Any digital animator worth their salt can confess to the power of owning a good animation tablet. Good animation tablets are must-have tools that ease what was once a tedious manual task by simplifying the animation process. Unlike a couple of years back, innovative technology has empowered artists to be able to create more efficiently and effectively without much hassle.
However, not every type of tablet has been designed for animation and as an animator trying to decide on which tablet suits you should be entirely dependent on the tasks you wish to accomplish as well as your skill. Even though you could always learn, it beats logic to purchase a tablet that you cannot use. It’s always better to start with an easy to use tablet and work your way up to the more advanced ones that can handle more advanced animation tasks needed.
1. Wacom Intuos Pro
The Wacom Intuos Pro is simply the best in terms of both price and performance. Used by most professional animators, you’re bound to like this one.
The Wacom Intuos Pro is an upgrade to the regular Intuos on all levels. It has an active area of 12.1” x 8.4”. The Pen has a huge pressure sensitivity level of 8192 and on top of that it’s battery-free. A win-win situation here!
The Wacom Intuos Pro comes with 8 free customizable express keys. So basic functions can now be done through just the push of a button. The screen also supports multi-touch. What more can you ask for!
The Wacom Intuos Pro has three sizes and two versions. The Paper version is slightly better thanks to a few upgrades over the Intuos pro. But the changes are minuscule.
Overall, The Wacom Intuos is indeed one of the best tablets you can find currently. You can go wrong picking this tablet for animation!
Pros
- A huge active area of 12.1” x 8.4”!
- The pen has an 8,192 pressure sensitivity level thus providing great accuracy.
- Compatible with all the latest mac and windows versions.
- Supports Bluetooth connectivity.
- 8 customizable express keys.
- Available in two versions and three sizes.
- It has a multi-touch functionality
Cons
- Latest drivers from Wacom have to be installed for it to function
2. Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Since Apple began releasing their iPads, the scenario in various work fields changed drastically. Apple offers diversity, power, and portability with their tablet which is why it’s so popular among animators!
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 was announced earlier this year and got released a few days after. And soon after its release, it got regarded as one of the best tablets in recent times. The iPad Pro features an A12Z bionic chip which is nearly on the same power level as the A13 chip of iPhone 11 pro max.
The iPad Pro comes with an 8 core CPU and GPU. So doing tasks that require multiple cores (Animation, Graphic design) is now a piece of cake. The aluminum body is very light and comfortable to grip on.
Apple has truly upgraded its display section which we can confirm with the availability of iPad Pro. Though the display is IPS LCD, it offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 600 nits brightness. It also has a pretty decent screen-to-body ratio (85.4%). The display is also scratch and oil-resistant. So if you have problems with these things, you won’t have them anymore!
The charge will last long because the iPad Pro has a 9720 mAh battery. It also supports 18W fast charging and reverse charging. And finally this iPad Pro comes in a few variants among which 1TB storage and 6GB RAM variant are the highest ones.
But like other Apple products, you’ll have to buy the stylus separately – we are looking at you iPhone 12! So if that’s a problem for you then you might choose to skip over this tablet.
Overall, the iPad Pro offers diversity, power, and portability better than any other tablet in the market. So if these things matter for you then we suggest you not to pick any other tablets!
Pros
- It’s powered by a super strong A12Z chipset.
- The aluminum body is very light and comfortable to grip on.
- Creative tasks are easy to do thanks to the 8 core processor and GPU.
- The display has a 120Hz refresh rate and 600 nits brightness.
- scratch and oil resistant.
- The 9720 mAh battery supports 18W fast charging and reverse charging.
- Up to 1TB storage and 6GB RAM.
- A pretty decent screen-to-body ratio (85.4%).
Cons
- Expensive.
- Stylus sold separately.
3. Huion KAMVAS GT-156HDV2
Huion devices are considered to be some of the best drawing tablets on the market. In our judgment, the [link url=”https://www.amazon.com/Huion-GT-156HDV2-Drawing-Monitor-Sensitivity/dp/B0779QTQ13/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536667554&sr=1-1&keywords=Huion+KAMVAS+GT-156HDV2+Drawing+Monitor+Pen+Display+with+8192+Pressue+Sensitivity+-+15.6+Inch&linkCode=ll1&tag=secret-asian-man-20&linkId=7d3ec498cab178987001274d2f90b834&language=en_US”]Huion KAMVAS GT-156HD2[/link] is the best overall tablet on the market for animators and illustrators.
With a convenient 15.6 inches HD drawing display screen, the GT-156 HDV2 is one of the best mid-sized animation tablets in the market. The screen covers a majority of the tablet allowing for ample working space and is perfect for digital animation. It’s a nice balance of size and portability, making it easily transportable.
It GT-156 HDV2 includes two digital pens with 8192 Levels of pressure sensitivity. This is an upgrade from its predecessor that had 4 times less pressure sensitivity. What this upgrade means for you as an animator is that you have better control of your heavy or hair-like strokes.
Unlike other Huion displays, the [link url=”https://www.amazon.com/Huion-GT-156HDV2-Drawing-Monitor-Sensitivity/dp/B0779QTQ13/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536667554&sr=1-1&keywords=Huion+KAMVAS+GT-156HDV2+Drawing+Monitor+Pen+Display+with+8192+Pressue+Sensitivity+-+15.6+Inch&linkCode=ll1&tag=secret-asian-man-20&linkId=7d3ec498cab178987001274d2f90b834&language=en_US”]GT-156HD V2[/link] comes with a two-section adjustable stand that boasts multi-angle capabilities. This allows for you to easily adjust your device to your preferred working angle as just as quickly store the device away when it is not in use.
Finally, it is compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1/10, MAC OS 10.10 or later and in addition to having a 3-in-1 input cable that splits into an AC adapter, USB port, and an HDMI port.
However, some users have reported the cord being a bit too short. And as the pen uses a battery, it needs to be charged frequently. However, both of these problems come with easy fixes as the charge lasts long and you can use a multiplug to cover the distance of the cord.
Overall, it’s one of the best tablets for animators currently. So you shouldn’t hesitate to go for this one.
Pros
- The 15.6 inches HD drawing display screen is ideal for working amply.
- The two included pens have 8192 Levels of pressure sensitivity. This is 4-times more than the V1.
- Includes a two-section adjustable stand that boasts multi-angle capabilities.
- Compact size and build thus great for using on the go.
- Compatible with the latest versions of both MAC OS and Windows.
Cons
- A bit older model.
4. Huion HS610
One of the latest models from Huion, the HS610 has been one of the most value for money tablets for animators this year. Though it’s limited and in some cases not ideal for professionals, certain tweak-ups can make it perfect for your day-to-day use.
The HS610 has a max workspace of 10 x 6.25inch in computer mode. It also has a tablet mode where it has a workspace of 6.25 x 3.91inches. The stylus has a silicone grip so it won’t slip up and make a mess.
The stylus has a pressure sensitivity level of 8192. That’s the same level of sensitivity as the upper midrange tablets!. The Stylus also has a tilt range of ±60°. Allowing it to be one of the most flexible styluses on the market.
The Huion HS610 has an interesting feature called the touch ring. It helps you zoom in or out for your canvas, adjust your brush and page scrolling. The Huion HS610 also comes with 12 express keys for free customization. And finally, this tablet also supports Android 6.0 and above on top of being compatible with Mac and Windows already!
Overall, the Huion HS610 is one of the better budget tablets for animators within $100. So unless you’re a professional, you should go for this one.
Pros
- The HS610 has a max workspace of 10 x 6.25inch.
- The silicone grip on the stylus doesn’t let the pen slip from your hands.
- The Touch ring and 12 express keys are useful in certain situations.
- It supports up to ±60 degrees brush tilt.
- Supports Android, Mac, and Windows OS.
- 8192 level pen pressure allows you to draw smoothly.
Cons
- Not recommended for professionals.
5. Wacom Intuos
If you’re someone who’s looking to get started in the world of animating then The Wacom Intous would be a perfect choice for you. It’s affordable and provides excellent service!
First of all, let me tell you that this tablet costs less than $100! This is fitting as it’s aimed at those who are looking to get into animation. But the technology inside hasn’t been compromised. It runs on EMR technology. The design is great and the build quality is solid! It’s also portable as it weighs just 200grams.
The Wacom Intuos has an active area of 6 x 3.7″. Though this isn’t vastly big, it’s enough to get the job done. The stylus pen has a pressure sensitivity level of 4096, so it’ll catch even the faintest of touches you put out.
Unlike some other styluses, the Wacom Intous were generous to provide 4 Customizable buttons (Trust me some drawing tablets come with 0!). The stylus is also battery-free so there’s no hassle of keeping the pen plugged in.
However, It’s missing multi-touch. So if that’s important to you then you should skip out on this one.
Overall, it’s one of the better tablets for animators currently. And if you’re a beginner then this one would be perfect for you!
Pros
- Very portable thanks to a measly weight of 200 grams.
- Perfect for beginners.
- It runs on EMR technology and offers better accuracy.
- A decent active area of 6 x 3.7″.
- Includes 4 freely customizable buttons.
- 4096 pressure level ensures recording the faintest of touches.
Cons
- No multi-touch function.
6. Huion H420 Drawing Tablet
In some situations, even our budget option might seem a bit expensive and we totally understand that. This is why you should take a look at the Huion H420. Trust me, you won’t find a cheaper tablet anywhere for animation than this one!
The Huion H420 is an all-in-one starter kit for animators. It comes with a full kit that includes a digital pen, a USB cable, four pen tip replacements, a user manual, a CD driver, a removal tool, an anti-fouling glove, a wool liner bag, a cleaning kit, and the tab itself.
Huion H420 comes with an active area of 4 x 2.23″. Though it’s a bit small, what else can you get for sub $50? The resolution however is decent at 4000 LPI (Line Per Inch). The screen is quite responsive too thanks to the 200 RPS report rate.
On the other hand, the pen is battery-free. On top of that, it’s a plug-and-play-style tablet so you don’t have to worry about updating the drivers. The Huion H420 also has 3 express keys that you can customize to your heart’s content.
However, it’s compatible with only certain versions of Mac Os and WIndows so keep that in mind. On top of that, it isn’t quite for suitable professionals as it doesn’t have a wide range of functionalities
Overall, the Huion H420 is a tablet that provides ten times the value of its price. So if you’re a beginner then you can go for this one.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- It has 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity making it a good choice for beginners
- A decent resolution of 400LPI.
- A responsive screen with a 200RPS report rate
- It has three express keys that save or close the current page you are on
- It’s a plug and play tablet that doesn’t need any drivers to operate
- A complete starter kit for animators.
Cons
- Not suited for professionals as it doesn’t have a wide range of functionalities
- It’s compatible with only certain versions of Mac Os and WIndows
Final Thoughts
Most tablets designed for animation are equipped with an interactive stylus pen and high-resolution screens capable of providing your sketches with unmatched precision and accuracy. With that in mind, we have listed what we consider the best, must-have animation tablets in the market today.
Even though tablets have become essential for animation, occasionally drawing by hand is quintessential and is a skill that every visual artist should possess and practice.