11 Best Standalone Drawing Tablet (2023) That don’t need a computer

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Standalone drawing tablets have a lot of advantages over traditional drawing devices. One of the biggest being – they do not need to be connected to a computer.

standalone drawing tablet

Having a computer built inside your drawing tablet does not only give you a compact drawing device that you can take anywhere with you but also provides a number of added features and functionalities.

A number of these tablets come with special features such as shortcut buttons or accessories such as surface dial, magnetic stylus, desktop-grade app support that adds to the overall drawing experience.

If you are looking for the perfect standalone drawing tablet for yourself, you have come to the right place.

After spending weeks – comparing and evaluating over 50 tablets. We finally made a list of some of the most deserving tablets for being the best standalone drawing tablets in the market.

In a hurry? Here are our top recommendations.

Top Recommendations

Apple iPad Pro
Apple iPad Pro
  • 11/12.9 Inch
  • Excellent Stylus (Apple Pencil)
  • 9ms Latency
  • Perfect color accuracy
  • Ultra-portable
  • Good battery life
  • OS: iPadOS
samsung galaxy tab s8 plus - best android standalone drawing tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
  • 11/ 12.4/ 14.6 inch
  • 2.8ms latency
  • Great Stylus performance
  • Powerful processor
  • S Pen comes free
  • Great value for money
  • OS: Android
microsoft surface pro 8 standalone windows drawing device
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
  • 13 Inch display
  • Good stylus
  • Portable tablet with Windows
  • Can run desktop-grade apps
  • Inbuilt tablet stand
  • OS: Windows 11

Standalone drawing tablets come in various sizes and forms and have a number of advantages over traditional drawing tablets.

What is a standalone drawing tablet?

Standalone drawing tablets are a combination of a drawing tablet and a computer.

These drawing tablets have a built-in computer inside, that allows them to work independently without needing to be connected to an external computer like the traditional drawing tablets.

what is a standalone drawing tablet

1. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best standalone drawing tablet

Our pick

microsoft surface pro 9 - standalone tablet with Windows 11

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Amazon →

There are so many good standalone tablets out there that it was kind of difficult to pick one tablet over the other.

After having a good look, it is clear that the Microsoft Surface Pro brings a lot to the table and it totally deserves the title of the “best standalone drawing tablet” in the market.

The Surface Pro 9 comes with a 13-inch 120Hz screen that is small enough to be portable but still has a sufficiently large screen that it doesn’t feel cramped while drawing.

microsoft surface pro 9 for drawing
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 running Adobe photoshop

The support for Windows 11 is one of the biggest advantages of this tablet. Windows allows you to use all your favorite desktop-grade drawing and modeling applications right on this handy computer.

The processor is powerful enough to handle light 3D applications and hundreds of drawing layers of your project. The battery life is also decent with fast charging enabled.

Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2

microsoft surface slim pen 2
Microsoft surface slim pen 2

Last but not least – the Surface slim pen 2. The Surface Slim Pen is counted amongst some of the best styluses in the market. It comes with support for both pressure and tilt sensitivity.

The Surface Slim pen magnetically attaches to the keyboard deck where it charges wirelessly. It has got a very neat trick under its sleeve.

The Slim Pen 2 has got a tiny haptic motor that sends haptic feedback when you are drawing and writing with it. This emulates the feeling of writing on paper with a pencil.

Due to the 120Hz screen, fast response time as well as improved inking technology, drawing with Surface Slim Pen 2 feels very natural and predictable.

Surface Pro 9 being a touch screen, the palm rejection is equally important. The palm rejection on this tablet is spot on and does an excellent job of handling accidental touches.

Available Configurations

The Microsft Surface Pro is available in multiple configurations where you can choose different processors, RAM, and storage options as per your needs.

It also comes with a handy keyboard accessory which can be very handy when performing shortcut combinations in software such as Adobe Photoshop.

microsoft surface pro 9 tablet with type cover
Surface Pro 9 with magnetic type cover (sold separately)

Surface Pro 9 is the perfect choice for artists who need desktop-grade application support in a handy form factor.

If you are a multitasker who constantly switches between digital art to graphic designing and uses Adobe sweet of applications or just want the flexibility of a desktop operating system, the Microsoft Surface Pro is the best option for you.

PROs of Microsoft Surface Pro 9

  • 13 inch large display
  • 120 Hz refresh rate, great colors
  • Powerful processor and compact form factor
  • Windows 11 operating system
  • Great stylus
  • Above-average battery life
  • Built-in Kickstand
  • Available in multiple configurations
  • Multiple color options are available

CONs of Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Buy Microsoft Surface Pro 9 on Amazon →

 

2. Apple Ipad Pro – Compact, Powerful tablet with a great stylus

Upgrade pick

best standalone drawing tablet - Apple iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro Amazon →

If you hang out in art communities, you know that Apple iPad is gaining popularity with some of the artists permanently switching from traditional drawing tablets to iPad Pro.

Getting the basics right is one of the best ways of making a good drawing device, that is essentially what Apple has done with its iPad Pro lineup.

Apple iPad Pro Screen

Starting with the display – a display is where all the action happens, so it is one of the most important components of a drawing tablet.

The display on the Apple iPad Pro has a resolution of 2388 x 1668p (11-inch) and 2732 x 2048p (12.9-inch).

drawing on apple ipad pro screen

The screen is vibrant with good color accuracy. The display is bright enough to be comfortably used outdoors.

One of the great things about this screen is that it comes with ProMotion technology. Where the screen refresh rate is boosted up to 120hz giving you a faster and smoother response when drawing with Apple Pencil.

Apple Pencil – Stylus perfection

If you ask us – “Which is the best stylus that one can get?” – Apple Pencil would be the answer.

Apple Pencil stylus performance

Well-calibrated pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and Accurate tracking are some of the ingredients of a good stylus.

The Second Generation Apple Pencil stands tall on all these benchmarks.

What sets it apart from other styluses in the market is its amazingly fast response rates measuring just 7ms.

apple pencil features
Apple Pencil

The only area where the Apple Pencil falls short is the ergonomics. Although a vast number of artists like the overall shape and size of the Apple Pencil but some of them feel that it is a little too thin and may feel slippery on sweaty hands.

To counter that, some artists like to use an Apple Pencil grip that not only provides a better grip but also increases the thickness of the stylus.

Other than that the pen has a customizable touch-enabled button on the side that can be used to quickly switch between a pen and eraser. It also comes with features such as wireless charging and quick charging.

Power and performance

We talked about the screen, we talked about the stylus but the power this little device packs deserves its own segment.

The Apple iPad Pro comes with Apple’s in-house M series processor. This is the same Processor which comes with Apple Laptops. 

So you are basically getting a laptop-level performance in a tablet. In fact, this is the most powerful tablet on this list.

This performance reflects when working with large projects with high resolution and hundreds of layers, this drawing tablet flies through them all with ease.

PROs of Apple iPad Pro

  • Powerful and compact
  • Outstanding stylus (Apple Pencil)
  • Excellent selection of drawing apps
  • high-resolution, color-accurate screen
  • Fastest response time of 7ms
  • Support keyboard accessory
  • Apple Pencil magnetically sticks to the top
  • Wireless charging on the Apple Pencil
  • Long battery life
  • Powerful drawing apps
  • Excellent palm rejection
  • Strong sturdy and premium feel

CONs of Apple iPad Pro

  • The pen needs to be purchased separately
  • Reflective screen (many artists like to use matte protective film to counter that)

Buy Apple iPad Pro on Amazon →

 

3. New Apple iPad Air – Same drawing performance at pocket-friendly prices

Value Pack

new iPad Air the most value for money table for artists

Apple iPad Air Amazon →

If you liked the aforementioned iPad Pro but think it is way too expensive, first of all – you are not the only one who thinks that.

But the good news is – recently Apple has updated their older iPad Air and gave it a brand new look with some high-end features, while still maintaining an affordable-ish price.

The new iPad Air has a new all-screen minimum bezel design which looks very similar to the iPad Pro. But that is not even the best part.

It got a massive specs upgrade and now features one of the latest generation processors which results in a faster and smoother overall performance.

The tablet comes with a 10.9-inch screen and available in five attractive colors – Silver, Space Gray, Green, Sky Blue, Rose Gold. (check out all the colors options here at Amazon)

Support for Apple Pencil 2

apple pencil design and feel in hand

The older model of the iPad Air only supported the first-gen Apple Pencil which was not that good. The new iPad Air now supports Apple Pencil 2 which is big news for artists who wants a quality drawing experience at an affordable price.

Just like the iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil magnetically sticks to the top edge of the iPad Air where it charges wirelessly. It also has a touch button on the side which can be used to switch between pen and eraser.

Other than that, the iPad Air has a very compact form factor making it very convenient to carry it in your backpack.

It has stereo speakers, which combined with iPad Air’s amazing display, you will have a great multimedia experience on this tablet.

Compared to other standalone tablets in the market, its battery lasts a long time, meaning it is perfect for outdoor usage or long trips.

The lower price, faster processor, Apple Pencil 2 support along with multiple color options make the iPad Air a great tablet to gift it to your loved ones, or maybe to yourself.

PROs of Apple iPad Air

  • Excellent value for money
  • Good display quality
  • Support for Apple Pencil 2
  • Latest generation fast processor
  • Compact, slim and portable

CONs of Apple iPad Air

  • Apple Pencil needs to be purchased separately
  • Two speakers (Instead of 4)
  • No Promotion 120hz refresh rate

Buy Apple iPad Air on Amazon →

 

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus – Standalone Android tablet with 2.8 ms pen latency

Also great

samsung galaxy tab s8 plus - best android standalone drawing tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus Amazon →

If you are an artist and you like the freedom and customizability that Android offers then you would love this one.

Android tablets have traditionally fallen behind tablets such as Apple iPad Pro but with the arrival of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus, that is not the case anymore.

Samsung tablets are some of the most reliable Android tablets and come with some of the most powerful processors and premium designs. They have a huge fan base of their own and people do really love them.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus is the latest iteration of the Samsung tablets whose features are kind of similar to the iPads.

Display – Color, and Resolution

drawing experiance on tab s8

The quality of the display is one of the highlights of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus.

It comes with Super AMOLED displays which are known for their excellent color accuracy and contrast and you do really feel the difference in real-life usage.

Further, they have a refresh rate of 120Hz which helps with smoother transitions and animations.

The Galaxy Tab S8 comes in three variants, 11, 12.4, and 14.6 inches with an aspect ratio of 16:10 in a modern design with super-thin bezels around the screen.

The best part is, these screens can be super bright and very comfortable to use in bright outdoor environments.

S Pen – Blazing fast stylus with an amazing 2.8ms latency

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ S Pen
Samsung S Pen

Samsung has been constantly improving its stylus (S-Pen) from the last few years. The biggest improvement came this year in the form of blazing-fast 2.8ms response time.

This is even faster than Apple Pencil, which comes with 9ms of response time. Check out our Apple Pencil vs S Pen comparison (new tab).

Other than that the pen tracking, pressure sensitivity as well as tilt sensitivity is also outstandingly good. All these features combined together result in a very natural drawing and writing experience.

To make sure the S Pen is always by your side when you need it – it magnetically sticks at the back of the tablet where it charges wirelessly.

Power, Battery life and performance

A standalone drawing tablet needs to be powerful enough to easily handle day-to-day tasks and its battery should last all day long without needing to charge in-between.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 has both these features, it comes with one of the fastest processors and has a massive battery that can easily handle intensive usage and last a long time.

Overall, if you are looking for a capable standalone drawing device and want the most color-accurate screen, powerful processor, a very capable stylus, and a battery that lasts all day long – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plus is definitely the best option for you.

PROs of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

  • 12.4-inch screen with 16:10 aspect ratio
  • Best in class display quality and resolution
  • Bright display – for comfortable outdoor usage
  • Powerful stylus with air gesture support
  • Stylus wirelessly charges and magnetically attaches to the back and top
  • Superfast 2.8ms stylus response time
  • Pen included in the package
  • Expandable external MicroSD card storage (up to 1 TB storage)
  • Top of the line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nanometers) processor
  • Long battery life with 45W fast charging capability
  • Quad speakers for excellent sound
  • Keyboard accessory support
  • Face/in-display fingerprint unlock
  • Samsung Dex mode for desktop-like experience

CONs of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

  • No matte screen
  • Only a few drawing apps supports tilt
  • No headphone jack
  • Power brick not included in the box (only comes with a charging cable)

Buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 on Amazon →

 

5. Huion Kamvas Studio 22 – Larger standalone drawing tablet

huion kamvas studio 22 - large size drawing tablet with built-in computer

Huion Kamvas Studio 22 Check on Huion.com →

Till now we have seen a number of tablets measuring 10 to 13 inches. These tablets are great in terms of portability but they do compromise with screen size.

What if portability is not your priority and you actually want is a larger drawing area (bigger screen) instead.

The Huion Kamvas Studio 22, as the name suggested is a standalone drawing tablet with a massive 22-inch screen. Huion is known for its digital drawing devices. Artists like them because they provide top-of-the-line features at very reasonable prices.

The advantage of this type of tablet is – It replaces your computer and your dedicated drawing tablet with a single device which is a computer as well as a drawing tablet.

It simplifies your work setup and makes it clutter and wire-free. The Kamvas Studio 22 comes with an Intel i5 – 8400 processor and a FullHD IPS screen with a color accuracy of 120%sRGB color gamut.

Stylus – Huion PW500

Huion stylus PW 500
Huion stylus PW500 for Kamvas Studio 22

Since Huion primarily makes drawing tablets, they are expected to have a good stylus and they do. The Kamvas Studio comes with a stylus that has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity with good pressure and tilt sensitivity.

Since this drawing computer is primarily made for artists there are a number of extra features that help provide a better drawing experience.

When you draw with a stylus on a glass screen over time it starts getting scratches. The Kamvas Studio 22 comes with a tougher etched glass, that not only provides better protection against scratches but also provides a textured surface for better drawing experience.

shortcut button and accessories of huion kamvas studio 22
Huion Kamvas Studio 22 – tablet and accesories

There are a total of 20 fully programmable shortcut buttons as well as 2 touch strips on both sides of the screen.

Now one of the main reasons why this tablet is recommended is that it provides great value for money. Even though technically it is a combination of a computer and a drawing tablet but still it manages to keep its price low.

If you like then the idea of having a large size standalone drawing computer that is compact and has an inbuilt computer of its own, you should definitely get this.

PROs of Huion Kamvas Studio 22

  • Massive 22-inch screen
  • Good color accuracy
  • Fully Laminated
  • Etched Glass for better texture
  • Excellent stylus
  • Free wireless keyboard and mouse
  • Good build quality

Cons of Huion Kamvas Studio 22

  • Average design
  • Thick bezels around the screen

Buy Huion Kamvas Studio 22 on Huion.com →

 

6. Microsoft Surface Go 3 – A cheaper alternative to Surface Pro

Also great

microsoft surface Go 2 - budget tablet computer with Windows 10

Microsoft Surface Go 3 Amazon →

The Surface Go 3 is a 10.5-inch touch-enabled and Surface Pen-enabled portable standalone drawing tablet. One of the best things about his tablet is in spite of being a small and handy device it still runs a full-fledged Windows operating system.

It can be seen as a smaller version of the Microsoft Surface Pro and it shares a number of features that come with Surface Pro.

Starting with that hinge at the back. It is built inside the body if the tablet and allows you to place your tablet at any angle you want. The hinge also helps you provide a better grip while drawing handheld.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 stylus – Surface Pen

microsoft surface pen
Microsoft Surface Go 3 compatible stylus – Surface Pen

The tablet works really well with the Surface Pen, the pen tracking is good, you can customize the pressure sensitivity and you also get tilt support.

There are a number of accessories that you can get with this tablet such as the Surface Keyboard as well as the surface dial.

Other than that the tablet has a good battery backup and everything works smoothly and as expected. The processor of this tablet is good but not that powerful.

But at the same time, as far as the drawing is concerned, it can comfortably handle reasonably heavy project files.

This drawing tablet is an ideal choice for those who want an affordable Windows-powered standalone drawing tablet that allows them to use their desktop drawing applications.

The Surface Go 3 is also a great choice for young artists.

PROs of Microsoft Surface Go 3

  • Windows 10 support
  • Built-in stand
  • Keyboard cover support
  • Compact and Portable
  • Good stylus performance
  • Good value for money device

CONs of Microsoft Surface Go 3

  • Surface Pen (stylus) needs to be purchased separately
  • Average speakers

Buy Microsoft Surface Go 2 on Amazon →

 

7. Microsoft Surface Studio 2 – Convertablet drawing PC

microsoft surface studio 2

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Amazon →

When we talk of a standalone drawing tablet we expect a computer and a drawing tablet combined into a single device. Most of the standalone drawing tablet is small in size measuring below 15 inches.

What if you want a larger standalone drawing device that does not needs to be connected to the computer and has a smaller footprint that occupies minimum space on your desk.

One good option is the Huion Kamvas Studio 22 that we already mentioned on our list. The thing is – Huion Kamvas Studio 22 is more of a functional tool that focuses more on features and kind of neglects the design and aesthetics.

If you want a larger drawing device that not only has a good stylus and powerful internals but also looks modern, elegant, and elevates the overall look of your setup, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is the right choice for you.

It comes with a massive 28-inch display which 3:2 aspect ratio giving you more vertical screen space which is great for productivity tasks.

The Hinge – PC Mode, Drawing Mode

pc mode and drawing mode on Microsoft surface studio 2
PC mode and Drawing mode

Its unique hinge mechanism is a standout feature that you can’t really find anywhere else. In normal mode, it works as everyday all in one computer.

The real magic happens when you tilt the monitor, with the help of its cleverly designed hinge mechanism, the drawing monitor lays flat on the desk. Where it essentially feels like a draft table on which you can comfortably draw on.

The Microsoft Surface Studio also supports accessories like the Surface Dial that provides a number of handy shortcuts.

In a nutshell, this all-in-one drawing computer is expensive and it is not for everyone, but if you are someone who likes to have an elegant working setup and appreciate good design, you will love this one.

Pros of Microsoft Surface Studio 2

  • Massive 28-inch display
  • Stunning looks
  • Cleaver design
  • Easy to adjust from one position to other
  • Good stylus support and performance
  • Multiple drawing centric accessories
  • Productivity focused 3:2 aspect ratio Screen
  • Sufficiently powerful computer inside

Cons of Microsoft Surface Studio 2

  • Glossy Screen
  • Expensive

Buy Microsoft Surface Studio 2 on Amazon →

 

8. Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) – Portable and powerful

For young artists

ipad mini - smallest standalone tablet for drawing

Apple iPad Mini Amazon →

As Apple describes it “mini just got mightier“. The latest upgrade from Apple has added a number of extra features in the iPad mini which makes it a much better tablet than before.

One of the biggest upgrades to the iPad mini is – it now supports the second-generation Apple Pencil.

The iPad mini is the smallest tablet featured on this list and comes with an 8.3-inch screen. When it comes to portability, there is no match for it. It can easily fit in your handbag or backpack and it is so lightweight that you won’t even notice it.

Small and Powerful

ipad mini sixth gen - for drawing and writing

In spite of being so small, it comes with a very powerful A15 Bionic processor. It is one of the most powerful processors in its price range and can easily handle large project files or multiplayer online games.

To top it all, the iPad mini is super affordable and one of the cheapest standalone drawing tablets.

With the recent update, the iPad mini has gotten a massive design overhaul.

Now it shares the same modern boxy design with minimum bezels around the screen, that you see in premium tablets like iPad Pros.

Overall if portability is what you care about and you want a tablet that won’t make a huge dent in your bank balance at the same time that has the power to handle daily use and abuse – iPad mini is what you should get.

Pros of Apple iPad Mini

  • One of the smallest drawing tablet in the market
  • Great value for money
  • Super fast processor
  • Excellent stylus (2nd gen Apple Pencil)
  • Good battery life
  • A number of really good drawing application support (iPad OS)

Cons of Apple iPad Mini

  • Apple Pencil needs to be purchased separately

Buy Apple iPad Mini on Amazon →

 

9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 lite – Cheaper Android drawing tablet

Budget pick

samsung galaxy tab s6 lite - cheaper standalone drawing tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Amazon →

After the huge success of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, Samsung has introduced the new Galaxy Tab S6 Lite where Samsung has ditched some unnecessary features in favor of keeping the prices low.

The Galaxy Tab S6 lite comes with a 10.4-inch screen that has a resolution of 2000 x 1200 and an aspect ratio of 5:3. The stylus comes included in the box and it has a good response rate and pressure sensitivity.

samsung galaxy tab s6 lite stylus
Samsung S Pen for Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

There are other cheaper android tablets available in the market but none of them has the combination of a good screen and an excellent stylus that you get with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 lite.

The tablet excels in other areas as well as such as battery life and a fast processor. There are a number of good Android drawing apps that can run on this device.

Other than being a good drawing and note-taking tablet, this can also be a good device for media consumption.

This tablet is a good alternative to Apple’s iPad mini and iPad Air as it comes with a minimal bezel around the screen giving you more screen space in a similar form factor.

PROs of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

  • One of the best displays in its price range
  • A lot of features at a lower price
  • Excellent stylus
  • Small bezels around the screen
  • Good battery life
  • Decent speakers
  • Good multimedia experience

CONs of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

  • Mid-tier processor (which is okay at this price point and more than enough for day to day usage)

Buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite on Amazon →

 

10. Alternative – 2 in 1 ultrabook with stylus support

2 in 1 ultrabook as standalone drawing computer
Lenovo 2 in 1 ultrabook with stylus

When you are looking for a standalone drawing tablet, essentially what you want is a portable device with pen input.

In this case, the 2-in-1 ultrabooks could be a great option for you and they are worth checking out.

They come with a foldable/detachable design that converts your laptop into a tablet-like form factor. These ultrabooks are very slim and lightweight devices that are easy to carry with you.

Plus they come with support for pen input which combined with desktop-based drawing software, could be a good combo.

These ultrabooks are recommended for casual artist who likes to draw stuff every once in a while.

Advantages and Disadvantages of standalone drawing tablets

Advantages of standalone drawing tablet

  • Comes with a pen-enabled screen
  • Portable – Can be used on the go
  • Comes with a built-in computer
  • Cleaner workspace with minimum clutter
  • Some of them support keyboard accessories that essentially makes them a computer
  • Added drawing centric features
  • Multiple choices in terms of size and operating system
  • It can be used on a couch, patio, lawn, park or wherever you feel comfortable
  • Overall better drawing experience

Disadvantages of standalone drawing tablet

  • Expensive than traditional drawing tablets
  • Minimum to no upgradability – So make sure to pick best possible specs
  • Generally smaller screen sizes – 10 to 13 inches but some are also available in larger 22 and 27 inches
  • Difficulty running heavy 3D applications

Standalone drawing tablet: Simplified Buyer’s guide

What style of artwork do you make? Which Drawing Apps and Programs you use? Are you a beginner, or a professional? How often do you travel? You like to work indoors or outdoors? Do you like tablets with smaller or larger screens?

Everyone’s needs are different, So one tablet that is a perfect fit for you may not be the best choice for someone else. There is no perfect drawing tablet, every tablet brings some special set of features that are unique to that device.

When getting a standalone drawing tablet, you should figure out what features are important to you and get the right tablet accordingly.

 

Related:
Wacom Cintiq Alternatives
Android drawing tablets
Apple Pencil vs Samsung S Pen
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs Apple iPad Pro for drawing

 

If you have come this far, you are Awesome. Writing this article took a lot of time and effort and we hope that we were able to help you find the right Standalone Drawing Tablet.

So, did you find our article informative? Did we miss something? Please let us know in the comment section. We would really appreciate that.

Shubham Singh

Shubham Singh is an Adobe Certified Associate, Graphic Designer, and 3D artist. He likes to acquire new skills and explore how things work.

This Post Has 37 Comments

  1. Dan

    “saperatilty” Wow! Takes a lot of effort to mess up like this.

    1. Essential Picks

      Wow! we really messed that up. Thanks for pointing out.

      1. Eddie

        Don’t be like Dan… Just dan’t…

        1. Kim

          lol nice

      2. Mike

        Um Hi, I was wondering something about your tablets shown, could you put Google or other websites on it and download software like a normal computer or are they more of tablets that come with some websites?

        1. Essential Picks

          Well, you can do normal web searching (browsing) on all these tablets. But downloading specific software depends on what operating system they come with.

           

          If the tablets come with iOS and Android, you can go to the app store and download the desired apps.
          Or if they come with Windows, you can download any software from anywhere you want, just like a normal computer.

    2. liza

      dan. do. you. have. ANYTHING. better to do???

    3. Kim

      I think I’m going to add that toy vocabulary as a new word. I actually like it.

  2. ปั้มไลค์

    Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.

  3. Evelyn

    super helpful thanks!

  4. Susan

    Best article to compare. Very detail and helpful! Thank you!!

  5. Thomas

    Very hepful article, I was struggling all night helping my wife find a new tablet for travel and it’s done thanks to your hard work. You rock !!

  6. Eileen

    Super helpful, especially the pros and cons

  7. Shubham Singh

    You are Welcome! Everyone.

  8. Emma

    HELP ! My 10 year old daughter is really into drawing anime and is getting really good at it we have spent a fortune drawing supplies and paper. We don’t have a great laptop so what standalone drawing tablet would you recommend?

    1. Essential Picks

      Yes! Drawing is a great hobby and upgrading the drawing setup is one of the best things you could do for young artists.

       

      If you want a good drawing tablet that provides the best in class drawing experience, there is no better choice than the iPad.

       

      Now you may be thinking, iPads are expensive. But in reality, Apple iPad is available in multiple variants. The iPad Mini, iPad, and iPad air are the most pocket-friendly iPad models. Here is a detailed iPad buying guide for artists, that will help you pick the right iPad depending on your requirements and budget.

       

      Note: Apple Pencil is not included with iPads and needs to be purchased saperatily.

       

      Alternatively, you can check out this Samsung tablet that comes with an S pen.

       

      (update: on further inspection, we found – this particular model of Samsung tablet is only available in USA and Canada.)

  9. Liza

    Extremely helpful, your time and effort are evident. Thank you!

  10. Jessica Stewart

    I’d go with a XP-Pen Artist display drawing tablet as they’re pretty cheap for what they are .
    It’ll link to your laptop so it’s not like you’re going to the expense of a new iPad and you know your laptop is up to the job.

    1. shush

      the whole point of that article is to show STANDALONE tablets. I am really annoyed by all this “you need to link it to somewhat” stuff. I don’t want to spend a fortune on a drawing tablet and then carry my heavy laptop around.

  11. Hayden

    I have been searching for a great drawing tablet and that the Micro-Surface Go 2 is just what I was looking for! Thank You!!

  12. Claire

    I was wondering if there are any drawing tablets that are just drawing tablets and only run drawing applications standalone? Cause if there were something like that it would be EPIC

    1. Essential Picks

      Well, most standalone drawing tablets are multi-purpose devices, in that way they could be more useful.

       

      If you want – you can get the “Remarkable tablet“, which is a black and white e-paper tablet specifically made for writing notes and making sketches. They work on a different operating system and don’t run normal Windows, IOS and Android applications – giving you a distraction-free drawing and working environment.

  13. saffy

    As a beginner artist, who wants to learn to draw digitally, this article was really helpful to me! thank you for working so hard!

  14. Nandita

    Thanks for the article, was really helpful. What I would like to understand is these standalone tabs do they come with a drawing software and if so could you please shed a little light on that. What about storage?
    Thanks

    1. Essential Picks

      Thanks for stopping by Nandita,

       

      These devices do not come preloaded with a dedicated drawing application. But that is not a big deal. you can simply go to the app store and find plenty of paid as well as free drawing applications.

       

      The operating system running on these devices determines the choices of drawing applications.

       

      These devices come with either Android, iPadOS, or Windows operating systems, all of which have great collection of drawing apps to choose from.

       

      Talking of storage – all the standalone drawing tablets mentioned above comes with internal storage.
      Some of these devices are available in multiple storage options, that you can choose at the time of purchasing.

       

      In addition to internal storage, you also have the option to plug in external storage drives (USB drive, SD card, SSD) to these devices.

    1. Essential Picks

      No, Xp Pen has not come up with any standalone drawing tablet so far. All the tablets in their lineup need to be connected to a computer…
      Alternatively, you can have a look at the Huion Kamvas Studio or the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro.

  15. Gina

    Super helpful!!

  16. Rybach

    Thank you so much. Helped me alot. God bless!

  17. Caiera

    Was about to buy The Huion Kamvas Studio 22, but then saw that it has to be connected to a computer/laptop so it is not standalone as stated in your article.

    1. Essential Picks

      We think there is some confusion… The Huion Kamvas Studio is definitely a standalone drawing device with a computer build in. It comes with i5 processor and 8 or 16 GB of RAM…

       

      Check it out by clicking this link (Huion Kamvas Studio 22 – Huion Store)

  18. AJ

    Thank you for making this list. Huion Kamvas Studio 22 looks like the winner

  19. Kim

    Thanks for putting this together! It saved me alot of time and confusion. Appreciate it!

  20. Brubaker

    Great post.

  21. Liz

    Thanks for all your hard work, I am looking for a stand alone tablet I can use for illustration and this has helped a lot.

  22. Ahmed

    Hello,

    I absolutely love your list, however I still cannot decide on the suitable tablet. So here is the thing: My I would like to get a drawing tablet for my girlfriend as she is an Architect. They use AutoDesk applications (AutoCAD, Revit..etc), SketchUp, Photoshop..etc. The graphics tablet for her would be more about sketching her initial designs in a more vibrant and professional manner with the tools provided, rather than drawing something professional as an artist.

    What could be the tablet that would be ideal for the conditions mentioned above? Please note that her main work would be on the aforementioned applications not on the tablet itself. She would be meeting a client or during her classes, she would sketch something preliminary then continue working on her laptop.

    I would most definitely appreciate if you can answer me back.

    1. Essential Picks

      Autocad/ Revit is hard poly modeling software, where a mouse is a better tool than a drawing tablet.

      However, as you mentioned, sketching and designing stuff in photoshop is part of the workflow, So, a drawing tablet can be very handy.

      You should go for a screenless graphics tablet, Either go for Wacom Intuos or Xp Pen Deco Pro (https://essentialpicks.com/xp-pen-deco-pro-review/).

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