Drawing pads are a vital tool for upcoming and experienced artists alike. Having access to countless art supplies without splurging money or wasting time finding the tools you need is an artist’s dream. With a drawing pad for PC, you gain access to limitless brush and pen strokes, colors, and mediums that require only a single stylus to put into effect.
This article introduces you to five of the best drawing pads available today. These options allow you to utilize heavy editing software (like Photoshop) any time you want. Whenever you are struck with artistic inspiration, simply slide out your drawing pad and create the extraordinary.
Buyer’s Guide to Drawing Pads for PC
Explore the factors described below to land an exceptional drawing pad compatible with both your PC and your artistic needs.
Direct vs. Indirect
Drawing pads come in two major variants: On-screen (direct) and off-screen (indirect). The pads mentioned in this article cater to indirect viewing pads, though there are newer models that function as both PCs and drawing pads. The range and user-friendly nature of indirect drawing pads make them more useful. Instead of investing with a high-priced on-screen/computer, it may be better for you to invest less and add to your working space. This will also be more suited to your comfort level with the already existing working space.
Stylus Specifics
The foundation of every drawing pad is its stylus. Make sure that your drawing pad has a high response/reporting rate and high precision and sensitivity levels. The stylus should not be heavy, so a battery-free pen is most advantageous. Also, ensure that the package comes with extra nibs for different textures, as well as a pen holder to keep track of your stylus.
Working Area
An active working area differs from the actual size of the drawing pad. There are many sizes of drawing pads available, so it is entirely up to the user which active area is preferred. It is best to obtain a large active area, especially if you are a left-handed person, as many drawing pads have express keys on the right side.
Connectivity and Compatibility
Of course, these drawing pads require a connection to your PC. Make sure that whatever drawing pad you opt for is compatible with your PC and Wi-Fi drivers.
With that out of the way, let us get straight to our list of the best drawing pads for PC.
1. Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Digital Drawing Tablet for PC or Mac
Our top favorite is the Wacom Intuos Pro. This model promises precision and sensitivity to your creative strokes. This sleek and slim 8 mm pad comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The medium pad, the most popular of the sizes, is 13.2 x 8.5 inches with an active area of 8.7 x 5.8 inches.
The Wacom’s trustworthy professional Pro Pen 2 technology is designed to perform to its fullest for hours on end. The Pro Pen 2 features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt-response. All your image editing, illustration, and design work will be taken care of through the pad’s lag-free precision control.
The best part about it? There is no need to charge your pen. If you want different textures of artistic tools, Intuos also supplies different nibs.
The Intuos Pro allows you to zoom, scroll, and navigate the finger-like touchpad on the multi-touch aluminum and fiberglass surface. There are express keys present on the side to aid with keyboard shortcuts. These features boost productivity by maximizing control over functions.
This drawing pad can connect to your PC via USB and Bluetooth. It also comes with two months of Adobe Premier Pro membership, and Adobe After Effects is included when you purchase and register your tablet. The only disadvantage to this device is its high price.
Buy Here: Amazon
2. XP Pen Deco 01 V2
Next up, there is a more budget-friendly alternative, the XP Pen Deco 01 V2. This great drawing pad for PC features a Type-C input design, making it easy to plug in.
The pad is itself large yet light. It measures 13.82 x 8.54 inches with an active area of about 10 x 6.25 inches. The pad is 8 mm thick and is extremely lightweight and easy to handle. The included stylus is 8 mm in diameter and is backed by a free artist glove.
The stylus is great for teachers and artists, as it is relatively light and is not battery operated. The stylus comes with eight replacement nibs, which can apply 8,192 precision strokes, and has a 10 mm sensing height. Overall, the stylus has a maximum reporting rate of ≥ 200 RPS, which is not bad for the price.
Moreover, this pad has a blind spot reduction design, as well as indicator lights with adjustable brightness that inform you of the active drawing area. The eight customizable shortcut keys on the side can be programmed to your liking.
When using this pad, we noticed that it takes a few seconds to detect hover movement. Overall, this pad is best for beginners who want the taste of a high-end tablet with advanced software at an affordable price.
Buy Here: Amazon
3. Huion Inspiroy H1060P
If you want a large working area that is well within budget, the Huion H1060P is an excellent option. This drawing pad is perfect for discovering your artistic side. It also protects your wrist by reducing fatigue from long hours of mouse use.
This PC-supported drawing pad measures 10 x 6.25 inches in working area, 10 mm in thickness, and 770 g in weight. The comfortable size and delay-free sensitivity allow you to create your projects with ease.
The stylus provided with this pad is one-of-a-kind. The device comes with an artist glove to let your hand rest while working. The pen is rechargeable, with two shortcut buttons to expand productivity. What is more, you also get six additional nibs, integrated with a chip.
The Huion Inspiroy H1060P has a sensing height of 10 mm and operates at 233 PPS. The stylus provides fluent strokes with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity strokes. The 60+ levels of tilt recognition allow for accurate cursor positioning with different angles.
Our major gripe with this drawing pad is its relatively bulky build. Also, we noticed that when the computer goes into sleep mode, the pad loses connection. When this happens, you will need to plug the device in again to regain connectivity, which hinders productivity in the long-run.
Buy Here: Amazon
4. UGEE M708 Graphics Tablet
The next drawing pad, famous for its user-friendly setup, is the UGEE M708. This device does not require any setup CDs, as this drawing pad supports an automatic drive download as the connection with the PC is made.
The large drawing area measures 10 x 6 inches, and the pad has a slim width of 7.8 mm. The UGEE drawing pad is known for its paper-like texture. There is no chopping or delay to your strokes, as the pad and stylus offer fluid and graceful movement. The realistic experience is highlighted even more through the humanized shortcut express keys. You can customize these shortcut keys to your preferences, saving precious time.
The non-charging stylus that comes with this device works on a magnetic field connection, with 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels and a 266 RPS report rate. You can easily switch between pen and eraser using the click button at the side of the pen.
There is also an adjustable stroke thickness to further add to your convenience. The UGEE drawing pad for PC provides you with eight extra nibs in a pen holder for a long-lasting smooth experience.
The UGEE M708 is compatible with Windows and Mac. Unfortunately, it does not support Linux. Although we did not notice any problems with pen pressure during our test, some users have reported glitches.
Buy Here: Amazon
5. Huion Inspiroy Q11k Wireless Graphic Drawing Tablet
Coming in last, we have another Huion drawing pad that is worthy of your consideration. This is a re-design of the older Huion versions and is premium quality inside and out.
This drawing pad can work for both advanced professionals and newbies who wish to enter the virtual art world. The drawing pad has a 2.4 GHz wireless connection, which grants freedom from wire shackles. Backed by a 2500 mAh lithium-ion battery, the Huion is capable of running for 40 hours of continuous work. The device’s active working area measures 11 x 6.875 inches, which is excellent.
Some additional attractive features worth mentioning are the micro-USB ports and the power on/off button. This prevents you from messing up your masterpiece from accidental touches, and you can switch it off when the pad is not in use.
The re-designed pen has a long battery life and can auto-sleep in its stand when not in use. It only turns on when touched against the drawing pad. The responsive pen-cursor movement is possible through the 233 PPS and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity.
However, for a wireless pad, it takes an awfully long amount of time to recharge (7 hours). It also seems that a few drive related features were taken out in this model. This pad can no longer customize and register right- and left-clicks, which can be troublesome for left-handed users.
Buy Here: Amazon
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best drawing pad for PC is the one that suits your needs. There are many drawing on-screen pads available in the market. However, the control, wide range of use, and compatibility that the indirect version of drawing pads provide is unmatched.
The options mentioned in this article will not only help artists and graphic designers in unleashing artistic curves; they will also help those who would like some relief from strenuous, long-term mouse use. Be sure to check out all the features of the above-mentioned drawing pads to make a well-informed decision in your final purchase. Good luck!
