A drawing tablet is an invaluable graphic design tool, allowing a level of precision and versatility that a computer mouse cannot achieve. For both new and experienced designers, picking a drawing tablet can be a daunting task with many options available. For many years, Wacom dominated the market with a vast range of tablets. Designers have trusted the brand for years. However, the Apple iPad has been steadily developing itself to appeal to professional designers and illustrators. We’re covering the differences so you can make an informed decision when picking between an iPad or Wacom tablet.
Apple Ipad Pro
Apple’s iPad Pro is increasingly becoming the go-to option for graphic designers. The iPad Pro is currently available in two sizes — 11 inches and 12.9/13 inches — with various storage capacities ranging from 128GB to 2TB. Alongside the iPad Pro is the option to buy the Apple Pencil, which you will need to use the iPad as a drawing tablet. There is also the option to purchase a keyboard, essentially turning your iPad into a laptop.
See Exactly What You’re Drawing, Directly On The Tablet
One of the major benefits of the iPad is the ability to draw directly on the tablet, the same way you would with a pen on paper. This is also available on some higher-end Wacom models.
Procreate
Procreate is an iPad app that has become an industry standard for illustrators and designers alike. Although not necessary to work in graphic design, many designers love the program and its quick and imaginative drawing options. From creating mood boards to sketching out wireframes or drawing up a quick Instagram post — Procreate has a huge range of uses. As a result, many designers now exclusively use Procreate instead of pen and paper.
Portability and Weight
The iPad Pro is designed to be portable and lightweight, weighing in at less than a pound for the 11-inch M4 model and 1.27 lbs for the 13-inch M4 model. Plus, the iPad doesn’t need to be plugged into your computer to work so you can work with ease from wherever you are.
Multi-Use
The iPad Pro is multi-use, combining the power of a drawing tablet with all the other added benefits a tablet provides, such as email, social media, Netflix, internet browsing, and gaming.
Wacom Tablets
There is a wide range of Wacom tablets available so it would be impossible to cover them all. Although, there are three key lines that you should know about: Intuos, One, and Cintiq. The Wacom Intuos line is designed to appeal to amateurs, semi-professionals, and complete beginners. They are light, portable, and connect to your computer via Bluetooth. It essentially works as a second mouse, but more accurately.
The Wacom One line is also aimed at amateurs and semi-professionals. Still, it provides an upgrade from the more basic Intuos line with models offering on-screen drawing and a larger surface area. As a result, these tablets can work well for graphic designers, especially if you don’t need to use your tablet for very detailed work.
The Wacom Cintiq line is aimed at professionals who need high-performance drawing tablets. They range from around $700 to $3000 and offer the highest quality digital drawing experience available.
Wacom Pros in General
Variety Of Options and Prices
With Wacom, you will generally be able to find something to fit your needs and budget — whether it’s a $60 Intuos or a $2000 Cintiq. This range and versatility means you can build up your skills on a cheaper tablet before progressing to something more expensive later on.
Pen Capabilities
The Wacom pen has amazing brush capabilities. Wacom pens support both rotations and tilt when painting with them. This means the on-screen brush will respond to whether you tilt or rotate the pen and adjust the brush accordingly. This gives a natural and accurate feel when painting.
Working Area
Wacom offers a large variety of sizes ranging from 13-inch to 32-inch screens for more precise viewing.
Specific Wacom Models and What They Offer:
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Creative Pen Tablet, Small
If you want something portable and easy to carry in a bag alongside your laptop, then a small Wacom Intuous Pen Tablet might be what you need. This is a great choice if your primary concern is saving your arm from going sore from using a mouse. Drawing with a pen is a more natural way of using your hands than using a mouse. In this case, you probably don’t need a graphics tablet with a built-in screen.
As mentioned, the Intuos line offers some great and very affordable choices, which might be the best option if you don’t want to use a graphing tablet all the time.
Wacom One 13.3″ Creative Pen Display
Looking at the Wacom 13.3″ Creative Pen Display, you get more than a drawing tablet. Being able to draw directly on a screen is a genuine improvement compared to a screenless drawing tablet. So if you are going to use the graphic tablet regularly, Or if your work requires more precision, then upgrading to a tablet with a display is the way to go. Often it can be difficult for many to get used to drawing on glass. Wacom has designed the display surface to give a more paper-like drawing experience.
With a battery-free drawing pen with tilt recognition and a tablet with build-in foldable legs that can raise to tablet 19 degrees, you get excellent drawing ergonomics that lets you draw for hours.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24″ 4K UHD IPS Creative Pen Display with Built-In Stand and ProPen 2
Moving up to the Professional line of Wacom Pen Displays, you get a 24″ display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 px that allows you to see every detail of your design or photos. In addition, the Cintiq Pro comes with the Wacom ProPen 2, which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. This results in a very precise and accurate translation of your hand movements with the pen into the strokes drawn on the display. The 24″ and 32″ models also include the ExpressKey Remote with 17 programmable buttons within reach, minimizing the need to reach for the keyboard to use a shortcut. The Cintiq Pro has an Adobe RBG color accuracy of 98%. So, if you have high requirements about both precision and using an effective workflow, the Cintiq line may be the best match for your needs.
So which is better for YOUR graphic design?
Well, the answer depends on what you do in your everyday life. If you’re traveling a lot, working on trains, and doing a lot of sketching — an iPad might work great for you.
On the other hand, if you’re primarily based at your desk and exclusively use your desktop software, plus require pen tilt, rotation, and a lot of customizable buttons to optimize your workflow — a Wacom might be a better choice.
Updated September 2024 – Daniel Norton
