Best Drawing Tablet for Tattoo Artist – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

By: Pick Tablet

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The right time to revamp your tattoo drawing procedures by going digital is now. Digitizing your illustrations and artworks sounds appealing. However, finding a reliable graphic tablet meeting all your requirements can be overwhelming.

If you’re in a hurry, check out
our top choice

HUION Kamvas Pro 16

Check price at Amazon

You could be a hobbyist looking for the best drawing tablet for a tattoo artist. But, the prices are always ridiculously higher. Or you could be a professional tattoo maker hunting a well-rounded graphic tablet. But, it has become challenging to find a device that actually meets your specific criteria.

Don’t fret if these scenarios sound similar. This article reviews five of the finest tablets for you.

So, whether you want a budget-friendly pick or an advanced, performance-based tablet, you are at the right place.

Best Drawing Tablet for Tattoo Artists- Buyer’s Guide

The best-looking models with power-packed features are costly. Tablets are definitely an expensive device.

However, it should provide value to your money and make your drawing experience joyful.

So, whenever you find a promising advert of a tablet and want to buy something, consider these factors to evaluate their performance. Only buy a product if you feel satisfied after checking these features in a tab.

Tablet Size
Tattoo artists prefer a large screen with a sharp color palette and cinematic visuals to indulge in their artwork. However, a bigger screen can also give you arm fatigue. With an enormous screen, you have to control the cursor movement on a widescreen while moving your arm a lot.

To simplify this situation, purchase according to your experience. If you are a novice user, buying a compact tablet-like One by Wacom should be a great option.

If you are a pro tattoo artist, you should invest in an advanced drawing tablet like Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ or HUION Kamvas Pro 16 for a profound visual experience.

Pen Type
The digital pen is the most crucial component of a graphic tablet. It is better to opt for a device with a battery-free pen. You don’t have to change its batteries or charge it, which is pretty convenient for you in the long run.

Pressure Sensitivity
One can’t simply ignore the significance of pressure sensitivity levels. It helps your pen react efficiently according to the pressure you put on the pen’s nib.

As a result, higher levels of pressure sensitivity mean faster response and better understanding by pen. Therefore, look for tablets with maximum levels of pressure sensitivity like we did in this guide.

Customizable Buttons
Customizable keys are placed on the tab for enhanced functionality. These keys are used to share your input conveniently.

Some devices have multiple shortcut keys, whereas some have none. It all comes down to personal preference.

However, these keys are helpful toward simplifying the workflow, which is awesome for novice users.

Compatibility
Always check the specification and features of a device prior to buying. Since graphic tablets don’t operate independently, you need to make sure that you have the required OS versions of Windows and Mac.

Ensure that you are using Windows 7 and above and Mac OS 10.12 and above. Otherwise, you won’t be able to connect your tab to them.

BEST DRAWING TABLETS FOR ARTISTS AT A GLANCE

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7+

BEST ANDROID
  • Wi -Fi / Wi -Fi + Cellular
  • 12.4-inch Super AMOLED 2800 x 1752
  • Qualcomm SDM865 Octa Core, 6/8 GB, 128/256/512 GB
  • Up to 14 hours
  • Android 10

HUION Kamvas Pro 16

BEST FOR PROFESSIONALS
  • Pen Display
  • 15.6-inch 4K UHD
  • 8192 Levels
  • USB Type-C
  • Mac, Windows, Android
  • Battery-free

Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro

BUDGET CHOICE
  • Pen Pad
  • 13.2 x 8.5-inch
  • 4096 Levels
  • Bluetooth and USB
  • Mac, and Windows
  • Battery-free stylus

One by Wacom

BEST FOR BEGINNERS
  • Pen Pad
  • 8.5 x 5.3-inch
  • 2048 Levels
  • USB
  • Mac, Chromebook and Windows
  • Battery-free

XP-PEN Artist12

BUDGET PEN DISPLAY
  • Pen Display
  • 11.6-inch, 1920×1080
  • 8192 Levels
  • USB and HDMI
  • Mac, and Windows
  • Battery-free

Best Drawing Tablets for Tattoo Artists- Recommendations

This section contains detailed reviews of five drawing tablets. From their functionality to pros to cons, we will dive all in.


Top-tier Tablet for Digital Tattoo Artistry

  • Type: Wi -Fi / Wi -Fi + Cellular
  • Weight: 20.48 Oz
  • Display: 12.4-inch Super AMOLED 2800 x 1752
  • Cameras: 13MP Ultrawide + 5MP, 8MP
  • Processor: Qualcomm SDM865 Octa Core (3.09+2.4G+1.8GHz)
  • Memory: 6/8 GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512 GB (Expandable up to 1TB)
  • Battery: 10090mAh
  • OS: Android 10.0

Starting from possibly the best tablet for my talented tattoo artists, we have Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ gracing this list. If you have been into the digital portrayal of tattoo designs for a while, you must have heard or maybe used Samsung Tab S7. So, now might be the best time to upgrade and take your skills to another level with this device.

You may ask: why Am I so convinced this is the best digital canvas for your designs? Well, its features, such as an enhanced battery module, better display, and glorious color gamut, set it apart from all the other devices.

Moreover, features like the AMOLED screen, 12.4-inch display, and a resolution of 2800×1752 pixels ensure that your art looks visually enriching on screen.

Design & Features
The tab S7+ weighs 1.28lb and measures 0.22 x 7.28 x 11.22 inches. With a sleek and slim design, it is super comfortable to use.

It features a 6GB ram and a substantial 128GB storage capacity, which is impressive. Some other features are a fingerprint scanner, a rich color display, and an extended battery life, which can’t be ignored.

Like other Samsung Galaxy devices, tab S7+ also supports Octa Core Processor. This powerful processor enables the device to perform various tasks without draining the battery. So, you can spend hours transferring your vision on screen and creating meaningful imagery.

Performance
With the powerful performance of a PC and the portability of a tablet, the tab S7+ makes work easier for you. According to your convenience, you can turn your tab into a PC with the DeX option and work with an expanded keyboard and trackpad.

Samsung also offers a resigned S-pen, which helps you control your movements in a better way.

Speaking of compatibility, you can connect this tab with iMac, mac, and window operating systems, making knowledge-sharing convenient.

Battery
This device is backed by an extensive 10,090 mah battery. Consequently, the runtime is remarkable. This battery can keep the game going for up to 10 hours, even on massive usage.

✓ PROS

  • Sizeable built-in memory
  • Great battery life
  • Rich color display
  • Swift fingerprint scanner
  • Powerful processor

✗ CONS

  • Expensive

Best Tablet for Seasoned Tattoo Designers

  • Type: Pen Display
  • Weight: 44.8 Oz
  • Display/Active Area: 15.6-inch, 4K
  • Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 levels
  • Connectivity: USB Type-C
  • Supported OS: Mac, Windows, and Android
  • Stylus Type: Battery-free

With power-packed features like a full laminated screen, outstanding visuals, and a sharp color display, this device can be the perfect partner for tattoo artists who know their game. It is safe to say that this tab can provide the best value for your money.

Design & Features
Huion Kamvas Pro 16 features an elegant metal unibody design. With 13mm thickness, it is pretty easy to hold and use for prolonged hours. Along with comfort, Huion Kamvas also offers an enormous area to unleash your creativity with a 15.6-inch panel.

Kamvas does not have multiple buttons on its screen area, unlike other tablets. It is not bad as the intention is to offer a large screen space.

Kamvas boasts a fantastic 4K UHD resolution, which enhances your overall visual experience with significantly improved clarity and detail. And seriously, who does not want an enriching graphic quality?

Performance
Laminated displays are the latest big breakthrough in display technology. Featuring the glorious laminated technology and in-plane switching, this tablet is designed to provide superior-quality immersive graphics. Apart from that, it also features an anti-reflective screen, which efficiently minimizes reflections.

With Quantum bot technology, this device offers sharp colors with vivid quality. Designed to meet professional coloring needs, its extensive 145% sRGB color gamut showcases palpable tones, a true-to-life experience.

With an improved color and image quality, you can joyfully convert your ideas on screen and see them coming to life in brilliant hues.

A tattoo artists’ pen should be pressure sensitive as their work is diverse and not limited to writing. They have to draw multiple shapes and write quotations, which requires an intuitive stylus. With 8192 pressure levels, this pen can understand the pressure changes on its nib and respond accordingly and rapidly.

The connectivity and compatibility factors are also very flexible. This tablet is compatible with Windows 7 and above, Mac OS 10.12 and above, and Android phones and tabs supporting USB3.1 GEN and DP1.2.

Battery
With dual USB-C ports, you can connect this tablet with Mac, Windows, or Android operating system platforms. You can use a power cable, USB-C cable, or 3-in-1 HDMI cable to set the connection.

✓ PROS

  • Incredible image clarity with 4K UHD resolution
  • Wide color gamut
  • Premium-quality build and a slim design
  • 178° viewing angle
  • Anti-glare glass screen

✗ CONS

  • The placement of the power button is slightly weird.


Budget-friendly Tablet for Tattoo Makers

  • Type: Pen Pad
  • Weight: 24 Oz
  • Display/Active Area: 13.5 x 8.5-inch
  • Pressure Sensitivity: 4096 levels
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth and USB
  • Supported OS: Mac, and Windows
  • Stylus Type: Battery-free

If you are on the quest for a budget-friendly tablet for illustrations, you can stop your search here. Wacom Intuos Pro could be the perfect pick for people who want to utilize their tattooing and creative potential to the fullest.

I am certain this device may meet all your requirements since it is a professional graphic tablet. You can easily take your design passion to the next level without splurging, which is fantastic.

Design & Features
In addition to path-breaking features, it boasts a simple-looking yet stunning design. With a solid feel, you can tell that the build is robust and can’t get damaged easily.

Modeled with black anodized aluminum, it weighs 1.54lb and measures 13.14 x 8.54 x 0.31 inches. However, you can get it in small, medium, and large sizes depending on your footprint requirements.

For added functionality, the tablet includes eight shortcut keys, a touch ring, and a multi-touch feature. The shortcut keys and touch ring are located on the left side of the tab.

These short keys are similar to ones on your PC that are pressed to request a specific function. The multi-touchpoint can be pretty helpful for artists as they have to draw, zoom in, redo, and zoom out their drawings.

Performance
Intuos Pro strives to offer a stable workflow and intuitive experience to its users. The digital pen is the most integral component of this drawing tablet.

This battery-free pen comes with an impressive tilt response, two buttons on the side, and 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, making it extremely efficient for you to send customized inputs without any troubles.

Intuos Pro is compatible with MAC 10.10 and above and Windows 2007 and above with 64bit OS. You can get connected via wireless or wired sources.

Battery
Intuos Pro does not come with a dedicated battery. It comes with a battery-free pen and functions by plugging into a computer through a USB port.

✓ PROS

  • The perfect canvas for illustrators, graphic designers, fashion designers, animators, and tattoo artists to showcase their creativity
  • Battery-free pen with buttons on the side
  • Eight express keys with a touch ring
  • Built-in Bluetooth connectivity
  • Lightweight and affordable

✗ CONS

  • There are much cheaper devices in the market.


Best Drawing Tablet for Beginners

  • Type: Pen Pad
  • Weight: 15.52 Oz
  • Display/Active Area: 8.5 x 5.3-inch
  • Pressure Sensitivity: 4096 levels
  • Connectivity: USB
  • Supported OS: Mac, Windows, and Chromebook
  • Stylus Type: Battery-free

With an easy-to-use pen and compact footprint, One by Wacom is a perfect tablet for beginner animators, visual artists, and tattoo designers.

It comes in small and medium sizes. However, if you are a student or have minimal space, starting out with a small size would be best for you.

Design & Features
One by Wacom has a chic look to it. The sleek black top and red bottom make the device look visually appealing. The sturdy build of the tab and pen is impressive as well.

Its weight is around 0.97 pounds, and it measures ‎8.3 x 5.7 x 0.3 inches. Speaking of its digital pen, I don’t reckon it is equivalent to pro styluses. However, its advanced pressure sensitivity does make the writing, drawing, and editing process much smoother.

So, if you are a newbie tattoo artist, working with this easy-to-use pen and tablet can be an altogether helpful experience for you.

Performance
This tablet’s enhanced precision and user control can effectively bring your creative ideas to life.

One by Wacom is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems. If you plan to connect the tab with any of these operating systems, you need to download the drivers.
Equipped with USB connectivity technology, you can connect your computing devices to this tablet.

However, One by Wacom is also compatible with Chromebooks. It does not require any driver installations. Just plug in and go.

Battery
One by Wacom is not a standalone device and needs to be connected to a desktop PC or Mac Book. All you have to do is connect the tablet with a host PC through a USB cable and start your work.

Its battery-free pen with electro-magnetic and pressure-sensitive technology enables you to work with ease and freedom. This pen also has a single button on its side for added functionality.

✓ PROS

  • An easy to use and affordable purchase for beginner designers and tattoo artists
  • Compact size won’t take much space
  • Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Chromebook
  • It’s well-made of high-quality polymers.

✗ CONS

  • The screen unit needs a button
  • Not very helpful for well-experienced designers


Cheapest Graphic Tablet to Draw Your Tattoos

  • Type: Pen Display
  • Weight: 32 Oz
  • Display/Active Area: 11.6-inch, 1920×1080
  • Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 levels
  • Connectivity: USB and HDMI
  • Supported OS: Mac, and Windows
  • Stylus Type: Battery-free

Here comes a drawing tablet that is actually the cheapest one on this list. I won’t refer to this tablet as a superior product as there are several better products in the market with better features.

However, if you are a budding tattoo artist or a hobbyist, it is better to opt for an affordable gadget for the initial practice.

Design & Features
This tablet weighs 2lb and measures ‎14.33 x 8.58 x 0.31 inches.

With an 11.6 inch, 1920×1080 FHD display and 72% color gamut, you will enjoy your time making illustrations. Although not extensive, a 72-75% color gamut is considered decent, so Artist12 has done well.

The 178-degree wide-angle viewing option makes this device super convenient and fun to use for your tattoo and design assignments. So, whether you look at the screen from the above, side, or below, it will give you a great view.

This device also features six handy shortcut keys and a touchpad to simplify your workflow. These shortcut keys are customizable that ensures an optimal experience.

Performance
Stylus pen of Artist 12 exhibits an intuitive approach. Featuring a futuristic design, half-transparent nib, flexible and non-slip grip, and a digital eraser, it ensures technical freedom and comfort to use it.

Despite the fashionable approach, this battery-free pen feels like a traditional pen when you use it. It feels like you are writing on paper with your regular pen. Using EMR technology, it charges itself.

It also includes a pen holder, which can be used to keep your pen and pen nibs in a safe space.

This device is compatible with Windows and Mac OS computing devices. According to the latest update, you can also connect it with the Linux Operating system.

Battery
Please notice that Artist12 is not a standalone device. As a graphic tablet, it must be linked to a host PC or laptop. It makes it suitable for people who can comfortably spend hours working on a desk.

✓ PROS

  • Cost-effective
  • Intuitive stylus pen
  • 8x replacement pen nibs
  • Compatible with Mac, Windows, Chrome, and Linux
  • Handy shortcut keys

✗ CONS

  • Not very suitable for advanced design assignments and drawing projects because the screen is not the widest
  • Its thick design is a bit hard to handle

Best Graphics Tablets for Tattoo Artists

Tablets are still considered a luxury purchase. They are costly devices, and one should not splurge on them without knowing the nitty-gritty of their features.

Firstly, always know what type of functionality you want from the drawing tablet. The requirements of amateur and professional tattoo makers always differ. Therefore, choose and spend wisely.

Secondly, never forget to read product specifications and understand if they can fulfill your expectations or not.

I hope this article gives you valuable insight into the best drawing tablets for tattoo artists and helps you choose the best one for you.

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