Tablets are an interesting piece of utility for graphic designers. Some will use the tablet and stylus to draw and create art all the time.
So how do you pick a tablet that would be suitable for all kinds of graphic designers? First of all, you’ll need to see how many boxes can the tablet tick off.
For example, a person can prefer a 2-in-1 laptop that also acts as a tablet. Some will prefer a drawing tablet, while some will straight-up prefer a normal tablet. If you’re confused about which one you should pick, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered!
In today’s article, we’ll be covering at least one tablet from each category that’s best for graphic designers! Without any further delay, let’s begin!
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
There isn’t a better option than the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. This tablet is a serious powerhouse that can operate in a lot of ways besides a tablet! Let’s find out how! But we’ll only be discussing the Core i-7 version as that version provides the best performance.
Let’s begin with the display as that’s the main concern. The Surface Pro 7 has a 12.3” PixelSense Display. It has a max resolution of 2736 x 1824. The aspect ratio is 3:2 and it also features a 10 point multi-touch.
The processor is a Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7. With that, we’ve got either 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM depending on the version you choose. You can also choose up to 1TB SSD storage.
The Surface Pro 7 also features Intel Iris Plus Graphics. It also has a decent battery life of 10.5 hours. However, the price tag can seem a bit on the higher side. On top of that, there aren’t any Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Overall, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the best normal tablet for graphic designers. Though its a bit pricey, its features justify the price.
Pros
- The Quad-core 10th Gen core-i7 processor is super fast and strong.
- Up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM.
- Up to 1TB fast SSD storage.
- Features 20 points multi-touch.
- 10.5 hours of decent battery life.
- A max resolution of 2736 x 1824.
- The Intel Iris Plus graphics are more than capable of handling graphics-heavy work.
Cons
- The Surface pen needs to be bought separately.
- No Thunderbolt 3 port.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e
If you aren’t willing to spend that much for a tablet then we’ve got this one for you. This tablet provides all the necessary things needed to do graphic design. I’m talking about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e.
The S5e is a nifty little tab filled with surprises. It has a 10.5 inches Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560×1600. The aspect ratio is also above average with a 16:10 ratio. But the best thing about this tab is its portability. At just 400 grams, it’s one of the lightest tabs currently.
Let’s talk about what’s on the inside. It has a Snapdragon 670 chipset. Combine that with a 4GB ram and you’ve got a fast processing unit. You can also expand the storage to a maximum of 512 GB with Micro SD cards.
The battery life is ridiculously good. With a 14 hour backup on a full charge, you won’t need to worry about charging it at all. It also supports a keyboard. Feel free to hook up a keyboard and start working.
It also has minor problems. The design is a bit bland. You also won’t be getting a 3.5mm headphone port
Overall, it is the best value-for-money tablet for graphic designers. You don’t need to go any further if you’re looking for a tablet that provides great value.
Pros
- The 10.5 inches Super AMOLED display provides great visuals.
- Portable.
- The Snapdragon 670 chipset coupled with the 4GB ram provides a fast user experience.
- Super high resolution of 2560 x 1600
- Storage can be expanded up to 512GB
- Keyboard compatible.
- The 14-hour battery backup lasts throughout the day.
Cons
- The design isn’t good.
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Up next, we’ve got the perfect 2-in-1 tablet for you. Though it’s primarily a laptop., it can also be used as a tablet. It looks perfect and feels perfect. I’m talking about the Microsoft Surface Book 2.
Let’s begin with the display. It’s a 15-inch display with a massive resolution of 3240×2160. The color accuracy and angular views are on point also. Combine that with 260 PPI and you’ve got the most beautiful screen a tablet could have.
As Surface book 2 is primarily a laptop, its specs are higher than any of the tablets currently available in the market. You’ll be getting an Eighth-gen Intel Quad-Core i7-8650U 4.2GHz processor with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB graphics card and 16GB RAM.
The Storage is SSD so you can expect pretty high writing speed. You can get up to 1TB SSD storage. The battery backup is pretty high too. With 17 hours of backup on a full charge, you’ll rarely need to plug it in a hurry.
Overall, this is both the perfect laptop and tablet for graphic designers. However, if you want a pure tablet then we suggest you look at the other options on this article. But if you want the best thing for graphic designers then this is it.
Pros
- 15-inch display with a massive resolution of 3240×2160.
- The 260 PPI provides crystal clear pictures.
- Super high battery backup of up to 17 hours.
- Powerful Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics.
- Portable.
- 16GB of super-fast RAM.
Cons
- Surface Pen needs to be bought separately.
- Expensive.
XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro
These next 2 tablets are going to be drawing tablets. If you’re the graphic designer who has to draw constantly, then the XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro would be the perfect choice for you.
The XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro is a drawing tablet. So it won’t function as a normal tablet. It’s an 11.6-inch tablet with a working area of 10 x 5.7 inches. The display also provides an immersive view to the user through its 16.5 million colors. It also has a viewing angle of 178 degrees.
The performance of the XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro is the best among drawing tablets. It covers a gamut up to 72% on NTSC. The response time of 14ms is really fast. There are also up to 8 customizable shortcut keys.
The stylus doesn’t have a battery. It supports tilt up to 60 degrees and has a pressure level of 8192. But one thing to point out here is that it can lag at times while using specific apps. Other than that, it’s a pretty solid tablet.
Overall, it’s a pretty good tab for a graphic designer who’s always drawing things. We highly recommend it.
Pros
- The stylus supports up to 60-degree tilt and 8192 pressure level.
- Color gamut covers up to 72% on NTSC.
- Fast screen response time of 14 ms.
- An 11.6-inch tablet with a working area of 10 x 5.7 inches.
- Color accurate full HD display with 16.5 million colors.
- The stylus doesn’t need a battery to run with.
Cons
- Lags while using certain apps.
Wacom Cintiq 22
For this last one, we decided to go for a huge tablet. If you’re looking for a huge tablet, there isn’t a better one than the Wacom Cintiq 22.
The Wacom Cintiq 22 boasts a huge 21.5 inch Full HD display that has a working area of 19.5 x 11.5 inches. The vibrant and colorful screen houses 16.7 million colors. However, for such a big screen, the resolution is still a low 1920 x 1080.
The performance of this tablet is as good as its size. The 14ms response time is standard among tablets. The color gamut coverage is also standard with a 72% score on Adobe RGB.
The stylus that comes with the Wacom Cintiq is battery-free. The stylus has a pressure level of 2048 and it tilts to a maximum of 40 degrees.
As it has a few good things, it’s lacking on some certain stuff. There aren’t any shortcut keys. You can’t carry it anywhere as it weighs too much.
If you’re a graphic designer who fancies a big-screen tablet, the Wacom Cintiq 22 would be perfect for you. If portability isn’t a factor, you should go for this drawing tablet.
Pros
- The 21.5 inches Full HD display has a working area of 19.5 x 11.5 inches
- The vibrant and colorful screen houses 16.7 million colors
- The pen tip and eraser has a 2048 pressure level.
- Response time is a standard 14 ms
- The pen has a tilt support of up to 40 degrees
- It covers a color gamut up to 72% on adobe RGB.
Cons
- Screen resolution is too low for the overall screen size.
- Not portable.
- No shortcut keys.
Wrapping Up
Every graphic designer has their own choice when it comes to picking a device. A tablet isn’t any different. But as tablets are diverse, you need to think what it is you want.
Whether you need a drawing tablet or a regular tablet or just a 2-in-1 laptop that also can be used as a tablet, we’ve discussed it all. It’s up to you now to pick the tablet that matches your needs the best.