Their drawing tablet is their most prized possession for graphic designers or artists. That’s why you should pick your drawing tablet carefully. Whether you’re new to graphic design or an experienced graphic artist looking to upgrade your canvas, you’re at the right place.
Let us introduce you to drawing tablets that don’t need a computer. Yes, such drawing tablets do exist! Not only are they more hassle-free than the regular ones, but they’re also very portable.
With a standalone drawing tablet, you can be creative anywhere, anytime.
If you’re wondering which standalone drawing tablet will work best for you, look no further. We’ve created a complete guide, including choosing the right one, our top picks, and their pros and cons. So, read on to find out the top standalone drawing tablets of 2022.
How To Pick The Right Standalone Drawing Tablet
Here are a few factors to consider while picking the right standalone drawing tablet according to your preferences and budget.
Resolution
The most important thing to consider while buying a new tablet is the resolution it offers. If your art requires extreme details and variety in color, we’d recommend opting for the highest resolution available.
Inevitably, that will come at a higher cost. But, on the other hand, if your work isn’t too detailed and colorful, there’s no reason not to opt for a lower resolution and stay on budget.
While most tablets use the line per inch (LPI) standard to measure their resolution, some may measure it in pixels too.
Tracking Speed
The next factor to consider is the tablet’s tracking speed, which should be high if you want a smooth and uninterrupted drawing experience.
A lower tracking speed could also result in choppiness in your work, specifically inconvenient for line artists.
Tracking speed is measured points per second (PPS).
Pressure Sensitivity
If you want your graphic art experience to be as similar to drawing on paper as possible, opt for a drawing tablet that offers pressure sensitivity. This feature deepens your stroke depending on how much pressure you use your stylus with.
If you create fine art with extreme details, you should invest in a tablet with the highest pressure sensitivity available.
Size
More significant may seem better, but that’s not necessarily true for graphics tablets. The ideal size of your tablet depends on the type of work you’ll be doing on it.
A small tablet will do if you’re a graphic designer who mostly makes logos and banners.
However, we’d recommend a more comprehensive option if fine art is your forte.
Cost
Undoubtedly, the price tag will most likely affect your decision while buying standalone drawing tablets. Although a higher cost doesn’t necessarily mean a better tablet, it somewhat affects the quality.
Here are the best standalone tablets in each price category.
High-end
If price tags do not limit you, there’s no better option for graphic designing than anything by Wacom Cintiq. This brand’s tablets are the best in the market, but their main drawback is their expensive cost.
Mid-range
The HUION H610 Pro is a reasonably priced tablet that’ll get you your money’s worth. Including eight programmable keys, 2048 pressure levels, and a wide drawing surface, this tablet offers it all without breaking the bank.
Budget-friendly
The Turcom TS-6610 is currently one of the most affordable yet best drawing tablets on the market. With 2048 pressure levels, 5080lpi resolution, and eight hotkeys, it’s the ideal fit for artists who want to stay on a budget.
Stylus
Last but not least, you should also consider the stylus’ specifications while considering a particular tablet.
We recommend opting for tablets with their drawing pens or buying one from the same brand.
Top 18 Standalone Drawing Tablets
Here are the top 18 standalone drawing tablets and their pros and cons:
Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 16
Only 16 inches in size, the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 16 is number one on our list due to its easy-to-carry and straightforward design. Plus, it has 8192 levels of pen pressure, allowing for a realistic feel, similar to drawing on paper.
Other than that, its 3840 x 2160 resolution UHD display lets artists create detailed, fine art while the express keys allow for customization. The Windows 10 operating system combines with the Intel Core i7 to ensure smooth and efficient performance.
The Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 16 has an eight mp (megapixel) rear camera and a five mp front camera. Lastly, its accompanying Wacom Pro Pen 2 has a tilt response and comes with a protective case with three nibs and a nib removal hole.
Pros
- Amazing Wacom Pro Pen 2 with natural tilt support
- The stylus features high sensitivity of 8192 pressure levels
- Creative built
- Brilliant 4K display
- Powerful hardware
- Customizable express keys
Cons
- Expensive
- Inefficient battery life
Apple iPad Pro 2021
Understandably, the iPad Pro is everyone’s first choice when picking graphics tablets. With a 12.9 inches screen, 10-hour battery life, and a 120Hz refresh rate, the Apple iPad Pro’s ideal specifications for graphic artists.
Its Liquid Retina XDR display, 600 nits brightness, 2732 x 2048 resolution, and 8-core GPU create a crystal-clear and vibrant drawing experience for users. Plus, the iPad Pro offers up to 4098 pressure levels on the Apple Pencil as well as low latency.
Lastly, the iPad Pro has Bluetooth 5.0 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity options.
The 2021 Apple iPad Pro is used with the Apple Pencil, a lightning adapter, and an extra tip.
Pros
- Supports second-generation Apple Pencil
- 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display
- Display with mini-LEDs
- 2596 dimming zones
- Superb palm rejection
- Minimal latency
- Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity
- Features eye-catching elements including ProMotion, True Tone, and even the P3 wide color
- Next-generation M1 silicon chip for powerful performance
Cons
- Pricey even after excluding Apple Pencil
- Fragile
Huion Kamvas Studio 22
The powerhouse hardware and versatile software of the Huion Kamvas Studio 22 are what made us put this tablet so high up on our list. With a 21.5 inch display, this device has a 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution and is ideal for anyone creating more significant, detailed artworks.
Moreover, its Intel i5-8400 processor works with Windows 10 or macOS to provide high performance. The tablet’s Dual Channel Memory storage offers a 1TB HDD and 120/240GB SSD to save all your art-related files.
Lastly, this digital drawing tablet also offers 20 express keys, a response time of 14 ms, 8192 pressure levels, and 314 nits brightness.
The Huion Kamvas Studio 22 uses the battery-free PW500 stylus pen, which has a unique and modern design.
Pros
- A dual-touch bar with 20 hotkeys
- Adjustable tablet stand with excellent viewing angles
- It comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard
- Excellent drawing pen quality with tilt recognition and no latency
- Strong cooling system
- A high number of express keys
Cons
- Users can set custom express keys on only one side of the tablet
- It doesn’t have a battery; it needs to be plugged in the whole time while using
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the best standalone drawing tablet of the Surface Pro series. Its gorgeous 13 inches, 120Hz display, and 2880 x 1920 display attract graphic artists the most.
Plus, the influential 11th Gen Intel i7 processor works with 16 GB of LRDDR4 RAM to provide interruption-free and fast multitasking. With 4096 pressure levels and 433 nits brightness, your creativity flow is bound to reach its potential.
Lastly, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 features 2 USB-C ports and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
The best part of the Microsoft Surface Pro is its stylus, the Microsoft Surface Pen 2 which features a built-in haptic motor to provide an ultra-realistic drawing feel.
Pros
- The built-in haptic motor in the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2
- Brilliant 120Hz display
- Powerful processor and sufficient RAM
- 10MP rear camera and 5MP front camera
- Ideal for creating 3D sketches
- It can be used with the Surface Signature Keyboard as a laptop
Cons
- Expensive and costs extra for the keyboard and stylus
- Limited port selection
Wacom Cintiq 27 QHD Touch
If you’re in search of the perfect resolution on a bright, anti-glare display, look no further than the Wacom Cintiq 27 QHD Touch. This drawing tablet has a 5080 LPI resolution along with 60 levels of tilt recognition, 2048 pressure levels, and 330 nits brightness.
Plus, its 97% Adobe RGB and 1.07 billion display colors ensure a rich and detailed display. This standalone tablet also has 17 customizable keys on the ExpressKey remote. Other than that, the Cintiq 27 QHD Touch comes with a built-in tablet stand.
The device has a 12 ms response time and USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 connections. Lastly, its ergonomic design is made to give you the position of an easel to make graphic art even easier.
The Cintiq 27QHD is compatible with the Wacom Cintiq 27QHD Pen, which comes with the tablet.
Pros
- Doesn’t need a computer
- Sleek, adaptable design
- ExpressKey remote has around 160 hours of operational time
- Lightweight and portable
- 2048 pressure levels
Con
- Minor issues and bugs
Huion Kamvas Pro 24
There’s no better option than the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 for those searching for a bigger screen and a better response time. Its 23.8-inch display works with the 3840 x 2160 screen resolution to provide a high-performing drawing surface.
Plus, you can count on a lag-free drawing experience with its 1o ms response rate. The Huion Kamvas Pro 24’s 8192 pressure levels and 102% color accuracy make it one of the best standalone drawing tablets in terms of efficiency. Its affordable price is simply a bonus!
Lastly, this device offers 220 nits brightness and 16.7 million display colors.
Huion’s latest battery-free PW517 stylus, which supports a 60-degree tilt function and high pen pressure levels, is used with this device.
Pros
- Impressive screen size
- High resolution and 4k display
- Efficient response time
- Least volume of parallax
- Affordable
- 8192 pen pressure levels
Con
- Not easy to set up
Huion Kamvas 22 Plus
The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable yet premium device that ensures a versatile drawing experience. Its 27-inch laminated display allows for smooth strokes, while the 97% color accuracy lets you see every little detail of your art.
Besides its 1080p screen resolution, this high-resolution drawing tablet also offers 8192 surface pen pressure levels and 314 nits brightness. Plus, you can count on its 14 ms response rate to ensure there are no lags or latency while you work.
It’s also worth knowing that the Huion Kamvas 22 Plus is compatible with any operating system. Lastly, the device has 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port integrated into its ergonomic, user-friendly design.
This drawing tablet comes with Huion’s PW517 pen, which is highly responsive to every pen movement due to its Capacitive Pressure Sensor technology.
Pros
- User-friendly design
- 8192 pressure levels
- Affordable
- Brilliant display quality
- 97% Adobe RGB
- Battery-free stylus
- It comes with an adjustable stand
Cons
- It doesn’t have physical short buttons.
- Disappointing availability of drawing apps for Android
Huion Kamvas Pro 16
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 has a modern, ergonomic design made to mimic the position of a canvas. Although its color calibration isn’t one of the best in the market, this device gives you your money’s worth with decent screen size and bright screen resolution.
Besides being compatible with Windows 10 operating system and macOS, this 15.6-inch standalone tablet offers 1920 x 1080 screen resolution, 102% Adobe RGB, and 220 nits brightness. You can also count on a 25 ms response rate and a high-performing processor.
Lastly, it comes with a USB type C port for hassle-free connectivity options.
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 features the PW507 pen with 8192 pen pressure levels and virtually lag-free tracking.
Pros
- 15.6-inch screen with IPS display
- Premium design
- Great built quality
- 8192 pressure levels
- Fast response rate
- High color accuracy
Cons
- It doesn’t come with the stand
- The slider shortcut is hard to configure
Wacom Mobile Studio Pro
The Wacom Mobile Studio Pro is a power-packed standalone tablet that doesn’t need a computer, as it already has an efficient Intel Core i5 processor and Windows 10 operating system.
Don’t judge this drawing device by its appearance; it’s only 13 inches in size but provides an unmatched drawing experience and six hours of battery life. Plus, it has a gorgeous matte display with a 4k screen resolution.
Besides its impeccable display quality, this portable drawing device also offers 214 nits brightness and a 23 ms response rate. For extra connectivity, it features USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity options.
The Wacom Mobile Studio Pro is one of the best drawing tablets compatible with the Wacom Pro Pen 2. This efficient stylus pen offers 8192 pressure levels ideal for 2D or 3D sketches.
Pros
- The battery-free pen that offers natural tilt support
- Users can program custom buttons for a specific function, environment, and individual drawing apps
- The matte glass panel is resistant to reflection and fingerprints
- Ensures no display light interruptions between the users and their artwork
- Portable and lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- It doesn’t have a long battery life
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2021
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2021 is a next-level, feature-studded device. It’s perfect for the graphic artist needing a modern standalone tablet with good display quality and an ergonomic design.
The best part is that this 14.4-inch screen can be switched from tablet mode to laptop mode within seconds. Plus, the 2400 x 1600 resolution pairs perfectly with the 486 nits brightness and 120 Hz refresh rate to provide the ideal display.
This drawing tablet offers a 78% color gamut and multiple USB-C ports. In addition, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2021 is paired with the Microsoft Surface Pen 2, which has 4096 pressure levels and a 77-degree tilt.
Pros
- Brilliant screen operating at 120Hz
- Multi-touch screen
- High-performing processor
- Long battery life of 12 hours
- Unique, adjustable design
Cons
- Pricey
- Only two USB ports
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Next on our list is the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, a direct competitor of the iPad Pro due to its good performance. This standalone tablet is powered by Snapdragon 865+ and offers 8 GB of RAM to provide an efficient and multitasking drawing experience.
Its 12.3-inch matte display also features a Super AMOLED screen with HDR, 2800 x 1752 resolution, and 120 Hz scan rate, making it one of the most crystal-clear and best drawing tablets that don’t need a computer.
Plus, this standalone device has large storage and RAM, which is ideal for switching between tasks like drawing, painting, taking notes, and creating storyboards. Although it’s on the pricier side, you can count on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ to fulfill all your creative needs.
The tablet is compatible with the S-Pen, which offers 4096 pressure levels, low latency, and superior tracking speed.
Pros
- Ultra-slim frame
- It comes with a multi-touch, multi-purpose S-pen, similar to Apple Pencil
- Availability of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Autodesk Sketchbook, and more apps
- Good scan rate
- Cheaper than iPad Pro
- Features dual rear camera of 13MP and 5Mp and front camera of 8MP
- It comes with a magnetic pen holder
Cons
- Battery life isn’t that long.
- Software and Widescreen aspect ratio aren’t good for productivity.
Wacom One
The Wacom One has a 13.3-inch HD and anti-glare screen, which has proven to be ideal for digital artists. If you need high-quality and portable standalone tablets that don’t need a computer, the Wacom One is undoubtedly a good option.
Other than its 1920 x 1080 resolution and 25 ms response rate, this device is one of the affordable standalone tablets on our list. Plus, it’s super easy to set up and compatible with most drawing software.
Lastly, this device offers a 200 nits brightness and 99% color gamut. In addition, its accompanying Wacom One pen has 4096 pressure levels and 60-degree tilt support.
Pros
- High-performing pen with no battery
- Ideal pen tilt support
- Android compatibility is ideal for photographers in need of editing platforms.
- Compatible with any other device or laptop
- It comes with bundled software like Clip Studio Paint Pro, Bamboo Paper, Adobe Premiere Rush, Adobe Fresco
- Good color gamut
Cons
- No touch-capability, express keys, or eraser
- Not compatible with iPhone
GAOMON PD1560
If you need an even more affordable alternative to the Wacom tablets on our list, the GAOMON PD1560 is the perfect device for you. It has a decent display area of 15.6 inches and 1920 x 1080 pixels of resolution.
Unlike most tablets in this price range, the GAMON PD1560 offers multi-touch controls, nine express keys, and a response rate of 58 ms. Other than that, you can also count on its 314 nits brightness and 1 GB RAM.
This one comes with a rechargeable pen with 8192 pressure levels and excellent tilt support.
Pros
- Wide range of adjustability in display quality
- An efficient pen that doesn’t need a battery
- Full laminated HD screen with a color gamut of 88%
- It comes with many accessories
- Eight replacement nibs, stylus holder, tablet stand, screwdriver, drawing gloves, and a bag to slide the tablet
- Good value
Cons
- Light sketchers need to apply more pressure for the lines to be visible
- Average build quality
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
If you’re one of the artists that need freedom and customization in their device, the Samsung Galaxy Tab s6 is among the best options on the market. This device is known for its compact screen size of only 10.5 inches and its powerful Snapdragon 855 graphics coprocessor.
It has a 128 GB hard drive and 6 GB RAM, ideal for multitasking. Besides the 2560 x 1600 resolution and 15-hour battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 also features a 60Hz scan rate and a fingerprint scanner.
Thankfully, the Galaxy Tab s6 comes with its own S-Pen, which is multi-purpose and offers 4096 pressure levels.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Crystal-clear display
- It comes with a multi-touch, multi-purpose S-pen
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 655 coprocessor
- Sleek design
- It can be converted into a mini laptop
- Fast performance
Cons
- Low scan rate
- The in-screen fingerprint scanner is slow
FAQs
How is a standalone drawing tablet different from a traditional drawing tablet?
Unlike traditional drawing tablets, a standalone device doesn’t need a computer to function since it already has a processor. So not only is this device much more portable than a traditional option, but it’s also pen-enabled and functions like a computer.
With a standalone drawing tablet, you’ll be able to create art on the go.
What is the best standalone drawing tablet?
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is among the best standalone drawing tablets on our list. Besides its IPS display and premium design, it also offers excellent build quality and 8192 pressure levels.
A fast response rate and good color gamut are a few more features of this tablet, but its downside is that it doesn’t come with an adjustable stand.
Is the iPad Pro an excellent standalone drawing tablet?
The iPad Pro is always the number one option for experienced digital artists needing a high-performing, reliable graphics tablet. Although it’s pretty pricey, it has an endless list of features.
Its Liquid Retina XDR display and 600 nits brightness create a rich drawing experience, while the 2732 x 2048 resolution and 8-core GPU capture every tiny detail of your art. The accompanying Apple pencil comes with a lightning adapter and an extra tip.
Lastly, you’ll find some eye-catching elements in this tablet, such as ProMotion, True Tone, and even the P3 wide color. The iPad Pro is a great standalone device for graphic design.
What are the best brands for digital drawing tablets?
If you’re looking for high-end options, Wacom is the top brand when it comes to high-quality drawing tablets with eye-catching features.
Apple and Samsung are also in our top recommendations. Their latest models, including the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S series, don’t need a computer and work efficiently.
Is it better to buy a good laptop with a stylus instead of standalone drawing tablets?
Unless you want the feel and angle of an easel, we wouldn’t recommend opting for a touchscreen laptop for drawing purposes.
A standalone drawing tablet gives you the same angle as a sketchbook while also giving the option of an angled approach with its adjustable stand. A laptop doesn’t offer this versatility.
Conclusion
A standalone drawing tablet is a much better investment than a regular one due to its efficiency and portability. In addition, with the drawing tablets that don’t need a computer, you won’t be limited to your home office or desktop to express your creativity whenever you want.
Ensuring that your drawing tablet meets your requirements and preferences is essential if you want to reach the full potential of your creativity. Therefore, you should consider the resolution, tracking speed, size, stylus effectivity, and cost of the tablet.
After reading our guide and top picks, you’ll be able to find the best standalone drawing tablet to fulfill your creative necessities.
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