The idea of being able to draw anywhere is not new, artists can draw and create from everywhere with just a stylus and a tablet we can let our ideas flow.
Android tablets are multi-purpose devices so you can watch videos, send emails, read books, play games, and — of course — be more creative.
The pressure sensitive stylus, touch capabilities and the large screens along with the drawing app optimization for Android OS made digital art more accessible than ever.
There was no longer the need of getting a laptop, and a pen display to work in your art, every artist with an Android Tablet and a digital pen is now able to create high-quality art.
Finding the best Android tablet for drawing can feel like a daunting task when there are so many models available now.
Most of Android tablets on the market doesn’t come with a stylus and even if they do, not all of them can provide a good drawing experience.
In addition, Some traditional drawing pads are compatible with selected Android phones and tablets. This enables you to work on designs on your Android phone or tablet with a connection to your drawing pad.
In this article, we’ll explore the best Android drawing tablets in 2024, From the budget option to the high-end productivity tablet, their different types, and what else you need to know before buying.
Types of Android Drawing Tablet
If Android OS is your platform of choice for drawing, you have two choices:
You can get a high-end Android drawing tablet with native pen support like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. It’s a standalone tablet and comes with a stylus.
These Android tablets feature an inbuilt computer plus screen making them self-sufficient and independent of a computer connection. They are therefore fully portable.
Another option is simply add a traditional drawing tablet compatible with Android OS, which is just an input device, like a mouse or a keyboard.
They comes with or without screen, but both need to be connected to a computer to work, And preference is determined by your specific needs.
They allows you to use the digital pen and tablet with your Android devices to draw, write, edit photos, take notes, and express ideas in a way you can’t with a finger.
What drawing tablet is compatible with Android?
Many modern drawing tablet manufacturers (wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, Gaomon, Ugee, Veikk, Parblo and etc) have started to offer Android OS 6.0 or above compatibility, but only certain models allow for this.
In addition, It’s important to note that not all Android devices are compatible with drawing tablets, so be sure to check compatibility before making a purchase.
How to connect a drawing tablet to Android phone?
You can connect a drawing tablet to an Android phone via a USB-C to USB-C cable, and then draw on art apps.
If your smartphone doesn’t have a USB-C port, then you’ll need a micro-USB or USB-C (depending on your phone) OTG adapte to make this drawing tablet work with your phone.
However, You can’t connect a drawing tablet like wacom intuos to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth connection.
No drivers needed. It’s plug and play. Unfortunately, you don’t have access to key functions such as the express keys and pen pressure.
The pen pressure will depends on whether the drawing app supports pen pressure. Therefore, it is advisable to use a drawing app like Ibis paint X that supports pen pressure.
10 Best Android Drawing Tablets in 2024
If you’re looking for an Android tablet you can draw, take notes or sketch on here is a list of tablets with stylus that are great for digital art.
These tablets may come with a stylus included or need to be purchased separately. Some of the key features to look for in an Android drawing tablet include a high-resolution display, a powerful processor, sufficient RAM and storage, long battery life and a precise pen.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ Plus
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ Plus is a high-end Android tablet that provides excellent performance, versatility, and flexibility for digital artists and graphic designers.
It has a large 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 2,800 x 1,752 resolution and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. This ensure you will view your artwork in crisp, clear, and rich detailed color.
The screen also offers a high refresh rate of 120Hz, which prevents poor-quality images, screen tearing, glitches, and other issues that affect how you view your artwork and its output.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is powered by an Octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and has 12GB of RAM, providing powerful performance for multitasking and running demanding creative software.
There also has a respectable 256GB or 512GB of built-in storage, and even a microSD card slot for great storage for all your artwork.
S Pen is the best stylus on android platform, which is included with the S9+ Plus tablet. It has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and low latency of just 2.8ms, which is sensitive and accurate, performance is consistent and predictable.
The S Pen is also magnetically attached to the back of the tablet, making it easy to access and store when not in use.
The 10,090mAh cell on the Tab S9+ Plus has a long-lasting battery life of up to 13 hours, making it ideal for digital artists and graphic designers who need a device that can last for an entire workday.
For a larger screen, there’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with 14.6 inches. The standard Galaxy tab S9 features a more compact and portable size of 11-inch.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung S9+ Plus is very good but a little expensive. If you’re looking to save a little money but get a really good device for note taking and drawing, Then the Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite is worth a look.
With thin bezels around its all-screen façade, metal back and glass front build and a slim 7mm profile, the device is a dead ringer for the pricier Tab S8+.
There is a very respectable 2000 x 1200 resolution for 10.4-inch size, but the TFT screen isn’t as colourful or vibrant. It only covers 98.4% of the sRGB color gamut, which may not accurately represent the true colors of an artist’s digital artwork.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is powered by an Octa-core Snapdragon 720G chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. This is mid-range in terms of performance, enough for everyday tasks, but may be limited for more complex digital art projects or software.
Despite its budget price, It still comes with a clever S-Pen stylus for sketching. which features 9ms latency, not reacting as fast as on the S8+, but still beats many tablets for responsiveness.
The battery is a 7,040 mAh unit with 15W fast charging. This is just fine, If you use the device for online classes or drawing, it can easily get you through the day.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite emerges as an affordable mid-range tablet, perfect for artists looking for a balance between functionality, affordability, performance, and portability.
3. Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen)
Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is one of the cheapest android tablets from a well-known brand currently available, yet still offers good performance and versatile features.
The Tab P11 (2nd Gen) features the typical Lenovo design, combining metal and plastic, the build quality is solid.
It has a stunning 11.5-inch IPS Screen offers a resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 pixels with 133% sRGB color gamut, running at 120Hz refresh rate, making your screen appear sharp, vibrant and smooth as you draw.
The Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 processor, available in 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.It offers solid drawing performance and allows for smooth running of popular art apps like Sketchbook and Medibang Paint.
What’s more, there’s the option to use the Lenovo Precision Pen 2, which can be used for drawing, navigation, and gesture controls. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response, allowing you to create lines with different thicknesses and shades.
The battery life of the Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is approximately 6 hours when used at 120 Hz, but it can be extended by reducing the refresh rate to 60 Hz.
If you are just starting to draw and want access to Google Play’s drawing and note taking apps, this tablet is a good start.
4. Xiaomi Pad 6
The Xiaomi Pad 6 is an exciting successor to the Pad 5, directly competing against flagship tablets from Samsung and Apple.
The 11-inch IPS display stands out as a highlight, It comes with a high resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels, 144Hz Refresh Rate and 99% DCI-P3 colour gamut. This makes the screen faster and able to produce high-quality and vivid colors.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, accompanied by 6GB to 8GB of RAM and 128GB to 256GB of internal storage. It’s capable of running drawing apps and games smoothly, no delay at all.
You need to buy the pen seperately. it is the Xiaomi Smart Pen (gen 2), which comes in white and bears some resemblance to the Apple Pencil, including a similar hard tip.
In terms of quality, the new stylus finally matches the level of the S Pen or Apple Pencil. It is precise, responsive, and produces clean handwriting. It is suitable for drawing and writing, earning positive feedback from an artist who frequently tests pens and tablets.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 packs a large 8,840mAh battery and can be charged at up to 33 watts, Games and drawing drain the battery faster, but it can still go on for one full day.
5. Oneplus Pad
The OnePlus Pad is a surprisingly good Android tablet that offers premium features at a mid-range price, making it ideal for creating digital art.
It measures 11.61-inch across the diagonal, uses an IPS panel with a resolution of 2,800 x 2,000 pixels, 99.8% DCI-P3 color gamut, and refreshes at a super smooth 144Hz. The screen experience is top tier, which delivers next-level brilliance, crispness, and color.
Inside the OnePlus Pad is a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage. You’ll be able to tackle even the most demanding of gaming or drawing apps with ease.
You must buy a stylus called “OnePlus Stylo” separately if you want to use this for painting and taking notes. The Stylo is a solid drawing tool, which supports palm rejection, tilt and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
The OnePlus Pad boasts a big 9510 mAh battery capacity and supports 67W Supervooc fast charging. Battery life is super impressive. The OnePlus Pad lasts anything from ten to twelve hours on a single charge.
Build quality is solid and the finishing feels premium. You will fall in love with the aesthetics of this streamlined metallic tablet. And you will soon find out that its features match its top-notch design.
6. Wacom Intuos
Wacom Intuos are compatible with select Android smartphones and tablets – so you can record your ideas whenever creativity strikes.
The Intuos comes in two sizes, small or medium, with 6 x 3.7 inches and 8.5 x 5.3 inches work surfaces, respectively. Both are small, slim, and lightweight, which makes it very portable, Ideal for mobile use.
The included stylus is a passive pen that works on EMR technology and does not require batteries to function. There are 4,096 levels of pressure-sensitive, making it very accurate and natural.
You have four Express Keys on the Intuos body plus two buttons on the stylus that can be assigned to functions in the art software that comes with this tablet.
The overall build quality is good even though it is plastic throughout. The drawing surface has a subtle texture and feels closer to paper in use.
The Wacom Intuos is an excellent drawing tablet for beginners. It also has Bluetooth capability, allowing you not to worry about carrying the USB cable if you don’t feel like it.
7. Huion HS64
The Huion HS64 is a cheap but good quality graphcis tablet which is an excellent value piece of kit.
You will appreciate the included USB-A to USB-C plug that allows you to connect it to your android devices.
It comes with a working area of 6.3×4-inch and is only 8mm thick, which is quite compact, slim and light, encouraging portability and easy mobility.
The PW100 battery-free stylus is very responsive, supports 8,192 levels of pressure, 5080 LPI resolution, and 60 degrees tilt detection, making it great for precise drawing or writing.
Your workflow can be further enhanced by programming shortcuts into the 4 integrated keys on the tablet and 2 buttons on the pen.
8. XP-Pen Deco Mini 7
The XP-Pen Deco Mini 7 includes creative software and the ability to connect to Android devices to enhance your creative experience.
Unlike other cheap tablets, Mini 7 has high-quality plastic construction with everything well put together.
It has a small active area of 7 x 4.37 inches, which makes it a good option for users who prefer a more portable tablet or have limited desk space.
Packed with a battery-free stylus with a pressure sensitivity level of 8192, a report rate of 220 and even supports 60 degrees of tilt brush effect. The pen experience is impressive and offers an on-the-mark result.
The tablet has 8 customizable ExpressKeys and 2 pen buttons that can be programmed to perform frequently used commands, or shortcuts, allowing you to work more efficiently and quickly.
XPPEN provides two types of OTG adapters in the Deco Mini 7 tablet package: USB Type-C to USB-A adapter and Micro USB to USB-A adapter. so you don’t have to buy it separately.
9. Wacom One
If you’re a beginner looking to invest in your first pen display or upgrade from an Intuos tablet, the Wacom One is an excellent choice.
It’s a good and affordable pen display tablet for doing sketches, illustrations, digital editing, etc.
Wacom one comes with a 13.3-inch LCD Screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution and 99% sRGB color gamu. That’s fine for the majority of people who may be doing online publishing and photography work.
The included battery-free Pen lets you effortlessly create, edit, and navigate through your work. It supports 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.
The twist for the Wacom One is the ability to connect to select Android devices for direct drawing on the bigger screen.
However, its portability is somewhat hindered by a bulky array of cables and the need for a power outlet.
10. XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen)
XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) comes with a good display, great stylus, and even support Android devices.
Its 11.9-inch IPS display has a 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution and covers 127% sRGB color space, the image appears sharp, bright and vibrant.
With the fully laminated screen and matte surface coating, you get minimal parallax and feel like you’re actually writing or drawing on paper.
The X3 Chip stylus is XP-Pen’s new pen tech that gives the stylus over 8,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, 60° tilt and low initial activation force of 3g, resulting a more precise experience.
There are eight shortcut buttons on the display that can be programmed to carry out simple commands.
The tablet is light and compact, ideal for someone that needs a portable device. Even more so if you intend to pair it with a compatible Android phone.
XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) supports Android phone connection via the single full-featured USB Type-C cable, This does not require an external power source.
It’s an extremely compelling option if you’re serious about drawing and have other Android devices.
Conclusion
Android has improved its products over the years to compete with the high-end Apple iPads, especially in the field of digital art.
Having the right tools is very important for every artist, These Android tablets mentioned above will give you the freedom to create wherever you are, and let you creating masterpieces in no time.
Whether you are an illustrator, graphic artist, or beginner drawer, you won’t battle to find the perfect Android tablet for your budget, needs and preferences.
Choose from the best graphic tablets and get lost in a seamless drawing experience with Android. You won’t be disappointed with any of the above purchases.
FAQs
What is the best handwritten note taking app on Android?
There are so many incredible note-taking apps on android out there at the moment, such as OneNote, Notion, Evernote, Obsidian, Joplin, Google Keep, SimpleNote, Standard Notes, Zoho Notebook, Squid, Workflowy, Dynalist, and more.
However, a lot of these apps don’t offer the option to write and sketch by hand, which can feel limiting to a lot of people.
The popular android note-taking apps that support hand-written are OneNote, Evernote, Samsung notes, Squid and Goodnotes.
What art app can I use to draw on Android?
Thanks to the Play Store, you can access the best drawing apps Android has to offer that let you draw, sketch, and create digital art on your phone or tablet.
Some of the best android drawing apps include Infinite Painter, Ibis Paint X, Clip Studio Paint, Sketchbook (free), Krita (free), Medibang Paint (free), Artflow, PaperColor, Artrage, Dotpict and etc..
Each app has its unique features, such as brush customization, layer management, and canvas sizing.
