Best Drawing Tablet For Architects

Drawing tablets have become one of the primary go to tools for many creatives, designers, and of course architects, and with a gradual rise in popularity there are now an abundance of variations and models to choose from.

However this has of course made it a lot harder to research and find exactly what the best drawing tablets are, and how they may meet individual requirements.

So by collating our guides on Beginner, Affordable, and Digital Display tablets, here we have created a shortlist and review of what we consider to be the best drawing and graphics tablets for newcomers through to experts in the field of architecture, interiors and landscape design.

This is then followed and supported by a buyers guide, highlighting the key aspects and specifications that need to be considered before purchasing such a product.

Summary

In summary, the overall winners and the best drawing tablets for architects, interior designers, and landscape architects are…

Our pick

Our Pick

Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet

With Wacom firmly positioned at the top of most of our guides, when it comes to architecture, interior design and landscape architecture, the Cintiq 22 is a clear winner with its exceptional performance and large high quality drawing area.

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Runner up

Wacom Intuos Drawing Tablet

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Also great

HUION KAMVAS Pro 16 Drawing Tablet

The KAMVAS Pro provides an excellent substitute to the above Cintiq tablet by Wacom with its 16 inch matt anti-glare digital display and 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Considering its very completive price tag, we think this is among the best digital drawing display tablets currently on the market.

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Product reviews

Firstly for speed and efficiency we only review the products that we feel are the most worthy of selection, and this often results in a list that is a little smaller than the "10 best" collections we see everywhere else.

So the below carefully sourced 6 tablets form a list of what we consider to be some of the best all-round tablets currently available.

01 – Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet

Our Pick

Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet

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The Cintiq 22 from Wacom provides an excellent drawing experience via its large full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) display, that provides plenty of space for long and extended pen strokes.

The digital display itself has an anti-glare surface, that is laminated with a slight texture that when drawing provides a degree of friction against the stylus.

This tablet comes with the infamous Pro Pen 2 stylus, that offers 8192 Levels pressure sensitivity and comes equipped with tilt recognition. This measures the angle the pen is being held at and adjusts the stroke pattern accordingly.

The Pro Pen 2 is also battery free, and remains fully charged via the electromagnetic properties of the Cintiqs display.

An adjustable stand provides a high level of display angle flexibility, with many configurations available.

You'll notice that there are no express or shortcut keys with this tablet, however if this proves to be an issue, Wacom do provide an expresskey remote as an add on.

The high refresh rate of the Wacom Cintiq means that there is no noticeable lag as and when you make a pen stroke. Even whilst completing tasks over several hours, the tablet does not overheat and get uncomfortable to use.

This is the most cost effective tablet that Wacom has ever offered for a product of this size and specification, and although this is in effect an additional interactive monitor, it provides a large high quality sketching display at an affordable price.

Some of the tablets below and featured in our other reviews, do however provide similar outputs and with expresskeys, but lack the Wacom quality and guarantee. …for its price, It's hard to rival this tablet.

Pros

Large full HD interactive display
Good value for money
Highly responsive user interface
Comes with a Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus with 8192 levels of pressure
Adjustable stand
Accurate colors
Overall an excellent natural drawing feel

Cons

No expresskeys
Not easily portable due to size
Expensive if looking for an entry-level tablet
No multi-touch support
Lower color gamut
Must be connected to a computer via a singular HDMI connection
Some users may find the maximum brightness a little low

02 – Wacom Intuos small Drawing Tablet

Wacom Intuos Drawing Tablet

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Complete with the Wacom Pro Pen 2 and stand, the Wacom Intuos Pro is a high-quality graphics tablet with a great looking finish.

The tablet is installed via the drivers found on Wacom's website, and then via a setup wizard that lets you fully customize the way you want the tablet and pen to behave when being used.

This includes orientation, left handed / right handed setups and full customization of the expresskeys.

The Wacom Pro Pen is highly responsive and performs well in Photoshop, Maya, and Z-brush etc. Complete with tilt recognition and 8,192 levels of pressure, the pen is very comfortable to use, and gives the artist's complete control when drawing with interchangeable pen tips

Its useful bluetooth connectivity allows for wireless integration and hassle-free working.

Although larger than typical portable tablets, this is lightweight for its size and comes in a super-slim build that makes it easy to carry when traveling.

Pros

Good value for money
Large active area
Wacom's proven build quality
Small and large models also available

It is light and extremely portable
It is sturdy and durable
Because there is no pen battery, you don't have to worry about charging it

Cons

Some may find the pen stand a little wobbly
Difficult to access new pen nibs that are housed in the stand

03 – XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Drawing Tablet

XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Drawing Tablet

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The XP-Pen Artist 15.6″ Pro offers an incredible interface and seamless display, delivering superior and realistic imagery with its 120% sRGB color accuracy and 178-degree viewing angle.

…Providing an experience of vivid images, rich colors, and precise details in a wider view.

It features a matt anti-glare optical film with scratch resistance and high transparency to minimize glare, while ensuring that the display remains crisp and clear. This provides a light textured feel when drawing, similar to that of paper.

This unit pairs beautifully with its stylus to create natural transitions. It has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, making it extremely accurate and giving the artist total control.

The multi-functional pen holder is intended to keep your pen safe, and can act as both a pen stand or a pen holder

The Artist 15.6 Pro connects with both Windows and Mac operating systems and is compatible with graphics software such Illustrator, Clip Studio, and Photoshop.

Some users may struggle with its initial setup and installation, due to the multiple power, pen and display connections, along with finding and installing the right drivers. This all however only needs to be done once.

On the whole this is a large and very responsive drawing surface for the price, however for artists who like to work at an angle, there is no stand provided and some may find that initially the visual offset between the stylus and display takes some getting used to.

Pros

Generous full HD display
Sensitive stylus with a high level of pressure sensitivity
Good number of express keys
Realistic drawing surface
Overall great value at an affordable price

Cons

No wireless connectivity
Some will find the installation process over complicated
Precise work may be difficult due

04 – Wacom Cintiq 22HD Drawing Tablet

Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet

This Wacom DTK2200 Cintiq 22HD tablet is the older version of the above Cintiq 22, but is still currently available and comes with a rotating/tilting stand and 16 expresskeys (which the Cintiq 22 does not).

The Cintiq 22 does however have a superior pen in the Pro Pen 2, and a matt display that some digital artists will prefer.

This tablet delivers multi-touch high-quality visuals through a 21.5-inch display, that renders a total of 16.7 million colors.

The supplied Wacom Grip Pen recognizes 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity, with tilt recognition — the result: an identical experience as using an actual marker or paintbrush.

However you'll note that the above a newer Cintiq 22 tablet, offers 8192 levels of pen pressure.

But one of the advantages the tablet has over its predecessor, is that it comes equipped with 16 fully programmable expresskeys.

Pros

The HD display is bright and sharp
High quality Wacom product
It works flawlessly with a wide variety of software
Some artists will prefer its smooth display finish
Comes equipped with 16 customizable ExpressKeys (shortcut keys)
Fully adjustable and robust stand

Cons

The thick bezel takes up a lot of space
Low pressure sensitivity compared to other tablets
Some artists will prefer a matt display finish
The thick frame and surrounding bezel take up a lot of room

05 – Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet

HUION Inspiroy H610X

For those on a tight budget who cant yet afford a Wacom tablet, the H610X's performance and features are way beyond what you can expect to pay for it. With plenty of shortcut keys, precise levels of pen pressure and a textured drawing surface, this is the perfect substitute or travel companion to the below Wacom Intuos

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As featured in our novice guide to finding a tablet and cheaper entry level options where it won the review, the Huion H610 Pro graphics tablet is an excellent choice for digital artists on a budget and/or experimenting with this medium.

The size and weight of the tablet is very similar to the below Wacom Intuos Pro graphic tablet (which is roughly three times the price), however the difference comes in the quality of the expresskeys and the lack of touch scrolling.

The drawing area has a glossier finish than other tablets available, but there is still a slight paper-like surface that imitates the feeling of drawing with a pen and paper.

The stylus pen included comes with two shortcut buttons and 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, that provides natural looking, accurate and efficient strokes. It is however battery operated.

In terms of expresskeys, there are eight hard keys and 16 soft keys that allow for customized shortcuts.

This tablet is perfect for those looking for the quality of a higher price tagged tablet, but at an entry level price.

Pros

Incredibly good value
Good for entry level artists, and those who want a smaller/cheaper traveling option
Quick and responsive customer support service
Solid build quality and excellent pressure sensitivity
Supports left-handed artists
Good size to weight ratio

Cons

Some will find tapered frame uncomfortable
This tablet does not provide a wireless connection, which some may find frustrating
Stylus is battery operated
More nib choices would be a great addition

06 – Huion h640p Drawing Tablet

HUION Inspiroy H640P Graphics Drawing Tablet

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Huion H640p is an incredibly compact design and provides a 6.3×3.9″ working surface, and weighs only 9.6 ounces, making it perfect for small work areas and/or when working on the go.

Use this tablet with practically any operating system, as it's compatible with all versions of Windows and Mac, and is installed via the drivers found on the Huion website. (instructions included).

The tablet comes with six built-in expresskeys to help improve your workflow and speed, and the accompanying pen/stylus with a pressure sensitivity of 8192, includes battery free charging, two customizable buttons, a stand and spare nibs.

The Huion H640P is a fantastic tablet aimed at the cheaper end of the market. For its price it provides an excellent drawing experience and perfect traveling companion.

For further recommendations on cheaper tablets, we have an in-depth review and guide here

Pros

Good rechargeable stylus
Small, compact and light
Six customizable express keys
For its price it offers an excellent drawing experience
Good line resolution
Excellent response rate and high level of pressure sensitivity
Works well with most operating systems

Cons

Not the best for large drawings
Some artists will simply find it too small
Installing drivers can be a pain
Due to USB connection, it's not really suited to left handed users

The different types of drawing tablet

If shopping for a drawing tablet for the first time, you may be unaware that broadly speaking tablets come in three categories, which although ultimately all produce the same result, each go about it in a slightly different manner.

Graphics tablets – Blank surface, requires a connecting to a computer monitor

Known as a more traditional drawing tablet, graphics tablets feature a blank, flat, and featureless surface that the artist draws onto using stylus, and whilst viewing a connected computer monitor.

Due to their relatively simple appearance and generally speaking functionality, graphics tablets sit at the lower end of the drawing tablet price bracket.

Pros

Very affordable
Good for entry level artists
Durable due to their simplicity

Cons

There is a disconnect between the artist and drawing surface
Some artists will require more functionality

Pressure-sensitive pen displays – Provide live feedback via an interacted display.

Pen displays have their own interactive monitor, that provides live and instant feedback to the artist as they draw. They are essentially digital pieces of paper.

Pros

Artist is fully connected to their work
Interactive display

Cons

More cables than graphics tablets
Some displays lack the surface friction that graphic tablets have

Tablet computers – Essentially a small computer

With tablet computers, the drawing function and application form just one small part of its overall output. Products such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and iPad Pro have many drawing programs and apps that can be simply downloaded to transform them into a pen-display.

Pros

The tablet can do much much more that just draw
Highly portable
Do not require a computer monitor
Not additional wires/connections

Cons

Expensive
May not require the additional functionality
Often have a smaller drawing surface
Are not specifically designed for drawing, and therefore lack expresskeys etc

Areas to consider before buying…

As you can see from the above, selecting your first and/or next tablet requires a fair bit of research and time; the following buyer's guide aims to help with this process by explaining the key and most important aspects that need to be considered whilst browsing.

HotKeys / Expresskeys

HotKeys, also known as expresskeys, help to streamline the drawing process by providing shortcuts to your most frequently used tools and apps.

It's worth noting however that not all tablets feature these, and the number and location of them varies greatly betweens products.

Additionally, some tablets provide full customization of the keys to incorporate shortcuts of your choosing, while others automatically add the keys based on your usage.

Most digital artists favor and benefit from having a customizable setup as it provides greater flexibility in their working environment. For example, say there's an app you use less frequently but still want easy access to, this wouldn't be added to an automated list. Whereas, with customizable shortcuts, you have control to add it if you like.

Connectivity

Most tablets must connect to your pc and/or Mac for it to work. There are two different types of connectivity to choose from, depending on what kind you prefer:

USB – Some tablets connect via a USB cable. While this is a hassle-free solution, it's not without its drawbacks.

Depending on how you like to handle and operate your tablet, a wired connection may not be suitable.

However, if you don't mind the physical connection to your laptop, a USB is a very reliable way to connect your device.

Wireless – Bluetooth technology eliminates the need for cables. Having total wireless capabilities makes a world of difference and provides greater flexibility.

Wirelessly connected tablets allow for a more natural experience, similar to using a pen and paper.

Even if your device has Bluetooth compatibility, choosing one with a USB port makes it easier to connect your tablet to any USB-compatible device. If you travel frequently or enjoy using various gadgets, having this flexibility and freedom can be extremely beneficial.

Price

Price is a significant aspect when it comes to choosing a tablet. Investing in any item of specialist equipment can often be relatively expensive, and these are no different.

Cost is usually the first thing you consider, and there is a vast range of options available. As we discuss here some are available for as little as $50, while other higher end models can reach upwards of $1000 to $2000.

Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity, controls how the weight of the pen stroke affects the thickness of the line being drawn (how thin or thick the line appears on the display).

Drawing tablets offer different levels of pressure sensitivity to accommodate artists with a light and/or heavy touch, and for those wanting to do intricate work over broader sketching.

The levels of pressure sensitivity range between 512 up to 8192. The higher the number, the more subtle the differences the tablet detects. For strong hands, you might consider a lower level of pressure sensitivity.

The below video, discusses this in greater detail:

Scrollers

When it comes to scrolling, you might run into some issues at first. As many people find it challenging to transition to scrolling without a computer mouse. However this comes with a little practice and most artists are quick to adapt.

…but how does it work?

Well, there are two main ways to scroll with this type of equipment. One is to use your finger in a swiping motion. The other is to use your pen.

If you plan on using your pen, you should be careful to properly program it so that it doesn't confuse your strokes with a scrolling motion.

Most stylus' have customizable programming, that is installed and setup before you first use it.

Be sure to take the time to assign keystroke options and scrolling options effectively. Doing so prevents any room for error while you sketch.

A lot of pens have buttons along the top or side, which are the best for this action. By assigning a button for scrolling, your tablet won't confuse a stroke as a swiping motion.

Size

Drawing tablets come in a wide variety of sizes, and can be measured via their overall size and/or their display dimensions. This is important to determine as many tablets have a beveled edge and frame surrounding the drawing area.

For newcomers and casual users, a smaller size may be best to allow it to be easily stored away when not in use, and professionals and art students might want to opt for a larger size in order to get the most out of the work area.

The only downside to a larger tablet is that it won't be as easy to transport. Smaller sizes are much easier to fit in a bag, or even right next to your laptop.

Resolution

The resolution is how many lines per inch (LPI) the display allows. It also affects how well the unit works with the stylus.

A higher LPI provides more details than a lower. Detailing is essential for drawing, so you want to choose a tablet with a higher resolution.

Larger sized tablets will always have a higher resolution than smaller ones. But, you will often see similar sized products with significantly different resolutions.

In this case, you need to consider the products with a higher number to experience the best details.

Active Area

The active area of a drawing tablet is defined by the available drawing surface the tablet uses to record the pen strokes of the artist.

When referring to a display tablet this is the tablet's interactive display, whereas with a graphics tablet, it is the sensor covered plain pad that translates the artists pens strokes through to a separate monitor connected to a computer.

The first aspect to consider is the physical size of the active area, which is ultimately defined by the type of work the artist does and how they do it. However generally speaking, the larger the tablet, the larger the active area, but the harder it is to transport.

Almost all tablets have a particular finish applied to the active area, whether this be gloss or matt and/or textured. Textured finishes provide the tablet with a paper like finish to simulate a more traditional and analogue drawing experience.

This finish may be removable and replaceable, whilst providing the tablet with a level of scratch protection.

Best drawing tablets for Mac users?

We often receive questions regarding compatibility with Mac operating systems, however much like an iPad Pro seamlessly connects to both operating systems, so do all of the above tablets.

For those who opt for an alternative to our recommendations, you'll be pleased to know that most other tablets are also in sync, and where they initially appear not to be, additional drivers can be downloaded via the manufacturer's website.

Best drawing tablets for Photoshop?

Photoshop is an application that every, if not most artists are very familiar with, but what about pairing your drawing tablet with Photoshop?

Several brands have launched tablets that integrate well with Photoshop, and Wacom is hands-down one of the best, whereas other brands don't quite offer the same kind of seamless connection.

With Wacom tablets, you have the processing power needed to run these more extensive programs without lag.