Picking the best Wacom tablet for your workspace can be tricky. You must consider the tasks you will perform, how much time you will spend on them, and most importantly, your budget.
A graphics tablet is a must-have item for a wide range of digital processes. Luckily, you can pick up entry-level tablets for a reasonable price! Our top choice is the Wacom Intuos. This Wacom tablet is lightweight and portable, performs to a high standard, and can be picked up for a fantastic price!
What Is the Best Wacom Tablet?
Wacom is the industry leader and standard for drawing tablets. Here is a short roundup of our top choices. Jump to the end for a buying guide if you need help deciding which is best.
- High-level graphics tablet for a great price
- Natural pen experience
- Ergonomically designed
- Available in two portable sizes
- Allows full customization with the Wacom app
- Professional standard in creative pen tablets
- Wacom Pro Pen 2 with pressure sensitivity, tilt response and lag-free tracking
- Productivity boosting features with multi-touch gestures and shortcuts
- Compact Bluetooth design with customizable 8 Express Keys
- Allows full customization with the Wacom app
- Affordable graphics tablet with display screen
- Natural pen experience
- 13.3" color screen
- High-definition (Full-HD) creative pen display
- Allows full customization with the Wacom app
- A global leader in drawing tablet and displays
- Super responsive Wacom Pro Pen 2
- New class of creative pen display
- Industry-leading color displays
- Let you fully customize with the Wacom app
- Entry-level graphics tablet for a good price
- Natural pen experience with battery-free pen
- Advanced electro-magnetic pen technology for precise control and accuracy
- Slim and compact body for a portable graphics tablet
- Wacom app allows full customization
- Mobile graphics tablet without the need for an external computer
- 8,192 pressure-sensitivity levels with tilt response and lag-free tracking
- 4K screen with up to 85% Adobe RGB coverage
- Features an Intel i7 8559U processor
- Upgradeable 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD
- Creative pen display for absolute harmony with work
- 8,192 pressure-sensitivity levels, eraser, and virtually lag-free tracking
- 4K resolution with superb color accuracy
- Tactile experience with etched-glass screen that reduces glare and reflections
- Express Key Remote and on-screen keypad for easy access
7 Best Wacom Tablets
Read below to find out the specifications of each product in detail. Note that ExpressKeys on a Wacom tablet are customizable buttons. You can program them to perform specific functions or shortcuts. And it allows a faster and more efficient workflow.
Wacom designed ExpressKeys to improve productivity. And it streamlines the creative process for digital artists and designers.
1. Wacom Intuos
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
Small (7.9 inches), Medium (10.4 inches)
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
Yes (Small comes in a wired option)
|
| Screen |
Screen
No
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Intuos 4k (Small wired option comes with Intuos 2k)
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
4
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Compact, portable, ergonomic tablet with Bluetooth features
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers and digital designers looking for a well-priced graphics tablet
|
The Wacom Intuos is at the top of our list thanks to its incredible capabilities for an incredible price. It isn’t Wacom’s cheapest tablet. But is considered an entry-level graphics tablet for professionals and enthusiasts.
It has a simple layout and uses all its surface area effectively. This results in a small and compact tablet that is light and portable. In fact, it is so thin that it will easily fit inside a camera bag‘s laptop compartment with your laptop!
This drawing comes in two sizes and also comes with wireless options. I recommend getting the medium size to allow yourself the maximum amount of control.
The wireless Intuos tablets give you 4,096 pen pressure levels. This is enough to detect your hand’s subtle, intricate movements and translate them into the digital sphere.
The Intuos is the best bet for someone who wants a graphics tablet that can be used for years. I have used this Wacom tablet and found that it worked very well.
The pen became slightly uncomfortable after a few hours. But this may be because I was gripping it too hard. I still recommend it as the Wacom tablet for any photographer working with a pen tool in Photoshop.
2. Wacom Intuos Pro
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
Small (10.6 inches), Medium (13.2 inches), Large (16.8 inches)
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
Yes
|
| Screen |
Screen
No
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Pro Pen 2
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
8 (Small comes with 6)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
The highest levels of pen sensitivity, lots of shortcut options Bluetooth capabilities
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professionals who prefer a graphics tablet that doesn't have a screen on it
|
The Wacom Intuos Pro is a close second mainly due to the incredible price it is available for. The main difference you will notice is the increased pen pressure sensitivity levels. The extra ExpressKeys and the added touch ExpressKey are also different.
These added features will make a huge difference for digital art professionals. They may not make a difference to professional photographers. But it also provides a more comfortable pen to help with long working hours.
You will notice that this version has a wider area around the touchpad. This is to accommodate the added ExpressKeys. It makes the tablet more suitable for people who keep it in their homes or studio.
But the Intuos Pro is still thin and portable. So you can easily tote it around if you need to.
I am also a huge fan of the ExpressKey Touch Ring. This can be customized to fit your personal editing preferences.
The Wacom Intuos Pro comes with 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels. This is a high amount that measures your movements to a fine degree. And all Intuos Pro tablets come with the option to use them wired or wireless.
I suggest the Wacom Intuos Pro for those who need lots of control over their graphic tablet. Photographers who work on large Photoshop composites would benefit from this Wacom tablet. I also suggest this for digital painting, artists, and designers.
3. Wacom One
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
13.3 inches
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
No
|
| Screen |
Screen
Yes
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Pro Pen 2
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
None
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Full HD, color display screen to draw directly onto your digital image
|
| Best For |
Best For
Digital creators on a budget who want to start working with a display screen tablet
|
The Wacom One is an entry-level graphics tablet that features a display screen. Having a display screen completely changes your working method. Instead of relying on your monitor, you will look at the graphics tablet.
This will be a welcome feature for some people, but others may prefer working on their own monitor. You can see your work on each screen, but you may want to save money with the Intuos Pro if you prefer working on a monitor.
This drawing tablet has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, also known as Full HD resolution. But it doesn’t come with any ExpressKeys. So this may be a deciding factor for people looking to simplify their work process.
You also get 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels. And with the screen, you can see directly how your movements and pressure affect the brushes you use. Some people prefer to see the direct image they are working on.
This is the best tablet for digital designers who create images from scratch. This could be someone who draws digital art or creates photo composites.
The Wacom One would also be great for minimizing your workspace. And it comes with adjustable legs, providing more comfort when working on a desk.
4. Wacom Cintiq
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
Small (16 inches), Medium (22 inches)
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
No
|
| Screen |
Screen
Yes
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Pro Pen 2
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
None
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Highest levels of pen sensitivity with a Full HD, color screen
|
| Best For |
Best For
Illustrators who want a high performing graphics tablet for a good price
|
The Wacom Cintiq is one of the best Wacom tablets. It is for professionals looking for a high-quality graphics tablet for an affordable price. The Cintiq range marks the entry point of professional Wacom tablets.
The wide screens available are like having a new monitor. They open up a world of possibilities for photo editing and digital art, and it’s in Full HD!
A great feature of Wacom is its special reflection-reducing coating. This lets you use this tablet in any environment without compromising the monitor’s image quality.
It is also built with durability in mind. So it features scratch-resistant materials and high-quality components.
This graphics tablet gives you 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels. It is also tilt-responsive and gives you lag-free tracking. There are few ExpressKeys, but there are two customizable switches to take advantage of.
The Cintiq is the ideal Wacom tablet for those who will spend lots of time working with a graphics tablet. The wide screen allows you to see everything. It almost completely dispels the need for your monitor!
I recommend this Wacom tablet for digital designers who need to be as precise as possible with their edits. And it is still relevant for a photo editor at this price point.
5. One by Wacom
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
Small (8.3 inches), Medium (10.9 inches)
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
No
|
| Screen |
Screen
No
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Intuos 2k
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
None
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Inexpensive, slim graphics tablet with an electro-magnetic, battery-free pen
|
| Best For |
Best For
Educational purposes and basic editing functions
|
The One is the entry-level drawing tablet available from Wacom. This tablet aims not at digital creation but as a learning tool to help simplify certain actions made on a computer.
If you are a photographer who wants to perform certain simple editing actions on Photoshop, this drawing tablet could be enough. But it won’t cut professional levels of editing or digital production.
The tablet is super compact and simple. You won’t find any shortcut buttons or any other extra features here. Instead, you get a simplified version of the Wacom Intuos.
This version comes with only 2,048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity. This will not give you too much ability to fully express your movements like a pen on paper would. The One by Wacom also only comes in wired editions.
This is a cheap tablet that may be useful for basic photo editing. But I would limit this to using the tablet as a touchpad rather than an effective brush tool.
The One by Wacom can help with basic navigation. And some might even prefer navigating their computer using this tablet. It works best in an educational environment, as Wacom specifies. If you want an entry-level editing tablet, go for the Wacom Intuos.
6. Wacom Mobile Studio Pro
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
13 inches, 16 inches
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
Yes
|
| Screen |
Screen
Yes
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Pro Pen 2
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
8
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Compact tablet computer with high pressure-sensitivity levels, tilt response, and lag-free tracking
|
| Best For |
Best For
Artists or digital designers who want to work remotely or on the go
|
Now we feature Wacom’s top-of-the-range graphic tablet, the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro. This tablet is pretty much a computer. It features a Windows 10 operating system with an Intel Core i7 processor.
It also features 16 GB RAM with 512 GB solid-state drive (SSD.) And both of these options are upgradable (RAM only on the 16-inch version.) This tells us that it isn’t just a computer but a computer geared and ready for advanced editing.
The obvious advantage of this tablet is that you don’t need to connect it to a computer to operate. This means you can carry it anywhere and work on the go. This is a huge advantage for creatives, as you can work wherever you find inspiration!
You can also attach another monitor to set yourself up at a desk. But there won’t be any need with its superb 4K screen. This professional mobile studio also has a stand that holds the screen at three angles.
This table computer is for the creative who prefers to avoid being tied to a desk. It places low down on this list because of its price. And its battery life could be better, lasting around five and a half hours.
But if you have the money to spare, the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro is a brilliant graphics tablet. It will make your working methods much more fun!
7. Wacom Cintiq Pro
| Brand |
Brand
Wacom
|
| Sizes Available (Length) |
Sizes Available (Length)
16 inches, 24 inches, 27 inches
|
| Wireless |
Wireless
No
|
| Screen |
Screen
Yes
|
| Pen Type |
Pen Type
Pro Pen 2
|
| ExpressKey Buttons |
ExpressKey Buttons
Yes (16-inch), On-screen keypad (24- and 27-inch)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
4K screen with highest levels of pen sensitivity and wonderful color reproduction
|
| Best For |
Best For
Industry professionals
|
The Wacom Cintiq Pro is designed to give professionals the best graphics tablet possible. It features the highest levels of pen pressure sensitivity at 8,192. And it also features a full 4K screen with incredible color accuracy, featuring 98% of Adobe RGB.
There are a few differences between the 16-inch and 24-inch Wacom Cintiq Pro. On the 16-inch, you will find the ExpressKeys underneath the tablet.
The 24-inch version features these same keys and an ExpressKey Remote. This is a magnetic remote that you can attach anywhere on your screen. It gives you 17 customizable buttons and Touch Ring controls.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro is the best graphics tablet for professionals. It features a screen with more industry specifications than most people have on their own monitor. Plus, the levels of control you get support the highest abilities.
It comes low down on our list due to its price. Casual editors, especially in photography, will only need a small amount of the abilities offered in the Wacom Cintiq Pro. But if money is no problem, this is the best graphics tablet you can buy.
This is Wacom’s flagship range. And it certainly provides the best graphics tablet for professionals.
Wacom Tablet Buyers Guide (FAQs)
We answer people’s most-asked questions about Wacom drawing tablets to help you buy the right one.
What Is the Best Wacom Tablet for Artists?
The Wacom Cintiq is the best tablet for an artist as it gives you a 4K screen with great levels of control. If you are an artist on a budget, I recommend the Wacom Intuos. It gives you a great amount of control over work on your computer.
If you are an artist who needs to be in their place of inspiration, get the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro. It lets you work where you want with just the tablet itself! It can go with you to the seaside, woods, or wherever you feel the most comfortable creating!
How Do I Connect My Wacom Tablet to My Computer?
First, download the install drive for Wacom. This features a program that also lets you fully customize every detail of your Wacom tablet. Then connect your tablet via USB to your computer. Next, restart your computer, and your tablet will be ready!
If your tablet uses Bluetooth, hold the center button out of your ExpressKeys for three seconds. After this, use your computer’s Bluetooth settings to find your device. Click on your device, and you should be connected.
Which Wacom Tablet Is the Most Responsive?
The most responsive Wacom Tablet is the Wacom Cintiq and Cintiq Pro. Both of these options come with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity in the pen that allows maximum control over your functions.
Conclusion: The Best Wacom Tablet
Wacom produces an incredible range of graphics tablets that support all entry points and price levels. If you pick a Wacom tablet, you can trust that it will be of a high standard. Industry professionals have refined it for decades!
These tablets are also super easy to set up and customize. So you won’t regret picking up one of these tablets today! Again, our top choice is the Wacom Intuos for its incredible abilities for an amazing price!
