What is the best drawing tablet with screen that you can get from the industry’s top player Wacom? In this comparison review, we’ve lined up the best Wacom tablets with screen for all skill levels and pocketbooks. Starting with the best drawing tablet with screen for beginners, the Wacom One, you can read up on the Wacom Cintiq 16, Wacom Cintiq 22, Wacom Cintiq 22HD and 27QHD up to the Wacom Cintiq Pro series to get an idea which Wacom screen tablet is best for your artistic needs and financial budget. Let’s get into it!
Should I get a drawing tablet with a screen?
If you’ve so far been using a tablet without built-in display, you might wonder whether the upgrade to a drawing tablet with screen is worth the investment.
Well, a screen tablet will get you as close to natural drawing as you can possibly get without putting a real pen on paper. If you’ve been working on a tablet without built-in display, such as a Wacom Intuos (S) or Wacom Intuos Pro Small or Medium, you know that it takes a bit of a learning curve to get used to drawing on the tablet while looking at a computer monitor a few inches away.
Especially if you’re coming from traditional art, you might find it difficult to retain your hand-eye coordination when working with a conventional tablet. A pen display has the big advantage that you can directly draw and see your work on the screen.
Our Top 3 Picks for Best Wacom Tablet with Screen
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
- 24-inch 4K Ultra HD screen for crystal clear image
- World-class color accuracy (99% Adobe RGB) and brightness (350 cd/m2)
- Etched glass surface with tactile resistance for super-natural drawing feel
Wacom Cintiq 16
- Least expensive higher-end Wacom display tablet with great overall specs
- High levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response with industry-leading Pro Pen 2
- Minimal parallax and virtually lag-free tracking
Wacom Cintiq Pro 32
- Premium high-end device used in professional studios around the world
- Large pin-sharp 4K UHD display with superior color accuracy and brightness
- Multi-touch functionality and ExpressKey Remote as standard
what is the best drawing tablet with screen?
Due to the integrated display technology, screen tablets tend to be more expensive than regular pen tablets, and Wacom’s Cintiq tablets are known for being pricey. The quality merits the price, but it can be out of many artists’ budgets, especially if you’re a beginner.
In our lineup, we’ve aimed at compiling the ten best Wacom screen tablets for various skill levels and budgets, summing up the most important features of each tablet so it’s hopefully easier for you to pick out the best Wacom tablet with screen for you!
Jump to a specific Wacom screen tablet
These are the Best Wacom Tablets with Screen in summary:
| Tablet | Screen specs | Response & Resolution | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wacom One 13 |
• 13.3 in, 1920 x 1080, AHVA • 72% NTSC • 200 cd/m2 |
• 4,096 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 2540 lpi resolution |
US$400 |
| Cintiq 13HD |
• 13.3 in, TFT LCD IPS • 75% Adobe RGB • 250 cd/m2 |
• 2048 pressure levels • 40 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$600 |
| Cintiq 16 |
• 15.6 in, 1920 x 1080, Full HD IPS • 72% NTSC, 96% sRGB • 210 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$650 |
| Cintiq Pro 13 |
• 13.3 in, 1920 x 1080, Full HD IPS • 87% Adobe RGB • 250 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$800 |
| Cintiq 22 |
• 21.5 in, 1920 x 1080, Full HD • 72% NTSC, 96% sRGB • 210 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$1200 |
| MobileStudio Pro 13 |
• 13.3 in, 2560 x 1440, WQHD • 80% Adobe RGB • 253 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
starting at US$1500 |
| Cintiq 27QHD |
• 27 in, 2560 x 1440, LCD AHVA • 97% Adobe RGB • 330 cd/m2 |
• 2048 pressure levels • 40 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$1900 |
| Cintiq 22HD |
• 21.5 in, 1920 x 1080, H-IPS LCD • 72% sRGB • 230 cd/m2 |
• 2,048 pressure levels • 40 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$2000 |
| Cintiq Pro 24 |
• 23.6 in, 3840 x 2160, 4K: Ultra HD • 99% Adobe RGB • 350 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$2500 |
| Cintiq Pro 32 |
• 31.5 in, 3840 x 2160, 4K: Ultra HD • 98% Adobe RGB • 310 cd/m2 |
• 8,192 pressure levels • 60 degrees tilt • 5080 lpi resolution |
US$3300 |
Best Wacom Tablet with Screen for Beginners
PROS
- Built-in 13.3" HD display with AHVA technology
- Real-feel responsive pen + compatibility with other pen brands
- Integrated foldout legs to raise the display to 19 degrees
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and Android devices
- Affordable alternative to the Cintiq 16
- Free software bundle (Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom & Fresco, Clip Studio Paint Pro, Bamboo Paper Pro)
CONS
- Multi-cord setup requiring 4 cables, no Bluetooth connectivity
- No hotkey buttons on the tablet
- Display brightness can be an issue under strong light
The Wacom One is Wacom’s new entry-level pen display that came out at the beginning of 2020. For a Wacom tablet with screen, it’s extremely budget-friendly, selling for less than US$400.
But don’t get fooled by the price. The Wacom One is as good as higher-end screen tablets in many aspects – and in some aspects even better! For example, the Wacom One has virtually no parallax (little gap between drawing surface and LCD) thanks to its laminated display – something that not even all the higher-end models have.
The 13-inch 1920×1080 display is full HD and uses AHVA technology for accurate off-center viewing. And with 72% of NTSC color gamut, the Wacom One is on the same level with higher-end devices, too!
However, there are some trade-offs that Wacom had to make in order to justify the keen price. As opposed to the Pro tablets, like the Cintiq Pro line and the MobileStudio Pro, the Wacom One doesn’t come with multi-touch functionality. If you’re upgrading from a non-display drawing tablet like the Wacom Intuos Pro or Wacom Intuos, you might miss using your fingertips at the beginning. But you don’t need to do without shortcut buttons. For around US$100, you can get Wacom’s additional ExpressKey Remote with plenty of buttons to customize.
In terms of stylus, the Wacom One comes with its very own Wacom One Pen, which is a bit less responsive than the industry-leading Pro Pen 2. However, you will still get a whopping 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity along with 60 degrees of tilt recognition and 2,540 lpi of pen resolution. These are superb specs for an entry-level device and absolutely sufficient for budding and hobbyist artists.
Best Wacom Tablet with Screen below $1000
Wacom Cintiq 13HD
PROS
- Good all-round display tablet with decent color performance, brightness, and contrast
- 1920 x 1080 native screen resolution for pin-sharp details
- Lightweight and portable, yet sturdy build quality
- 3-in-1 cable for easy setup and a clutter-free workspace
- Low parallax
- Great value for money
CONS
- Matte screen texture dulls the colors a bit
- Stand isn’t as robust and flexible
- No touch functionality on the regular 13HD
The Cintiq 13HD was released back in 2013 and is now selling for around US$600. The 13HD was originally the upgraded successor of the 12WX. But as Wacom are known for durable build quality, even eight years later, the Cintiq 13HD is still one of the best Wacom tablets with screen in the lower price range.
Just like the Wacom One, the Cintiq 13HD is not as responsive as the most current high-end devices, but it has slightly better screen performance than the Wacom One. The Cintiq 13HD is able to display 75% of the Adobe RGB color gamut and 16.7 million colors. The resolution is a 2K 1920 x 1080p, allowing for vivid and pin-sharp images. The display also has a matte coating that reduces unwanted glare and provides some nice ‘bite’ to the stylus.
The stylus is the Pro Pen that’s as ergonomic as the later Pro Pen 2, but only supports 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and 40 degrees of tilt. However, the Pro Pen has one more side switch than the Pro Pen 2, bringing three shortcut buttons at your fingertips that you can customize to speed up your workflow.
As opposed to the most recent Cintiq pen displays, the Cintiq 13HD still has built-in ExpressKeys and a Rocker Ring that let you quickly perform common functions like zooming, panning, rotating, etc. The regular Wacom Cintiq 13HD is not touch-sensitive, but you can get the Cintiq 13HD Pen & Touch Display to use gesture-based input.
The Wacom Cintiq 16 is a budget-friendly, high-quality full HD graphics tablet with all the essential features of the Pros. It’s a strong buy for all artists wanting to up their game from an Intuos or non-drawing screen tablet like the iPad Pro. The Cintiq 16 provides great value for money for everybody who is looking for a pro drawing experience, but can do without touch screen and higher color gamut.
PROS
- Great overall specs for a mid-range drawing tablet with screen
- Pro Pen 2 included & compatibility with Pro Pen 3D
- High levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response
- 3-in-1 cable to avoid clutter and keep workspace neat
- Textured surface for natural drawing feel with different surface textures available
- Least expensive higher-end Wacom display tablet
CONS
- Moderate screen resolution and color gamut
- No Express Keys & Multi Touch capability
- Stand not included
The Cintiq 16 is the most recent and best Wacom tablet with screen that is affordable for most consumers. At a price point of around $650, the Cintiq 16 is an excellent choice for all artists who want to enjoy pro-level specs without taking the plunge on a more expensive pro model.
The Cintiq 16 comes with the same stylus as the Pro tablets, Wacom’s cable- and battery-free Pro Pen 2. The Pro Pen 2 is the most powerful stylus in the market that lets you enjoy the best pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition and line resolution currently available.
The 15.6-inch screen has an active area of 13.6 x 7.6 inch, offering sufficient drawing space for most creative needs. While the 72% NTSC or 96% sRGB color gamut is lower than that of the pro tablets, you should only notice the difference when holding the Cintiq right next to a high-end monitor.
One difference to the Cintiq Pro tablets and also the Wacom One is that the Cintiq 16’s display is not bonded. This results in a slight parallax effect, but it’s so minimal that you will get used to it very quickly. Tracking is virtually lag-free and the anti-glare coating lets you edit without being disturbed by reflections.
Just like the Wacom One, the Cintiq 16 has no multi-touch capability and no built-in hotkeys, but you can get Wacom’s ExpressKey Remote with altogether 17 customizable buttons.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 is the first professional grade tablet with screen that is available at a price point below $800 and affordable to most prosumers. The Cintiq Pro 13 uses the same high-end technology as its larger siblings and is at the top of the list of every digital artist who is looking to get best value for decent money.
PROS
- HD screen resolution (1920 x 1080px) for pin-sharp details
- Wide color gamut of 87% Adobe RGB
- Etched glass surface provides tactile resistance for pen-on-paper feel
- High levels of responsiveness with included Pro Pen 2 & compatibility with Pro Pen 3D and Pro Pen slim
- Lightweight and more portable for edition in your lap or on the go
- Compatible with optional ExpressKey Remote for best workflow speeds
CONS
- 250 cd/m2 brightness is not top standard
- Stand needs to be purchased separately
The 13-inch screen tablet is the smallest and least pricey pen display in Wacom’s Cintiq Pro lineup. Despite a retail price below US$1000, the little Pro brings lots of top-tier features for your creative designs.
Just like all high-end Wacom tablets with screen, the Cintiq Pro 13 has a bonded surface, resulting in no visible gap between the pen and the brush on the display. Brush strokes are precise and jitter-free. The glass is also etched, which reduces unwanted glare and creates an authentic pen-on-paper feel.
Speaking of pen and paper, the drawing area of the Cintiq Pro 13 is approximately the size of a regular piece of paper and the device is lighter than 2.5 pounds – that means you can really hold the Pro 13 in your lap and draw on it like on a real paper notebook.
All Cintiq Pros come with multi-touch capability as standard, allowing you to zoom, pan and rotate the canvas with your fingers. If you prefer to work without gesture-based input, you can switch it off at the push of a button on the side of the device.
You won’t find any hotkeys on the tablet, but there’s an onscreen keyboard that you can pull up if you like to access shortcut commands on the display directly. If that’s not quite enough customization for you, you can get the optional ExpressKey Remote for more programmable shortcut buttons to boost your workflow speed.
The 2K 1920 x 1080px HD screen resolution accounts for pin-sharp details, and the 87% of Adobe RGB for vibrant color representation. For higher color performance, there are the larger Cintiq Pro 24 with 99% and the Cintiq Pro 32 with 98% of Adobe RGB color gamut.
Best Wacom Tablet with Screen below $2000
PROS
- Full HD display with good color reproduction and brightness
- Lowest price Wacom Cintiq of that size
- Minimal parallax
- Textured surface providing natural resistance to the stylus
- Same pen technology as the Pro tablets with 8,192 pressure levels and 60 degrees tilt
- Built-in adjustable stand
CONS
- No built-in ExpressKeys
- No touch-based input capability
- Relatively heavy (12.4 lb / 5.6 kg without stand)
The Cintiq 22 is the best Wacom tablet with screen with ample drawing space in the prosumer segment. For slightly more than US$1000, the Cintiq 22 is the most affordable Wacom Cintiq of that size. The 21.5-inch screen is ideal for all artists who love to work with long, extensive brush strokes.
Apart from that, the Wacom Cintiq 22’s specs are similar to its smaller cousin, the Cintiq 16. The screen is a Full HD with 1920 x 1080 px resolution with a brightness of 210 cd/m2 and a color gamut of 72% NTSC.
The high-end alternative of about the same size is the Cintiq Pro 24 with better color performance, better brightness, and 4K resolution.
Everything else on the Cintiq 22’s screen is well-judged, too. The display has an anti-glare coating with a slight texture to reduce reflections and provide some natural resistance to the stylus. The stylus is the same as for the professional tablets. The Pro Pen 2 boasts the highest levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition currently available, so working on the Cintiq 22 is very much like editing on high-end device.
Just like the smaller 16-inch Cintiq and the Wacom One, the Cintiq 22 doesn’t support multi-touch input, but is compatible with Wacom’s ExpressKey Remote.
One thing that’s different from the Cintiq 16 is the built-in stand of the Cintiq 22. That’s a better solution than the foldout legs of the Cintiq 16, because you can choose various drawing angles.
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 Creative Pen Computer is the number-one display pen computer on the market. The MobileStudio Pro is part graphics tablet and part Windows PC, combining top-level performance with maximum mobility for all professional artists and designers who demand supreme creative editing wherever they are.
PROS
- Etched glass surface with tactile feel offering right amount of resistance for most natural drawing feel
- Vibrant colors and excellent color gamut coverage of 82% Adobe RGB
- Precise pixel-level positioning with virtually lag-free tracking and no parallax
- Super-responsive Wacom Pro Pen 2 and compatibility with Pro Pen 3D
- MicroSD slot for additional storage and easy image import
- Compact dimensions, portable weight and Wi-Fi connectivity for creative editing on the go
CONS
- Battery life is only about 4 hours
- Brightness of 250cd/m2 is not top standard
- Stand only included with Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 2nd generation
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro is a professional graphics tablet with screen AND a Windows PC. Since the tablet comes with its own operating system, you can use like a laptop and don’t need to connect it to your desktop computer.
With the built-in battery, the Mobile Studio Pro allows you to create wherever you are, without needing to hook up cables first. Besides its compact dimensions and portable weight, the 13-inch model also features Bluetooth connectivity, so it’s really super-practical for artists on the move.
Like on any other standalone computer, you can install your favorite editing software on the MobileStudio Pro, save your creations on the integrated hard disk or an additional MicroSD card. And you can even listen to music while editing by connecting your headphones to the built-in headphone jack!
Everything on the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 is absolutely top-grade. The tactile 13.3-inch QHD screen features excellent color accuracy and multi-touch functionality. The resolution is a 2560 x 1440 px with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Color gamut is quoted at 80% of Adobe RGB and color depth at 16.7 million colors.
You will find six Express Keys and a Touch Ring next to the screen, so your most-used shortcuts are easily within reach when editing.
Another pro-level tool that you will get with the MobileStudio is the Pro Pen 2 for highest pressure sensitivity and pixel-precise positioning. With 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt recognition, the stylus gives you the most natural drawing experience that you can get from a digital tablet.
The Wacom Cintiq 27QHD is top-notch gear for professional creators. Color performance, brightness and customization options via the included ExpressKey Remote are industry-leading. The 27-in display offers abundant drawing space and the resolution to handle 2D and 3D creations down to the finest detail.
PROS
- Sleek design with a large drawing surface
- Accurate and precise tracking with 5080 lpi pen resolution
- QHD resolution with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio
- Top display brightness and color performance
- Included ExpressKey Remote with 17 customizable buttons and 160 hours operation time
CONS
- Stand not included
- Slight but noticeable parallax
- Relatively heavy (19.8 lbs, without stand)
The Cintiq 27QHD is still the best Wacom tablet with screen for artists who don’t mind that the device was already released back in 2016. But the 27QHD is still pretty much up-to-the-minute.
The display is huge, and color performance (1.07 billion colors and 97% Adobe RGB) and brightness (330 cd/m2) belong to the highest in class. The active area of 23.5 x 13.2 inches offer ample drawing space, so you don’t need to zoom in to view details and can keep reference images open next to your artwork.
The etched glass covers the entire surface and the bezel around the active screen has two built-in metal strips that hold the included ExpressKey Remote when you’re not using it. Unwanted glare and reflections are reduced to a minimum thanks to Wacom’s AHVA technology. The regular Cintiq 27QHD is not touch-sensitive, but for multi-touch input you can get the Wacom Cintiq 27QHD Touch for around US$400 more.
Where you’ll need to make just a little sacrifice is pressure sensitivity. The Cintiq 27QHD works with the simple Pro Pen, the predecessor of the Pro Pen 2. While the Pro Pen is really comfortable to hold, it supports ‘only’ 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and 40 degrees tilt recognition. However, you most likely won’t notice the difference to the Pro Pen 2 in practice and those levels of responsiveness are still abundant to lay down smooth and precise strokes. Tracking is accurate and jitter-free, too – even up to the very edges of the display.
PROS
- Large Full HD display with natural surface texture
- Excellent resolution (5080 lpi, highest in class) for precise tracking without jitter
- Highly responsive Grip Pen with eraser and tilt recognition
- 16 customizable ExpressKeys, 2 Touch Rings & 2 Touch Strips on the back for an intuitive workflow
- Adjustable stand with swivel function
- Compatible with different Wacom pens (e.g. Classic, Inking, Art & Airbrush Pen)
CONS
- Delicate surface texture may scratch easily
- Quite huge footprint and heavy weight (around 18 lbs with stand)
- No standalone device (needs computer connection)
Just like the 27QHD, the Cintiq 22HD is also a Wacom tablet with screen that’s already a bit older. Nevertheless, it features decent specs, and as prices have dropped significantly since its release in 2012, you will get good value for money.
The 21.5-inch screen is a Full HD H-IPS display with a 16:9 widescreen ratio, 1920 by 1080 pixels resolution, and an active area of 18.87 by 10.68 inches. With a color depth of 16.7 million colors and a color gamut of 72% Adobe RGB, the display is still impressive.
Brightness (210 cd/m2) and responsiveness of the pen (2,048 levels pressure and 40 degrees tilt) are not the highest, but enough to provide an intuitive and authentic drawing feel. The Cintiq 22HD comes with Wacom’s Grip Pen that’s ergonomic and enables you to draw jitter-free lines.
All artists who love to have their shortcut buttons handy around the display will be delighted to hear that the Cintiq 22HD still has 16 built-in ExpressKeys, two Center Buttons, and two Touch Strips on the rear, offering you an abundance of customization options!
The included stand offers as many customization features. It does not only allow you to adjust the tablet’s drawing angle, but also the rotation by 180 degrees. Three cables connect through a center ring on the back (DVI, USB, and AC adapter). That way, the wiring is kept neat and doesn’t get in your way when drawing.
Best Wacom Tablet with Screen for Power Users
PROS
- 24-inch 4K resolution screen (3840 x 2160) for sharp detail work
- World-class color accuracy (99% Adobe RGB) and excellent brightness (350 cd/m2)
- Large active area (20.55 x 11.57”) for enough drawing space
- Etched glass surface with right amount of resistance for a super-natural drawing feel
- Included ExpressKey Remote with plenty of customization options and magnetic back to cling to bezel
- Cintiq Pro Engine (separately available) turns the tablet into a standalone Windows PC
CONS
- Stand not included
- Some fan noise, not particularly loud but perceptible
- Etched glass can dull the colors
The Cintiq Pro 24 is the most recent and best Wacom Tablet with screen for professionals and serious hobbyists who want to take their creations to the next level.
The Cintiq Pro 24 has the best of everything: a premium 4K resolution Ultra HD display, an outstanding color gamut of 99% Adobe RGB and a brightness of 350 cd/m2. Along with the etched glass surface that cuts down on reflections whilst providing a natural pen-on-paper drawing feel, the Pro 24 will show your images in pin-sharp clarity.
Of course, the Cintiq Pro 24’s pen technology is first-class, too. The included Pro Pen 2 supports the highest pressure levels currently available in the industry. All of Wacom’s Cintiq Pro tablets come with multi-touch functionality as standard and the ultra-customizable ExpressKey Remote is included.
While there are no on-tablet hotkeys, you can stick the ExpressKey Remote on the left or right bezels, which are magnetized.
With a 23.6-inch screen, the Cintiq Pro 24 is a happy medium between the smaller Cintiq Pro 13 and Cintiq Pro 16, and the larger Cintiq Pro 32. Its foldout legs allow you to tilt the device up to 20-degree working angle. For more flexible editing positions, you can purchase Wacom’s additional Ergo Stand or the Flex Arm. The Flex Arm is ideal to free up some space on your desk, as it allows you to push the tablet aside when you’re not using it.
What’s more, the Cintiq Pro 24 is one of Wacom’s screen tablets that can function as a standalone computer. While the MobileStudio Pro comes with a built-in operating system, you can add the Cintiq Pro Engine to turn your Cintiq Pro 24 into a full-fledged standalone Windows PC.
PROS
- Premium high-end device that is used in professional studios around the world
- Pin-sharp 4K UHD display with superior color accuracy and brightness
- Multi-touch functionality as standard
- ExpressKey Remote is included and can be attached to magnetic bezels on either side
- Largest screen size in the Cintiq Pro series providing ample room to open reference images, toolbars and menus next to your artwork
- Cintiq Pro Engine (sold separately) turns the display tablet into a standalone Windows PC
CONS
- Stand supplied separately
- Fan noise is noticeable
- High price point
The Cintiq Pro 32 is the absolute crème de la crème of the best Wacom tablets with screen. The 31.5-inch Pro is used in professional studios around the world. The 4K Ultra HD display covers around eighty percent of the tablet and delivers premium color performance. 98% of Adobe RGB color coverage and 310 nits of brightness account for true-to-life and vibrant images.
The active area measures 27.4 inches in width and 15.4 inches in height and provides ample space for your actual artwork as well as a additional reference images, toolbars, or menus. Just like its smaller siblings, the Pro 32 has an etched glass surface that covers the tablet from edge to edge.
There are also two magnetic bezels on both sides where you can place the ExpressKey Remote while editing. The magnetic strips are pretty strong and hold the remote in place, even when the tablet is positioned upright.
As you might have expected, the actual star performer is the included Wacom Pro Pen 2. The stylus works with absolute precision, and its superior responsiveness gives you the natural and virtually lag-free drawing experience every artist dreams of.
If you’d like to enjoy more independent editing comfort, you can transform your Cintiq Pro 32 into a standalone Windows PC with the additional Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine.
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My name is Angie and I’m a self-taught digital artist. On this blog, I am sharing my knowledge and discussing the best software and hardware for different artistic needs. My desire is to offer options for all creative stages and budgets so that everyone can follow their dream and create art!
