Best Standalone Drawing Tablet That Doesn’t Need A Computer

Having a standalone drawing Tablet that doesn’t need a computer is a great deal for all artists. At least, you don’t have to remain confined around your computer desk for you to draw. 

First, drawing tablets that don’t need a computer are highly portable, and another advantage is these tablets have multiple functional features that streamline your artwork. 

In a market full of standalone tablets, it becomes hard for someone to choose the best one. It’s even tricky to purchase more than one to gauge which one serves you better. 

For that reason, we chose some of the best standalone drawing tablets that don’t need a computer and reviewed them. This review is unbiased and gives our genuine opinion about these drawing tablets. 

Features
Apple iPad Pro – Best Overall Powerful M2 chip Good battery life Superb pencil 5G works perfectly  Amazing display Check Price
Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite – Best Budget Slim bezels Good battery life It comes with an S pen Great display Check Price
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Editors Choice Excellent display Long battery life Good build Long Battery life Portable Tablet 13-inch Screen Size Check Price

Best Drawing Tablets That Don’t Need A Computer

1. Apple iPad Pro 2022 Best Overall
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Best Windows Standalone Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ Best Android Tablet
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 
5. Apple iPad Air 2022 Portable Standalone Drawing Tablet
6. Microsoft Surface Go 3 standalone drawing tablet with a screen
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite best budget standalone drawing tablet
8. Simbans Picasso Tab standalone drawing tablet under $300
9. Wacom Mobile Studio Wacom standalone drawing tablet

What Is A Standalone Tablet?

A standalone tablet is a tablet with an inbuilt computer which means you don’t have to connect it to a computer while drawing. In simpler terms, a standalone is a combination of a tablet and a PC. 

Apple iPad Pro 2022

The Apple iPad Pro 2022 is the beast of standalone tablets. Powered by the M2 next-generation chip,  this tablet has an extraordinary wireless connectivity speed that allows you to create and design like a pro. 

We’ve tried to create high-quality projects requiring demanding apps, and we were amazed at how well the iPad 2022 Pro handled everything without any hitch. 

When it comes to gaming, the tablet does handle console-quality games effortlessly, putting your opponents at the cutting edge. 

Not only is the iPad good for gaming and designing, but if you have some videos to edit, then this standalone tablet will help you get the tasks done. 

This iPad Pro 11 has an 11-inch screen with 2388×1668 pixels which I consider an ideal working area. The screen has superb color accuracy and displays colors vibrantly.  

Whether you work from your room or in the bright sun doesn’t matter. The screen still displays colors brightly. And the best thing about the iPad Pro 11 is that it features ProMotion Technology that boosts the screen refresh rate to 120hz for a smooth drawing and browsing experience.  

The Apple iPad Pro 11 has excellent performance but hasn’t blown our minds because it isn’t far from its predecessor, the iPad Pro 2021. 

But we also note that the M2 chip has dramatically boosted its smooth performance. This chip is mainly found in Apple laptops, so you’re expecting the laptop experience with this tablet. 

Apple iPad Pro 11 2022’s performance is ideal for Pro-level projects with high resolution and hundreds of layers. 

The battery life is another important feature if you buy a standalone tablet to move around as you work. 

We tested the battery life span of the Apple iPad Pro 11 by browsing continuously with 150 nits of brightness, and we were amazed. The tablet sailed through 10 hours and connected with the wifi, so that’s a plus.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 

Microsoft Surface Pro 9-2022 is the ultimate standalone tablet that can take your creativity to a new level. This 13-inch standalone tablet is proof that tablets might one day replace laptops. The tablet has Windows 11 support which enables creatives to use all their favorite design apps, mostly which were limited to computers. 

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 has a 13-inch IPS display that can be considered small and also big. Some people are used to working on PCs so generally, they’ll feel the 13-inch display is small. To someone who uses tablets, you’ll feel that the 13-inch display is big. 

Surface Pro 9 also has an aspect ratio of 3:2 and a whooping resolution of 2880×1920 pixels with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Surface Pro 9s panel can amazingly accommodate any work and offers excellent viewing angles. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 9’s peak brightness of this tablet is 454 nits, and it has an aspect ratio of 1320:1. You can never go wrong with its brightness uniformity covering 99% of the sRGB color range. 

This Microsoft Surface Pro 9 features an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 Processor that handles multitasking efficiently.  This tablet beats many tablets in 3D Photoshop and Rendering.

Another feature of this standalone tablet is RAM and 256GB SSD storage that can help you store your projects.

The battery life isn’t bad, considering the tablet will run for 10 hours straight. However,  expect the battery to last 7 hours for video playback, and all other apps turned off. We tried web browsing with the Wi-Fi connection, and the battery managed for 10 hours, which is fantastic. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ takes after the Galaxy Tab S7, but it has a noticeable scratch-proof design. The tablet lets you choose the fastest 5G connectivity for a smooth browsing experience.  

For creatives, you need a tablet with good pen responsiveness, and that’s what you get with this Tab S8+ combined with the improved S pen responsiveness.  

Samsung is known for its high-quality cameras; you’d expect nothing less of that with this S8+ Tab. The tablet features a superb selfie camera with top-notch clarity. 

Another thing that makes this Galaxy S8+ our favorite is the game-changing software upgrades that make it easy to run multiple applications simultaneously. Its lightweight design has beaten most of its competitors.

Sneak Peak at The Display

One thing we love about Samsung is the brand doesn’t play when it comes to its displays. And evidently, the Galaxy S8+ has a super AMOLED display that delivers top-notch color accuracy. The display also has 2800×1752 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz, like the iPad Pro 11. 

The display has a modern design with super thin bezels, and you’d love using the screen even when set to its peak brightness in bright environments. 

What To Expect in Terms Of Performance

Although most people dismiss tablets thinking they cannot perform like laptops, Samsung is here to prove them wrong. The S8+ has Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen processor and 8 GB RAM, making it easy to handle all apps. 

We tried running multiple windows using the keyboard, and they all performed well with Samsung Dex. The tablet also has ample storage of 256GB SSD that allows you to save your projects and plays a massive role in its performance. 

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ Tab comes with a 10090mAH battery that does last even two to three days, depending on what you are doing with it. The battery life is ideal for creatives who travel and love working as they go. Imagine working over 15 hours without worrying about plugging your charger into a power supply. 

Stylus Pen and Response Time

Over the past years, Samsung has been in a quest to improve its S Pen, and now it seems the brand has hacked the trick. The new S Pen has a 2.8ms response time, faster than the Apple Pencil, which has a 9ms response time. Drawing with the improved S Pen is way more natural, all thanks to its outstanding tilt and pressure sensitivity. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 

Microsoft Surface Pro bridges the gap between the iPads and Surface. The tablet carries a lot of features that you might need from the two tablets we’ve just mentioned. 

We tested the tablet on 2D and 3D drawings, and the experience was mindblowing. The tablet comes in two versions, the core i5, and the core i7, and both handle artwork efficiently.  

Display And Performance

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has a 12.5-inch touchscreen display with 2736 by 1824 pixels, and we love that the panels get bright and vivid display colors. 

The display of the Surface Pro 7 covers 102% of the sRGB color range. Although other Surface Pro 7s counterparts cover a higher sRGB color range, it has a bright panel with 395 nits. 

Although there are minor notable changes, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is an upgraded Surface Pro 6. The Surface Pro 7 has updated 10th Gen Intel core chips. 

We tested the Surface Pro 7 core i5 with 8GB RAM and were in awe. 

The tablet is good when it comes to multitasking. It did handle multiple chrome tabs open without any slags or hesitation. And even though we said that the Surface Pro 7 is just an upgrade of the Surface Pro 6, it did perform way better than the Pro 6. 

When it comes to the battery life, we weren’t impressed. The battery lasted a little over seven hours which is way lower than its competitors. We tested the tablet by web browsing using WiFi with a brightness of 250 nits. The tablet lasted about 7 hours and 30 minutes. 

Apple iPad Air 2022

The Apple iPad Air 2022 is for someone looking for a high-performance standalone tablet at a fair price. If you love the iPad Pro features, you’d love this tablet. 

Apple iPad Air 2022 has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, a resolution of 2360×1640, and a P3 broad color support. With these display features, you are guaranteed nothing less or sharper and crispier images that are gentle on the eyes. This tablet displays colors vibrantly even when you are in bright light settings. 

Apple iPad Air 2022 has an M1 chip that the iPad Pro boasts of. This chip powers the most powerful Apple machines like the Macbook Air, iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. With this chip, the iPad Air has an out-of-the-world performance compared to the older version. 

With this upgrade, the iPad Air runs the most demanding apps without lags, making it perfect for designing, sketching, and video editing. 

Apple iPad Air also features double RAM at 8GB and a storage of 64GB, which seems a little low, but you can always upgrade it to 128GB if you’re working with larger files. 

This iPad Air looks like the iPad Pro, but the displays are different when you take a closer look. The iPad Air has a 10.9-inch display, just 0.1 smaller than the iPad Pro. This tablet has a resolution of 2360×1640 with a P3 color space, making viewing an average distance comfortably. 

The only hitch is that we are used to tablets with 120Hz refresh rates, so the iPad Air’s 60Hz refresh rate seems sluggish. But that isn’t a deal breaker. With a peak brightness of 490 nits, you can work on the tablet even in the brightest environments and still feel comfortable. 

Stylus

We love that Apple upgraded the iPad Air to work with the Apple Pencil 2, unlike its older version that only worked with the first-generation Apple pencil. As artists, this is a big plus to us because the drawing and sketching experience has been taken a notch higher. 

Microsoft Surface Go 3

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is an excellent alternative to Surface Pro, and it comes with a detachable keyboard and a kickstand. By the outlook, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 is sturdily built with a magnesium chassis and superb display that delivers images sharply ideal for all light settings. 

There are so many good things about this Surface Go, one being that it runs a Windows operating system and is also one of the most budget-friendly 2-in-1 tablets you can purchase. The only hitch here is you have to get a compatible Microsoft keyboard because this tablet doesn’t have one. 

Display

Although the Go 3 has a better display than your average panel, it does lack behind compared to its competitors from Apple. The 10.9-inch display has a resolution of 1920 by 1280 which might need to be better with professional artwork. 

However, if you’re an amateur looking for a good 2-in-1 tablet, you can pick this Surface Go for your light projects. 

We carried out a battery life test by web browsing, and to be honest, we weren’t impressed because the battery lasted only 8 hours and 53 minutes. The battery life is way shorter than the older version of this tablet, the Go 2. 

Windows

It’s exciting that the Surface Go 3 runs full-fledged windows, and now you can acquaint yourself with Windows 11. The interface seems cool, just that Microsoft keeps pushing for Bing, and we are mostly used to Chrome, but it wasn’t a great deal. 

Performance

The Surface Go 3 runs on an Intel Core i3 processor and has 8GB RAM that accelerates performance for everyday use.

We tested the tablet for web browsing and had a good experience except for high-level designing. The tablet did hesitate a few times, so it isn’t ideal for demanding tasks. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite

Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite is an excellent alternative to the S8+ if you need a cheap and functional standalone tablet to carry out your day-to-day artwork. And even though it can be a cheaper alternative to the S8+, there are so many features that this tablet does have that the S8+ boasts of. 

But if you want a portable and cheaper android standalone tablet, you can always go right with this Tab 6 Lite. It does a fantastic job if you pick the higher storage model instead of the 64GB memory. 

Display

The Galaxy Tab 6 Lite tablet has a 10.4-inch display that delivers crystal-clear images and videos. We tested the display on several movies and love how vividly the tablet delivers colors with so much clarity. 

When designing, the tablet did deliver true colors exceeding our expectations. Its peak brightness goes up to 435 nits which seems low compared to other standalone tablets but is still fair. 

However, the colors can seem slightly darker when viewed at 30 degrees angle. The Tab 6 Lite has 2000 by 1200 pixels panel that offers 100% accurate touch response. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite has an Exynos 9611 CPU  and 4GB RAM. The tablet has great speed if you’re not working on multiple tabs, so it’s an excellent pick for light tasks. We tried to work on several Chrome tabs, and we noticed some slagging, so it’s not ideal for heavy work.

It took us approximately 12 hours and 42 minutes to drain the battery of the Tab 6 Lite by browsing using WiFi. This means you can work on the tablet throughout the day without plugging it into the power supply. We could browse with 150 nits of the brightness all day, making it a great pick.

How to choose the Best Drawing Tablet that doesn’t need a Computer

You’ve gone through a list of the best standalone drawing tablets that don’t need a computer, and now you’d probably want to know the key features to look for when purchasing one. We’ve got you. Below are some of the essential features to consider before buying your next standalone drawing tablet:

Display

You want to ensure the tablet you’re about to pay for has a high-quality display. Drawing, designing, and any kind of artwork needs a good display. There are several types of displays, from matte to glossy screens. Make sure you choose one that you can efficiently work with. We love matte screens and recommend these displays because they feel natural while drawing. 

Battery Life

If you spend most of your time outdoors and still want to maintain a high level of productivity, you should get a tablet with long battery life. You want to ensure that you have a tablet that can stay on throughout the day so that you don’t get confined in your working space.

Color Accuracy

As a designer or an artist, you want to ensure that you have a standalone tablet that helps you produce high-quality images with superb color accuracy. 

Stylus

A good stylus pen is another essential thing to consider when purchasing your tablet. While some tablets come with stylus pens, you might need to purchase one separately if you buy a tablet without one. 

Storage

You want to get yourself a tablet with enough storage to store your projects and help run apps smoothly. Most tablets come with 64GB storage and others higher, but the one you get depends on what you intend to save. 

Additional Features

There are other personalized features that you might want your drawing tablet to have, and it all goes down to your needs. Ensure you get a tablet with all the necessary features to boost your creativity. 

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Standalone Drawing Tablets

Best Drawing Tablet That Doesn’t Need A Computer

1. Apple iPad Pro 2022 Best Overall
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Best Windows Standalone Tablet
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ Best Android Tablet
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 
5. Apple iPad Air 2022 Portable Standalone Drawing Tablet
6. Microsoft Surface Go 3 standalone drawing tablet with a screen
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite best budget standalone drawing tablet
8. Simbans Picasso Tab standalone drawing tablet under $300
9. Wacom Mobile Studio Wacom standalone drawing tablet