Suppose you’re looking for a decent drawing tablet for basic artwork, which is ideal for beginners, works well enough, and doesn’t cost a fortune. If that’s the case, you’ve found the right article because we will review the 5 best drawing tablets for beginners that your money can buy.
Comparison Chart
XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet Graphics Drawing Pen Tablet with 8192 Levels Pen Pressure Battery-Free Stylus Passive Pen Signature Board with 8 Hot Keys (Black)
Huion H610 Pro V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet Chromebook and Android Supported Pen Tablet Tilt Function Battery-Free Stylus 8192 Pen Pressure with 8 Express Keys
Parblo Coast10 10.1″ Digital Pen Tablet Display Drawing Monitor 10.1 Inch with Cordless and Battery-Free Pen+ 4ports USB3.0 Hub+ Glove
Huion KAMVAS 20 Drawing Pen Display Graphics Monitor Tilt Function Battery-Free Stylus 8192 Pen Pressure – 19.5 Inches
Best Drawing Tablet for Beginners: Reviews
XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet
If you’re looking for a user-friendly drawing tablet that comes loaded with features, has near-universal compatibility, and doesn’t cost a fortune, this XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet is an excellent product to consider.
Review
What’s nice about the XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet is that it is compatible with virtually all operating systems, browsers, and painting, arts, and graphics programs; it has near-universal compatibility.
Moreover, this tablet produces stunning results. The 12” drawing area should be more than large enough for most jobs, yet the tablet as a whole is not so large or heavy that it’s no longer portable. This makes it the best of both worlds.
It’s relatively lightweight too. This drawing tablet features sloped sides for a more comfortable and ergonomically friendly experience.
The included stylus features 8,192 pressure levels, combined with the 5080 LPI resolution of the drawing area and the +/-0.01” accuracy. It allows you to produce precise and highly detailed work. Even better is that the stylus is neither corded nor battery-operated, so you never have to worry about running out of juice.
This tablet also stands out because of its line correction and intelligent anti-shake function. This makes the artwork look much better.
The XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet comes with 8 shortcut keys that have preassigned functions, but they can also be customized to perform more or less any function.
Pros
- Moderate size
- Easy to install
- Fairly portable
- Excellent stylus – no battery or cord
- Great overall accuracy and precision
- Reasonable price
- 8 customizable buttons
Cons
- Some tracking issues
- Can be a bit slow at times
Huion H610 Pro V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet
If you want a true beginner’s drawing tablet that comes at a rock bottom price yet still has pretty decent features and good functionality, the Huion H610 Pro V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet is something to look into.
Review
Although this is one of the most cost-effective drawing tablets available, it still has excellent features and functions; the high-quality stylus is one feature.
You get 9,192 levels of sensitivity, combined with a resolution of 5,080 LPI and a reading rate of 233 RPS.
All in all, those stats are pretty impressive considering the low price. What’s also cool is that there is a special button that turns the pen into an eraser.
In terms of buttons and keys, the Huion H610 Pro V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet comes with eight customizable keys located on the left side of the display and 16 soft-touch keys located along the top – which are all customizable – that’s 24 customizable key.
The 10”×6.25” working area is admittedly small, but it should be large enough for most basic drawing purposes. Sure, it could be bigger, but then the Huion H610 Pro V2 Graphic Drawing Tablet would not be as compact, lightweight, and super portable as it is.
This tablet is compatible with various operating systems, including Mac (OS 10.12+), Windows 7+, Chromebook (ChromeOS 88 and above), and Android devices (OS 6.0 and above). Remember that this tablet is not compatible with iPhone, iPad, or Samsung (besides Samsung Note).
Pros
- Awesome price
- Lightweight and compact
- Works well enough for basic use
- Plenty of customizable keys
- Easy to operate
- Compatible with most operating systems
Cons
- Working area is a bit on the small side
- Has trouble working with certain art programs
- Installing the drivers can be a challenge
Parblo Coast10 Drawing Tablet and Monitor
This tablet is not just a drawing tablet as it doubles as a display or monitor. It comes at a moderate price, looks great, and it’s loaded with features.
Review
The Parblo Coast10 features a 10.1” TFT LCD drawing area and display, has a 1280*800 resolution. As you can probably tell, this should be large enough for basic use, plus the resolution, contrast, colors, and all other display aspects are pretty decent too.
This is not a high-end 4K drawing tablet, but it works really well for beginners, and it’s honestly more than we would expect considering its price.
Next, the Parblo Coast10 features a 170-degree viewing angle for ease of use; it’s easy to see from most angles. This drawing tablet has an exceptionally ergonomic overall design, not to mention that it’s also relatively small and lightweight, making it portable.
Where the Parblo Coast10 lacks is in terms of customizable buttons and features, or to be exact, it doesn’t have any customizable buttons at all. It features 0.5mm of accuracy, which is OK but not fantastic.
Moreover, the included battery-free stylus has 2,048 pressure levels, which is also decent but not outstanding. This is an excellent tablet, and although it might be lacking in some departments, the fact that it has its own display is pretty neat.
Pros
- Very nice display/monitor
- Ergonomically friendly
- Small and portable
- Easy to install
- Fairly durable
- User-friendly
- Works with most operating systems and drawing software
Cons
- Pen has limited pressure levels
- Screen resolution could be better
- No customizable buttons
Huion KAMVAS 20 Drawing Tablet and Display Monitor
Now, we’re moving up the ranks, as this is one of the priciest options on our list. It might be more expensive than others we have looked at, but it has a really nice display and some other nifty features.
Review
By far, the most impressive aspect of this tablet is that it comes with its own display, so you can see what you are doing right on the unit and the quality of the display.
You get a screen with full HD resolution, which looks very nice. In terms of colors, this unit can display over 16.7 million colors, along with 120% sRGB.
Moreover, this display also has a special anti-glare glass coating, so you can work in any light conditions.
Also, the Huion KAMVAS 20 Drawing Tablet and Display Monitor features a very large 19.5” display, so you have more than enough room to work on large projects with great precision.
This unit comes with a high-quality battery-free stylus that has 8,192 levels of pressure. This tablet also performs very well in terms of accuracy and response time.
It comes with a 178-degree viewing angle, along with a stand that can be adjusted from 20 to 80 degrees, to make the Huion KAMVAS 20 Drawing Tablet and Display Monitor much easier to use.
Pros
- Very large working area
- High-res display with amazing colors
- Very user-friendly
- Ergonomic design with adjustable stand
- Compatible with most OS and drawing programs
- Anti-glare tech
- +/- 60-degree pen support
Cons
- On the pricy side
- No customizable buttons
Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet with Screen
This is the highest-end and most-expensive drawing tablet on the list today. It comes with great functionality, a solid display, and more. If the saying “you get what you pay for” holds true, then you get a whole lot of quality in this package.
Review
As with the previous tablet reviewed, the best aspect of this tablet is the display. This tablet comes in a small and large option, with the smaller one having a 15” display and the larger one having a 21.5” display.
What also stands out is how the display has a resolution of 1920×1080, along with 72 percentage NTSC/Cie1931 typical, and it displays over 16.7 million colors. This display is also designed to prevent glare, so you can work in any light conditions.
The Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16 features a fairly slim design, it’s not too heavy, and it also features adjustable legs so you can work in comfort. The professional quality pen has 8,192 levels of pressure, along with fantastic tracking, accuracy, and response time.
All in all, although the Wacom DTK1660K0A Cintiq 16 is not cheap, it is likely the best option on our list. That said, it could do with some customizable buttons.
Pros
- User-friendly
- Ergonomic design
- Adjustable legs
- Anti-glare
- Amazing display
- Two sizes to choose from
- Very durable
- Highly compatible
Cons
- No customizable buttons
- Quite expensive
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for the best drawing tablet for beginners, something that’s affordable, and you’re OK with not having a display right on the unit, our recommendation is the XP-PEN Star03 V2 Drawing Tablet, as it will provide you with the most bang for your buck.