The best tablets with a stylus pen for drawing and writing

The best tablets with a stylus pen are perfect for drawing and notetaking. They make it easy to draw and write directly onto the screen, in a way that feels natural. And that can really speed up your creativity and boost your productivity.

All the tablets I list below come with a stylus included, which is why you won’t find a iPad in here, because while they’re compatible with the Apple Pencil, you have to buy that separately. Furthermore, all these tablets are capable of doing both note-taking and drawing.

Best overall

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

Best budget

2. Lenovo Tab P12 with Matte Display

Best for drawing

3. XPPen Magic Drawing Pad

Load the next 3 products ↴

Best for notes

Best for kids

Best for media

6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

Load the next 3 products ↴

Best hybrid

Best Chromebook

8. Acer Spin 714 Chromebook

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Performance: Top-tier power and ridiculously smart software mean the Tab S8 Ultra is a beast when it comes to productivity and performance. The Tab S8 runs on Android with Samsung’s DeX desktop interface for enhanced productivity. It’s powered by the 8GB, 12GB or 16GB RAM and the excellent Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. And its large, 11,200mAh battery keeps the tablet alive for around nine hours of video playback, and a comfortable couple of days with moderate use.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Premium pricing but does include S Pen	★★★★
Design	Streamlined and Incredibly thin	★★★★★
Performance	Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor	★★★★★
Battery life	9 hours of video playback	★★★★½

The best budget tablet with a stylus

Specifications

Type: Tablet computer

Active drawing area: 12.7-inch

Resolution: 3K (2944 x 1840)

Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels

Connections: USB-C, Bluetooth, WiFi, MicroSD

Reasons to buy

New matte display is a wonderful

Good stylus for drawing accuracy

Designed for note-taking

Reasons to avoid

–

Lacks the power of more costly tablets

Performance: In practice, our reviewer found it the Lenovo Tab P12 is a little underpowered when pushed as an art tablet. While it was capable of low-intensity tasks such writing, doodling, browsing and streaming, along with low-intensity gaming, you shouldn’t expect much more.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Affordable option with good features	★★★★★
Design	Thin and light with large 12.7-inch display	★★★★
Performance	Capable of low-intensity tasks, but struggles with demanding applications	★★★
Battery life	10-hour battery life	★★★★½

The best tablet with a stylus for drawing and digital art

Specifications

Type: Tablet computer

Active drawing area: 12.2-inch, 3:2 ratio

Resolution: 2160 x 1440

Pen pressure sensitivity: 6,384 levels

Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi, USB-C 2.0

Reasons to buy

Drawing tablet tech on the go

A precise stylus designed for artwork

Light and well-made design

Reasons to avoid

–

Lacks the power of some Samsungs

Screen: This tablet features a 12.2-inch matte anti-glare display, which boasts a resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels. The screen is fantastic for drawing, slightly flexible and compliant while its anti-glare, etched texture coating ensures it can be used outdoors or in the home. Combined with the stylus that delivers over 16K levels of pressure sensitivity (the best on this list) this really does feel like a mobile drawing tablet.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Competitively priced option	★★★★★
Design	Slim and lightweight with 3:2 display	★★★★★
Performance	Handles most drawing tasks smoothly	★★★★
Battery life	13-hour battery life	★★★★★

Design: The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C boasts a sleek, minimalist design with a 10.3-inch screen flush with the bezel. This protected by an anti-glare glass layer, making it comfortable to use in bright settings. The wide bezel on the left side allows you to hold it without accidentally touching the screen. At 480g, it’s lightweight for an e-reader, but heavier than some may expect for long reading sessions.

Performance: While not as powerful as mainstream tablets, our reviewer found it fast and responsive enough for the e-ink reading and writing experience. The included stylus performs well, offering a smooth experience for drawing and annotating documents. This device also provides general tablet functionality, but the e-ink display isn’t optimal for high-intensity tasks like watching videos, where ghosting and slow refresh rates become noticeable.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Premium price reflecting specialised features.	★★★
Design	Sleek, minimalist design	★★★★
Performance	Fast and responsive for e-ink experience, but not suitable for high-intensity tasks	★★★★
Battery life	Long-lasting due to e-ink display tech	★★★★★

05. Lenovo Tab M11

The best tablet with a stylus for kids for learning and safety

Specifications

Type: Tablet computer

Active drawing area: 0.28 x 10.04 x 6.54 inches

Resolution: 1920 x 1200

Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels

Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi, USB-C 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack, SIM / MicroSD slot

Reasons to buy

Lightweight and easy to use

Good stylus and apps

Good pre-installed apps for kids

Reasons to avoid

–

Only good for simple tasks

–

Lacks RAM needed for complex apps

Screen: The Lenovo Tab M11 features an 11-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 400 nits of brightness. It performs well in most lighting conditions, making it suitable for both indoor use and moderately bright environments. The Lenovo Tab Pen, while not designed for intricate art, works well for handwriting and simple sketches. It offers 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels, providing a smooth experience for note-taking. However, the stylus uses a battery, which is not rechargeable.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Affordable option that’s great for families	★★★★½
Design	Simple yet functional	★★★★
Performance	Limited by 4GB RAM	★★★
Battery life	10 hours of video playback	★★★★

06. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

The best tablet with a stylus for media, including 3D gaming

Specifications

Type: Tablet computer

Active drawing area: 14.6 inches

Resolution: 2,960 x 1,848

Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels

Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi, USB-C 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack, SIM / MicroSD slot

Reasons to buy

Large, crisp and colourful display

Can handle almost any task

The excellent S Pen is included

Reasons to avoid

–

Lacks iPad Pro’s video editing capabilities

Need to know: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a premium Android tablet, offering robust performance, a stunning 14.6-inch OLED display, and an S Pen (Gen 2) stylus. It’s perfect for anyone who needs a versatile device for digital art, media consumption, and productivity. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, this tablet excels in everything from 3D gaming to note-taking and multitasking. While it may lack the video editing prowess of the iPad Pro, it offers a more complete package for media and creativity, especially since the stylus is included.

Design: The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra features a sleek and slim design with a large 14.6-inch display, ideal for those who prefer bigger screens for work or media. It includes a SIM/MicroSD slot for extra storage and cellular connectivity, along with USB-C 2.0 and a 3.5mm audio jack for versatile connection options. The included S Pen stylus is based on Wacom technology, offering an exceptional drawing and note-taking experience, and it attaches magnetically for easy storage.

Screen: The 14.6-inch OLED display stands out with a high resolution of 2,960 x 1,848 pixels and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for media consumption, gaming, and creative tasks. When it comes to drawing, the display is excellent and colours are vibrant, though it’s glossy display can’t match the tactile bite of the special XPPen Magic Drawing Pad above, and it lacks the anti-glare coating of iPad Pro.

Performance: Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy ensures smooth performance, whether you’re drawing, gaming, or multitasking between work apps. The tablet is capable of handling intensive tasks like 3D gaming and 4K video playback without a hitch. The S Pen’s 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity offer precise control for artists, and apps like ArtRage Vitae, Krita, and Clip Studio Paint run smoothly.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Premium pricing but includes S Pen	★★★★
Design	Sleek and slim with a large 14.6-inch display,	★★★★★
Performance	Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor	★★★★★
Battery life	9.5 hours	★★★★

07. LG Gram 2-in-1 16-inch

The best hybrid tablet with a stylus

Specifications

Type: Laptop 2-in-1

Active drawing area: 14.04 x 9.78 x 0.67 inches

Resolution: WQXGA 2560 x 1600

Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels

Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, x2 USB Type-C, x1 USB Type-A

Reasons to buy

Incredibly light and versatile

Fast, powerful performance

Wacom stylus included

Reasons to avoid

–

Not a huge leap over the 2021 model

Need to know: The LG Gram 2-in-1 16-inch is an ultra-light, versatile laptop that doubles as a tablet, making it perfect for those who need a device for both productivity and creativity. Featuring a Wacom stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, this 2-in-1 device is designed for note-taking, sketching, and working on the go. With its slim and portable build, powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, it offers strong performance. While it may not be a massive upgrade over its predecessor, the 2023 model offers excellent value, often priced under $900.

Screen: The 16-inch display offers a high resolution of 2560 x 1600, providing crisp visuals for both productivity and creative tasks. The large screen area is ideal for working with detailed documents, creating digital art, or reviewing notes. Although it’s not necessarily optimised for photo editing or high-end graphics work, the display size and clarity make it a solid choice for everyday tasks, design work, and media consumption. The included Wacom stylus provides a seamless and accurate drawing experience, comparable to dedicated drawing tablets.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Pricey but good value for a 2-in-1	★★★★
Design	Ultra-light and versatile	★★★★★
Performance	Fast, responsive performance	★★★★
Battery life	Up to 14 hours	★★★★★

A powerful Chromebook hybrid with a stylus

Specifications

Active drawing area: 9.5 x 6in (approx.)

Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels

Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels of pressure

Connections: 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm

Reasons to buy

Powerful build for a Chromebook

Excellent Full HD display

Well-designed 2-in-1 laptop

Reasons to avoid

–

Intel Core i5 model is expensive

Design: The Spin 714 features a premium build, with a 14-inch touchscreen display and a slim, portable profile. At 3.09 lbs, it’s light enough to carry around, yet its solid aluminum body ensures durability. The 2-in-1 design allows the device to easily flip from laptop to tablet mode, providing flexibility for various tasks. The screen has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and offers excellent colour reproduction, making it suitable for both media consumption and creative work.

Screen: The screen has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and offers excellent colour reproduction, making it suitable for both media consumption and creative work. You also get a built-in stylus that slots into the chassis, offering convenience and precision for note-taking and light art tasks. With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, the stylus performs well for writing, sketching, and navigating the touchscreen.
Performance: With an Intel Core i5 processor, the Spin 714 delivers impressive performance for a Chromebook. It handles multitasking, productivity apps, and light creative work with ease. While ChromeOS doesn’t support some high-end software like Procreate or Photoshop, it excels in running web-based and Android apps, with more Adobe apps rumored to be coming soon. Battery life is solid, giving you a full day of moderate use or about 8-10 hours of video playback.

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Key features
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Expensive for a Chromebook but cheap for a laptop	★★★★
Design	Premium build, slim profile	★★★★
Performance	Fast for a Chromebook	★★★★
Battery life	Full day of moderate use or 8-10 hours of video playback.	★★★★★

What should I look for in a drawing tablet and stylus?

There are two things to think about when you’re after the best tablet with a stylus: the tablet and the stylus. The tablets I’ve selected all come bundled together with a stylus but some, like Apple and Microsoft, ask you to ‘add on’ a stylus so you ned to consider this in the price. Keep in in mind Apple Pencil 2 and iPad Air or iPad Pro are excellent, but you will be paying more, while Samsung’s Android tablets are comparable and include the S Pen, usually saving a little money.

What should students look for in a drawing tablet and stylus?

A good student tablet depends on what kind of study you’re doing. Here I’m looking at general studies and not hardware intensive tasks. So you don’t need the largest screen, as portability is vital, hence why the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is my No.1 and the S7+ is No.2.

In terms of price, a tablet in the $500 / £500 – $700 – £700 range is good, this would include Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 as well as the new XPPen Magic Drawing Pad and the Lenovo M11 (or P11). More than this and you’re getting into high-spec laptop replacements, such as the LG Gram 2in1 16, but this could be what you need.

Finally, many places suggest a minimum of 4GB RAM, I’d suggest at least 6GB and even 8GB if you can afford it, as this is ideal for art and photo apps. You” need Cloud storage, and ideally check if a tablet supports MicroSD cards for storing files.

Also consider accessories, a keyboard could become essential over time and many of the best tablets with a stylus do feature keyboard-cases as optional extras (and these protect the screen too). Many Android tablets can support other third-party stylus too.

But a traditional drawing tablet isn’t ideal for note-taking or work, which is why you need a generalist tablet. Usually tablets with a stylus come with pens that feature 4,096 levels of pressure, which is acceptable for note-taking and drawing, but you can now get general tablet stylus with 8K levels of pressure. Wacom’s Pro Pen tech is also licensed to many other brands, for example Samsung, so even though you’re buying a generalist tablet you’re getting pro art tech in the S Pen.

Historically Android tablets have a lot of styluses to choose from, but many of them aren’t pressure sensitive and are more designed for note-taking and sketching than serious art. This is changing, with the release of XPPen Magic Drawing Pad and others, but generally Samsung has dominated the Android space, as there are both Samsung and third-party styluses that provide pressure sensitivity with Samsung tablets. See our guide to the best styluses for Android for more on this.

Many styluses will also have function buttons that allow you to quickly switch modes or toggle certain settings. Older stylus require batteries, most new pens now use ERM tech so they work straight away, some will still need a driver calibration app. Top styluses will also enable you to switch nibs, from plastic to felt for a softer response, and if you’re using a screen protector like the Rock, Paper, Pencil you can you also make use of metal nibs.

Tablet for note-taking These are dedicated to enabling you make notes, doodle and create slides and graphs. Because of the specific task of creating notes, these tablets don’t need powerful processors, instead you’re looking for a tablet that replicates the feel of paper, has an accurate stylus, bags of memory for your files and a battery that will last up to a week. These e-ink tablets are specialist productivity devices.

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