Choosing a tablet as an artist in 2024 can be overly complicated. This is because the market is saturated with a plethora of tablets that artists can use for sketching, drawing, and even painting. Aside from the product offerings available being too many, they are also available in many different sizes and shapes each bragging its unique features and capabilities. So how does an artist go about choosing the ideal tablet that will change the game for them as far as their work is concerned? Below is a well-curated list of tried and tested tablets that we consider to be the best tablets for artists in the market today.
Lenovo Thinkpad yoga 260
Intro
The Lenovo Thinkpad 260 is a laptop that doubles up as a tablet and is ideal for artists who want to have the 2 in 1 feel of both a laptop and tablet. Bragging a 360-degree hinge, that converts this into a standalone tablet artist can effortlessly draw on ad carry around the Yoga 260. The Yoga 260 brags an Intel Core i5-6200U Processor, 128 GB Micro Solid-State Drive, Intel HD Graphics 520, 8GB RAM amongst other impressive specs that help it deliver great performance.
Pros
- It can be used together with a lot of the drawing apps and software.
- Despite it being a laptop, it is moderately sized and thus easily portable.
- It is affordable which makes it within reach for a lot of artists who may be on a budget.
Cons
- The pen of this tablet is somewhat small, especially for individuals with large hands.
- The battery life of the Yoga 260 could use some improvement.
HP Zbook X2
Intro
Yet another 2-in-1 device is the Zbook X2 by HP which doubles as both a tablet and a laptop. This chunky tablet can be used for drawing and sketching or even rendering 3D images using apps like Maya. The tablet brags a 14-inch, 4K touchscreen, 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, dedicated NVIDIA Quadro M620 graphics processor unit, 8GB Ram amongst other specifications. An artist who wishes to create using this tablet can use the Wacom EMR pen, which is extremely responsive and works just like a normal pencil would. Additionally, it is equipped with extra ports, including a Smart Card slot, a USB 3.0 charging port, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports, that provide artists with the ability to make the connections as they need.
Pros
- Users can utilize this tablet in four different modes.
- It has an anti-glare screen.
- It is capable of outputting 10 billion colors including the complete Adobe RGB gamut for smooth highlights, shadows, and shades thanks to its DreamColor option
Cons
- It is chunkier in comparison to some of its competitors, which brag slim, lightweight features that make them easily portable.
- The battery life could certainly be much better as it only manages a few hours before it needs a recharge.
Apple iPad Pro 11
Intro
The 11-inch iPad Pro is not only outstanding, but it is also, in our opinion the Apple’s best tablet ever. This tablet brags A12X Bionic processor, 2388 x 1668 pixels, storage space range of between 64 GB to 1 TB, true to life color and ProMotion technology which all do a great job in supporting an artist’s endeavors and delivering a great output. If an artist feels that the 11 inch is maybe too small for them, they can opt for the same tablet but in a bigger size (13 inches)
Pros
- It comes with a pencil clip-on for when artists need to take a break.
- It has outstanding performance that is unrivaled by its competitors.
- It gives users at least ten hours of service/use on a single charge.
- The apple pencil elevates an artist drawing or sketching experience as it feels and moves naturally responding well to touch.
- It is easily portable thanks to its lightweight.
Cons
- The pencil and keyboard have to be bought separately as additional accessories, which only increases the cost of the iPad.
- The iOS 12 software can be limiting for artists who wish to multitask using the tablet or even use it as a laptop.
- The price of the tablet varies depending on the specifications chosen. For example, if an artist opts for more storage space, they will pay more to purchase the tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A with S Pen
Intro
An artist who would much rather use an android based tablet for their artwork can consider the Galaxy Tab A. We included it in this list because it is extremely comfortable to use and comes with an S pen that provides artists with the ability to create their artwork with the precision and accuracy they require. The tablet brags an impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-Core Chipset processor, 4GB RAM, expandable 64GB storage, and a 10.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. Additionally, it is also compatible with several different apps and software, including Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook, and many more which artists can download to the tablet from the google play store.
Pros
- It is extremely affordable
- Artist can use the tablet for an entire day before they need to recharge it due to its impressive battery life.
- It is easily portable as it is extremely light in weight.
Cons
- A lot of the tablet’s functionalities work best in landscape mode, but the tablet is intended to be held in portrait mode which some artists may find to be rather irritating.
- It is ideal for every other day use, but we felt that its processor was not sufficient to handle heavy digital art creation.
Final thoughts
The introduction of smart devices into the consumer market has resulted in the average set of features of a lot of the devices being enhanced considerably. Manufacturers are no longer compromising on providing convenient devices with great performance, and the tablets we have listed above is proof of this. An artist looking for a tablet should certainly consider investing in any one of the ones listed as they will certainly meet their needs and help them grow their skill.