If you are looking for the Best portable tablet for drawing, then this is the article for you. In our long digital art career, we have worked with different drawing tablets and devices. For this instance, we have tested and compiled a review for portable tablets.
We have not only tested graphic tablets that are intentionally made for drawing, but went out to try multipurpose tablets from Apple and Android devices.
Choosing the best portable tablet for your work is not easy so we have also created a small guide on the things to consider when choosing one.
What is a Portable Drawing Tablet?
A portable drawing tablet is a drawing device that you can easily carry around from place to place as you do your work.
If you usually also carry your laptop or computer, you can buy a graphic tablet that must be connected to a computer to use.
However, if you want a fully independent tablet that does not have to be connected to a computer to use, then make sure you buy a standalone tablet.
What do artists look for in a Portable Tablet for Drawing?
First artists will look at the size. A large screen size is more comfortable to use and will offer a good user experience. However, if your tablet is too big, it will highly limit its portability.
Screen size between 11 and 16 inches is perfect for both portability and comfort when used.
When still on the screen, you need to check the screen’s resolution. This will influence how clear your image will look on screen. You need a Full HD or Ultra HD screen resolution.
If you also carry your computer when moving around, you can choose a standalone or graphic tablet. However, if you want to only carry your tablet, you need to choose a tablet that does not need a computer connected to use.
A graphic tablet will use your computer’s processor to determine its resolution and processing power. However, if you opt for a standalone tablet, you need to choose one with a good processor and RAM above 4 GB.
Finally, you need to consider your budget. Although you can find cheap drawing tablets for as low as 100$, most premium-level drawing tablets are not cheap and may require you to dig deeper into your pocket for them.
Best portable tablet for drawing
- XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro Best portable tablet for drawing
- Gaomon PD 1161 Best AlternativePortable Drawing Tablets
- Apple iPad Pro Best portable drawing tablet that does not need a computer
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite Best Budget Portable Tablet for Drawing
- Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra Best Android Tablet for Drawing
What is the Best portable tablet for drawing
XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro Best portable tablet for drawing
The XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro is our top pick thanks to its powerful features at a very affordable price. If you are the kind of artist that prefers a large screen this line of tablets has got you covered with a 16-inch screen size.
Additionally, the screen is fully laminated and has a Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. You will get 8 customizable shortcut keys that you can use to speed up your workflow.
You will get a battery-free stylus on purchase with 8192 pen pressure sensitivity levels. The PO5R Battery-free pen supports + or – 60 degrees tilt recognition which is unique for its low price range.
When you buy the XPPen Artist 15.6 pro Drawing tablet you get 1 x Battery-free Stylus, 8 x Replacement Nibs, 1 x Pen Holder, 1x Portable Stand, 1 x 3-in-1 Cable, 1x Extension Cord, 1 x Quick Guide, 1 x Drawing Glove, 1 x Cleaning Cloth.
It is compatible with Windows 10/8/7, and Mac OS X version 10.10 but is unfortunately not compatible with Android. Additionally, you must connect to a computer to use so it is not standalone.
Overall this cheap graphic tablet is a great choice thanks to a large screen and some powerful features.
- 15.6-Inch active area
- 1920×1080 Pixels Resolution
- Full Laminated Screen
- 8192 levels of pen pressure
- Tilt Recognition
- Battery-free stylus
- Compatible with Windows 10/8/7, Mac OS X version 10.10
- Including lots of accessories
The screen needs calibration for professional use
Pros
- Large Screen
- High Resolution
- Affordable
- Great Pen
- Low Parallax
Cons
- Not Standalone
Gaomon PD 1161 – Best Portable Drawing Tablets
Gaomon PD 1161 is our pick for the Best alternative for Portable Drawing Tablets, especially for beginners. For a very affordable price, you will get this unique premium-looking tablet for your art.
The screen is 11.6 inches which is small enough to fit in a small bag but still large enough for a comfortable user experience when drawing. Additionally, the screen has a high resolution of up to 1920 x 1080 pixels full HD.
Shortcut keys are important because of their customizability to your favorite go-to actions. This will greatly increase your workflow speed. The tablet comes with 8 shortcut keys on its body that you can set to what you want.
The pen is next to the screen when it comes to the most important aspects of a tablet to an artist. GAOMON PD1161 comes with a battery-free AP50 Pen.
This means that you do not have to keep charging the pen to use it as it electromagnetically charges as you use it. Additionally, it has 8192 levels of pressure levels and plus-minus 60-degree tilt recognition.
Unfortunately, the GAOMON PD1161 is not a standalone tablet and must be connected to a computer to use.
Although the GAOMON brand is new and not as popular as Wacom and Huion, they have managed to create a nice and cheap tablet that will be a sure industry standard in a few years.
Features:
- 11.6-inch display
- 1920 x 1080p resolution
- 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity
- 60-degree tilt function
- Compatible with Windows and macOS
- Battery-free stylus
Pros
- Affordable price
- Good stylus Pen
- High-resolution screen
- 8 shortcut keys
Cons
- Not standalone
- Not compatible with Android
Apple iPad Pro Best portable drawing tablet that does not need a computer
If you need a fully portable drawing tablet that does not have to connect to a computer to use, then this is the one for you.
Apple iPad Pro is by far one of the best tablets available in the market in terms of performance and specifications.
The tablet features a slim and sleek body that is both sturdy and lightweight. This makes it easy to carry in a small bag pack.
It has a unique 12.9 inches screen size and features a unique liquid retina display whose clarity is unmatched in the industry. The tablet resolution is also high at 2732 x 2048 Pixels. This means you will view your work in crisp and clear vivid colors.
Processing power is also top-notch with a powerful M1 processor that is further powered by 16 GB RAM. This makes sure your tablet does not lag even when multitasking.
Unfortunately, the tablet is expensive and not purposely made for drawing. Although it works perfectly with the nice Apple pencil 2, it does not come with it in the box and you have to purchase it separately.
- Size:12.9 Inches
- Resolution: 2732 x 2048 Pixels
- Storage: 128GB to 2TB
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Color Accuracy: 112% sRGB
- Connectivity: USB C
- BatteryLife: Up to 10 hours
Pros
- Great Screen
- Powerful Processor
- Standalone Tablet
- Large RAM and Storage
Cons
- Expensive
- Pen comes separately
Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite Best Budget Portable Tablet for Drawing
The Apple iPad Pro is good but pricey. If you are looking for the best portable drawing tablet on a budget that does not need a computer, then consider looking for a Samsung drawing tablet.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite is our best pick. It has a strong and durable build with a metallic back plus a sleek and premium-looking front side that features thin bezels.
The screen is relatively ok at 10.4 inches in size and has a 2000×1200 pixels resolution. This is okay for drawing though nowhere close to the iPad Pro. It is important to note however for its price range this is more than you can ask for.
Processing power is good with a modern Processor: Exynos 9611 powered by 4 GB RAM that allows multitasking. You will be able to run Photoshop or other graphic software smoothly.
The Pen is one of the features that sets this tablet apart coming with a standard Samsung S Pen that you can only find on expensive tablets.
As a standalone tablet, you will be able to install applications directly on the tablet.
- Display: 10.4 inch
- Resolution: 2000×1200 pixels resolution
- Processor: Exynos 9611
- RAM: 4 GB
- Internal Storage: 64 GB
- OS: Android 10
Pros
- Affordable
- Standalone
Cons
- Expensive
- Pen comes separately
Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra Best Android Tablet for Drawing
Although Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite is good and cheap, it is nowhere near as good as an Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inches. If you want an Android Tablet that can be used as an iPad alternative, then the new Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra is your best pick.
It has a Super AMOLED 14.6 inches screen size and a large 2960×1848 Pixels resolution. Additionally, its unique 16:10 aspect ratio makes it always positioned in a landscape view.
You will be able to run Photoshop, illustrator, and many design and art software thanks to a powerful SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Processor and 8 and 16 GB options of RAM.
Just like the S6 lite, it features the Samsung S Pen which is perfect. Additionally, it is a standalone tablet and does not need to connect to a computer to use.
Pros
- Large Screen
- Full HD resolution
- Powerful processor and RAM
Cons
- Expensive
Features
- Screen: 14.6 inches
- Resolution: 2960 by 1848 Pixels
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8/16 GB
- Storage: 128/256/512 GB
- Battery life: 8 hours
Best portable tablet for drawing
- XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro Best portable tablet for drawing
- Gaomon PD 1161 Best AlternativePortable Drawing Tablets
- Apple iPad Pro Best portable drawing tablet that does not need a computer
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite Best Budget Portable Tablet for Drawing
- Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra Best Android Tablet for Drawing