Hey everyone!
I'm looking to upgrade my drawing tablet and I'm a bit overwhelmed with the options. I've been using a basic Wacom Intuos for a while, but I'm ready to invest in something more advanced, maybe with a screen. I primarily do character design and illustration, so responsiveness, color accuracy, and pressure sensitivity are super important to me. What are your go-to tablets right now? I'm open to both pen displays and standalone tablets.
What do you recommend, and why?
Welcome to the discussion, JD_Artist! It's a great question, and the "best" really depends on your budget and workflow.
For pen displays, the Wacom Cintiq Pro series is still the industry standard for a reason. The color accuracy is phenomenal, the parallax is minimal, and the pen feels fantastic. However, they come with a hefty price tag.
A strong contender in the pen display market is the Huion Kamvas Pro line. They offer excellent features for a more accessible price point, and the new models have great refresh rates and color gamut coverage.
If you're considering standalone tablets, the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil is incredibly popular for its portability and the vast ecosystem of apps like Procreate. The drawing experience is buttery smooth. Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series with S Pen is also a very capable option, especially if you prefer an Android ecosystem.
What's your approximate budget looking like?
I second the iPad Pro recommendation! I switched to an iPad Pro with Procreate a year ago and haven't looked back. The portability is a game-changer, and the sheer number of brushes and features in Procreate is amazing. The Apple Pencil 2 is also incredibly responsive and comfortable to hold for long sessions.
I know some people prefer traditional software like Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint, and while there are desktop versions, Procreate is where I find my creative flow best on a tablet.
For budget options, I've heard good things about the XP-Pen Artist series. They are definitely more budget-friendly than Wacom Cintiqs and offer a good starting point for screen tablets.