The 8 Best Wacom Tablets 2020

The choice in Wacom’s range is so vast that it can actually be a little overwhelming, so we’ve put together this guide to help you find the best drawing tablet for your digital artwork.

For alternatives to Wacom check out our ​list of best drawing tablets.

How to Choose the Best Wacom Tablet for Your Digital Art

• Screen – Painters and illustrators often prefer a tablet with a screen as they allow you to see your artwork directly on the surface. You also need to consider the size as it can be useful to have a larger active area for intricate designs, but that will limit portability.
  
  
• Stylus – More pressure levels are useful for shading and will give you much better control over how your finished artwork looks. If you’re used to creating art with a traditional pencil or paintbrush, a tilt-able stylus is also worth the investment, and a battery-free design will keep you working for longer without needing to recharge.
  
  
• Hotkeys – Customizable buttons make for a better workflow when using third party software, and can really save you time and up your productivity.
  
  
• Connectivity – Whether you want to go wireless or not is a personal choice, and cables can frustrate some users. But, they’ll usually give you a more reliable connection so can be worth the inconvenience. 

8. Wacom Cintiq 27 QHD

The Pro Pen can be titled and has decent pressure levels, but what we really love about it is the range of included nibs. The felt nib gives the smoothest performance across the screen, or you can choose the stroke nib for paintings. There are also six regular nibs included for perfect accuracy when editing photos or working on 3D animations.

Wacom’s ExpressKey remote features a Touch Ring and 17 customizable buttons so you can set it up to execute the commands you use most.

This powerhouse weighs in at 25.1 kg with the optional Cintiq Ergo stand so it’s anything but portable. But, for a permanent, professional office setup it can’t be beaten.

7. Wacom Cintiq 22HD

The stroke and felt nibs feel great to use and both of them glide across the page effortlessly to make your creative process truly enjoyable.

Multi-touch functionality combines with ExpressKeys to give you quick and easy access to your favorite functions across various third-party programs, and the rotating stand will keep you comfortable during long drawing sessions.

If you’re not a pro it might be difficult to justify the price of this incredible tablet, but you really do get what you pay for so we think it’s worth the investment.

Four customizable ExpressKeys, a Rocker Ring, and a home button might not give you as much control as you’d have with the higher-priced models, but for a smaller tablet, it’s a decent amount of shortcut functionality to have to hand.

Our only annoyance with this tablet is that it can slide around a little when it’s being used at an angle, so it needs a light touch to keep it in position.

5. Wacom Cintiq Pro

Color accuracy is another major plus-point of this tablet, and 99% Adobe RGB is covered. This is bound to appeal to graphic designers and photo editors that rely on perfect color reproduction for their work.

If you work with programs that require a lot of computing power, the 24” and 32” models can be combined with the creative PC module Cintiq Pro Engine to give you the computing power of fast CPUs and optimized GPUs. If you work in 3D or video you’ll really appreciate this.

The multi-touch can be frustrating when drawing so you’ll need to keep it turned off most of the time. It also has a little lag which is annoying considering that you’ll be paying a premium for a tablet with this functionality.

4. Wacom Intuos Pro Large

The pen also has excellent pressure sensitivity levels and recognizes 60 tilt levels so you can use it just as you would if it was a traditional pen or brush. It also comes with four felt nibs as well as six standard nibs so you can switch them up to suit what you’re working on.

There’s no cable with this tablet, so it will look great as part of your work setup. Bluetooth connectivity is a nicer solution than the USB dongle that other models have used and definitely adds to the sleekness of this gorgeous table.

The rough texture of this tablet’s surface means that the nibs wear down very quickly which can be irritating, but there are smooth texture sheets and replacement nibs available to buy if you need them.

3. Mobile Studio Pro 16"

Portability is at the heart of this model, and the fact that it works as a stand-alone tablet will keep you working wherever you are. The metal stand is robust but surprisingly lightweight, and it folds flat when not in use so it won’t get in your way when you’re working on the go.

There’s plenty of storage onboard too with a minimum of 256 GB, so you can store your creations directly on the tablet without the need for an external computing device.

The main downside to this tablet is that you’ll need to purchase a Wacom Link if you want to hook it up to your laptop or desktop, which adds more cost onto the already hefty price tag.

2. Wacom Intuos3

This tablet is corded but it’s fairly long so it shouldn’t get in the way of your setup. The ergonomic design is comfortable to use, and the sloped, contoured palm rest helps to avoid palm fatigue during long work sessions.

The pen pressure levels don’t stand up to other models in Wacom’s range, but most casual users will find that they’re adequate for day-to-day use.

1. Wacom Intuos Draw 

Even though this is a tablet made for beginners you still get great pressure levels with the pen that allow you to hone your sketching and painting skills. It’s comfortable to use over long periods of time and it feels just like a pen on paper which makes the transition to digital art much more seamless.

There’s no stand and if you want to go wireless you’ll have to buy the support separately, but these are minor downsides for a tablet well under $100.