Illustration has evolved and continues to become more complex by the day. But the evolution hasn’t left out the tablets that illustrators use. People aren’t confined to using their desktop computers for official tasks anymore. Tablets are one of the most adored devices when it comes to artists. As Adobe Illustrator is one of the most used software by artists, it’s no surprise that they prefer a tablet for using Adobe Illustrator
So why is a tablet preferred by the artists? First and foremost tablets are miniature computers. As there are specific tablets for drawing, artists are drawn towards using a tablet for professional use.
But which tablet would be good for you? There are mainly two types of tablets. A drawing tablet and a normal tablet. If you have an external device to connect to, then a drawing tablet would be good for you. Otherwise, just pick up a normal tablet.
Keeping in mind aspects such as the cost, power, tablet features among other features, we have managed to put together a list of what we consider to be the best tablets for Adobe Illustrator.
Our Recommendations
- 2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro – Best Overall
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7 – Best For Multitasking
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best In Portability
- XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro – Best Display
- Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16 – Best Screen Surface
- Wacom CTL4100 – Best In Price
- Wacom CTL6100 – Best Lightweight Tablet
- Wacom Intuos Pro Digital Tablet – Best Digital Pen
- Huion INSPIROY Q11K V2 – Best Ergonomic Tablet
- VASTKING KingPad K10 Pro – Best Screen Response Time
2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro
The best overall tablet for Adobe Illustrator is none other than the iPad Pro (2021).
The iPad Pro comes with an Apple M1 chip which ensures a powerful performance. Based on a desktop-class architecture with a neutral engine, the processor and chipset are currently the best in the market.
Up next we’ve got the storage. The storage ranges from 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB on all versions of this iPad Pro. For the battery backup, you can expect up to 10 hours of battery life on a full charge.
We don’t have anything particular to say about the display other than it’s currently the best. The 12.9‑inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology provides vibrant and life-like visuals to the user. With added features such as P3 Wide color gamut and true tone, expect stunning visuals every time you take a look at the screen.
Overall, the iPad Pro is the best tablet for Adobe Illustrator. If someone is willing to spend a lot, its features are worth the price.
Pros
- Compatible with running graphics-heavy applications such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
- A decent 10-hour battery life.
- SSD storage options range from 128GB up to 2TB.
Cons
- Very expensive.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7
Enough of all the drawing tablets. Let’s talk about something normal. If you want to use a tablet that not only runs Adobe Illustrator, but also does other things, and has a decent price range, you should opt for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7.
As these tablets aren’t drawing tablets, you might find the specs to be a bit different. The Galaxy S7 runs on an octa-core processor and has 6GB of RAM.
The Galaxy Tab S6 lite has base storage of 128GB. The storage can be expanded up to 1TB with a MicroSD card. The battery life on this tablet is more than enough. With up to 8 hours of backup on a full charge, you should be all set for a hard day of work.
The display is great for using Adobe illustrator. The Galaxy S6 lite has a 12.4 inch full HD display.
We highly recommend it.
Pros
- The octa-core processor is perfect.
- The long battery life of 8 hours.
- Comfortable slim metal design.
- Storage can be expanded up to 1TB
Cons
- Has dead space.
- Vibrations can’t be disabled.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
If you need a device that will bring your ideas to life, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the item for you. The 10th Gen Intel Core processor will make processing time doubly fast compared to the previous Surface Pro 6. Its versatility is enough to draw you to it because anyone can draw, type, touch, work, write on the Pro 7, and effortlessly too. Multitasking is also easy. If you do not want to work, use it as an entertainment tool. The long battery life will keep you using it anytime you want. Plus, it is light and portable. It charges fast too.
Pros
- The keyboard is versatile.
- Lightweight
- USB port
Cons
- The screen has the tendency to freeze.
XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro
The XP-Pen artist 12 is aimed at professional artists. The features it brings to the table are polished and suitable for professional use.
At 11.6-inch, the XP-Pen artist 12 pros might seem like a bit smaller tablet. But the active area of 10 x 5.7 inches provides a decent workspace. The Full HD display comes in 16.5 million colors. Combine that with the 178-degree viewing angle and you’ve got the perfect display for Adobe illustrator.
The display performs well too. It comes with a lightning-fast response time of 14ms making it the fastest responding display on this list. It also has a standard color gamut coverage of 72% on NTSC. Finally, there are 8 programmable shortcut keys. You can use them as you want.
The pen is battery-free and pretty light. At such a low price you’ll be getting a pen pressure level of 8192 and tilt support up to 60 degrees. However, the Matte screen protector affects the sharpness of the screen
Overall, the XP-Pen Artist is a budget-friendly drawing tablet. You should opt for it if you’re on a budget.
Pros
- 8192 level of pressure sensitivity at a really low price point.
- A decent working area of 10 x 5.7 inches.
- The full HD display consists of 16.5 million colors and provides impressive visuals.
- The tablet maintains a standard color gamut coverage of 72%.
- At just 14 ms, the screen response time is very fast.
- Programmable Shortcut Keys.
Cons
- The matte screen protector affects the sharpness of the screen.
Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16
Professionals who like a robust tablet with a larger display and precise settings would prefer the Wacom Cintiq 16.
The Wacom Cintiq 16 comes with a 15.6 inch Full HD display. The display also has 16.7 million colors so expect vibrant and lifelike visuals.
It’s perfect for professionals. If you’re a professional Adobe Illustrator user, you should opt for it.
Pros
- The surface feel is as smooth as glass.
- The monitor is not too bright for the eyes.
Cons
- The screen has a tendency to flicker.
Wacom CTL4100
Wouldn’t you want to know about the most budget-friendly tablet for adobe illustrator? Well if you hadn’t guessed it already, we are talking about the Wacom CTL4100.
Like honestly, for a sub $100 drawing tablet, you won’t get better service than the Wacom CTL4100. The Wacom CTL4100 runs on EMR technology. And at just over 200grams of weight It’s super light too!
Though this is a budget-friendly tablet, its performance speaks otherwise. It has an active area of 6 x 3.7″. On top of that, the stylus has a pressure level of 4096 allowing it to point out even the slightest of touches. This tablet also comes with 4 customizable buttons.
Though the stylus is battery-free, it’s lacking the multi-touch function. Other than that, this is a tablet that speaks value!
So if you’re on a tight budget then this is the tablet for you without any doubt!
Pros
- At just 200grams weight, it’s the lightest tablet on this list.
- Very affordable as the price is below $100.
- The active area of 6 x 3.7″ is decent enough.
- This tablet is run by EMR technology which offers better accuracy.
- The stylus has a pressure level of over 4096.
- 4 customizable buttons.
Cons
- It’s lacking the multi-touch function.
Wacom CTL6100
Looking at how this article is going, the addition of another mid-range won’t hurt, right? Which is why we’ll be discussing the Wacom CTL6100 up next. This nifty little drawing tablet is fairly priced and will serve you well in the long run.
The Wacom CTL6100 is quite light with just 800grams of weight. So mobility isn’t an issue with this tablet. This tablet is also stylish as it has white dots all over its body alongside the sleek matte finish. One thing for sure here, your hand will never slip out of place!
We also liked the way this tablet performed. Yes, it’s a bit less funky compared to most other tablets, but at the end of the day all that matters if it’s good for adobe illustrator (Which it is!). The active area of 8.0 x 5.3 inches is decent. And with this tablet, you’ll also be getting 4096 levels of pressure-sensitive drawing experience!
The Wacom CTL6100 also did a pretty good job of handling the rest of the features. For example, you’ll be getting 4 re-programmable express keys. The pen is battery-free too. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and comes with free software. What more can you ask for!
Overall, the Wacom CLT6100 is a great tablet for using adobe illustrator at an even greater price. Should you choose this tablet, you’re bound to love it!
Pros
- At just 800grams of weight, the portability of this tablet is on point.
- A stylish design coupled with a sleek matte finish ensures that your hand never slips out of place.
- The active area of 8.0 x 5.3 inches is quite big.
- 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity ensure picture-perfect drawings!
- 4 reprogrammable express keys.
- A battery-free pen so no hassle of keeping it plugged in!
Cons
- The pen might not be comfortable for most.
Wacom Intuos Pro Digital Tablet
The best one of the Wacom drawing tablet lineup is the Wacom Intuos Pro. The Intuos pro provides an excellent value to money ratio.
The Wacom Intuos Pro comes in two versions and three sizes. Depending on your needs you can pick the paper version or the regular version. And the sizes vary from small to large.
On to how it performs now, you’d be happy to know that it justifies the name pro. The active area goes up to 12.1” x 8.4”. On top of that, the pro pen has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Make your art look as detailed as possible. The pen is also battery-free.
The Wacom Intuos Pro also features multi-touch. It comes with 8 express keys that you can customize freely. One other fun feature of this tablet is that you won’t have to worry about cords as it supports Bluetooth connectivity!
Overall, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the tablet to go for if you want the best of both worlds. It’s one of our favorites and we’re confident that it’ll be yours too.
Pros
- Available in two versions and three sizes.
- The Active area goes up to 12.1” x 8.4”!
- The revamped Wacom pen featured in this tablet is revamped and boasts of 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels for accuracy when used for creating illustrations
- The pen has inbuilt tilt support and is battery-free hence it doesn’t need to be charged
- Compatible with all the latest mac and windows versions.
- Supports Bluetooth connectivity.
- 8 customizable express keys.
- It has a multi-touch functionality
Cons
- The battery life isn’t that great.
Huion INSPIROY Q11K V2
Remember what a hit the Huion Inspiroy Q11K was? Well, we’ve got a successor to that! The new Huion Inspiroy Q11K v2 succeeds in the original Q11K in every way possible.
So what makes it such a hit? The combination of great price and even greater utility makes this tablet stand out from its competitors. The Q11K v2 comes with an active area of 11 x 6.875 inches which is more than enough for most professional artists. It also comes with 8 express keys which you can customize freely.
Let’s take a look at how it performs now. The Q11KV2 has a 5080 LPI resolution. It also reports at a rate of 266 rps. So don’t worry about your pen not being responsive enough. Finally, the reading height of 10 mm is very minimal. It allows your pen to respond at minuscule levels.
On the other hand, the pen is battery-free. This cuts out the tension of keeping your battery on charge constantly. The design is very ergonomic. It allows you to rest your wrists to reduce fatigue. The design is modern so expect a curvy and smooth designed tablet to use adobe illustrator!
Overall, the Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 is one of those rare tablets that holds its legacy in succeeding gens. It’d be a worthy investment should you choose to go for it.
Pros
- Performs at a better level than its predecessors.
- A decent active area of 11 x 6.875 inches.
- A massive 5080 LPI resolution.
- The ergonomic design ensures fatigue-free work sessions.
- The RPS rate of 266 is blazing fast!
- The 8 express keys are freely customizable.
Cons
- Might suffer from odd connection issues.
VASTKING KingPad K10 Pro
Though the Vastking Kingpad K10 Pro is a tablet, you can easily convert it to a PC thanks to a docking keyboard. Plus, the expanded trackpad makes typing easy and accurate too. The included stylus pen helps your imagination run wild. All 1.66mm of the pen tip essentially replaces your fingers thus allowing you to perform detailed tasks with zero lags.
The 12nm chipset and 4GB RAM promise a quick and potent performance with very little delay, Play games after doing your Adobe Illustrator tasks. The Vastking Kingpad K10 Pro can multitask easily and allows 20 days of standby time.
Pros
- The screen is responsive to touch
- The keyboard attachment is 100% functional.
- Fast processing time
Cons
- The keyboard can be difficult to un-mount
Final Thoughts
Whether you are a professional looking to purchase an illustration tablet as a long-term investment or a novice who’s just starting out you must keep in mind that not all tablets are suited for Adobe Illustrator. If Adobe Illustrator is your preferred choice of illustration software, it is advisable that you do thorough research and read multiple user reviews on the functionality of the tablet with the aforementioned software.
While making this list we’ve kept the price, usability, and overall performance in mind.
Both the Wacom One and iPad Pro are the best in their class. But if you want to go for something cheaper then we’ve mentioned that too. It’s up to you now on which one you want to pick.