Do you want to bring your drawing to life but can’t seem to decide the best drawing tablet for animation?
No worries, we are here to ease your hassle and help you decide on a drawing tablet that is best for your animation projects yet within your budget.
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In the market, whether you are going to buy tablets traditionally or digitally, you will see numerous options, some of which are said to be the best and tend to have the worst rating. The list we have compiled for you is based on the screen size, budget, screen resolution, and reviews.
10 Best Drawing Tablets for Animation in 2022
You or someone you know must have bought a tablet after doing research that pointed out that it was the best one, but it broke down after a month. The following tablets won’t let you or your loved ones down.
- 2021 Apple iPad Pro — Best drawing tablet for animation overall (Editor’s Choice)
- XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro — The best budget drawing tablet (with screen)
- Wacom Cintiq 22 — The best value large drawing tablet for animation
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ — Best Android drawing tablet for animation
- Wacom One — A great affordable tablet for any animation project
- HUION KAMVAS Pro 16 — The best value all-round tablet for animation
- Wacom Intuos Graphics — Best multifunctional drawing tablet for animation
- GAOMON S620 — The best budget drawing tablet for animation (without screen)
- Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro — Best drawing tablet for efficiency and convenience
- XP-PEN Artist22E Pro — Best display size drawing tablet for animation
What is the best drawing tablets for animation & motion graphics?
Check out our comparison table to see what’s the best drawing tablet for your animation needs.
Tablet Buying Guide for Animators & Illustrators
Before we dig into the 10 best drawing tablets for animation, there are a few things that you need to consider before you decide on the perfect drawing tablet for you.
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Screen Size and Resolution
One of the first and the most important things all animators should look at in the drawing tablet is the screen size and resolution of the tablet. The larger the screen size, and higher the resolution that is the tablet for you. The benefit of using a large screen size and high resolution is that you can find tiny errors and amend them easily.
If the tablet is small, you will have to keep on zooming in and out of your drawing, which is quite time-consuming. The good resolution enhances the quality of your animation and makes it look better on the large screen when your customers or clients are viewing it. The animation will look good on your screen, but when the animation is viewed by someone else on a large screen, it might not look that good.
You must spend on the tablet whose size is medium (if your clients or customers view it on a large screen), and the resolution is of high quality. It is to be kept in mind that small screen sizes are good when working on a small project.
Battery life
When you are watching a movie, and suddenly your laptop shuts down, or you are about to email your assignment or text an important message, and your mobile battery dies out, how do you feel? Frustrated, angry, or feel like throwing away your mobile?
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Well, this is exactly why the battery life of your drawing tablet for animation is extremely important. You will be working for hours, and if you need to keep on charging, again and again, it will be time-consuming and will affect your mood badly. Whenever you are working, it is best to have your tablet fully charged because it’s not always possible to keep your tablet on continuous charging.
It is best to invest in tablets whose battery life is good because it is one of the most important aspects of buying the best drawing tablets for animation.
Pressure Level Sensitivity
Another important aspect while buying the best drawing tablet for animation is the level of pressure sensitivity of the stylus. The higher the pressure levels, the better is your stylus response to your drawing on the tablet.
The pressure level sensitivity will enhance your drawing key highlights or points. This will help keep your focus on the drawing, and you don’t have to keep on redoing the same step again and again because the stylus didn’t draw exactly what you wanted.
Always notice the pressure levels when buying the tablets and stylus. Some tablets have a free stylus, but some drawing tablets don’t. So you need to find the best stylus that suits your tablet to draw the best animation you want.
10 Best Drawing Tablets for Animation & Motion Graphics in 2022
1. Apple iPad Pro (Editor’s Choice)
The best drawing tablet for animation overall
Screen: 12.9 inches | Dimensions: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches | Screen Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels | Operating System: iPadOS | Colors: Silver, Space Gray
The new Apple iPad Pro is our top pick to create amazing graphics and illustrations. Housing Apple’s new M1 Chip that produces 40% faster graphics than previous versions of the iPad and with its luminous 12.9-inch liquid retina XDR display, creating incredible works of art is easier. With Apple’s Pencil (see some Apple Pencil alternatives here) ability to magnetically attach to the iPad, you never have to worry about losing your stylus.
The overall combination of features and design-build easily puts the iPad Pro from Apple at the top of the hill. Regardless of your artistic level, any artist can get better using this tablet.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Large screen size | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Good battery life |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Apple M1 chip for next-level performance
- Brilliant 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color
- TrueDepth camera system featuring Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage
- 12MP Wide camera, 10MP Ultra Wide camera, and LiDAR Scanner for immersive AR
- Stay connected with ultrafast Wi-Fi
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2. XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro
The best budget drawing tablet with screen for animation
Screen: 15.6 | Dimensions: 17.44 x 11.02 x 0.51 inches | Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels | Operating System: Compatible with windows, MAC and Linux | Colors: Black
TheXP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro drawing tablet comes with a fully laminated display to minimize distractions and increase your accuracy. By combining the glass and the screen, the Artist 15.6 Pro tablet aims to emulate as real a drawing experience, while also reducing the strain of the light on your eyes. With an incredible color accuracy of 120% sRGB and a wide visual angle, it offers a vivid picture display.
The stylus provides a 60-degree tilt and 8192 degrees of pressure sensitivity and virtually no lag. The unique red dial interface sets this tablet apart, enabling easy zooming and scrolling about the canvas. Compatible with most Windows and Mac computers, the XP-PEN Artist15.6Pro is adaptable, portable, and super-efficient.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Large active area | ➖ Slight parallax |
| ➕ Good quality to price ratio |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- [High Performance] - Artist 15.6 Pro drawing tablet supports 60 degrees of tilt function and provide 1920*1080 high resolution, with up to 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the PA2 Battery-free...
- [Full-laminated Technology] - XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro drawing tablet is adopting full-laminated technology, seamlessly combines the glass and the screen, to create a distraction-free working environment...
- [Optimized Workflow] - The innovative Red Dial interface breaks through the traditional pen display design for optimal efficiency. It fits comfortably in your hand and can be programmed to zoom in and...
- [Sleek and smart designed] - The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Drawing tablet features a slim 11mm profile, and with an easily accessible smart screen-brightness button, you can easily adjust it to your...
- [Compatibility] - The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro graphic screen is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7(32/64bit), Mac OS X 10.10 or later, and works with major graphics software like Photoshop, Painter,...
3. Wacom Cintiq 22
Best value large screen size drawing tablet for animation
Screen: 21.6 Inches | Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches | Screen Resolution:1920 x 1080 pixels | Operating System: Windows | Colors: Black
With its broad HD display, theWacom Cintiq 22 brings your illustrations to life in 16.7 million vibrant colors. Designed with 8,192 pressure levels, minimal activation force, and advanced hand-tilt recognition, it enables natural precision and stunning detail.
Cintiq’s anti-glare, scratch-resistant surface reduces disruptions and offers unparalleled clarity. The Wacom Pro Pen 2 has the feel and balance of a regular pen and with it’s built-in EMR technology, will charge directly from the screen while you work. With programmable keys, you can set up quick access to your best editing tools. While it’s not the most portable-friendly tablet, it’s not so big that it takes up your entire workspace.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Large screen with a battery-free stylus | ➖ Difficult to carry around |
| ➕ Excellent screen resolution |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- A more affordable pen Display with Wacom Pro Pen 2 technology, 8, 192 pressure levels, low activation force and tilt recognition. Its amazing precision and reduced Parallax provide the most natural...
- Cintiq’s 21.5” 1920x1080 HD Display provides you with clarity to see every detail of your work. The scratch-resistant Anti-Glare surface prevents distracting reflections as you create
- See your creations in vibrant color on the cinq's HD display (16.7 million colors, 72% NTSC/Cue 1931 typical). Work as long as you'd like with the battery free pen that charges off the screen while...
- Connect to your computer with the convenient HDMI and USB cables and get into the perfect position with the included adjustable stand that lets you adjust how you want to work
- What’s in the box: Wacom Cintiq 22 pen display, Wacom Pro Pen 2, detachable pen holder with 3 replacement nibs (standard) and nib removal tool, Adjustable Stand, HDMI & USB 2.0 cables, AC adaptor,...
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Best Android drawing tablet for animation
Screen: 12.4 Inches | Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches | Screen Resolution: 2800 x 1752 pixels | Operating System: Android 10.0 | Colors: Black, Bronze, Mystic Navy, Silver
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ combines the performance of a laptop and the portability of a tablet. With a beautiful LCD screen, the edge-to-edge display provides breathtaking visual clarity and has been designed to adapt to natural lighting, allowing you to work practically anywhere. Packaged with the new S Pen, the stylus offers an improved latency of 9ms, making it more responsive to your motion than ever before.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Outstanding display | ➖ High Price |
| ➕ A great portable device | |
| ➕ High-quality camera |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- INDUSTRIES FIRST 5G TABLET! (Supports AT&T Network Only)
- PC PERFORMANCE. TABLET PORTABILITY: Transform your tablet into a PC experience with DeX mode and the optional keyboard* with expanded trackpad. * Sold separately.
- ENTERTAINMENT, UPGRADED: Experience cinematic viewing in your hands with larger edge-to-edge displays, sAMOLEDTM screen and quad speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos surround sound.
- REDESIGNED S PEN INCLUDED: With improved 9ms pen latency, the redesigned S Pen can control presentations, take notes and mark up papers effortlessly.
- CHANGE THE WAY YOU GAME: Bring console gaming to anywhere a Wi-Fi connection is available with an immersive screen and Bluetooth-enabled controller. ***Controller sold separately.
5. Wacom One
A great affordable tablet for any animation project
Screen: 13.3 inch | Dimensions: 8.86 x 14.05 x 0.57 inches | Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Operating System: Link it to PC, MAC or smartphones | Colors: Black, White
If you’re just beginning your career in animation, the Wacom One is the tablet for you. Its 13.3” HD display gives you all the clarity you need to create vivid imaginative illustrations and its natural surface friction provides you with a realistic drawing experience.
The pen is extremely pressure-sensitive and uses software to act as a whole range of pens and brushes, with superb accuracy. Designed to feel like an ordinary pen, the stylus doesn’t require any charging. This along with the variety of software that the Wacom One provides for use on your computer, the tablet gives you everything you need.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Incredible drawing surface | ➖ Multi-touch support is not available |
| ➕ Battery-free stylus |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- See your imagination come to life in full color on a 13.3” display with a natural surface friction that makes for intuitive drawing on screen. It feels like you’re drawing or writing on paper.
- Feels like a real pen – no need for batteries, the pen feels and looks right. Plus, this one pen uses software to act as multiple pens and brushes in a full range of colors, with superb accuracy.
- Digital freedom – sketch or paint directly on screen, draw diagrams, annotate documents, enhance photos and videos, plus you can delete, edit and share your creations with ease.
- Includes Creative Software: purchase & register your Wacom One and receive Bamboo Paper Pro, Clip Studio Paint Pro (3-month license), Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom (2-month license), Adobe Fresco...
- Diverse compatibility – link up your Wacom One to your Mac, PC or Chromebook, as well as certain Android tablets and smartphones, and even use digital pens from top brands if you want a different...
6. HUION KAMVAS Pro 16
The best all-round tablet for animation
Screen:15.6 inches | Dimensions: 17.24 x 9.88 x 0.47 inches | Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Operating System: Windows 7/Mac OS 10.11 or higher | Colors: Black
With theHUION KAMVAS Pro 16 Graphics Drawing Tablet, precision is everything. The fully laminated display with anti-glare technology reduces parallax distortion, enhancing the accuracy of the stylus. Its 60-degree tilt recognition and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity provide you with optimized responsiveness with virtually no lag.
The charge-free stylus offers a drawing experience as close to natural as can be. The touch bar and six express keys enable quick adjustments to your canvas. Designed for easy portability and compatibility with any laptop, the HUION KAMVAS Pro 16 is as convenient as they come.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Good build quality | ➖ 3-in-1 cable is short |
| ➕ Laminated screen with no parallax |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Outstanding Visuals: The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 drawing art tablet features a stunning 15.6-inch full-laminated screen with Full HD resolution, letting you enjoy immersive viewing in great clarity and...
- Brilliant Color: See your creations in vibrant and true-to-life colors on this screen with 120% sRGB (92% AdobeRGB) color gamut volume(16.7 million 8-bit). 1000:1 contrast ratio shows shadow details...
- Advanced Pen performance: The battery-free pen PW507 looks and feels like a regular pencil, offering you responsive and accurate pen performance with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, ±60° tilt...
- Optimized Workflow: A set of 6 customized express keys and touch bar helps get easy access to your favorite shortcuts of keyboards or mouse to achieve different operations, such as zooming in and out,...
- Connection & Compatibility: This drawing tablet can be easily connected with the convenient 3-in-1 USB-C cable (HDMI signal) to your computer & laptops that run Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.12 or...
7. Wacom Intuos Graphics
Best multifunctional drawing tablet for animation
Standing Screen: 7 inches | Dimensions: 7.87 x 6.3 x 0.35 inches | Operating system: Chrome OS | Colors: Black
The Wacom Intuos Graphics is a compact and cost-effective tablet, capable of supporting illustrators at the highest levels. Adaptable to any computer, the drawing surface displays your work directly onto the screen and its size makes it ideal for limited desktop space and easy portability.
With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, none of the precision that more advanced tablets might come with has been sacrificed. Its pen is battery-free and effortless to use and with a range of editing software, you can take all your illustrations as far as your imagination goes.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Easily portable | ➖ Small draw area |
| ➕ Perfect to use with a smartphone |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Certified Works with Chromebook: Wacom is the only drawing tablet that is certified to work with Chromebook for students, teachers and creators, Intuos is simple to use and set-up for any project
- Customize Your Creative Process: The 4 ExpressKeys on the tablet are customizable to fit your style so you can program your favorite keyboard shortcuts and unlock your process and creativity
- Natural Pen Experience: The included ergonomic EMR 4096 pressure sensitive battery-free pen is light, responsive and easy to control; it feels like you are writing on paper
- Perfect Tablet for Software: One by Wacom is a versatile choice for students, artists, and educators with its portability and compatibility. Use with Mac OS and Windows, and is certified Chromebook
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
8. GAOMON S620
The best budget drawing tablet without screen for animation
Screen area: 6.5 x 4 | Dimension: 8.3 x 6.85 x 0.31 inches | Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Operating System: Window, Mac and Android | Colors: Black
The GAOMON S620 is a screen-free drawing tablet that can be used connected to your computer or smartphone. While the stylus is battery-free and comes with 8,192 pressure levels, it lacks the tilt sensitivity that many of its competitors have. Compatible with most devices and software programs, the GAOMON S620 is lightweight and easy to carry around and with slip-resistant bottom, you won’t have to worry about any accidents while sketching.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Excellent texture surface | ➖ Tilt sensitivity is missing |
| ➕ Scratch-resistant |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 【FOR ONLINE MEETING & ONLINE CLASS】You can use GAOMON S620 pen tablet for online education and remote meeting. It works with most online meeting programs, like Zoom, and so on. 【FOR DIGITAL ART...
- 【PASSIVE PEN】--Battery-free pen cuts the inconveneince of charging the pen. 【8192 HIGH LEVEL PEN PRESSURE & 4 CUSTOMIZABLE EXPRESS KEYS】It will provide you precise control and accuracy at your...
- 【COMPATIBILITY OR APPLICATION】-- It compatible with Windows OS 7/8/10 or above and mac-10.12 or above. Work with most art programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio, Lightroom,...
- 【266 PPS REPORT RATE + 5080LPI RESOLUTION + 10MM PEN READING HEIGHT + 6.5*4 INCHES ACTIVE AREA】-- This size is more portable and lightweight, easy to be carried around in the laptop bag to the...
- 【HUMANIZED DESIGN】-- 4 rubber feet are created to ensure the stability of the tablet from slipper. 【LEFT & RIGHT HANDED SUPPORT】--Set 180 degree roate inside GAOMON Driver to set left hand...
9. Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro
Best drawing tablet for efficiency and convenience
Standing Screen: 132 | Dimensions: 13.14 x 8.54 x 0.31 inches | Operating System: Compatible with PC and Mac | Colors: Black
Much like the Wacom Intuos Graphics, the Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro is a screen-free drawing tablet with a slim, portable design with a slightly larger active area that also functions as a multi-touch surface for zooming and scrolling with your fingers. It includes programmable express keys for easy access to editing shortcuts.
Made for precision, it eliminates parallax errors and is virtually lag-free. The Pro 2 Pen has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and natural tilt support, to capture every detail effectively. It’s also battery-free for your convenience. With both USB and Bluetooth capabilities, connecting to your computer has never been this simple.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Highly sensitive pen | ➖ New pens nibs not easily accessible |
| ➕ Large active area |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Built with high quality materials and designed to make the most of Pro Pen 2
- Wacom's finest creative pen tablet to date
- Pro Pen 2 - Designed as a natural extension of your hand
- Built-in Bluetooth connectivity and a sleek new design
- Quality materials and compact design give perfect drawing space - 8mm thick
10. XP-PEN Artist22E Pro
Best display size drawing tablet for animation
Screen: 21.5 Inch | Dimension: 22.32 x 12.83 x 1.18 inches| Screen Resolution: 1920×1080 | Operating System: Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux | Colors: Black
Designed for every kind of artist, the XP-PEN Artist22E Pro enables drawing, painting, sketching, editing, and design. Featuring 16 express keys, it gives you easy access to a wide range of editing shortcuts. The stylus provides an outstanding response rate of 266 RPS, as well as 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity for enhanced precision and detail. Offering a fabulous 4K display, an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare, and a 72% color gamut, it gives your work the platform it deserves.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Large screen size with good quality | ➖ DVI cable not included |
| ➕ Excellent express buttons |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Functions such as drawing, sketching, painting, design, and editing can now be performed directly on the surface of your monitor. Expand your creativity and work naturally and intuitively. Artist22E...
- Features 16 customizable Express keys. Compared with Artist 22E, 16 express keys have 16 different functions for convenience and efficiency. It is designed for both left and right handed users. The...
- Our 21.5 inch drawing pen display features 1080p resolution with 72% Color Gamut and an extra-wide 178° viewing angle. The Max Report Rate of the Artist 22E Pro has increased to 266 RPS with 8192...
- The Artist 22E Pro driver can support 4k displays. The custom-designed anti-reflective coating reduces glare by 56 percent. Latest Multi-function Pen Holder. It can keep your pen, pen nibs. You can...
- Artist22E Pro Graphic drawing monitor supports Windows 7/8/10 and Mac Os x 10.8.x or later. Compatible with popular digital art software such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Comic Studio, SAI,...
Frequently Asked Quiestions
What are the best tablets used for Animation?
2021 Apple iPad Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, and XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro are the best tablets for Animation.
Why should I choose the Apple iPad Pro for animation?
The Apple iPad has a large screen and good battery life. It has 40 % fast graphics. Itsupports ultrafast WiFi. The Apple iPad has a great camera system and an excellent 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display.
Which is the best android drawing tablet for animation?
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is the best drawing tablet for animation.
10 Best Drawing Tablets for Animation in 2022
These 10 best drawing tablets for animation will help you in completing your projects with ease. The list has been carefully compiled so that you don’t have to go through the hassle of searching through numerous drawing tablets. Do you not see the tablet you use for animation? Tell us what it is in the comments below!
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