A high-quality drawing tablet is essential for producing professional-quality artwork and designs. For many photographers, animator, artists and designers, there has only been one reliable name in tablets, Wacom.
Wacom is a very professional and reliable brand. Their graphics tablets are of incredible quality and are industry standard in the animation, gaming and film industries.
Are you thinking of buying the best wacom tablet for digital sketching, drawing, photo editing, online teaching, and more?
Since the company has such a vast array of models and types, It can be difficult figuring out what to pick for your needs.
To help in that regard, we’ve collected what we believe to be the best of its offerings right now. We have Included options for every type of user so whether you are looking for the best budget.
What is Wacom?
Wacom is a Japanese company that specialises in graphic tablets and related devices. It was established in 1983 in Japan.
From cinema and animation to auto-design and manga, Wacom comprises many creative customers worldwide.
Wacom also provides revolutionary user interface technologies and solutions to successful medical, educational, and other companies.
Wacom owns the pro market. Meanwhile, It has filled out the more affordable end of its range, with budget tablets to tempt those who don’t have huge amounts to spend.
Is a Wacom tablet worth buying?
Nowadays, There are many other options out there, cheaper ones, such as Huion, XP-Pen, etc. However, Even though Wacom tablets are relatively expensive, they are well worth buying.
Wacom tablets are often seen as being of more features and better performance. For example, the Cintiq Pro range display has wider color accuracy, higher resolution, and provides 27-inch and 32-inch screen size that other brands doesn’t have.
Thanks to a combination of solid build quality, extremely high-quality components. Every wacom tablet is built to last, which means you’ll be creating stunning works of art for many, many years to come.
Wacom produce the most precise, lag-free, responsive styluses in the industry that require no batteries to work. These pens comes with a lower activation force and can recognizes light pen strokes.
Wacom pen tablets and displays are built with artists’ needs in mind. they comes with good compatibility with practically every operating system and piece of artistic software.
Wacom have taken longer time to refine and hone their drivers within their tablet products. This, along with their features and design, mean they have a lot of extra capabilities that other brand’s products do not yet offer.
There’s lots of help and support online for almost anything you need because most artists use Wacom, so there’s a lot more info available for you compared to other lesser known brands.
We recommend saving up more for wacom if drawing quality, durability and longevity is concern.
What are the different types of Wacom tablets?
1. Drawing tablet without screen
Wacom Intuos and Intuos pro series are a really good option for someone getting started in digital art.
The main reasons for this is that they are much more affordable and quite durable.
They don’t have a built-in screen, so you will need to look at your computer screen while drawing on the tablet.
2. Drawing tablet with screen
Wacom Cintiq and Wacom Cintiq Pro series are drawing tablets with screen, which is ideal for illustrators and those doing a lot of line drawings.
Here, it pays to be able to look at what you are drawing as you draw it, exactly as if you were using paper.
In general you pay more for this privilege, but many prefer screened pen tablets for their ease of use, more natural and intuitive.
They still need to be plugged in to your computer to work, and will use your computer’s resources to work.
3. Standalone Drawing Tablet
Portability is crucial as you will probably draw, edit and write on the go. The Wacom MobileStudio Pro is a unique solution for creative professionals who want the freedom to create anywhere.
You don’t need a laptop or a desktop to use it, as everything (screen, computer, and stylus) is within one handy box. Of course, they are the most expensive in general.
10 Best Wacom Drawing Tablets in 2023
Let’s go over the 10 different Wacom tablet models that are now in the market and see which one is the right for you!
We selected this list based on Price, features, specifications, and performance.
1. One by Wacom
One by Wacom is a simple and budget-friendly graphics tablet contains most of the essential features needed for professional use.
It is available in two sizes: Small version with 6.0 x 3.7 inches active area, and Medium Version with 8.3 x 5.7 inches work area.
The size makes is portable and easy to use, especially the small version. It can slip into your laptop bags with ease and be readily available whenever the creative urge strikes.
It’s black on the front, with the rear of the slate a bold, yet sophisticated, matte red. Four rubber pads on its base stop the tablet from sliding, and on the side is a fabric pen loop to hold the stylus.
Thanks to Wacom’s EMR technology, the stylus is battery free and never requires charging, so it’s ready to go whenever you are.
It features 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and 2,540 LPI resolution, allowing you to perform tasks ranging from fine hand-writing to wide-brush painting.
One by wacom is not just for artists, it’s aimed specifically at the education market. You can connect it to certain android devices and chromebooks besides traditional windows, Mac or Linux computers.
Paired with a note taking app or whiteboard, you can handwritten notes, sketches, diagrams, equations and more. you can also use it for playing games like osu.
One by Wacom is a fantastic device for students and hobbyists in the market for a graphic tablet on a budget.
2. Wacom Intuos
Wacom Intuos has a modern and minimalistic design that looks and feels premium-ish, in spite of being a mid-range graphics tablet.
The tablet itself feels quite sturdy. It’s nicely finished and feels good in your hands. It comes in black and pistachio colors that suit any surroundings.
Intuos comes in two portable sizes, small or medium, with 6.0 x 3.7 inches and 8.5 x 5.3 inches work surfaces, respectively. which is perfect for traveling or working in a limited space.
Unlike one by wacom, The wacom intuos features 4 customisable express keys to enable individual, application-specific shortcuts.
The Optional Bluetooth connection lets you work with ease and there is more freedom if you want to work in a different environment.
The battery-free stylus has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, so you can get great sweeping strokes which vary in thickness and opacity in your favourite painting apps.
Wacom Intuos is widely compatible with Window, Mac, Linux, Chromebook and Android OS devices. But the USB OTG connector for Android smartphones or tablets need to buy separately.
It comes with up to 3 free trial software once you register your Intuos tablet: Corel Painter Essentials, Corel AfterShot and Clip Studio Paint Pro.
Wacom Intuos is a great tool for drawing, sketching, illustrations and general photographic work including retouching up images.
3. Wacom Intuos Pro
Wacom Intuos Pro is aimed at anyone planning to invest in a professional and high-quality pen tablet for photo editing, retouching, illustration, 3D Sculpting, digital art or graphic design.
Every piece of it feels like it was perfectly engineered and really comfortable to work with. It has no hard edges and it is made of premium materials like anodized aluminium and glass fibre composite resin. It really feels sturdy even though it is only 8mm thick.
The multi-touch gestures work very well, you can zoom, pan and rotate in most application and if they are not required you can easily disable them with the switch on the side of the tablet.
The Wacom Intuos Pro comes in several models of different sizes: small version with 6.3 x 3.9 inches active area, medium version has 8.7 x 5.8 inhes while the large version offers 12.1 x 8.4 inches.
Scrolling, zooming and brush adjustments are completed at the touch of a finger thanks to the multifunctional Touch Ring. In addition to that, all the 6~8 express buttons can be set to custom shortcuts.
Also, the Intuos Pro now comes with the wireless connection via bluetooth as standard, although you can also use a USB-C connection instead. The tablet charges itself when connected by cable and works for several days after a full charge connected wirelessly.
The included Wacom Pro pen 2 is the best stylus for precision in the market, features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, natural tilt recognition, and virtually lag-free tracking.
The Wacom Intuos Pro offers incredible realism, and excellent drawing performance. It was expensive but worth the money.
4. Wacom One 13
Wacom One 13 is the cheapest entry-level pen display from this brand, with its affordability making it a worthy rival to other screen tablets like Huion kamvas and XP-Pen Artist.
It has a 13.3 inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, very decent for deatils. 94% sRGB color gamut is also good enough for beginners.
The screen is not laminated but has a matte AG film coating, which minimizes reflection and glares on the screen and makes the screen easier to see in a brightly lit environment.
The film also has a slight texture that provides friction to the stylus, it perfectly captures the experience of drawing on paper.
The battery-free pen has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, 60 degree tilt recognition, and is reasonably responsive. which means that all moves you made with it feel natural, fluid, and precise.
It is compatible with your Chromebook, Windows, Mac devices. You can even use it with your Android smartphone instead of a laptop, which improves its portability and mobility.
Wacom one 13 is a good and affordable pen display tablet for doing sketches, illustrations, digital editing, etc.
5. Wacom Cintiq 16
Wacom Cintiq 16 is certainly good and affordable for beginners. It features everything you need to comfortably do digital art.
The 15.6-inch screen is big enough to comfortably draw on, but the 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and 72% NTSC color gamut are all fairly standard features.
The matte anti-glare surface is nature and very paper-like, offering enough resistance to make your strokes more precise.
Wacom Pro Pen 2 features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt capability and a low activation force, so it recognizes even the lightest pen strokes.
The rubberized grip keeps the pen comfortably in your hands for hours. And there is an eraser on the top end of the pen that you can use by flipping over the pen and rubbing, just as you would a pencil.
Cintiq 16 is not compatible with Android or chromebook devices, It only works well with Windows, Mac and Linux devices.
Wacom Cintiq 16 does’t have the laminated screen, more professional color gamut and resolution, but this budget-minded tablet cuts the frills and keeps what really matters.
6. Wacom Cintiq Pro 16
Wacom cintiq pro 16 is a good buy for any pro level digital artist who uses their computer as the locus of their workstation and can afford the steep price point.
The 15.6″ screen of the Cintiq Pro 16 looks razor sharp thanks to the 4K resolution. the pixel density is such high that you don’t ever feel you’re working with a screen.
The IPS panel has a rather remarkable 98% Adobe RGB color gamut, provide lifelike accuracy to images. The portrait, landscape, conceptual, and editorial photographers are seriously going to love.
Glass will last practically forever and the etched surface gives you the tactile feel of drawing on paper. There is also no parallax— The screen is fully laminated.
It has multi-touch capabilities for gesture-based finger control, which allows touch controls such as scroll, turn, zoom and click.
The 8 buttons are divided between both sides of the cintiq pro 16 tablet that sit underneath the edge. Each key has multiple customizable choices, make it easier and more efficient to use.
Wacom Pro Pen 2 has over 8,000 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt response, an eraser on the top end, and 2 programmable buttons—great for using as a “right-click” alternative.
Its 4K resolution, excellent color performance, and best-in-class stylus are more than worthy of the Cintiq Pro 16’s flagship status.
7. Wacom Cintiq 22
If you’re looking for a generous screen size, satisfying drawing experience, excellent build quality and value for money, the Wacom Cintiq 22 is the best on the market.
The 22-inch canvas size should be big enough for most people. But the FHD 1080P resolution is a bit on the low side for a screen this big.
The color accuracy of 96% sRGB / 72% NTSC is pretty spot on but for those who really need it to be accurate, the cintiq pro line may be better for your needs.
There is a anti-glare film on the Cintiq 22 give it a slight texture, which gives a pleasing sense of bite as you move the stylus across it. this actually feels great to draw on.
Just like its smaller sibling, the Cintiq 22 works seamlessly with the top of the line stylus – Wacom Pro Pen 2, which provides incredible precision and accuracy for digital painting.
The Cintiq 22 has no built-in shortcut keys, Some artists use the optional ExpressKey Remote instead of a keyboard. Unlike cintiq 16, It comes with an inbuilt adjustable stand.
Wacom Cintiq 22 offers a nice balance of performance, reliability, and pricing when compared to other high-end Cintiq Pro pen displays.
8. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
Wacom’s Cintiq Pro 24 is the best balance of display resolution and working area, and is unbeaten at this level when it comes to the raw experience of drawing and painting in a digital environment.
The giant 24-inch IPS screen has an excellent 4k resolution and great color accuracy of 99% Adobe RGB. Everything is super-sharp and accurate, and the color display is drop-dead gorgeous.
The Cintiq Pro 24 uses an etched laminated glass screen, has little to no parallax. The benefit of an etched glass surface is that when drawing, there’s enough friction that it feels like you’re using a pencil on paper.
The Pro Pen 2 feels great to draw with, comfortable and responsive. It has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt recognition. This means that it’s easy to draw a line that smoothly varies between thick and thin.
Also included is the Wacom ExpressKey remote with 17 customizable buttons and Touch Ring for zooming in and out as well as a gazillion other shortcuts you could want.
If you want the multi-touch option or an adjustable tablet stand , that’s an extra fee.
It’s a surprisingly heavy display that feels solid, huge and the display is beautiful. There is little to no parallax, pixels is rich. This really is top of the line, it comes with a hefty price tag but if you’re willing to pay for the best you know you’re getting the best.
9. Wacom Cintiq Pro 27
Some artists prefer a larger canvas because they don’t like zooming in, or panning, and enjoy using their entire arm to draw, like on a canvas. In those situations, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is the most suitable.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is a best-in-class drawing monitor for digital artists and photo editors—the price may be very hefty, but it justifies the spend for pros tied to their pens.
On the 27-inch huge screen, you have a lot of space to draw your ideas. The screen of the Cintiq Pro 27 looks razor sharp and without seeing any pixels thanks to the 4K resolution.
Designing and editing of images goes smoothly thanks to the refresh rate of 120Hz, which means a quicker response and smoother lines. Because of top-tier color-gamut coverage of 99% Adobe RGB/98% DCI-P3 coverage, The colors are vibrant and accurate.
The etched anti-glare laminated glass screen gives a real texture to strokes, and virtually no parallax or latency. It also has multi-touch support with gestures that you can customise and it almost feel link manipulating an iPad pro.
Users can take advantage of Cintiq’s eight grip-style express keys, four on each side, to provide simple access to favorite features.
The most advanced wacom Pro Pen 3 is sensitive to the way you write and draw and recognizes thick lines, thin lines, and shading.
Cintiq Pro 27 is designed with an optional stand that is fully adjustable to dial in the height and angle that the artist is most comfortable working in. It can also be mounted to the wall or existing VESA-based monitor stands.
As such, It serves as a high-resolution, exceptionally accurate editing and creative tool for working with photos, video, and digital art at a high level of precision.
10. Wacom Mobilestudio Pro 13
Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 packs a lot of power into its compact, lightweight body. This is ideal if you like to edit photos and draw on the go.
The design is sleek, robust, and sturdy. the thickness between the screen and the edge of the case makes the tablet feel more ergonomic, while its rounded edges fit nicely in our palm.
It has a 13.3” screen with 2K (2560 x 1440) screen and supports up to 82% Adobe RGB coverage. The image is sharp, colors are vivid, and saturated colors really pop.
The only downside to the screen is the brightness. The brightness of 250cd/m2 is satisfactory but could be brighter. When working outdoors, it’s going to be a problem though.
The matte screen diffuses reflection and has a nice texture to draw on, which similar to paper. This makes the pen nib action smooth without any slipping or squeaking.
The tablet features multi-touch technology and can support finger gestures, e.g. pinch to zoom, rotate, pan. Finger gestures depend on the support of apps that you use.
Under the hood, It has an Intel Core i7-8559U CPU with an integrated Iris Graphics 550 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. So you can run pretty much anything even for 3d modeling and video editing, it’s a powerful machine.
MobileStudio Pro’s biggest selling point is its famous Wacom pro pen 2 input. The pen worked perfectly for feel and accuracy, experienced hardly any delays during drawing.
MobileStudio Pro 13 runs on Windows OS, which means it can run demanding, full-version creative programs, like adobe photoshop, illustrator, Indesign, and etc.
In easily the most unfortunate turn of events, this device does not have very long battery life. Its 52 Wh battery lasted just around 4 hours if you draw continuously.
Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 offers a great, portable, balanced solution for your mobile art needs. There also have a 15.6-inch version – Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16, which features higher tech specs like 4K resolution and etc.
In conclusion
Wacom is the industry leader in the pen tablet field and with good reason – their products are well designed, well made and customisable in virtually every way imaginable.
This is a brief overview of all the Wacom tablets on the market to help you choose the right one for you based on your current skill level, your preferences and your budget!
If you’re a beginner who is looking to utilize a tablet for recreational use, you’ll likely be better off saving some money and choosing to one of the regular Wacom Intuos tablets.
If you’re a professional who is looking to invest in a tablet for multimedia manipulation, we highly recommend Wacom Cintiq display tablets.
If you are an advanced artist who is constantly on the go, and you don’t want to be stuck in one place. The freedom and portability of Wacom Mobilestudio Pro gives you will be worth that investment and more.
Whether you’re an artist, teacher, designer or photographer, these devices have a lot to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wacom
Which Wacom tablet is the best for beginners and professionals?
The Wacom Intuos, Intuos Pro and entry-level wacom cintiq is a fabulous choice if you are getting started with digital art. They are compatible with many platforms and has essential features you need.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro and Mobile Studio models adapt well to professional environments. They bundle many premium features like a vast color gamut, 8k levels of pressure, tilt recognition, multi-touch function, higher resolution, radial menus and etc.
How many pressure levels do you need with a Wacom tablet?
The number of pressure sensitivity levels indicates how realistic and natural your drawing experience will be.
The more pressure sensitivity a graphics tablet has. The more you will be able to vary the size of your strokes with pressure.
Most wacom tablets have a pressure sensitivity of at least 2,048 levels, which is adequate for most users.
However, if you want to achieve more realistic and expressive effects, you may want to look for a higher pressure sensitivity, such as 4,096 levels or more.
How do I install the drivers for my Wacom tablet?
To install the drivers for your Wacom tablet, visit the Wacom official website and download the appropriate drivers for your operating system. Follow the installation instructions provided.
Is it possible to connect a wacom tablet to an Android smartphone or tablet?
Wacom tablets are primarily designed for use with computers, but some models are compatible with certain Android smartphones or tablets. Ensure to check compatibility before purchasing.
Can I replace the pen that comes with a Wacom tablet?
Yes, you can usually purchase replacement pens for Wacom tablets. Check the Wacom website or authorized retailers for compatible pen options.
Can I use a Wacom tablet without a computer?
Wacom Intuos and Cintiq tablets require a computer or compatible device to function since they are input devices.
Only Wacom Mobilestudio Pro can work without a computer.
