Best animation tablets in 2024 – our top picks
If you are looking for the best animation tablets, then we have you covered right here.
Now, of course, you can use your laptop or your desktop computer for animation. But the thing is, if you want more precision and more intuitive content creation experience, then you should consider investing in tablets that are crafted specifically for the job.
At the moment, if you look at the options available, you will find professional large-screen tablets, lightweight small tablets, and even regular tablets with powerful processors. Most of these animation tablets support stylus pens and come with features that make your workflow more seamless.
With that being said, there are quite a few options that will be suitable for you. To help you get the best tablet within your budget, we have rounded up what we think are the best options.
Products at a Glance
How we picked
For this guide, we have looked at several tablets from different brands, compared them, and listed the ones we thought were the best. The tablets have been selected based on specs like display features, screen size, performance, and other aspects. Plus, we are always looking for new products to add to our lists and keep them updated, so check back here again soon.
Product Reviews
- Massive 27-inch screen
- 4K resolution
- Battery-free stylus
- Expensive
If you want the absolute best professional tablet for animation, then you should check out the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27.
To start with, the tablet boasts a massive 27-inch screen with 4K resolution, so you get a lot of screen space to work and get high-resolution results for your animations. Further, it comes with an anti-glare coating to give you a more comfortable viewing experience during long working hours.
Coming to the actual content creation experience, the tablet offers the Wacom Pro Pen 3, which promises the feel of a real pen on paper. Plus, with advanced pressure sensitivity, you should be able to replicate real brush strokes and precise strokes. Further, the tablet offers 8,192 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, which means you should be able to create stunning, highly detailed images.
To streamline your workflow, the tablet offers programmable buttons on the pen and tablet itself to give you customizable shortcuts. Plus, for better ergonomics, you should be able to tilt the tablet at a comfortable angle.
Now, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is not exactly an on-the-go creativity companion. It’s more suited to a professional setup and desk use.
- 23.8-inch display
- QHD resolution
- Battery-free stylus pen
- Not portable
If you are looking for the best value tablet for animation, then you should check out the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro.
To start with, the XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro sports a spacious 23.8-inch QHD display, which should deliver stunning, detailed visuals. Plus, the tablet offers 90% Adobe RGB color accuracy, which should ensure that you get professional-level color accuracy. Further, you also get an anti-glare screen, which should give you a comfortable viewing experience for long hours.
If you take a look at the performance, the tablet comes with a dedicated graphics chip, which means it should be able to handle heavy-duty graphics work quite efficiently.
Coming to the actual content creation experience, the tablet comes with a PA5 stylus that is battery-free, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery. Plus, the pen is lightweight and responsive, so you can expect an intuitive experience.
As far as portability goes, the tablet weighs 15.43 pounds, which might sound heavy, but then this tablet is meant for desk use. However, it should be noted that the device has a slim profile, which makes it easy to slide into your bag.
- 15.6-inch screen
- 2.5K resolution
- IPS anti-glare display
- Expensive
If you’re looking for a budget tablet for animation, then the Huion Kamvas Studio 16 might be a good choice.
To start with, the tablet offers you a big 15.6-inch area to work with, and you even get a 2.5K resolution – so you can expect your creations to look stunning. Plus, you get a 100% sRGB color gamut, which should give you high color accuracy. And with an IPS display and anti-glare technology, you should be able to get a comfortable viewing experience.
On the inside, the tablet features an Intel Core i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, which should handle complex scenes and brushstrokes with smooth, lag-free responsiveness. Plus, the tablet comes with the PW550S pen, which has programmable buttons to make working easier. The pen compliments the tablet’s 8,192 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, which should let you draw delicate strokes as well as thick lines.
As far as portability is concerned, the Studio 16 model is actually a more portable version of the bigger model. This device weighs ABC, which is portable compared to other models on this list.
- 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
- Powerful M2 chip
- Lightweight and portable
- Apple Pencil sold separately
If you are looking for a regular tablet that you can do your animations, then you should check out the Apple iPad Pro (6th generation). In fact, we think it’s powerful enough to be one of the best tablets for photo editing.
The iPad sports a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, which should deliver stunning, high-quality visuals. The tablet also has ProMotion technology, which, along with a 120Hz refresh rate, should be well-suited for smooth animations.
On the inside, the iPad has a powerful M2 chip that has an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, so it should be able to handle intense tasks efficiently. Plus, you get access to exclusive tools like ProCreate, which should come in handy to professionals.
Coming to the actual drawing experience, the iPad supports Apple Pencil Gen 2, which is well-suited for drawing, sketching, and the overall creation process. However, you will have to purchase the Pencil separately, which can be quite an investment.
As far as portability is concerned, the iPad is surprisingly lightweight. Weighing just 1.5 pounds, you should be able to carry this device around without feeling any bulk. Plus, you can also hold it in one hand while drawing with the other, so it’s suitable for an on-the-go experience.
How to pick the best tablet for animation
Here are a few things that you can consider before buying a tablet for animation –
Display
Of course, you need a big display with high resolution to make sure that your illustrations come out alive on the screen.
If you look at the options available on the market, you will find tablets ranging from 10 inches to 24 inches and more. The choice will depend on your preferences. But to give you a better idea, a bigger screen will give you a more active area to work with, and a small tablet will be lightweight and portable.
Performance
Now, the performance depends on what you want to accomplish with your device. For instance, if you want your tablet to do some heavy lifting, then you should get a device that has an octa-core processor. However, if it’s just some light, casual work, then a quad-core processor would suffice.
Support for peripherals
To make navigation easier and your workflow seamless, you need a tablet that supports multiple accessories like a stylus pen, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. For instance, some of the best drawing tablets offer easier connectivity and even single-cable connections for seamless workflow.
Portability
As you will be creating on the go, you need a device that you can carry around with you without feeling the bulk. Plus, you might have to hold the tablet in one hand while creating illustrations, so a lightweight tablet would come in handy.
Our Verdict
If you want the absolute best tablet for professional use, then we think that the Wacom Cintiq 27 is a suitable choice. The tablet offers a huge 27-inch display, which, along with 4K resolution, should deliver stunning visuals. Further, you get a responsive stylus pen and other intuitive features, like programable buttons, which should make it suitable for animators.