The best drawing tablets for animation: 2023 List

Yes, we've highlighted two Wacom tablets on this list before: the One for beginners and the Cintiq 16 for more experienced animators. However, we also recommend the Intuos Pro Large as a tablet for animation because it's an excellent, reliable all-arounder that anyone can use to produce stunning results.

Intuos Pro is easy to connect to a laptop or other device, offers a solid drawing surface and is portable. If you want to do 3D animation, it is also compatible with Wacom Pro Pen 3D, which is a great advantage. To learn more, visit our Wacom Intuos Pro review.

Drawing manga requires a tablet. A good option might be the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro, a high-end tablet that aims to significantly undercut the Wacom. So for about a third of the cost of the equivalent Cintiq 24, you can get a 24-inch 2K QHD display covering 90% of the Adobe RGB color space and a textured film coating that simulates painting on paper.

Plus, the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro features tilt response and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity for better definition of even the smallest lines. While it doesn't quite have the Wacom feel, we found it hard to criticize given its attractive price.

You need a drawing tablet, but more than that. Our tests determined that Apple's iPad is now a real contender in the drawing tablet industry, and the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the best in the lineup thanks to significant improvements in pen technology and screen precision. Whether you want to use it as a stand-alone tablet or connect it to your computer as a pen display, this is not only one of the most beautiful tablets ever; it's also a real tool for animators.

In our testing, we found that the new M2 processor turns this tablet into a true powerhouse, with an extremely fast speed that puts iPad on par with a Macbook. The mini LED-powered XDR display is also best-in-class, with 1,600 nits peak brightness, 1,000 nits full-screen brightness, more contrast and superior local dimming control. Apple Pencil is exceptionally accurate for drawing and the distinctive Apple design makes it comfortable in the hand.

Of course, since this is an Apple device, you already know the downside. If you don't need the scorching, high-end performance of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2, there are alternatives on our list to suit lower budgets.

Animation doesn't need an expensive tablet. If all you need is a solution that gets the job done without overwhelming you with expensive accessories you'll never use, the XP-Pen Deco 03 is a great option.

When we tested it, we found that the XP-Pen Deco 03 offers a good-sized drawing surface and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity with its battery-free stylus, but you'll have to make do without tilt sensitivity. Although we found that the software isn't very well integrated and the mouse pad is a bit sensitive, it's still a great deal (and we loved the auxiliary scroll wheel).

XP-Pen Deco 03 is a drawing pad that almost anyone can use, as it connects to a computer or smart device via USB and has extensive compatibility with all kinds of animation software. It has a nice modern look, is lightweight and has customizable keys that can be assigned to your favorite functions.

Despite increasing competition from upstarts like Huion and XP-Pen, Wacom remains a name to reckon with when it comes to drawing and animation tablets. If you're serious about animation, the Wacom Cintiq 16 can fulfill all your needs.

Our reviewer found that the Wacom Cintiq 16 offers an extremely fluid and intuitive drawing experience, excellent pen compatibility and compatibility with a wide range of animation software programs. Basically, this will appeal to almost all professional animators.

A reasonable size for most users, the Wacom Cintiq 16's 16-inch screen is where the device gets its name. Wacom tablet screens can go up to 32 inches in size, but it wasn't the largest when we tried it. However, the majority of people probably don't need that much screen space. The Wacom Pro Pen has a pressure sensitivity level of 8.192 and is compatible with the Wacom Pro Pen 3D if you're into 3D animation.

Wacom has made some clever calls to animators with their tablets, including complete interoperability with a variety of practical animation apps. We liked being able to move the character's body parts around instead of removing them, as it saves time and improves quality of life. It makes up for the absence of the Cintiq 16's built-in shortcut ExpressKeys, which can be filled by purchasing a Wacom Express Key Remote (usually available for $99; see below).

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle is kind of the new kid on the block when it comes to the best drawing tablets. One of the newest manufacturers of high-quality tablets for animation is Xencelabs, and it recently introduced a new SE model in sleek white.

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle: What is it? The Xencelabs Pen Tablet, two pens (3-button and Fine Pen) and cases are included, as well as the Quick Key remote control with 40 customizable buttons and additional extras like a drawing glove and extra nibs. The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium was described by our reviewer as "portable, wireless and almost flawless in performance".

Although smaller than the Wacom Cintiq 16, the 13-inch Xencelabs complements an Apple MacBook or iPad Pro, showing off its mobility. Because it's a graphics tablet, not a pen display or a computer tablet, you'll need a device to attach it. The Quick Key remote control in particular is a life saver and the workmanship is excellent. The product package really gets you started.

If you want to use a tablet for normal purposes instead of an animation drawing tablet, the Galaxy Tab S8 extreme is again an excellent choice. The Galaxy Tab S8 extreme is the biggest of three acclaimed improvements to Samsung's tablet lineup. Because it's bigger than the S8 and S8+ and has Samsung's excellent S-Pen, you have all the physical tools you need to create animation right out of the box.

In our study of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, we discovered that this tablet has one of the best displays available: a breathtaking 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with vibrant colors and deep, rich blacks. In terms of design, it shares almost identical physical proportions to the previous S7 Ultra. We loved the slim design, and it's still pleasant to use and draw with at the same time if you prefer.

While we wish the Android tablet experience wasn't STILL so poorly optimized, Android has a ton of animation apps. Google has been saying for years that it would address this issue, but it hasn't done so yet. However, the Android tablet does offer one advantage over its Apple competitors: a micro SD card slot for storing movies and programs.

Not to be confused with previous tablets of the same name, the Wacom One is a great example of how high-end businesses can adapt to new price points while maintaining the same level of quality.

This tablet is perfect for beginners because it's reasonably priced but still offers the Wacom drawing experience. While it's not as cheap as some of the other products on our list, you get a Full HD display and a tablet that works well with both Mac and Windows.

The Wacom One is a great entry-level tablet for animators, although the reviewer noted that he would have preferred a slightly brighter screen and that the stylus is less advanced than higher-end Wacom models.

If all you need is a cheap tablet for animation, it's hard to go wrong with the Huion HS610. If you can live with that, you'll find some worthwhile premium features in the pen, like 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 16 customizable keys that you can map to your favorite tools and shortcuts to really speed up your workflow. It's a great graphics tablet at an affordable price that you just need to plug into an external display to see what you're doing.

In our work on the Huion HS610, we discovered a fairly large drawing surface and liked the device's general compatibility with specialized animation tools like Adobe Animate. The inconveniencea of having to watch what you're doing on a different screen is a small price to pay for the cost savings of a graphics tablet over a pen display. Also, the fact that it can connect to an Android smartphone (but not an iPhone) increases the possibility of drawing on the go, wherever you are.

Both Huion and Wacom make a variety of tablets, including expensive and entry-level options. Check out our comparison of Wacom and Huion tablets to learn more about the pros and cons of each of these top brands.

We've included a few options from XP-Pen because they're known for making entry-level drawing tablets that are both affordable and effective. The XP-Pen Deco MW is no exception; with a suggested retail price of around $69.99 / £69.99, it's one of the most affordable tablets on this list.

Blue, green, pink and black are the four colors in which Deco MW is available. As far as graphics tablets are concerned, this is a rather unusual feature because the majority of them are only available in black or gray. This tablet has a compact size (8 x 5 inches), which makes it ideal for storage when not in use. The pen has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and works without batteries or charging.

In our XP-Pen Deco MW review, we thought it was vital to mention that the lack of pen storage space is a bit of a nuisance if you're worried about losing the pen. It's also important to note that the customized XP-Pen control panel isn't the most user-friendly, having a simple user interface and very little customization compared to other programs. Overall though, we thought these were minor concerns that could be easily rectified, especially given the price.