Top 8 Best Tablets for Adobe Illustrator in 2024

best tablets for adobe illustrator

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Ben Scott

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In previous times people use paper and pencil to draw whatever they want. Even they don’t have any other option than this and also no technology. Traditional methods create even better and more realistic things compared to new technology. But now the time has changed, the electronic device becomes more accurate and even draw more realistic things and we have created the list of best tablets for adobe illustrator.

Software and many other platforms make a simple or intermediate user draw like a professional. There was some problem if anything goes wrong then you have to erase that part. Sometimes you have to change the sheet. The worst thing was to erase the whole thing. Many other related problems are emitted when software and new technology are used. On top of them, there is a big brand software named AI i.e. “adobe illustrating”.

And for that, you must have the best Adobe Illustrator tablet. Most of the artists have several brushes, pencils, and charcoal of different sizes to make a sketch even more clear. In this modern era, software is available but there is still some issue of having a device to run these applications.

To draw on the device much other software available like Autodesk and Photoshop. Because of all this many of the artists switch to the device for reliability and edit methods. In the starting time, there is also a prole of keyboard and mouse to work properly. The typical drawing line is very difficult to draw using a mouse and keyboard.

XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro- Best Tablet for Adobe Illustrator

Here’s the best pick for the best adobe illustrator’s tablet, If you’re looking for a reliable and feature-loaded tablet with unique features this XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro Tablet is going to be the best artist’s tablet. You can also read our full expert’s review on this.

XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro overview- artist and portable drawing tablet

Some of the key features of XP-PEN Artist15.6 Pro are:-

  • 15.6-Inch active area
  • 8192 levels pen pressure
  • Compatible with Windows 10/8/7, Mac OS X version 10.10
  • The lightweight of 1500 Grams
  • Including lots of accessories
  • 4.7/5 Rating By Users

When this problem arises the new invention was made “stylus”, this work similar to a pencil but digitally. Nowadays technology has become so better that you can use a stylus similar to a pencil. Only you need to get a tablet for that. But if you search this on the internet then you will find a lot of articles and this makes a huge confusion.

If you’re thinking of buying a new tablet for drawing and illustrator purposes then here we bring the best guide for that. Buying a tablet is not easy, we take at least 4-5 hours to list the best from our knowledge. During the research, we keep in mind that the device should be within every budget.

As we don’t want that because of the few dollars a person away from the required device. If you are a beginner in drawing and looking for the best tablet options then read the guide for the best drawing tablets with a screen or beginner artists. You can be confused but here we bring the buyer’s guide to select the best tablets for illustrator.

8 Best Tablets For Adobe Illustrator – Top Picks

Now that we’ve covered the introduction and buyers guide of our topic, let’s cover some of the best adobe illustrator tablets that you can buy on the internet. Each of these products is filtered in terms of popularity, price, performance, specifications, latest hardware, software, screen responsiveness, and user reviews.

We’ll have graphical tablets in all budget range, from low to high so that you can easily navigate what best suits you.

1. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

microsoft surface pro 8

Tech designers, graphic tool developers, and digital painters, everybody, including me, a professional in creative arts, have to always be thorough in choosing the device with which the tools like Adobe illustrator will work smoothly because this tool, in particular, has one of the rising and upright functions and services for a good outcome of our final piece.

I was seriously in a mess when searching for a tablet that could handle Adobe illustrator and work efficiently with it. So, after doing much research, I found this fantastic tablet Microsoft Surface Pro 8, and trust me it is one of the best devices I have ever invested in, especially in terms of display quality and battery life.

Let me start with its display of 13 inches, an enormous one, like butter on a plate for the designers. The level of accuracy of color projection as well as the viewing angles, all due to its PixelSense, was a boon I discovered while working on it. In addition, my entire project came out so brilliant, thanks to its color gamut of 103: % sRGB and 72% DCI-P3 palette.

Last but not least was its resolution for me like it preceded all its older versions and offers a 2880 x 1920 pixels resolution, along with a 120Hz refresh rate to make the scrolling flawless

Sometimes I like to add other tools to my device; hence, with this Surface Connect port, I can easily use my keyboard whenever I want. Then, after finishing it all, if I wanted to transfer it to my other devices, it was provided with two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports make data transfers and charging easier and much faster.

Performance-wise, I find it no less than any other tablet on the market, as it possesses a
11th gen i5 processor from Intel.

I was not expecting this much; windows 11os does run at an unbelievable speed on this tablet because of the quad-core chipset and the ultra-fast SSD. Lastly, It did help me create some 3D models aside from designing.

Designing requires much time and potential for the artist and their device. Therefore, when I got to work, the tablet didn’t stop for 16 hours and worked perfectly; I was sure this was one of my best picks. And once it gets discharged, in just 90 minutes, I could use it for another spin.

PROS
  • Offers an amazing tool, i.e. PixelSense display.
  • Available with the Latest Wi-Fi 6 support.
  • Unbelievably beautiful build and design.
  • Fast charging.
  • Amazing battery backup.
CONS
  • It doesn’t come with a stylus.
  • Bulky and massive.
  • Expensive.

 

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

samsung galaxy tab s8 plus- best 5g tablet

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is no doubt in some other league. When I think about a tablet good enough for Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft does not provide a stylus, which becomes a bit of a hassle.

Hence, I looked for other tablets with a stylus or smart pen. That’s how I landed on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. Its amazing build, design, and processor soon became my go-to tablet after Microsoft for Adobe illustrator.

After many trials and dozens of product testing, I realized that Adobe illustrator is a top-notch tool specially designed for us designers. Still, it needs a tablet with an amazing display, a fast processor, and good battery life for its fluidity. This tablet Samsung galaxy tab S8 was the second-best answer to my quest for the best tablet for Adobe illustrator.

It has all that I have been looking for, an awesome, fast, and long-lasting Android 12 slate that is exemplary in looks and comfortable to hold onto.

Next came the brilliant display and AMOLED screens, which were bright enough to bewitch anybody like me, and with its two color modes, i.e. vivid and natural, I found my pieces looking so neat and well finished.

Even though it does possess two color modes, the vivid one is more settling as my colors appear brighter and more vibrant in this mode.

Fluids like the performance of this tablet, Samsung galaxy tab S8 made my drawing experience more fun. with the amazing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, emitted enormous power.

I could do so much on the Tab, and its Android 12 software always allowed me to handle numerous tasks all at once, and shifting between tabs was much easier than any other device. Also, it possesses 8 GB RAM; hence navigation is fluid.

Now, the next thing is a stylus pen, like a must for us digital artists, and on top of that, it’s compatibility with the screen, which needed to be added in the first one. But here, our Samsung provides all these tablets with an S pen. I liked the thickness and the feasibility of holding it in my hands while working efficiently.

In terms of battery life, it does have a good battery, not as great as the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, but 13 hours is not less also. Even the iPads and most tablets don’t last this long. This tablet can also be a good pick considering its overall performance.

PROS
  • Brilliant and amazing display.
  • Great battery life.
  • Amazing sound quality.
  • An alternative to a laptop.
CONS
  • They can’t be compared with iPads on performance wise.
  • Compact and tiny book cover keyboard.

 

3. Apple iPad Pro

Apple-iPad-Pro-2020

The first and my favorite one is the Apple iPad Pro, I have been recommending this device to almost everyone who looks for a reliable tablet device. Everyone knows how good are Apple devices when it comes to performance and reliability.

Drawing is an art and it requires a lot of creativity, this device can add features to your creativity with the performance and the features it has. The device comes with a liquid retina display, a true tone screen, and graphics that will give you a great visual experience while drawing, sketching, and painting.

Just charge Apple Pencil 2 can be connected to this device to add cheery to the cake. You can use it like a pencil, brush, or sketch pen for all your artistic work. The active drawing area of the screen measures 10.32 x 7.74 inches and a 2k screen resolution.

You will also experience great pen pressure sensitivity while drawing. The latency on the device is as low as 20 ms and that’s how you will have a smooth drawing experience with this Apple iPad Pro.

Hardware Specifications of Apple iPad Pro
Processor Octa-core 4×2.5 GHz Vortex
RAM 4 GB
Storage 256 GB
Display 11-inch Retina display with 1668 x 2388 Resolution
Camera Rear- 12+10 MP | Front- 7 MP
Operating System iOS 12
Battery Life 10 hours
Weight 1.04 lbs
PROS
  • Trackpad Support.
  • Gorgeous Display.
  • Faster Chipset.
CONS
  • Costly.
  • Processor Is Not A Major Upgrade.

 

4. Huion KAMVAS Pro 16

kamvas pro 16

Again the same thing, but in a different aspect; this Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is a decent tablet and goes perfectly well with Adobe Illustrator. But it is only a good call if you will do professional work solely on it. I could not carry it around easily because it was a large device.

Other than that, I was quite amused by it, and they also provide a top-notch pen with their tablet. And along with its upgraded screen, its compatibility with Adobe illustrator is only maximized.

While working on it, I read a little about the Huion tablets. I was surprised to find that it has the upgraded 15.6 inch IPS screen and has become the best Huion tablet among all to work most efficiently with illustrator. The next amusing factor for me is its top-shelf color accuracy, for which the NTSC palette of 88 percent is responsible.

Lastly, I used its 16:9 aspect panel ratio for designing comics and manga.

While creating all this with the EMR stylus pen, I felt like I was writing on paper, as the compatibility between the pen and screen was so smooth and completely flawless. Then after a bit, I found that the pen possesses a pressure sensitivity level of up to 8192.

I was hoping for more from its design but was still not completely disappointed. And with time, I got so fond of its design. I mean, come on, who won’t love that the device is neither too heavy nor too light and weighs just 2.98 pounds, and its body is designed in a plastic-infused table manner with
dimensions 17.2 x 9.9 x 0.45 inches and gives out a sole touch key.

For better viewing and sharing of the projects and data on the tablet, the HDMI and Type-C ports helped me connect it to my main PC. And it can run on any of these – Windows, Chrome, or any Mac OS.

Lastly, let’s go through its battery life, so here I found that it does not have its battery backup; instead, it draws its entire power from the host device it’s connected to.

As for its other features, the tilt recognition support is worth mentioning, and yeah, the stylus pen is not at all disappointing, as it is quite a steal.

PROS
  • Comfortable and amazing display.
  • Great Compatible with the stylus.
  • Available at a budget price.
CONS
  • Somewhat bulky.
  • Deficient Android compatibility.

 

5. Wacom Intuos Pro

Wacom Intuos Pro Digital - Graphic Drawing Tablets ( Medium)

This series of best drawing tablets have a wide range containing 3 models small, medium, and large. Users can choose according to their specific needs. New pen technology supports 8192 levels of pressure which allows us to use the pen very lightly and fluently. It also has many types of ports to connect with any device.

This product is especially for those people that are planning to invest in a professional and high-quality pen tablet for photo and video editing, adobe illustration, digital art, or graphic design then this product is perfect for you.

The paper model of the tablet provides Bluetooth mobile connectivity and a more compact footprint for better consistency. Its active area is quite impressive and looks decent but it may vary according to its size.

First of all, there is a lot of customization when buying an Intuos tablet. There are three different sizes Small, medium, and large as well as 3 different packages, regular, paper, or pro edition.

The multi-touch gestures work well just like the touchpad on most modern-day laptops. The pen of the tablet has been revamped with newer technology.

This may customizable keys and touch ring tech which aloe to quick access to the short cuts and to switch over the options. Bluetooth and some other wireless technology are also there.

To sum it up, Drawing with the Intuos pro is really smooth and you can easily use it for any type of illustration and graphic designing.

Hardware Specifications of Wacom Intuos Pro Digital
Active Area 8.75″ x 5.8″
Pressure Level 8192
Express Keys 8
Multi-Touch Yes
Weight 1.5 lbs
Operating System Windows or Mac
Size 13.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
Stylus Wacom Pro Pen 2
PROS
  • Good value for money.
  • Large active area.
  • Can Use Wirelessly.
CONS
  • Difficult to access new pen nibs.
  • The pen stand doesn’t grip well.

 

6. Wacom Cintiq

The second most popular Wacom device when it comes to drawing tablets for adobe illustration. This is the new class of cheap Wacom series tablet device, designed exclusively for the graphic professionals and artists as it comes with a creative pen display and some elevated features that will certainly help the beginners.

It has good colors, FHD clarity, and amazing design with an ultra-responsive pro-pen 2 that will help to boost your visuals. The Wacom Cintiq will also give you an exclusive software called the Clip Studio Paint which will allow you a seamless transition from paper to tabler.

This tablet comes in two size variants i.e 15.6-inch and 21.5-inch with an anti-glare glass to give you a glare-free experience on your tablet. In terms of connectivity, the Cintiq 16 provides a 3-in-1 HDMI connection that you can use with your Mobile device, Computer, and TV. The Cintiq 16 is a perfect tablet to have on your bag if you’re a professional graphic designer.

I’m only mentioning the word professional because it is not an entry-level tablet. With the parallax being reduced, you will have full control over the cursor. The electromagnetic resonance technology will make sure that the Wacom Pro Pen 2 will give a long battery life.

Hardware Specifications of Wacom Cintiq
Pen Pressure Levels 8192
Response Time 25ms & 22ms
Display 1920×1080
Pen Resolution 15.6″  and 21.5″
NTSC 72%
Pen Resolution 5080
Weight 2.2 lbs

 

7. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6-amoled 10-inch tablets

Our favourite Android tablet with a keyboard option is the S6 for several reasons. This is a premium tab that boasts excellent performance levels thanks to its Snapdragon 855 chip and the best thing nowadays, it has a Super AMOLED display and this made up to bring it in a segment of best tablets for college students.

As a result, it’s fantastic for media playback in particular, and a bonus is the inclusion of HQ AKG-tuned speakers. However, its keyboard is not attached to its price you have to buy it separately and it’s cover too.Although many rivals sell these accessories together with the tab if you switch to Samsung then you do need to go for others.

Under the hood, it is powered by Snapdragon 855 with Adreno 640 graphics. RAM is much better 6GB – 8GB, and full HD display. Since it has android 9 but can be upgraded further.

Hardware Specifications of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Processor Octa-Core(2.8GHz+3×2.4, 4×1.7)
RAM 6 GB
Storage 128 GB
Display 10.5″ Inch Retina display with 2560 x 1600
Camera Rear- 13MP | Front- 8MP
Operating System Android
Battery Life 15 hours
Weight 0.92 lbs

Still want to know more?? Read our expert’s Review on Samsung Galaxy Tab s6.

PROS
  • Powerful Processor.
  • DeX mode.
  • Storage space.
  • Updated S pen stylus.
CONS
  • Keyboard need to buy seperately.
  • Small keys.

 

8. XP-Pen Artist 15.6

XP-Pen-Artist-15-Pro

XP-PEN is a good line of middle to expensive product and XP-Pen 15.6 pro is one of them, which has many different features than any other.It has 6 hotkeys for different operations. This stylus of the drawing tablet also has wireless, not a chargeable stylus. Capable with all Mac and Windows-based systems, many of the apps like Photoshop and Photography studio software also runs very fluently.

The visual an angel is about 178 degrees and delivers rich colors, vivid images, and many more. Its slim body of 11mm also attracts a lot. You can also read our full expert’s review on this.

PROS
  • Affordable.
  • 8 shortcut keys and Red Dial.
  • Low parallax display.
CONS
  • Inconsistent line quality.
  • Needs color calibration.
  • Pressure and tilt issues.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:-

  • What is Adobe illustrator?

This is the most frequent question that comes to mind for newcomers, and the answer is very simple.
Adobe Illustrator is a digital tool specifically designed to help all digital artists by providing many services and gadgets to maximize the outcome and minimize the efforts.

  • Is there any tablet available under $500 for Adobe illustrator?

Of course, plenty of drawing tablets are available at that price, but the only obligation they have to fulfill is good battery life and a smoothly running processor. And for that, Microsoft Surface Go 3 is the ultimate tablet for Adobe illustrator for under $ 500.

  • Which is the best tablet for Adobe illustrator and why?

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the best tablet in the market for Adobe illustrator due to its top-notch color accuracy, amazing color gamut, great battery life, high resolution, and fine compatibility with the smart pen. It becomes a legitimate unmatchable device when used with Adobe Illustrator.

  • Is the Apple iPad Pro compatible with Adobe illustrator?

Yes, in terms of the Apple world, the Apple iPad Pro is your best choice, and especially if you can afford one, you should opt for it. And with its amazing retina display, strong M1 processor, and great support with the Apple Pencil gen 2, the best combination is at your service.

 

Buying Guide – Tablets For Adobe Illustrator

Before buying the best tablet for illustration, we suggest some information for you to read before getting one. You can get whatever you want but if it fits all the needs and application.

  • Active Area Size

The area is where we draw or our stylus work. You also have bezel or plastic edges that come between the screen and the casing in this area. It is only depending on your interest and experience level that how much area you required to draw over it.

Most tablets have active areas labeled but double-check the effective screen size before buying a Drawing tablet. Of course, you need a widescreen if you are a beginner.

  • Pressure Sensitivity

It means how much fast responsive your graphic pad is. As it is found in the user that his/her hardness of holding the brushes also affects the sensitivity of the tablets. The higher the sensitivity greater the response of the tablets.

  • Hot Keys

The hard key is very important as it gives you quick action and easy setting options.

  • Scrollers

A scroller is a pad that allows you to move from one point to another in the most effective way. It acts as a scroll wheel that we see on most computer mouse.

You can skip this feature, but it comes in handy when changing between brushes quickly. Most graphic designers prefer this feature because it provides ease of doing illustration.

  • Stylus

The stylus is a device that helps to draw over the tablets. The main thing to worry about is that it should be wireless. Nowadays Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) stylus comes into existence.

Which provides greater reliability and sets the user free from the wire and limited movement of the stylus. So it’s better to have an EMR stylus other than a wired or a battery-operated one.

  • Wired OR Wireless

The wired one is sometimes very difficult to carry and port from each other but on the other hand, the wireless one is very easy to use and for official purposes.

  • Performance

Finally, the performance of the tablet plays a vital role in your overall drawing experience.

 

Conclusion

Now we have covered each information about the tablet for adobe illustrator. Most importantly there is 2 type of tablet one is with a display screen and other without the screen. If you are an expert then you can handle your tablet without a screen.

I suggest a tablet with display if you don’t know a lot about using these tablets. Most tech companies like Game and Character developers use Branded products for their professional usage. If you have a professional product and your budget is high, you can either get the Screen laptop (iPad Pro or Galaxy S6) or the Walcom Intuos Pro series.

We also recommend you to always check the reviews of a specified product. Verified purchase product reviews are best to figure out what the product is actually about. Hope you like our guide to the best tablet for adobe illustrator.

Ben Scott is a prominent technology journalist and reviewer, specializing in tablet devices. He is known for his comprehensive and unbiased reviews of tablets from various manufacturers.
With a deep understanding of tablet technology, including hardware components, operating systems, and software applications, Scott provides clear and informative reviews accessible to readers of all levels of technical expertise.
His attention to detail and in-depth analysis have earned him a loyal following of readers.

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