Drawing Tablets – Are Those With A Screen Better?

If you are looking to purchase a drawing tablet, you may have noticed that there are different types on the market, namely ones with and without screens. Of course, drawing tablets with screens might be the more attractive choice, but are drawing tablets with screens really better?

Yes. Drawing tablets with screens are certainly easier to use because you will have more control over what you’re drawing. There is also more that you will be able to do with these tablets. There are some downsides to screens, but they are generally considered to be the better option.

We will discuss some of the different reasons why we think drawing tablets are better, as well as some of their drawbacks, in more detail in this article.

Reasons Why Drawing Tablets With Screens Are Better

Nowadays, artists have many options to explore to enhance their skills aside from a piece of paper and paint.

You also have the opportunity to purchase a drawing tablet, which is perfect for many types of artists, including animators, photographers, designers, architects, painters, and more.

There are two main types of drawing tablets: ones with screens and ones without.

For drawing tablets without screens, you need to hook them up to your computer using the available USB cable and you draw on the tablet’s surface while monitoring your progress on your computer screen.

This can seem highly inconvenient for many people because you have to constantly look back and forth between your tablet and your computer screen.

This is where display tablets, or drawing tablets with screens, come in. Here are some reasons why we believe display tablets are the better choice.

They offer more pressure sensitivity.

Some of the best display tablets on the market offer pressure sensitivity levels higher than 8,000. This is better because it will teach you as an artist how much pressure needs to be applied in order to get different strokes.

You don’t have to spend as much time getting used to the tablet.

This is the main reason why people prefer display tablets.

When you begin using a tablet without a screen, there is a learning curve you will need to get adjusted to. In the beginning, you will find yourself looking back and forth between the device and computer screen until you are able to get used to solely looking at your computer screen.

But since drawing tablets with screens do not have this issue, many people find using drawing tablets with screens to be the easier and more convenient option. You won’t have to look back and forth between your computer screen and the device.

You will be able to work right on the screen and see your work as you draw.

For many people, this is the easier choice and it’s much more convenient. Best of all, these tablets are designed to provide you with a similar experience to drawing on paper.

They provide you with a high-quality display.

Many display tablets offer a high resolution, which means that you will be able to see the vivid colors and extreme details in your artwork. Many people find that the way their artwork appears on the display tablets is much better than the way it looks on computer screens.

Of course, this is due to the fact that drawing tablets are specifically meant to be used for artwork, making them the more ideal option for those who are serious about their career.

Some tablets with screens do not require the use of a computer.

With a non-display tablet, you have to take your laptop with you wherever you go. This is generally the case with display tablets as well, but there are some that include batteries, which means that you won’t need to take your laptop around with you.

Best Drawing Tablets With Screens

Here are some high-quality drawing tablets with screens that we recommend based on customer reviews.

XP-PEN Artist 12 Drawing Monitor

This has been rated as one of the best display tablets on the market and it is one of the more affordable options in comparison to others. While this tablet must be used with a computer, it is compatible with most modern computers and drawing software.

The display offers a resolution of 1920×1080 HD while presenting you with incredible detail and vivid colors. There is a slim touch bar that you can program to zoom in and out, scroll up and down, and more.

The screen is 11.6 inches and it has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are also 6 shortcut keys and anti-reflective coating on the screen. The pen is made to feel like you’re holding a pencil and it offers a flexible grip with an eraser.

This tablet is ideal for many different artists, including beginners, architects, animators, photographers, fashion designers, painters, 3D sculptors, and more.

GAOMON PD1560 Drawing Tablet With Screen

Gaomon is another brand that is well-known for its high-quality drawing tablets. This tablet offers a screen resolution of 1920×1080 and it offers color accuracy and high definition.

The screen has protection while also providing you with a similar experience to what you would have if you were drawing on a piece of paper. This tablet also has 10 shortcut keys that you can customize to suit you. It has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and a rechargeable pen.

If you charge it for 2-2.5 hours, you will be able to use it for 350 hours. The pen comes with 8 replacement nibs. The drawing tablet also has a monitor stand that you can adjust to find the perfect position for drawing.

You will also be able to hook this device up to your computer and it is compatible with most drawing software.

Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet with Screen

Of course, this is the most expensive option that we have listed, but Wacom is known for being the leader in drawing tablets and this option offers many advanced features.

This tablet retails for $649.95. It has 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition, as well as a 15.6-inch screen that will provide you with a 1920×1080 HD display. It also has a scratch-resistant anti-glare surface to help enhance the quality of your artwork.

You will be able to see all your creations in vibrant colors. The stylus does not have a battery and it charges off the screen while you’re drawing.

You may also connect the tablet to your computer using the connection cable. It has foldable legs that will let you adjust the tablet according to how you want to work.

Downsides to Drawing Tablets With Screens

With all that being said, there are some downsides to display tablets that are important to mention.

They’re more expensive.

Indeed, if you are to compare the prices of drawing tablets with screens to their counterparts, you will find that you might have to pay several hundreds of dollars on display tablets, whereas you will be able to find non-display tablets for less than $100.

This is simply for the obvious reason that display tablets have a screen and non-display tablets do not. While people on a budget might want to consider getting non-display tablets, they might be more difficult to adapt to.

They’re not as durable.

The reason we say this is due to the fact that display tablets have screens. If you end up accidentally dropping the tablet, you may have a cracked screen, which could cost a lot of money to fix. That is an additional expense that you might want to keep in mind.

You have to make sure they’re charged. (Some of them)

Drawing tablets with battery might be a better travel partner because you don’t have to worry about taking your computer with you, but you also will have to make sure that they’re charged.

Non-display tablets, however, work by being plugged in and you don’t have to worry about making sure that they’re fully charged.

Conclusion

Overall, drawing tablets with screens are considered to be the better choice because they’re much easier to use and they tend to offer more features.

However, they are much more expensive than drawing tablets without screens, which might be a drawback for some people. Regardless, if you are able to afford them, you should consider purchasing a drawing tablet with a screen.