Why Drawing Tablets Are So Expensive + Inexpensive Options

Everyone knows how technologically advanced our world is today. It’s incredible that we are able to have the entire world at our fingertips and have everything we need on a virtual device.

In addition to this, people who enjoy art are able to create their favorite drawings with the help of a tablet. But there’s one thing that might cause artists to take a step back before buying a drawing tablet- the cost.

Drawing tablets are notoriously expensive because of the quality, the functions the device comes with, its surface, and other important features. If you want to have a high-quality drawing tablet, then you will likely have to pay a lot for it.

In this article, we will provide you with a more in-depth image of why drawing tablets are so expensive, as well as some of the best drawing tablets on the market and some important features to consider when you go to purchase yours.

Reasons for the Cost

Many artists enjoy using drawing tablets. There are many who still rely on the good old pencil and paper or paintbrush and canvas, but there is a lot that you can do with a drawing tablet.

They’re especially great if you’re someone who is just getting started.

There are so many things that you can do with a drawing tablet, and they’re perfect for people who have a wide variety of interests, including, but not limited to painting, drawing, architecture, animation, fashion design, and more.

But one thing that many people seem to have noticed is that drawing tablets are rather expensive.

Yes, there are drawing tablets on the market that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. But the main reason why some of the best tablets are more expensive is due to the features it has to offer.

We will get into some of these features in more detail in a later section, but basically, the more advanced the features are, the more expensive the tablet will be.

And you most likely will need to use these features in order to produce the best art possible.

Having a tablet that has a high resolution, compatibility with multiple types of software, a higher sensitivity to pressure, and more will not only mean that your artwork will be better, but it also means that you’re going to have to pay more.

How To Save Money When Buying a Drawing Tablet

We know that drawing tablets might not be the most budget-friendly options for aspiring artists, but taking into consideration the different factors we mentioned in the previous section, there are some things that may be done in order to reduce the cost for you.

1. Purchase a smaller drawing tablet

We already know that the bigger the tablet, the more expensive the tablet will be. Especially drawing tablets with screens get way more expensive with size.

2. Buy used

Try to find a used one on sites such as eBay, Craigslist, or Amazon. We’re sure that you’ve tried to find other things on these sites. If you’re scared about what the quality of your drawing tablet would be, only purchase from verified sellers.

3. Give smaller brands a chance

Buy a drawing tablet from a brand that isn’t as well-known. Just because it isn’t a named brand doesn’t mean that the quality will be poor.

4. No tablet stands, no fancy gloves

Buy your drawing tablet without any accessories. These accessories can make the device more expensive. You might be able to find them for cheaper elsewhere or you could even make them yourself.

5. No Screen

Buy a drawing tablet without a screen. This might not be the most ideal choice, but the difference in price could be several hundreds of dollars. Also, drawing and looking at your pc monitor might feel weird at first, however, most people say that they get used to it pretty quickly.

Good Drawing Tablets That Are Not Expensive

Here are three of the best drawing tablets that you may want to consider. The three we have picked not only have some of the highest ratings from customers on Amazon, but they also won’t break the bank for a new artist.

Wacom CTL4100 Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom is, perhaps, the most well-known brand when it comes to drawing tablets. Many artists gravitate towards the products that are manufactured by them.

Coming in at $67.40 on Amazon, you won’t have to pay too much money to get this drawing tablet that has over 3,000 reviews. It is compatible with any software that can be used for digital art, as well as photo editing and animation.

You can connect it to your Mac or PC with the USB cable it comes with. It has a slim design but a large enough screen for drawing. It’s easy to set up and you don’t have to charge the pen. There are lots of great features that come with this device, making it a favorite for many.

Huion H420 USB Graphics Drawing Tablet

This drawing tablet by Huion is also popular among customers. It’s only $24.98 right now, making it practically a steal. But don’t let the low price tag fool you; this tablet will provide you with many great features to help enhance your artistic skills.

For one, you will be able to use it with many graphics technologies, including Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Comic Studio, and more. It comes with a digital pen that you can use for navigation. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.

The three buttons on the side will also help you to navigate. The general consensus seems to be that this is the perfect, inexpensive drawing tablet for beginners in particular.

XP-Pen Artist 12 Drawing Monitor Pen Display

And finally, this is another tablet that seems to have garnered a lot of high ratings from customers. It claims to provide you with clear and vivid images and vibrant colors. You also get a touch bar on the side that will help you as you draw to scroll up and down and zoom in or out.

The tablet, which is the most expensive option on our list at $199.99, has an anti-reflective coating, shortcut keys, and pressure sensitivity. You can use this tablet for drawing, 3D sculpting, editing, architecture, animation, and more.

In addition to that, the tablet is compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Sketchbook Pro, and other popular programs. It is also compatible with Mac or Windows computers.

There are plenty of other high-quality drawing tablets on the market that you can choose from, but one of the first things that you will need to do is determine what features you’re specifically looking for in a drawing tablet.

Keep in mind that, if you want a drawing tablet that will offer more features, you will most likely end up having to spend more, too.

Features to Consider

Here are some of the most important features to consider when shopping for a drawing tablet.

Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity is, of course, an important factor to consider because it will impact the result of your drawing. For example, how firmly you press the pen to the screen could have an impact on how thick or thin the strokes are.

Be aware that some of the cheapest models on the market do not have high pressure sensitivity, which means that you might not get the best results. Try to find a drawing tablet that will provide the highest pressure sensitivity that you will be able to afford.

If you do, this will help to enhance your experience with the tablet and could make it seem like you’re drawing on a canvas.

Size

Naturally, size is also something that needs to be considered, and not only for the cost. It is true that the larger the drawing tablet, the more expensive it will be. However, you will also need to check the size for basic practicality.

Do you have enough room to store a large tablet? Do you need to have a large tablet for what you’re planning on using it for? Do you plan on traveling a lot? There are plenty of questions and more that you will need to ask yourself when considering the size of the tablet.

Compatibility

Compatibility also needs to be considered. You need to see if you will be able to connect your drawing tablet to your computer. Most of them are compatible with many Windows and Mac laptops and computers, but you might run into some trouble if you have an older model.

Some might have Bluetooth features, but these will naturally be more expensive. In addition to the computer, you will also need to see what software programs the drawing tablet is compatible with, i.e., Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and more.

Some drawing tablets will come with bundled software, too.

Resolution

Perhaps the most important feature to consider when getting a drawing tablet is the resolution. Again, this will have an impact on the quality of your drawings. If the tablet will provide you with a higher resolution, you will be able to have more detailed drawings.

This obviously means that you will most likely have to pay a lot of money if you want to have the highest resolution possible with your tablet. The resolution you need will depend on what kind of art you’re doing.

You will want to get a tablet that has a higher resolution if you’re drawing people or other things that need to be drawn in detail. But if you’re drawing things like logos, maybe you don’t need to have such a high resolution.

Another thing to consider is how you will most likely evolve as an artist, which will naturally demand the use of better quality products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a number of reasons why drawing tablets can be expensive, which all mainly have to do with the features they have to offer. Of course, drawing tablets that have more advanced features and abilities will be more expensive than others.

We listed some of the most important features that you will need to consider. However, there are also some on the market that are less expensive and would be perfect for those on a budget or just starting out.

So, if you find that drawing tablets are expensive, don’t panic; there are likely many great options for you out there that will provide you with high-quality features and that won’t break the bank.