13 Best Tablets For Adobe Illustrator   

Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Ernests Embutnieks

We have reached a stage in this age where technology is everything. It almost seems like it is the be-all and end-all thing. From communications to gaming to streaming is all technology-based. Every day the demand for newer technology is made, and even an upgrade on your current technology is required as time passes. The World is fast moving towards the virtual world.

If you are a creative person, then you require a high-standard tablet to fulfill your potential. The internet today is filled with memes, GIFs, videos, and more. You need a high-definition and feature-heavy device to edit photos and videos. 

As we are going to talk about Adobe, it is mandatory that you purchase a device with a high-end processor. The reason you require a high-end processor is so that it can run high-end graphic designing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Lightroom, After effects, and more. There are other main features that we will look at later, but a Stylus is just as important a feature when buying a tablet for Adobe-related work.

Let’s take a look at the best tablet for Adobe Illustrator:

The MobileStudio Pro 16 is a portable computer that includes an interactive pen. 

It may be used as a stand-alone tablet with the pre-installed Windows 10 operating system and CorelDRAW! software or it can be connected to your own PC to be used as a secondary display.

The MobileStudio Pro 16 is a versatile and powerful tool. It comes with a back 3D scanning camera and the Wacom Pro Pen 2.

The display is a 16-inch screen with a 4K UHD resolution, measuring 3840 x 2160 pixels. The screen itself is a matte, etched-glass touchscreen that’s not entirely common in a tablet PC. 

It feels natural and comfortable to use compared to smooth, glossy panels like on the Microsoft Surface or iPad Pros. The included Wacom Pro Pen 2 has 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels and is battery-free.

This makes it even more convenient, especially for tracing & drawing on the go. 

The high-pressure sensitivity levels mean you can feel the pen as naturally as you’d hold a pen or pencil. The higher the sensitivity, the more finely you can adjust pen/brush strokes. 

A high sensitivity level is essential if you want to take drawing seriously. It saves time and trouble from adjusting brush thickness settings constantly. An added bonus is it feels much more intuitive than other pen displays. 

Color control is another one of MobileStudio’s most significant benefits over its competitors. It includes hardware-based calibrated profiles for Adobe RGB, sRGB, and Rec.709, as well as two slots for custom profiles, allowing you to avoid Windows 10’s convoluted and undocumented software application.

Pros & Cons

The iPad Pro is one of the best picks for Adobe users. Apple has ramped up the battery life in this edition. 

On top of that, the Apple-designed OS is fast and makes multitasking easy. The latest iPadOS 16 brings things even further with the updated Stage Manager and resizeable windows. 

iPadOS 16 is also getting external display support for seamless transitioning to a bigger monitor for in-depth work. The high-end Apple iPadOS is marvelous. You can run any Adobe app like After Effects, Illustrator, or Audition, smoothly. 

The M2 chipset, 8-Core GPU, and 8GB RAM handle multitasking with ease. The transition between apps and tabs is smooth because of the chipset. Apple offers 128GB storage with options for up to 2TB storage.

The 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display comes with ProMotion, True Tone, and Wide color. The high refresh rate and 4:3 aspect ratio are perfect. 2732 x 2048 resolution adds color vibrancy and sharpness. 

The latest iPad Pro also features a new feature called Apple Pencil Hover. 

With this feature, users can now hover the Apple Pencil up to 12mm over the display. The iPad Pro will then show a preview of how large/small the mark is or show the color mix before it’s applied. 

This added versatility is a must for digital artists as it can save a lot of time adjusting settings/color palates. The Hover feature also helps recognize text fields, with which you can turn handwriting to text even more seamlessly.

The Apple iPad Pro 2022 is compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd gen). The Apple Pencil is scratch-resistant and has palm-rejection support, as well as pressure and tilt sensitivity.

Apple iPad Pro offers great connectivity with a Thunderbolt port (Type-C), magnetic charging connector, Wi-Fi 6e, Face ID, and also Apple Pay. 

Meet the all-new iPad and iPad Pro | Apple

The latest Apple iPad Pro is compatible with Smart Keyboard Folio, Magic Keyboard, and Bluetooth Keyboards. The battery life is also impressive as you get up to 10 hours of battery life with one charge. 

Pros & Cons

The Cintiq Pro 24 is Wacom’s top-of-the-line drawing display virtually. It’s a showcase for pens. It’s a massive pen display. 

Consider it similar to a computer display that sits on your desk and can be plugged into a Windows or Mac computer and used to draw on with the supplied Wacom Pro Pen 2. The Pen itself features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition. 

It features a 24″ LCD display with a 4K resolution for crisp and sharp details when drawing or sketching. The screen also features a reflection-reducing coating which helps mitigate glare from light and makes it easy on the eye.

The Cintiq Pro 24 also features adjustable legs to adjust your drawing angle. There are also ExpressKeys hidden underneath the chassis for an uninterrupted working area. These keys can be mapped to different functions on your PC.

There’s also a lot of additional room on the side. 

Having your hand go off the edge of your display when drawing is a terrible thing. Its smooth, continuous flatness allows your hand to move, which is very useful when striking objects along the sides.

It doesn’t feel like sketching on paper, but it does precisely what you want it to do when users want it to. The lines are always smoother, and the pressure is exactly regulated. The color spectrum is 99 percent Adobe RGB, and the colors appear beautiful straight out of the box.

Pros & Cons

The Kamvas Studio 22 is an absolute monster drawing tablet. The device is a bit expensive, priced at $1195, but it is a dream of a tablet. Everything about the device screams quality and premium. 

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of drawing tablets on the market today to meet the demands of graphic designers, aspiring artists, and illustrators, the Huion Kamvas Studio 22 has proven to outperform the competition. 

It has the same processing power as your PC, which means it provides a solid performance as a drawing tablet available today. The Kamvas Studio 22 includes either 8/16GB of RAM and a sizeable 1TB HDD + 120GB SSD for all your creations.

It handles multi-tasking well and has a fantastic in-hand feel. The 21.5-inch Full HD display has etched anti-glare glass, which reduces light from external sources and feels like you’re drawing on paper.

The 120% sRGB color gamut means you’re getting a color-accurate display that’s vibrant and pops out of the screen. It’s a 16.7 million color display which is incredibly vivid and true-to-life. 

Because of its many functions and unique features and specifications, it makes sketching easier.

Every graphic designer and artist who wants to produce high-quality work should consider purchasing a Huion Kamvas Studio 22 today. It is the most recent drawing tablet model, having features not present in prior models or other models, and it has been shown to outperform all other drawing tablet models.

Pros & Cons

To begin with, the screen is a significant element of this tablet/laptop hybrid. It has a 14.4″ touch display with 2400 x 1600 pixels. It also boasts a speedy 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth scrolling and motion.

The screen itself may be configured in a variety of ways. Laptop Mode, which, as the name implies, is similar to a typical laptop. There’s also a setting that extends the screen ahead of the keyboard but behind the trackpad. 

That mode feels more like an easel, which is useful for illustration, drawing, and even watching YouTube videos or streaming. The Surface Studio is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and up to 2TB SSD storage.

The GPU is a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti which is more than capable of handling heavy workloads in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and even video editing software. 

Any graphically intensive task is easily dealt with on the Surface Studio Laptop.

Adobe Illustrator works effectively in tablet mode from a professional viewpoint. The Surface Slim Pen 2 is functional and extremely smooth. On this system, Premiere, Photoshop, and After Effects run nicely. 

But do keep in mind that the Surface Slim Pen 2 needs to be purchased separately. 

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio is a laptop that also functions as a media center and tablet. It’s intended to serve as your desk, video gaming console, Netflix screen, and drawing surface. Sort of all in one – laptop, tv, tablet, drawing tablet.

Pros & Cons

Huion’s Kamvas 24 Pro 4K illustrates, more than ever, that the graphics tablet business provides quality alternatives to Wacom’s main competition. The sheer size and weight of this drawing tablet may put off some first-time customers, but for those who appreciate additional real estate, this 24-inch 4K display tablet provides some amazing benefits.

The display also supports HDR which isn’t often seen in graphical tablets. This allows colors to truly pop, and results in vibrant, true-to-life illustrations and drawings. 

Aside from its large size, there is another compelling reason why buyers would prefer the more expensive Kamvas Pro 4K over other devices in the Kamvas 24 family. 

Even if smaller drawing tablets are available, the 4K display means that you don’t have severe pixelation when working on your projects in applications like Adobe Photoshop, making this a fantastic option for anybody dealing with large, high-definition file sizes, such as photographers.

The higher resolution will also assist illustrators and graphic designers, especially when paired with the Kamvas 24 Pro 4K’s 140% sRGB coverage, 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity, and 60° tilt support. 

The Kamvas Pro 24 also has a new PenTech 3.0 which supports a 5080 LPI Pen resolution and a Felt nib. 

The high LPI means you can draw very detailed & intricate lines, drawings, and illustrations. The felt nib is a unique feature that makes it feel like you’re using a real pen with friction that makes it more stable. 

Lines are smooth and have a good gradient, although people accustomed to the sensitivity of a Cintiq may need some time to adjust to the Kamvas’ tendency to get a little narrower towards the end of a stroke.

Pros & Cons

We had to include Wacom Cintiq 16. The most practical tablet for content creators if ever there was one. Just draw away your idea on this tablet without any hindrance. Whatever you have in mind, replicate it on this device. 

The Wacom Cintiq 16 has a 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The display is bigger than usual tablets and the HD screen makes it even more compelling with it exhibiting a 72% NTSC & 98% Adobe RGB color gamut. 

The display is scratch-resistant and has a 16:10 aspect ratio. There’s also a anti-reflective coating on the display to reduce glare and make it easier on the eyes when working for long hours. 

The Wacom Cintiq 16 can be connected to a PC or a laptop via the HDMI cable and Type-C port. The device is only compatible with Windows OS and OS X. 

Coming to the Wacom Pro Pen 2, the stylus is designed like a normal pen so the grip and drawing comfort are the same. It has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, an eraser on the tip, and self-charging support. The Pro Pen 2 also has tilt integration and is battery free. 

The Wacom Cintiq 16 weighs 4.2 pounds, has 19° foldable legs to get an elevated angle when working, has on-device express keys, and is portable enough to fit in any laptop bag. 

The Wacom Cintiq 16 is an out-and-out drawing paradise. You can draw away your wildest fantasies and sketch them on the device. 

If you’re a drawing enthusiast then this is a good companion for you. It should be noted that this device can only be used for sketching and drawing purposes. You cannot stream or edit content on this device.

Pros & Cons

The anti-glare finish surface is the key to ensuring clear and vivid display effects on the Kamvas 22 series. Under bright light, the anti-glare matte film and etched glass may keep your screen clear and transparent. 

The display features a QD LCD with a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, 1200:1 contrast ratio, and a color accurate 140% sRGB color gamut. Images on the Kamvas 22 are crisp and clear while retaining excellent color vibrancy and vividness. 

It outperforms other tablets that feature a typical LCD display panel.

Furthermore, the Kamvas 22 Plus employs full-laminated technology, which completely integrates glass with the screen to reduce parallax. This makes it easier to draw accurately without wondering if the screen is registering your inputs.

The Kamvas 22 Plus has a USB hub, allowing you to effortlessly connect all of your devices without having to dig under your desk or behind your computer.

The Kamvas 22 Plus has three vented holes for heat dissipation to keep it functioning at the optimal temperature. Furthermore, they include anti-slip rubbers on the bottom of the display to prevent sliding for safe and steady operation.

The Kamvas 22 comes with the Huion PenTech 3.0 which features 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, 60° tilt, 5080 LPI, and is battery free. This means you can use the pen as you want to, without worrying about input lag or inaccurate strokes.

Pros & Cons

As Samsung says “PC performance, Tablet portability”, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ hits the sweet spot. Samsung has always been the torch bearers of Android devices and the Galaxy Tab S8+ is no different. 

If you’re not buying an Apple product then it is a no-brainer that you go for Samsung.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ has a 12.4-inch AMOLED display and 2800 x 1752 WQXGA+ resolution. The Super AMOLED, HDR10+ display has superb color accuracy and matches up to the latest iPad Pro which is some feat. 

The 16:10 aspect ratio is excellent as is the 120Hz refresh rate. The massive 84.6% screen-to-body ratio is a huge plus in the display section as well. The speedy refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and motion on the work area.

The 8GB RAM provided by Samsung in the Galaxy Tab S8+ along with Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is quality and runs any Adobe apps with ease. 

Multitasking and transitioning between apps or tabs are super smooth thanks to the quality chipset. 128GB storage is sufficient in itself, but the game-changer here is the dedicated microSD slot where you can expand the storage up to 1TB. 

Android 12 is the Operating System installed in the tab with 4 years of scheduled major updates. This means you can use the Tab S8+ for a long time without needing to replace it for the newest software. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is compatible with the S-Pen. You can use any other stylus as well but the S-Pen is the perfect companion for the device and also it is included with the tablet without any additional cost.

The new S-Pen has better Ultra-low latency, Magnetic attachment, and Air gesture for quicker control. The S-Pen also has 2.8ms latency and 4096 pressure sensitivity levels. 

The upgraded latency means there’s virtually no input lag and is essential when illustrating or drawing. You don’t have to wait and wonder if your input was accurately registered, so you can draw with ease. 

Pros & Cons

Artists and hobbyists may now enjoy the delight of a display-based graphics tablet without paying Cintiq pricing thanks to an HDMI-based display and a 13-inch size. The display has a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution which is great for a budget graphics tablet. 

The Wacom One’s drawing surface is fantastic. Not only is it significantly superior to something like the iPad, but this also feels as nice as or better than the surface of the Intuos. 

The matte surface is smooth and paper-like, providing enough resistance to help your strokes more accurately while not being tiring to draw on. The included Pro Pen 2 features 4096 pressure sensitivity levels and is battery free.

The pen isn’t as sensitive as other tablets like the Cintiq 16 or Huion Kamvas series, but it’s good enough. You have to consider the significant discount the Wacom One offers. 

The screen is also rather nice! Sure, it’s not the most realistic in terms of color representation, but it gets the job done for the most part. Furthermore, you can’t dispute the ease of being able to sketch right on paper.

Pros & Cons

Another unorthodox tablet that needs to be talked about. Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is also a display-only tablet where as a graphic designer or a drawing enthusiast you can draw or sketch anything you want.

It is also on the cheaper side, priced at $399.

The Huion KAMVAS Pro 16 has a 15.6 inch IPS screen, with 120% sRGB and 88% NTSC palette for color accuracy and vibrancy. It has a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution which means it is Full HD. 

The display has a decent 1000:1 contrast ratio for increased black/white contrast and enhanced shadows & color detailing.

The tablet can be connected to a computer or laptop with the 3-in-1 USB-C cable which works with the HDMI as well. For content creators and designers, the tablet is well compatible with different creative software such as Adobe Photoshop, SAI, Lightroom, etc.

There are 6 customized express keys and a touch bar that helps in quick access to your favorite shortcuts. This can be configured to anything you use constantly like brush sizes, eraser, zoom, and more. 

The Huion KAMVAS Pro 16 is 11.5mm thin and weighs only 2.8 pounds, which makes it a perfectly portable and a must-have travel companion for designers and creators. 

There’s also an adjustable stand that can be configured from 20° to 60° so you can adjust your work area to the most comfortable position. 

Coming to the most impressive part about the tablet, the battery-free pen PW507. The pen is absolutely fantastic with a normal pen-like feel with a comfortable grip. 

The PW507 draws its power from its host, so there is never an issue with charging. The PW507 has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels and 60 degrees tilt recognition, not to forget the scratch-free tip. The two side buttons can be programmed as shortcuts according to your needs. 

Pros & Cons

There should always be a Microsoft option when selecting an electronic device and that too is a quality one hence the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is as solid a tab for content creators and designers as it gets.

It is an upgrade from its predecessor Pro 7, both in terms of performance and battery. 

The Surface Pro 8 is considerably sleeker than the 7 with a slim profile and significantly reduced bezels on the display. The 13-inch PixelSense Flow display has a 2880 x 1920 resolution. 

This is much sharper than standard Full HD displays, but not as crisp as a 4K panel. But it features an speedy 120Hz refresh rate for smooth motion. The Surface Pro 8 also supports Dolby Vision and Adaptive Color.

This significantly improves color contrast and vibrancy. Illustrating on the Surface Pro 8 is enjoyable since the display is crisp, color accurate, and vivid. 

The Surface Pro 8 is the most substantial design upgrade to the tablet since the Surface Pro 3 in 2015. Rounded edges match the Surface Pro X, and the new charcoal color looks amazing. The most noticeable change, though, is that screen.

And it’s not just the device’s design that’s been improved. RAM now starts at 8GB (up to 32GB for the maxed-out variant), while storage now goes all the way up to 1TB. 

Furthermore, the 11th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs boost the powerful performance of the Surface Pro 8.

The Surface Pen is a standard Microsoft stylus. A pretty neat device with 4096 pressure sensitivity levels and USB Type-C charging. Keep in mind the Surface Pen is sold separately and isn’t included in the box.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 also features Wi-Fi AX, Bluetooth, USB 3.1 Type-A and USB 3.1 Type-C ports, Mini DisplayPort, an audio jack, and 2 integrated microphones. 

Pros & Cons

There are several conventional graphic tablets on the market, each with an excellent pen response and a large active surface to draw on. The Wacom Intuos Pro is one such tool, ideally suited for artists that rely on their primary computer and simply need a digital drawing pad to work on.

However, if you are still using the out-of-date Intuos, upgrading to Pro may not be such a terrible idea after all, since you will have a larger panel to work on.

Why is it appropriate for Adobe Illustrator? 

Despite the lack of a typical display, the 8.7 x 5.8 inch active drawing surface on the Intuos Pro makes a strong impact on illustrators. There are three size options namely Small, Medium, and Large. 

We’d recommend choosing the right size for your type of work. If you don’t need the extra work area, the Small or Medium are sufficient.

In addition, a Pro Pen 2 pen with EMR charging support, tilt recognition technology, and 8192 pressure sensitivity levels is included for a superior user experience.

Because you will still need to hook up this tablet to a computer in order for it to function, there is a USB 2.0 port to make things easier. Furthermore, you may use the same Bluetooth feature to make things easier when connecting to MacBooks and regular computers.

With dimensions of 13.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches, this graphic tablet is arguably the most stylish you’ll ever see. Furthermore, at 1.5 pounds, it is the same weight as the iPad Pro. 

8 programmable buttons and the touch-sensitive ring are also essential structural resources. Unlike other options on the list, the Intuos Pro has a Touch Ring that supports multi-touch gestures for even more customisability and versatility. 

According to the specs, this tablet does not have an inbuilt battery. You do, however, get a pen stand if you are interested in such a minor modification.

Overall, the Wacom Intuos Pro is not your typical tablet, but rather a highly sensitive and adjustable digital drawing pad. Furthermore, when compared to some of the other devices on the list, this device appears to be more capable of creating superior designs and vector art forms.

Pros & Cons

Verdict: Which Is The Best Tablet For Adobe Illustrator?

We have tried providing every possible option on Adobe-friendly tablets. 

You have some proper expensive tablets with premium features, while you also have mid-range and budget tablets with workable and sufficient features. 

Basically, all the tablets listed are quality devices and are excellent for any Adobe apps one might want to use. But it truly depends on the type of user you are and how much you’ve got to spend. 

A professional content creator needs a versatile tablet to handle their scope of work. You might be using Illustrator and Photoshop one day and InDesign or sketching software the next. 

If money is not an option and your whole work life depends on content creation, then the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro, Huion Kamvas Studio 22,  Apple iPad Pro, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ are substantial and absolute quality buys. 

Premium feature-packed and world-class devices. These devices are built for performance and can make a whole world of difference when illustrating or drawing. 

For users who want a middle-of-the-road option, the Wacom Cintiq 16 or Huion KAMVAS Pro 24 are the right options for you. They’re not as expensive as the premium lineup but are feature packed for illustrating and editing. 

If you are starting out as a content creator or as an editor and just want to dip your toes in the water then the Wacom One, Wacom Intuos Pro, or Huion Kamvas Pro 16 are the best budget options. 

You can always upgrade down the road when you’re more comfortable and know what you need. At the end of the day, it does not matter as every single tablet that we have listed is a viable option for content creators and professionals.

Content creators are on the surge and they are the future, so it is only sensible that they get the best device that is not only compatible with their skills but also enhances their work. 

Every single device mentioned above is a perfect tool for Adobe-friendly content creators and every single tablet is value for money. 

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