Graphic design is an ever-evolving field that requires precision, creativity, and the right tools. As we move into 2024, the range of tablets designed specifically for graphic designers continues to expand. These tablets offer a combination of portability, performance, and the features necessary to create professional-quality artwork. Whether you’re a professional artist, an aspiring designer, or a hobbyist, having the right tablet can significantly enhance your workflow and creative output.
In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into the 20 best tablets for graphic design in 2024. We will discuss their features, specifications, and what makes them stand out from the crowd.
1. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2024 Edition)
The iPad Pro has long been a favorite among graphic designers, and the 2024 edition continues to lead the pack. Its Liquid Retina XDR display is stunning, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp detail, perfect for any kind of design work. The M2 chip powers this device, ensuring smooth performance with demanding graphic design apps like Procreate and Adobe Photoshop.
Key Features:
- Display: 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR
- Processor: M2 chip
- Storage Options: 128GB to 2TB
- Stylus Compatibility: Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
With its precise Apple Pencil and exceptional display quality, the iPad Pro 12.9 is a premium choice for designers looking for power and portability.
2. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
Wacom continues to dominate the professional graphic design space with its Cintiq series. The Cintiq Pro 24 offers a 4K display with 99% Adobe RGB coverage, providing impeccable color accuracy for detailed design work. The Pro Pen 2, with its 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, ensures a highly responsive and natural drawing experience.
Key Features:
- Display: 24-inch 4K (3840×2160) display
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2 (8,192 pressure levels)
- Color Accuracy: 99% Adobe RGB
- Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort
- Customizable Hotkeys: Yes
The Cintiq Pro 24 is a professional-grade tablet, best suited for artists who need precision and accuracy in every stroke.
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The Surface Pro 9 combines the functionality of a laptop and tablet, making it a versatile option for graphic designers. The PixelSense touchscreen is sharp and responsive, and it works seamlessly with the Surface Pen, offering low-latency drawing and a comfortable grip. Its Intel 13th Gen Core processor provides ample power for running demanding graphic design software.
Key Features:
- Display: 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen (2880 x 1920)
- Processor: Intel 13th Gen Core i7
- Stylus Compatibility: Surface Pen
- Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
- Storage Options: Up to 1TB SSD
Its portability, power, and Windows-based environment make the Surface Pro 9 a great all-around device for graphic designers who want flexibility.
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offers a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display, making it ideal for graphic designers who want a large, vibrant screen to work on. The tablet is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, ensuring top-notch performance. Paired with the S Pen, which has ultra-low latency and excellent pressure sensitivity, this tablet is perfect for digital artists on the go.
Key Features:
- Display: 14.6-inch Super AMOLED (2960×1848)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Stylus: S Pen included
- Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
- Storage Options: 256GB to 1TB
The combination of a large screen, powerful processor, and excellent stylus make the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra one of the best Android tablets for graphic designers in 2024.
5. Huion Kamvas Pro 24 (4K)
Huion has been growing in popularity for its affordable, high-quality tablets, and the Kamvas Pro 24 is no exception. It features a 4K resolution with 120% sRGB coverage, offering crisp visuals and vivid colors. The battery-free PW517 pen provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and excellent responsiveness, making it a strong contender in the market.
Key Features:
- Display: 23.8-inch 4K (3840×2160)
- Stylus: Battery-free PW517 with 8,192 pressure levels
- Color Gamut: 120% sRGB
- Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI
- Customizable Shortcut Keys: Yes
For graphic designers looking for a large display with professional-level features at an affordable price, the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 is a solid choice.
6. XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 (2024 Edition)
XP-Pen has established itself as a go-to brand for affordable drawing tablets. The Artist Pro 16 (2024 edition) is a 16-inch tablet with a full HD display and a color accuracy of 90% Adobe RGB. It comes with the new X3 Elite Plus stylus, offering 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and enhanced accuracy for a more natural drawing experience.
Key Features:
- Display: 16-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: X3 Elite Plus with 8,192 pressure levels
- Color Gamut: 90% Adobe RGB
- Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI
- Customizable Shortcut Keys: Yes
For designers on a budget who still need professional features, the XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 is an excellent option.
7. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
Lenovo’s Tab P12 Pro is a powerful Android tablet designed for professionals. It features a 12.6-inch AMOLED display with Dolby Vision support, providing stunning visuals. The tablet is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, making it fast and efficient for graphic design tasks. The Lenovo Precision Pen 3 offers excellent stylus support with high-pressure sensitivity.
Key Features:
- Display: 12.6-inch AMOLED (2560×1600)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
- Stylus: Lenovo Precision Pen 3
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
- Storage Options: 128GB to 512GB
The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is an excellent Android tablet for designers who want a high-quality display and solid performance.
8. Gaomon PD156 Pro
Gaomon’s PD156 Pro is a budget-friendly tablet with a 15.6-inch Full HD display, designed for graphic designers looking for an affordable, yet capable tablet. It comes with a stylus offering 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, providing a natural drawing experience. The tablet is highly portable and connects easily to a PC or laptop for extended use.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: 8,192 pressure levels
- Color Accuracy: 100% sRGB
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Customizable Hotkeys: Yes
The Gaomon PD156 Pro is ideal for beginners and professionals who want an affordable graphic design tablet without sacrificing features.
9. Wacom One
Wacom One is one of the best entry-level tablets for graphic designers. With its 13.3-inch display and included stylus, it’s a great choice for beginners who want to explore digital drawing and design. The tablet offers a responsive pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, which, although lower than some professional models, is sufficient for many design tasks.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.3-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: Wacom One Pen with 4,096 pressure levels
- Color Accuracy: 72% NTSC
- Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI
- Price: Affordable
For those starting in graphic design or looking for a secondary tablet, the Wacom One offers an excellent balance of price and performance.
10. Apple iPad Air (2024 Edition)
The iPad Air is often seen as the budget-friendly sibling of the iPad Pro, but it holds its own as a capable device for graphic designers. The 2024 edition of the iPad Air includes the powerful M1 chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, and Apple Pencil 2 support, making it an excellent choice for designers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the iPad Pro.
Key Features:
- Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina
- Processor: M1 chip
- Stylus Compatibility: Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- Storage Options: 64GB to 512GB
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
The iPad Air offers excellent performance and a high-quality display, all at a lower price point than the iPad Pro, making it a great mid-range option for designers.
11. Huion Kamvas 13
Huion Kamvas 13 is a compact and affordable drawing tablet with a Full HD 13.3-inch display. It’s compatible with both Windows and MacOS, and its lightweight design makes it highly portable for on-the-go designers. The Kamvas 13 comes with a battery-free stylus that offers 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt function, providing a smooth and natural drawing experience.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.3-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: Battery-free with 8,192 pressure levels and tilt support
- Color Accuracy: 120% sRGB
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Customizable Keys: 8 programmable keys
The Huion Kamvas 13 is perfect for artists who want a compact, budget-friendly tablet that still provides professional-level features.
12. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16
For designers who need a full-fledged workstation in tablet form, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is a dream come true. Powered by Intel processors and a discrete NVIDIA Quadro graphics card, this tablet is built for heavy-duty tasks like 3D modeling, animation, and high-resolution artwork. Its 4K display offers stunning clarity and color accuracy, while the Pro Pen 2 delivers top-tier performance.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6-inch 4K (3840×2160) display
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels
- Storage: Up to 512GB SSD
With its workstation-level performance, the MobileStudio Pro 16 is ideal for professionals who need a powerhouse device.
13. XP-Pen Innovator 16
The XP-Pen Innovator 16 is another budget-friendly option for graphic designers who want a quality tablet without breaking the bank. It offers a sleek design, a full HD display, and a slim, portable form factor. The tablet comes with the XP-Pen stylus, which has 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition, making it a great option for digital painting and illustration.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: 8,192 pressure levels with tilt recognition
- Color Accuracy: 92% Adobe RGB
- Thickness: 9mm (slim design)
- Customizable Dials and Keys: Yes
The XP-Pen Innovator 16 offers great value for money, providing a quality drawing experience at an affordable price.
14. Google Pixel Tablet (2024 Edition)
Google’s Pixel Tablet has made significant strides, making it a viable option for graphic designers who prefer working on Android. Featuring a vibrant 11-inch LCD display and powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip, the tablet is fast and efficient. When paired with a stylus like the Pixelbook Pen, it becomes a capable device for light graphic design work.
Key Features:
- Display: 11-inch LCD (2560×1600)
- Processor: Google Tensor G2
- Stylus Compatibility: Pixelbook Pen
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
- Storage Options: 128GB or 256GB
While the Pixel Tablet may not be as advanced as some other tablets, it’s a solid choice for designers who need a portable Android device with decent performance.
15. Wacom Intuos Pro (Large)
The Wacom Intuos Pro Large is one of the best non-display tablets for graphic design, offering an expansive drawing surface for designers who want to work on large-scale projects. It provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, making it a versatile tool for illustrators, animators, and graphic designers.
Key Features:
- Active Area: 12.1 x 8.4 inches
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels
- Multi-Touch Surface: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
- Customizable ExpressKeys: Yes
For designers who prefer working with a separate monitor, the Wacom Intuos Pro Large offers professional-level control and precision.
16. Dell Latitude 9430 2-in-1
Dell’s Latitude 9430 2-in-1 is a laptop-tablet hybrid designed for creative professionals. Featuring a 14-inch 16:10 display with high color accuracy and a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, it can handle graphic design applications with ease. The included active pen works well for sketching and note-taking, making it a versatile option for designers who need both portability and power.
Key Features:
- Display: 14-inch (1920×1200) 16:10
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Stylus: Active pen included
- Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
- Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
The Dell Latitude 9430 is an excellent choice for designers who want a 2-in-1 device that can switch between laptop and tablet modes.
17. Asus ZenBook Duo 14
The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is a unique dual-screen laptop with a secondary touch display, known as the ScreenPad Plus, which can be useful for graphic designers looking for extra screen real estate. The 14-inch Full HD primary display and the powerful Intel Core processor make it a solid choice for design tasks, while the included stylus offers precision drawing on both screens.
Key Features:
- Primary Display: 14-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Secondary Display: 12.6-inch ScreenPad Plus
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Stylus Compatibility: Yes
- Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
The dual-screen setup of the ZenBook Duo 14 provides a creative edge, offering more space for multitasking and creative workflows.
18. Wacom Cintiq 16
The Wacom Cintiq 16 is an affordable option for designers who want the quality of a Wacom drawing tablet without breaking the bank. It offers a 15.6-inch Full HD display and the Pro Pen 2 stylus, providing 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. While it doesn’t have the 4K resolution of higher-end models, it’s still an excellent choice for designers who need a reliable and responsive drawing tablet.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels
- Color Accuracy: 72% NTSC
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB
- Price: Affordable for a Wacom product
For designers who are just starting or need a secondary tablet, the Cintiq 16 provides excellent value for the price.
19. Microsoft Surface Go 4
The Surface Go 4 is the most portable tablet in Microsoft’s lineup, offering an affordable, lightweight option for designers on the go. While it may not pack the power of the Surface Pro, its 10.5-inch display and Intel Core i3 processor provide enough performance for light graphic design tasks. It’s compatible with the Surface Pen, which allows for precise drawing and sketching.
Key Features:
- Display: 10.5-inch PixelSense (1920×1280)
- Processor: Intel Core i3
- Stylus Compatibility: Surface Pen
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Storage Options: 64GB to 256GB
For students or hobbyists who need a portable, budget-friendly tablet, the Surface Go 4 is an excellent option.
20. Chuwi UBook X
The Chuwi UBook X is an affordable Windows tablet that offers surprisingly good features for its price. It has a 12-inch 2K display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, providing more vertical space for design work. It’s powered by an Intel Gemini Lake processor, which is adequate for basic graphic design tasks. The UBook X also supports a pressure-sensitive stylus for sketching and drawing.
Key Features:
- Display: 12-inch 2K (2160×1440)
- Processor: Intel Gemini Lake N4100
- Stylus Compatibility: Chuwi HiPen H6
- Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
- Storage Options: 256GB SSD
The Chuwi UBook X is a good choice for beginners or designers on a tight budget who still want a tablet that can handle creative tasks.
Conclusion
As we head into 2024, the tablet market offers a wide range of options for graphic designers, from high-end professional devices to budget-friendly alternatives. Whether you need the power of a Wacom Cintiq Pro or the portability of an iPad Air, there is a tablet on this list to suit every need and budget.
When choosing the best tablet for graphic design, consider your specific requirements, including screen size, stylus quality, portability, and software compatibility. No matter what level of expertise you have, investing in a quality tablet will elevate your creative work and streamline your design process.