Best tablet for photoshop

My tablet allows me to use Photoshop on the go so much more easily than my laptop. Getting a device that works for you is very important to me. Moreover, one thing that is important when it comes to tablets is the battery life, because tablets have a much longer lifespan than laptops.

Likewise, if you need anything more specific, I’ve got you covered. I wrote a review of the best tablets for Photoshop to help you with your choice. Throughout this article, I have noted when tablets for photoshop are especially useful for editing, graphic design, or illustration.

Quick Pick Table

10/08/2022 10:24 am GMT

There are many companies and many tablets in the market; however, only a few live up to the standard for photoshop and photo editing. Some of the tablets that are accepted by the artists are Wacom Intuous, Android iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface Pro, etc. These tablets come with great screen resolutions, amazing textures, a smooth drawing experience and much more for the artists.

If you want a standalone tablet, choose one of the Android/Mac tablets. While you’ll have to spend more money up-front, you’ll get power, versatility, and the freedom to work from anywhere.

Due to their advanced features and excellent user experience, the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 are obvious choices. A paperlike surface and laminated screen make the Wacom Cintiq 16 and Huion Kamvas Pro the best in this category.

Expert Opinion: You don’t need to have a cool, expensive Photoshop graphics tablet. Sometimes a simple $50 tablet is enough. It will allow you to draw masks, which is all you need, especially if you are a beginner. Usually, you don’t need any extra features or buttons to work. The only important parameter is the sensitivity and pressure levels. You don’t even need a large working area.

Josh, Photographer and Influencer

Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet

The Wacom Intuos is a beginner-friendly drawing, writing, and photo editing app designed for Windows PCs and Android smartphones/tablets. It comes in the list of best tablets for photoshop and photo editing like a pro.

Wacom digital pen technology is trusted by filmmakers, animators, industrial designers, and fashion designers around the world for good reason. Wacom has over 35 years of experience in digital pen technology and is known around the world for delivering high-quality products backed up with excellent customer service.

Make your wildest ideas a reality with a lightweight digital pen and downloadable software. Getting creative digitally with the Wacom Intuos is easy.

Features

Wacom Intuos feels natural to use right away. With an ergonomic design for ease-of-use, comfort, and a realistic pen-on-paper feel, the 4K pressure-sensitive pen is designed for both left- and right-handed users.

Featuring 4096 pressure levels, you can control and refine your drawing, painting, and photo-editing in nearly any software program through this graphics tablet for photoshop.

With its pressure-sensitive pen, the Wacom Intuos offers precision and control. Wacom’s EMR technology means that the pen never needs to be recharged – so it’s always ready to use. However, the positioning of the mouse is tough at the start and that could take a while to get adjusted to it.

Compatability

It can be installed on Mac (OS X 10.10 and above), PCs (Windows 7 and above), Chromebooks (devices running the latest Chrome OS), and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later).

Most devices can be connected via USB-A, while some require USB-C or OTG adapters. Despite its small size (7.8″ x 6.3″) and large active area (6.0″ x 3.7″), this device is ideal for limited desktop spaces. It can be set up for left- or right-handed operations.

The Chromebook works with software such as Clip Studio Paint that supports pens. It is as natural to draw or write on the surface of the Wacom Intuos as if you were using a pen and paper. With a variety of painting styles, Natural-Media brushes, and photo effects, you can express your creative side.

Intuos software by creating hand-painted effects. Create memorable memories by enhancing any image with powerful tools and presets.

2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro

In discussing pro options, it would be impossible to ignore the Apple iPad Pro. A12Z Bionic chip powers this marvel of technology, and its processing power is really on point. The Apple iPad may be the fastest graphics tablet for photo editing money can buy.

Disolay features

As you’d expect from a tablet with a 12.9 screen, it measures 28 x 21 x 0.6cm (11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches) in total. If you are planning on using such a large device, you need to have a strong commitment to the cinematic (or productivity) potential of the big display.

This display is large, bright, and beautiful. Your images will come to life with vivid colours and realistic tones through this tablet for photoshop. With this tablet, you can edit your images on Photoshop, Lightroom, or any other program you fancy and the photo editing experience this graphics tablet provides is top-notch.

The Apple iPad Pro has Apple’s M1 chip under the hood, so its performance is on par with the MacBook Pro and iMac, but its capabilities are limited by its iPad OS.

You’ll get the Apple iPad OS version of Photoshop, which has fewer features and fewer tools. With the same form-factor as an iPad Pro but more capabilities, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 works on Windows OS.

Limitations

Although the Adobe Photoshop app was created for mobile devices and includes most core Adobe software, the tools are limited, and you don’t get a high level of functionality. So that’s disappointing. Do you think it’s worth buying an iPad Pro tablet for photo editing and Photoshop purposes? You’ll have to decide according to your needs.

iPad Pro is undoubtedly the best tablet you can buy at this time if you want to do light editing mostly on the go and it is one of the best drawing tablets available in the market.

Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Digital

For professional graphics tablets, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the new standard. In addition to pressure sensitivity, tilt response, and virtually lag-free tracking, the Wacom Pro Pen 2 offers excellent battery life.

Whether you are illustrating, editing, or designing digitally, Intuos Pro gives you natural creative control. Make your digital workspace unique with customizable express keys, touch rings, and radial menus. You can navigate, zoom, and pan with the multitouch surface.

Features

You can customize the feel of your tablet surface with three different Texture Sheets (from smooth to rough). Compact, slim design makes Intuos Pro an ideal art tablet.

A set of four interchangeable pen tips is included with the tablet. Utilize Bluetooth or a USB cable to connect to your PC or Mac. However, Bluetooth lags sometimes. There are medium and large versions of both the standard Intuos Pro and the Paper Edition graphic design tablets.

Pro Pen 2 technology from Wacom in a precision graphics tablet, designed for image editing, illustration, and design work.

Display

An 8-inch x 5.8-inch active area makes this tablet the perfect tablet for those with a passion for creativity. It’s our most popular size (13.2″ x 8.5″) and is in our most popular size (13.2″ x 8.5″).

There are 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt-response, and virtually lag-free tracking with the Pro Pen 2 – and it never requires charging because it is battery-free.

A multi-touch surface, programmable express keys, radial menus, and pen side-switches speed up your workflow; Choose from pro pen slim and pro pen 3D (available separately) to customize your experience.

Your favourite keyboard shortcuts can be programmed into your tablet’s application-specific ExpressKeys. A Touch Ring controls canvas rotation, brush size, scrolling, and other functions intuitively.

In summary, the Wacom Intuos Pro graphics tablet is highly recommended for photo editors who are looking for good value for their money and it is the best tablet for photoshop.

Wacom DTK1660K0A

With Wacom Cintiq, you can bring your imagination to reality on the screen. Drawing enthusiasts or art/design students looking for an on-screen exclusive experience will love this.

Features

With this high-resolution drawing tablet (1920×1080) with a touch screen display, you’ll have access to Wacom Pro Pen 2 which is super-responsive.

With 8,192 pressure levels and gets activated with a low force, it can detect even the smallest strokes of the pen, and the reduced parallax means the cursor will appear at that spot where you are intending it to be.

Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet is made of scratch-resistant materials and can be easily attached to your Mac or PC with a simple 3 in 1 cable. Wacom Cintiq drawing monitor is a graphics tablet with a screen you can trust every day.

The Wacom Pro Pen 2 pen display offers you an affordable drawing experience with its 8,192 pressure levels, tilt recognition, and amazing precision.

Display

You can see every minute detail of your drawing work with Cintiq’s 15.6 inch 1920×1080 HD display; The anti-glare surface makes it scratch-resistant, which in return prevents reflections in your work to avoid distractions.

You can work as long as you like with the battery-free pen which comes with a unique technology i.e., it charges which you are working on the screen.

You can experience vibrant colours with Cintiq’s HD display (16.7 million colours, 72 percentage NTSC/CIE1931).  With its 3 in 1 (HDMI) connection cable, you can easily connect to your computer and get into the right position that lets you position yourself how you like; Brightness 250 CD/m2.

Microsoft 12.3″ Surface Pro 7

A good photoshop tablet is hard to find, but your search ends here. As one of the best tablets for photo editing, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 supports desktop Adobe Photoshop.

If you’re looking for a wide tablet for Photoshop, the Surface Pro 7 is the tablet for you. It has a 12.3″ display on the front, which is the largest in the segment and makes photo editing an easy task.

The iPad Pro faces tough competition due to its brilliant colours and wide viewing angles. In addition, you can zoom in and move around your photographs with precision while it supports multi-touch.

The Surface Pen costs a bit extra, but it also supports a stylus. Nevertheless, it provides an excellent sense of accuracy and precision while editing, so we recommend getting the Surface Pen as well.

Features

It has a kickstand on the back that can be adjusted for different orientations, and the design appears purposeful. Additionally, there is a USB Type-C port, a full-sized USB-A port, and a microSD card slot, which is very convenient for photographers.

When it comes to the Surface Pro 7’s performance, the device has an Intel i5 chip under the hood and it can perform editing tasks with ease. For those of you who edit videos on this graphics tablet we highly recommend the i7 version.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a great option for those looking for something professional but at a lower price than the iPad Pro and is considered one of the best tablets for photoshop.

With its HDR10+ capabilities, it has a massive 11′′ screen that offers ample room for photo editing as well as a realistic viewing experience. Taking its place in Samsung’s Galaxy tablet lineup is the Galaxy Tab S7. This best tablet for photoshop packs a host of new features.

Features

A 120Hz refresh rate is supported by the Tab S7 display, so the visuals appear smooth and fluid. The tablet will be more enjoyable as a result. Video editors will still benefit more from the high refresh rate than photographers. In the box you’ll find a stylus, so that’s a nice touch, as it’ll be very useful for editors and anyone using Photoshop to draw.

Furthermore, the Tab S7’s HDR10+ capabilities enhance the viewing experience with a more realistic image that gives you a lifelike viewing experience.

Thanks to its Snapdragon 865+ chipset, this smartphone handles any task thrown at it. Opening the apps is quick, and you can preview your edits instantly, so that is a nice touch.

Still, there is a limitation. Adobe Photoshop might become full-featured in the future, but it doesn’t have all the features and tools available in the mobile version. It may be possible to replace Photoshop on the tablet with an alternative, so you will have to investigate.

GAOMON PD1161

The GAOMON PD1161 drawing monitor has 1920×1080 HD IPS resolution and 72% NTSC (100% SRGB) colour gamut, and it comes in the list of best tablets with a work area of 256.32*144.18mm (10*5.7 inches).

Displays on this monitor are more vivid thanks to its high-end technology. The output signal is Mini HDMI and Type-C and the viewing angle is 178°。

The GAOMON PD1161 graphic pen display offers a 60-degree tilt function. Due to the subtle pressure differences, this allows the artists to draw from any angle they want and every detailed change will be evident immediately.

It is humanized and eco-friendly since the pen does not require any charging. This tablet features 8192 levels of pen pressure, which changes the lines’ thickness as you apply pressure to the pen, it starts giving lines a more natural and fluid.

Hot-keys are programmable on the pen body, and the default setting is erased and mouse right-click. To use the GAOMON PD1161 drawing pen display, you will need a computer that runs Windows or Mac OS. However, the compatibility with Chromebook is an issue.  

On tablet drivers, you can set shortcut keys for functions such as erasing, zooming in/out, scrolling up and down, and so on. In total, there are three cables, two of which terminate in HDMI and USB Type-A connectors, respectively. For the display and pen functions to work, both of these devices must be connected to the computer.

To connect to the power adapter, a third cable terminates in a jack. An electrical outlet is connected to the power adapter by a power cord. The arrangement is practical but somewhat cumbersome. However,  this is the best tablet for photo editing that you can use without any trouble.

XP-Pen Artist 15.6

The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 is a great graphic tablet and the best tablet for photoshop with a screen for Photoshop and photo editing.

XP-Pen’s laminated screen makes it possible for you to write closer to the screen. Furthermore, the laminate reduces glare so that you can write more comfortably. A 60-degree tilt function and 8,192 pressure levels are provided by this pen. You can create with great precision. With a sleek design and a red touch dial, it has a large active surface area and looks cool.

You can customize the eight shortcut keys and the dial to fit your system. You will then be able to quickly access the features you need. Photoshop works seamlessly with this tablet on both Mac and Windows. The large anti-glare screen, tilt recognition, and high sensitivity all combine to make it an excellent tablet for photo editing and more.

This 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS 16:9 display delivers lifelike colours, greater contrast, sharper, and more vibrant images. 4K displays are supported by the Artist 15.6 driver.

The USB Type-C input design makes it easy to plug in and out. Features include an 11mm thin design, a three-in-one cable, and a brightness adjustment button.

Six fully customizable express keys create an ergonomic workstation. With one click, you can switch instantly between the Pen and Eraser.

You can easily connect the Artist 15.6 drawing tablet to your computer with the new USB-C cable. With six fully customizable express keys and a brightness adjustment button, you can create a convenient and ergonomic work platform that meets your preferences.

Wacom One Drawing Tablet

Feel the power of the pen. Wacom One offers a seamless experience whether at home, at work, or when playing – the perfect digital pen display for a graphics tablet for photoshop.

It comes with creative software to get you started, so you can sign documents digitally, view phone apps on a bigger screen, sketch or paint on the 13.3″ HD screen.

Customize your experience with the Wacom One pen or a digital pen from a range of leading brands. Whether you are a creative beginner or digital native, Wacom One is the perfect tool to extend your Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook, or Android smartphone for drawing, games, or office productivity.

Having been certified by Google to meet its compatibility standards, this product works with devices that run the latest version of Chrome OS.

This product is not supported by Google, and Google can’t guarantee its safety. Google LLC is a registered trademark holder of Chromebook, Android, and the Works With Chromebook badge.

With the 13.3″ display and natural surface friction, you can draw intuitively on screen in full colour with your imagination. You’ll feel as if you’re drawing on paper. The pen feels and looks like a real pen – no need for batteries, and it doesn’t need to be charged. Moreover, this one pen is capable of acting as several pens and brushes in a full range of colours with superb precision.

The Wacom One pen does not require batteries or charging, so it’s ready when you are and feels comfortable in your hand. Surface friction on the HD screen will make you feel like you’re drawing or writing on real paper…so real, you won’t realize you’re using a computer.

HUION KAMVAS Pro 16

With an HD resolution 15.6-inch full-laminated stunning screen, the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 allows you to enjoy in clear detail. This reduces the parallax to the minimum, so you can manage the cursor easily.

This graphics drawing monitor features an IPS panel and anti-glare glass that reduces glare and reflections while providing images across wide 178° viewing angles.

This screen gives your creations vibrant and accurate colours with a wide colour gamut of 16 million in 8 bits and 120% sRGB (92% AdobeRGB). Whether you are working on photography, graphic design, content creation, or other colour-critical applications, it can deliver the colour accuracy you need.

With the movable stand, you can find the perfect position for your creative work. With this battery-free pen PW507, you’ll experience responsive pen performance having complete accuracy with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity,  and tilt recognition of +60°, virtually no lag in the tracking process.

Features

The combination of the glass screen and etched glass will make it feel as natural as writing on paper. Plus, you can program the two buttons on the sides to perform shortcuts for the software.

With a set of 6 customizable express keys and a touch bar, you can perform your favourite keyboard or mouse shortcuts easily, such as zooming in or out or adjusting the size of the brush. This will lead to a more efficient and enjoyable creative process, saving time and keystrokes.

This slim and sleek laptop weighs less than 3 pounds and measures only 11.5mm thick, making it easy to carry when you’re on the go.  Through the convenient 3 in 1 USB-C cable (HDMI signal), this drawing tablet can be connected to computers and laptops that run Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.12 or later, as well as ChromeOS 8 or later.

Many creative software is compatible with it, including Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, SAI, and Lightroom. Canvas Pro 16 is the perfect tool for artists, designers, animators, filmmakers, and students to bring their vision to life.

What’s better for Photoshop: an iPad or a graphics tablet?

You can use an iPad as a standalone tablet for photo editing, although you will have to pay for Photoshop. On the one hand, this can be handy if you’re not doing complicated photo editing and you need a multifunctional device.

But the thing is that all versions of Photoshop on iOS and Android operating systems are limited. That is, they do not have all the features that are present in the computer version (for example, layer styles filters, 3d editing, warp tool, vector support, advanced brush features, etc).

Therefore, for professional use, of course, it is better to connect to a laptop or use another device based on Windows or macOS. Graphics tablets work flawlessly when connected to a computer because they are designed for this purpose.

An iPad, on the other hand, can be laggy when connected to a Macbook because the feature is still new and it works via Bluetooth. Also, graphics tablets have more pressure levels and sensitivity to pressure, and working with them makes it feel like you’re writing on paper.

Conclusion: You have to weigh the pros and cons when deciding which device is right for you: a graphics tablet or an iPad. You need to consider what features you plan to use, and whether they are available in this particular version of Photoshop.

If you choose a tablet based on Android or Windows, remember that Photoshop requires a powerful processor, Graphics card, and 3 GB of RAM. Also, don’t forget that Photoshop supports devices with Android 7.1 and up.
Here are the recommended parameters for different operating systems:

FAQs

Conclusion

We hope we have covered all bases for those looking for the best tablet for Photoshop, and we hope you have found your perfect product in terms of drawing tablets. We strongly recommend the Surface Pro for those with the money. Despite being a powerful device, the iPad Pro runs a watered-down version of Photoshop.

You can also grab the Wacom Cintiq 22 graphics tablet if you want a tablet that can fully integrate you into the editing process. You can also get the Surface Go, the iPad, or the Wacom One on a budget.

The Android/Mac tablets are the best choice for standalone tablets. Even though you’ll need to spend a bit more upfront, you’ll get more power, versatility, and the ability to work from wherever you are.

Because of their advanced features and excellent user experience, the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 are obvious choices. Consider getting a graphic tablet without a screen if you want a low-cost tablet. They are affordable and the best tablets for photoshop, but they take a little getting used to.

Always consider getting a tablet that has long and durable battery life. A drawing tablet with a screen would be perfect if a screen was a must-have to be considered in the best tablets for photoshop. Due to their paperlike surfaces and laminated screens, the Wacom Cintiq 16 and Huion Kamvas Pro are the best in this category. Get yours now! Your new, handy tool will make editing photos easier than ever and it can become your go-to graphics tablet for photoshop.

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