Are there any Android tablets that are good enough for drawing and making great artwork?
This is a question I get from my students and fellow artists.
So let’s look at the best drawing tablets using the Android operating system.
| Budget Android Tablets for Drawing: | Simbans Picasso Simbans Picasso XL Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite |
| Alternative Drawing Tablet for Android Phones: | Wacom One |
| Best Value Android Tablets for Drawing: | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ |
| Premium Android Tablet for Drawing: | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra |
Overview: Best Android Tablets for Drawing
Best Budget Android Tablet for Kids and Beginner Artists
10.1 Inch IPS HD+ Touchscreen :: 1280 x 800px :: 4GB RAM :: 64GB Storage :: MT8168 & Mali-G52 Graphics :: Includes Picasso Pen and Sketchbook app for illustrating and sketching :: :: Bonus case, screen protector, drawing glove + more :: Long battery life :: Android 10
Best Drawing Experience on Budget Android Tablet
10.4" 64GB Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG Dual Speakers, Long Lasting Battery
I recommend these Android drawing apps
11.6 Inch Screen [4 Bonus Items] Stylus Pen, Portable, Standalone, Android 11, Best Gift for Beginner Digital Graphic Artist
I recommend these Android drawing apps
13.3-inch FHD Pen Graphics Display :: Screen with anti-glare protector :: Wacom One Battery-Free Stylus Pen :: 4096 pressure sensitivity levels :: Up to 60 degrees of tilt for easy shading :: 99% sRGB color gamut :: Built-in stand :: Early 2020 model :: HDMI and USB-A connectivity :: Windows, macOS, Android, Chromebook
12.4” 512GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor, AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included, Long Battery Life, IP68 Rating, Dolby Audio
I recommend these Android drawing apps
11” 128GB , WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor, AMOLED Screen, S Pen, IP68 Rating
I recommend these Android drawing apps
Best Premium Android Standalone Drawing Tablet
14.6 Inch Super AMOLED WQXGA+ Touchscreen :: 2960 x 1848px :: 8GB RAM :: 512GB SSD Drive :: Super fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor :: GPU: Adreno 730 :: Early 2022 model :: Includes incredible Samsung S Pen :: Android 13
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Overview: Best Android Tablets for Drawing
Budget Pick #1: Simbans PicassoTab 10
Best Budget Android Tablet for Kids and Beginner Artists
10.1 Inch IPS HD+ Touchscreen :: 1280 x 800px :: 4GB RAM :: 64GB Storage :: MT8168 & Mali-G52 Graphics :: Includes Picasso Pen and Sketchbook app for illustrating and sketching :: :: Bonus case, screen protector, drawing glove + more :: Long battery life :: Android 10
I recommend these Android drawing apps
The lowest-priced recommendation in my guide for the best Android tablets for artists, the Simbans PicassoTab is designed with an artist in mind.
And for making art, it is a good tablet and an even better value.
Designed for young artists and people just starting out, the Simbans PicassoTab will not offer the best specifications or performance. But its pen-to-screen experience is surprisingly satisfying and offers enough sensitivity and precision for an aspiring artist to grow with.
The PicassoTab includes a nice stylus and comes equipped with Autodesk Sketchbook and Artflow Paint Draw Sketchbook. And it also has a nice case and drawing glove included.
And this Simbans 10-inch drawing tablet is also a fully functional Android tablet.
Again, it isn’t going to have record-setting performance, and for more intensive personal use it would perhaps be a bit frustrating, but for light internet, email, and game use, it is more than enough.
Realistically this Simbans drawing tablet is not going to satisfy the most demanding commercial or fine artist and may not even be enough for a demanding amateur – it has only 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and no tilt control, and there is often a noticeable lag between the pen and the drawn image.
In addition, the palm rejection is not flawless, and the screen is not as bright or sharp as, for instance, the Samsung tablets above.
All that said, I think this is a marvelous package for the new artist to learn and grow with and a great gift idea for any child or young adult interested in art. It is also a neat tablet for a more advanced artist to have on hand to sketch out ideas and notes quickly and without fuss.
So, while not the best drawing tablet, or even the best Android drawing tablet on the market, the Simbans PicassoTab 10 Inch Drawing Tablet and Stylus is still a better artist tool than the vast majority of Android tablet and pen combinations out there.
And its nice material and build quality, simplicity, and completeness make it an easy recommendation for the best Android tablet for young artists on the market today and a great gift idea!
Budget Pick #2: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Best Budget Android Tablet for Artists
Beautiful 10.4 Inch TFT WUXQA Touchscreen :: 2000 x 1200px :: 4GB RAM :: 128GB Storage :: Exynos 9611 processor & Mali-G72 Graphics :: Great Work Surface for Drawing :: Includes S-Pen :: Android 10
With the smallest screen of the three, lower resolution, slightly less vivid and accurate colors, and lower contrast and brightness, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is easy to write off.
But when you compare the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite to other brands, you may change your mind.
The screen on Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is quite beautiful for this price category and is very usable for most artists.
The pen-to-screen drawing experience is far superior to other brands, and I never had any issues with performance while running any of the available art programs.
Overall performance as a tablet is also great for its price range, and the camera is better than its numbers might suggest, but you should know that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite does not have a SIM card slot and cannot be used as a cellphone.
For an artist on a budget, especially one who doesn’t want to do the most precise, highly detailed, or color-critical work, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a wonderful choice. Of all the Samsung Galaxy Tab products, this is the best value in a tablet for artists.
What do Artists Think?
Urban sketching artist and illustrator Teoh, whom I interviewed in episode 34 of Art Side of Life Podcast reviewed the newest generation of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite on his reviews channel.
Overall, Teoh finds it a good value tablet for drawing and media consumption. The smooth S Pen experience, solid build, and reasonable $349 USD starting price make it appealing.
It’s obviously less powerful than premium Samsung tablets but you get what you pay for. Teoh also recommends it as a budget Samsung option with great drawing capabilities.
Teoh appreciates that it includes an S Pen stylus that has tilt and pressure sensitivity, making the drawing experience very good. Latency is present but doesn’t affect accuracy much. He also enjoys that the tablet has long battery life, lasting 10-12 hours or more.
Alternative Pick: Wacom One
13.3-inch FHD Pen Graphics Display :: Screen with anti-glare protector :: Wacom One Battery-Free Stylus Pen :: 4096 pressure sensitivity levels :: Up to 60 degrees of tilt for easy shading :: 99% sRGB color gamut :: Built-in stand :: Early 2020 model :: HDMI and USB-A connectivity :: Windows, macOS, Android, Chromebook
As my other recommendation for the best Android tablet for drawing, I am not recommending an Android tablet. But rather an alternative to a standalone Android drawing tablet.
A brilliant Wacom display tablet fully compatible with any Android device (tablet or phone), Windows, or Apple. It may be the ideal solution if you already have an Android tablet you love.
And, at a very low price, it offers a superb experience in artistic creation.
The Wacom One is a display tablet with a nice screen and a stylus but does not run its own art software.
Instead, it plugs into a separate computer, tablet, or phone, allowing you to see that device’s software on its screen and work on it with high precision and control.
As the Wacom One display tablet is a bit of an outlier and doesn’t fit into my Android tablet list, I will not offer an in-depth description.
It is safe to say that the Wacom is a better experience in actual drawing, painting, or editing art than anything else on this list.
If, on the other hand, you want a first-rate artistic experience on an Android device, or if you simply don’t want to carry around two gadgets, you’ll need to get one of the Samsungs or Simbans mentioned above – and I think it’s safe to say that you’ll be more than happy and satisfied with the Samsung as a creative tool, and over the moon with the Samsung as a general use Android tablet.
But remember that artists design Wacom products for artists and Wacom is the long-standing leader in the industry for artist tablets.
In terms of pen-to-screen experience, accuracy, precision, and control, this is a strong recommendation for the best pen display tablet for Android today.
My Pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
12.4” 512GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor, AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included, Long Battery Life, IP68 Rating, Dolby Audio
I recommend these Android drawing apps
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ has the biggest screen, at 12.4 inches, and the extra size can make a big difference in detailed work (or any work, really)
Compared to the smaller Galaxy Tab S9 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite screens, the Galaxy Tab S9+ screen is noticeably brighter, deeper and higher resolution, and with better blacks, whites, and colors – all big factors in creating art on the screen.
The Galaxy Tab S9+ has excellent overall performance as the best Android tablet, and all the digital art software works perfectly, with no discernable lags or loading delays.
It also has really fine cameras, great wifi, and internet speed, runs cool, and charges fast—a great Android tablet in almost every respect.
If you want the best Android tablet available and the best Android tablet, this is an amazing product and highly recommended.
Not just the best Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet an artist can get, the Galaxy Tab S9+ is the best Android tablet from any company today and one of the greatest Android tablets.
Also Great: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
11” 128GB , WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor, AMOLED Screen, S Pen, IP68 Rating
I recommend these Android drawing apps
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 has a smaller screen than the Galaxy Tab S9+ and noticeably less resolution, brightness, and contrast.
The colors also seem less vivid, but that might be because of these other factors. Overall, it is not nearly as satisfying to work on, especially in comparison to its bigger brother.
I have to say that compared to any other Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 is a wonderful tablet for any artist and far superior to any other brand for making art.
And the Galaxy Tab S9 does seem to have the same overall performance as the Galaxy Tab S9+. In most other respects, they are about the same – a very good Android art tablet and a brilliant tablet.
If you want an excellent Android tablet overall, a great Android tablet for drawing, painting, editing art, retouching photographs, or whatever else, and want to save a bit of money, the Galaxy Tab S9 is a great choice.
But if you can afford the extra money, the Galaxy Tab S9+ above will be more satisfying for you as an artist.
Who Makes a Good Drawing Tablet for Android?
There are a few good android tablets for making art.
And there are two companies I would strongly consider if you want to find the best Android drawing tablet on the market today: Samsung and Simbans.
I also have another recommendation – a little bit of thinking outside of the box, as it were – a pen display tablet (that is, a tablet that plugs into your Android tablet or phone and has its own display screen and pen). It is a great option if you already have an android tablet or phone you love!
If you choose any of the tablets above, you can have a satisfying, intuitive, productive, and creative experience on Android.
And one that will serve nearly any artist and their needs quite well – whether a commercial or fine artist, a serious amateur, an art student, or somebody just starting out.
Is There Good Digital Drawing Software for Android?
💡 Which App Is Worthy Procreate Android Alternative in 2023
Yes, while there may be a bit of a shortage of Android tablets that provide a great drawing experience, there are some pretty good art programs, such as:
These and other programs offer lots of tools and options and are especially good at providing a nice, intuitive environment for creating, with an intelligent and thoughtful layout of tools, commands, and menus, which allow the artist to get lost in the flow without a lot of distractions.
While they may not offer the ultimate level of control or precision you would get from Apple or Windows programs, the best Android art software can be surprisingly sophisticated and allow for even fairly advanced work.
And if they aren’t quite advanced enough, most of these programs also offer premium versions which can be quite powerful.
Are Android Tablets Good for Digital Drawing?
Apple and Windows computers and tablets do, without question, offer more, better, and more advanced art and imaging software than Android does.
And the tablets themselves – like the Apple iPad or the Wacom or Microsoft Surface tablets – will give the serious artist more control, better and more accurate displays, and a superior artistic experience overall.
But still, an Android tablet can be a fully satisfying creative tool for virtually any artist.
The Samsung tablets listed above are superb Android tablets for drawing with which you can create beautiful artwork and facilitate even the advanced creative process.
The Simbans PicassoTab is the perfect tablet for aspiring artists to learn on and grow with.
And the Wacom One, a remarkable tool and a real value, is the perfect choice for the best control, precision, and creative power.
And, not for nothing, to some people, Android tablets for making art are even easier and more intuitive than Apple or Windows tablets. And thus less distracting when you’re in the creative flow – this last is a matter of opinion and preference, of course, but does help illustrate that many artists create beautiful art, and experience real creative magic, on their Android tablets every day.
I hope my guide helped you to choose your new Android tablet for drawing, and you will have a lot of fun drawing and painting digitally!
Visit my blog – Art Side of Life – for more guides, articles, online art courses, and many other artist resources.
FAQs – Best Android Tablet for Drawing
Yes, you can draw on an Android tablet. Make sure you get one that supports Wacom EMR stylus, such as Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 with Samsung S Pen.
Yes, Android tablets are good for digital art. I recommend Samsung Galaxy Tab S6.
Based on my experience, I Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is the best budget android tablet for drawing because it comes with amazing Samsung S Pen which is awesome for drawing and digital art.
Yes, Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets are great for drawing. I recommend my favorite Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ or budget version Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.
A drawing tablet, such as pen tablet or pen display tablets are specifically made for drawing and digital art. Android tablets, on the other hand, may or may not be used for drawing. This depends on if they support a drawing stylus and drawing apps.
Other articles in the Drawing Tablets series:
- Best Samsung Tablet for Drawing
- Best Drawing Tablet for Beginners
- Best Tablet for Drawing and Artists
- Best iPad for Drawing
- Best iPad for Procreate
- Best Standalone Drawing Tablet
- Best Animation Tablet
- Best Tablet for Photoshop
- Best Drawing Tablet with Screen for Artists
- Best Cheap Drawing Tablet with Screen
- Best Tablet with Pen Stylus for Drawing
- Best Large Screen Tablet for Artists
- Best Drawing Tablet for Kids
- 7 Best Digital Notepads & Smart Notebooks
- Best Note Taking Tablet
- Wacom Tablet vs iPad Pro
- Huion vs Wacom – Which Tablet is Better?
- XP Pen vs Huion – Which Tablet is Better?
- Best Drawing Tablet Stand for Artists
- Best iPad Pro Accessories for Artists
- Best Drawing Stylus
Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
