this as one of the best graphics tablets because it has superior accessibility that will hopefully significantly increase efficiency while you work, or play.

Features

The Gaomon M106K weighs 780 grams and comes with a high-quality ArtPaint stylus that uses passive technology and has 2048levels of pressure sensitivity. The included pen has a rechargeable battery that is estimated to get you around 350 hours of use per charge. This is thanks to its smart sleep mode which turns the pen off after 10 minutes of stillness. This tablet is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Android phones. It features USB connectivity and has a 5080 LPI resolution.

The M106K model includes a tilt function and a pen clip into the design. For superior functionality, this tablet incorporates 12 express keys and 16 function keys on the front of the tablet so you can easily jump between tasks and different art mediums. We suspect that with this many express keys you may even get to leave one or two of them blank. This tablet also comes with four extra pen nibs.

Unfortunately, the pen sleeve may be rather loose, and no matter how infrequently, you have to charge its batteries. Also, this Gaomon tablet model does not have a radial function.

Dimensions: 240 x 359.6 mm

Work Area: 254 x 158.8 mm

Pros:
  • 12 express keys
  • Tilt function
  • 16 function keys
  • Expansive active area
  • 8192 pressure sensitivity
Cons:
  • May not have a radial function
  • Pen may require charging
  • Pen sleeve may be less snug

8. Gaomon S620 (Best Compact)

Gaomon S620

 The Gaomon S620 also earned a spot on our best drawing tablets list because of its compact and portable design paired with Android compatibility that makes it a great choice for people on the go.

Features

The Gaomon S620 drawing tablet weighs just 228 grams and is compatible with Android, Mac, and Windows operating systems. Unlike some other Gaomon tablet models, the S620 has a battery-free pen so no need to worry about charging. The pen also features passive pen technology and an incredible 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. For connectivity, this tablet enables micro USB connections and comes with two adapters to increase versatility. The drawing space’s resolution is 5080 LPI.

The design for this tablet includes four large express buttons on the front of the device for enhanced efficiency and a handy nonslip rubber bottom to keep it in place on slicker surfaces. It also comes with eight replacement pen nibs and a drawing glove.

This Gaomon tablet does not feature a scrolling option and doesn’t have a tilt or radial function. The active area may also be a bit restrictive if you don’t anticipate taking advantage of its portability.

Dimensions: 21.1 x 17.4 cm

Work Area: 16.5 x 10.16 cm

Pros:
  • Battery-free pen
  • 8192 pressure sensitivity
  • Android compatible
  • Compact and portable
  • Nonslip rubber bottom
Cons:
  • May not have a tilt or radial function
  • Smaller active area may not be ideal for others
  • No scrolling button may be an inconvenience

9. XP-Pen Star G640 (Best for Newbies)

XP-Pen Star G640

The XP-Pen Star G640 is another great option on our best drawing tablets list. It is easy to use and has a basic design that is great for beginners and more advanced artists.

Features

The XP-PEN Star graphics tablet weighs only 245 grams so it won’t weigh you down if you plan on travelling with it or simply taking it to work. It comes with a battery-free passive pen with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity to achieve optimal variation and pen accuracy. The drawing surface on this tablet also features a high 5080 LPI resolution to further improve responsiveness.

The XP-PEN Star tablet has a USB port connection and is conveniently Windows and macOS compatible. It also comes with 20 replacement pen nibs for long-lasting effectiveness. XP-PEN also makes a smaller, more compact version of their Star tablet if you are looking for something even smaller than this particular model, which is already pretty compact.

Unfortunately, this tablet does not include a pen holder or shortcut buttons in its design structure. Additionally, it does not come with an included warranty.

Dimensions: 160 x 106 mm

Work area: 152.4 x 101.6 mm

Pros:
  • 8192 pressure sensitivity
  • 20 replacement pen nibs
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Battery-free passive stylus
  • High resolution
Cons:
  • No stylus holder means you may misplace your pen
  • May not feature shortcut buttons
  • May not include a warranty
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10. Wacom Intuos Draw (Best Precision)

Wacom Intuos Draw

The Wacom Intuos Draw is our top choice for a graphics tablet with creative software due to the inclusion of Wacom’s ArtRage Lite software that features online tutorials and training that could be beneficial for an artist on any skill level. This drawing tablet comes with either a white or blue frame.

Features

The Wacom Intuos Draw tablet weighs 290 grams and its software and interface are both windows and Mac compatible. It features a USB connection standard, however, it can be connected wirelessly with the addition of Wacom’s Wireless Accessory Kit. The Intuos Draw has a high 2540 LPI resolution and the Precise Wacom Intuos Pen features 2048 pressure sensitivity levels. The stylus is also battery-free.

This drawing tablet has four convenient express keys for you to customise your drawing station. The Wacom Intuos Draw also comes with replacement pen nibs as well as a two-year warranty.

Unfortunately, the Precise Wacom Intuos Pen has a slower speed when in drawing mode which could slow you down slightly. Additionally, this tablet may take a bit of time to complete setup and install the software because it requires secure email correspondence from Wacom.

Dimensions: 16.9 x 21 cm

Work Area: 152 x 95 mm

Pros:
  • Great with creative software
  • Wireless extension option
  • 4 express keys
  • Battery-free pen
  • 2-year warranty
Cons:
  • Pen speed may be slower
  • Setup process may be a little long

The Best Drawing Tablets: A Buyer’s Guide

You have come to the end of our graphic tablet review section. Now let’s explore and better explain some of the finer details pertaining to drawing tablets so you can find the best tablet for drawing based on your specific needs.

What to Look for in the Best Drawing Tablets

Regardless of whether you are looking for the best drawing tablet for beginners, kids, or pros, it is important to know how to differentiate what traits make them better suited for your specific needs. The following sections examine some of the major traits found in graphics tablets so you can decide how they will factor into your own personal search for the best tablets for drawing.

Display Size

One of the best places to start when searching for graphics tablets is with the screen size or drawing area dimensions. The best drawing tablets will give you enough space to move your hand freely without interfering with any buttons or unnecessarily running off of the workable space. However, if you want something more portable, you may want to choose a smaller, more compact tablet.

Screen Resolution

To achieve a highly legible and precise workspace, the best drawing tablets have a high LPI resolution. The higher the resolution number the more detailed brush and line strokes you can expect. The LPI rate on our list ranges from 2540-5080.

Stylus

woman writing using stylus pen

Another one of the best features to look for when comparing graphics tablets is the stylus or pen. A stylus that glides smoothly, without a lot of surface friction can make the user experience more enjoyable, just like with an ink pen. Additionally, the available stylus pressure levels or the pressure sensitivity on a stylus can also make a world of difference when it comes to creating lines of different thicknesses and accurate responsiveness. That’s why we think the more pressure levels a stylus has, the better.

Shortcut Buttons

Shortcut or express buttons or keys on tablets come in various amounts and formations. Shortcut buttons are exactly that, shortcuts. On tablets, these express buttons are customisable so you can set them to accomplish your most executed tasks with the touch of a single button. Considering how much they can improve your overall efficiency, we like tablets with plenty of express buttons. However, some people find they simply don’t use them that much, would you?

Product Weight

Weight may also factor into what tablets are best suited to your needs. Others prefer a tablet with a bit of weight because they feel sturdy. While others prefer tablets that are lightweight because they prefer holding them while they work, or plan on travelling with them and don’t want to add any unnecessary weight to their bag.

Connectivity

Connectivity options should also be considered when searching for new drawing tablets because most of them rely on a constant connection to establish a display screen. Most drawing tablets feature a USB port but some also have additional ports for added versatility. Some of our favourite drawing tablets also feature Bluetooth or Wireless connection options which, in our opinion, is the best kind of connection because you don’t have to consider lead length or tangles, port compatibility, or possibly forgetting to bring your cord along with your tablet when you leave home.

Tablet computers on the other hand don’t require an external connection so their connectivity ports may not rank as high on your list of priorities.

Drawing Tablet Basics

Drawing Tablets vs Graphics Tablets

The terms graphics tablet and drawing tablet are often used interchangeably but there is an actual difference, technically speaking. So, what is the difference between a graphics tablet and a drawing tablet? Graphics tablets do not feature a pen display on the workspace. Instead, graphics tablets rely on their connection to another screen, like your computer’s monitor, to display the images being recorded. Drawing tablets on the other hand do not require an external connection and the pen displays on the screen as you draw, just like with a piece of paper.

Benefits of Drawing Tablets

graphic designer working on projects

Drawing tablets are a great tool to be used for photo editing, drawing, recording text, by a graphic designer, an artist, and more. They can seriously improve your efficiency, which we touched on briefly above, and elevate your digital art creation to the next level. Whether you are looking for tablets for pro or amateur use, they can make recording and editing images by hand more efficient and of course, interactive.

The Best Tablet for You

You have reached the end of our best drawing tablet article and our graphics tablet review. Now that you have a better understanding of what makes a drawing tablet qualify for a best-of list, let’s quickly review our number one Editor’s Choice.

The Ugee M708 provides you with superior responsiveness, is good for all skill levels, and is compatible with numerous creative software. It boasts 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, 5080 LPI, and 266 RPS report rate that ensures an amazing real-time drawing experience. If you love sketching, this large tablet can accommodate tilt actions of up to 60 degrees.

The eight shortcut buttons ensure ease of use, while the pen tray and extra pen tips mean you won’t need to worry about losing or replacing your stylus. What’s more, it’s equipped with right and left-hand modes to comfortably accommodate everyone.

Is the UGEE M708 the best tablet for your drawing needs?

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