“Animation is not the art of drawings that move, but the art of movements that are drawn.”
Animation may sound very simple in theory, but in reality, it is a complex art form that needs the right tools and skills to master. The drawing tablets for animation are really useful for beginners and professionals to bring their creative visions to life with precision and ease. It makes all the difference in terms of workflow and quality of the final output. In this blog, I will explain the best tablets and what makes them perfect for animators.
By Statista’s estimates, global demands for quality animation suggest a market worth more than $300 billion by the year 2026. Whether drawing 2D animation, motion graphics, or animated explainer videos, knowledge of the right tools would enhance one’s creativity and productivity; among these tools is a good drawing tablet for animation.
So let’s take a look and find the right animation tablet for your animation experience!
What Are Drawing Tablets for Animation?
A drawing tablet for animation is a device designed such that the animator can draw or illustrate digital images and animation directly on the screen with a stylus or pen. The tablets come in very handy for both professionals and beginners alike, in terms of experience, and are compatible with popular animation software.
Why Should You Care?
Whether you have an interest in 2D vs 3D animation, are making an explainer video, or just getting into digital animation, investing in a quality animation tablet will turn your workflow upside down. These devices include pressure-sensitive pens, precise screens, and quite often customizable shortcut keys for more control and efficiency.
How Does an Animation Tablet Improve Workflow?
A professional animation tablet will offer a very intuitive experience when it comes to sketching, line drawing, and creating digital art. This would mean fluid and natural drawing, without hesitation and delay, making it easy to draw clean lines and fine details. If one is dealing with complex motion graphics or 2D animation, then precision becomes important for creating good outputs.
Tablets with customizable buttons and shortcut features help animators work more efficiently. Many of the best tablets for animation also come with dedicated software support so that you can focus purely on the creative process.
What Are the Top 10 Tablets for Animation in 2025?
Following are the top 10 drawing tablets for animation in 2025:
1. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 – The Industry Leader
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 is probably one of the most recognizable and trusted animation tablets in the industry. Among the top ends, it provides utmost clarity and precision to animators regarding intricate details with a 4K display. The stylus Pro Pen 2 is very responsive as well, yielding an almost natural feel of drawing on paper with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Wacom’s high color accuracy and superior screen quality make it excellent for 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, and even explainer videos.
- Why it stands out: Best suited for professionals and anyone seeking the ultimate tablet for digital animation.
2. iPad Pro (12.9-inch) – The Ultimate Portable Animation Device
People often search for powerful yet portable tablets, making this an excellent choice: just amazing iPad Pro at 12.9 inches. It boasts outstanding color accuracy and clear resolution exploiting the Liquid Retina XDR display to be perfect for 2D animation motion graphics. Drawing feels natural because Apple Pencil 2 is extremely responsive and precise. To work on the go, the iPad Pro is compatible with animation software some of them know, such as Procreate and LumaFusion.
- Why it stands out: Best for animators on the go and those who want a balance of performance and portability.
3. Huion Kamvas Pro 16 – Best Value for Professionals and Beginners
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is thus one of the high-value tablets available at this set cost. Its 1080p 15.6-inch display is capable of producing clear and vibrant graphics, and the 120% sRGB color gamut will allow for 2D animation and motion graphics to be made easily. The Huion stylus recognizes up to 8192 pressure sensitivity levels for minute control. Thus, combining the good price with a professional bonus, this also is an ideal tablet for both those just starting out and veterans in the animation field.
- Why it stands out: Great for animators on a budget who don’t want to compromise on quality.
4. XP-Pen Artist Pro 24 – High Screen Resolution and Customizable Features
The XP-Pen Artist Pro 24 sports a 23.8-inch 2K resolution screen. This provides great space for any detailed digital animation work. Its adjustable stand also comes with shortcut keys that users can customize in order to become more productive even during long periods of animation. Featuring 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and a responsive stylus, it helps ensure accurate drawing experiences, especially for 2D animation and motion graphics. It’s highly compatible with popular software, such as Adobe Animate and Toon Boom.
- Why it stands out: Excellent screen size and resolution for professionals looking to streamline their workflow.
5. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 – A Standalone Animation Powerhouse
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 has a high-end tablet’s entire feature set while also functioning as a standalone device. Hence, no need for connection with the computer, it’s a portable powerhouse. Its display is 4k resolution, equipped with Pro Pen 2 stylus, and an amazing 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity to help animators deliver artistic work while on the go. Perfect for 2D vs 3D projects, motion graphics, explanatory videos. It also contains powerful graphics capabilities that can effectively handle demanding animation tasks.
- Why it stands out: Offers the flexibility of both tablet and desktop experience without the need for a separate computer.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – Large Screen for Digital Artists
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a stunning 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display that perfectly suits the desires of animators who would require a big screen, vivid colors, and high contrast. It features a natural drawing experience with the free S Pen. This makes it well-suited for 2D animation, motion graphics, and explainer videos. The tablet is also very portable, supporting professional apps like Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Fresco, which might be a good option for artists who prefer to work digitally on the go.
- Why it stands out: Large, vibrant screen with excellent stylus performance and a highly portable design.
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Versatile Hybrid for Animation Work
With Surface Pro 9, one enjoys the most flexibility as a convertible laptop-tablet hybrid, something that has rarely been offered so far. Coming with a 13-inch PixelSense Flow and 120Hz refresh rate display, it looks great for animatics and animation purposes. Surface Pen with its good amount of pressure and precision is suited for 2D animation and motion graphics explainer videos as well. It is easy to switch between drawing and other jobs such as scripting or editing footage if a hybrid design is needed.
- Why it stands out: A perfect solution for those who want to combine tablet drawing with other computing tasks.
8. XP-Pen Deco MW – Best Budget Animation Tablet
The XP-Pen Deco MW is really an affordable powerhouse drawing tablet; it works nicely for beginners within the animation universe. It presents a large area of 10 x 6.25-inch active area at a relatively reasonable price and gives an 8192-level stylus with incredible pressure sensitivity. It supports using Krita as well as some other popular animation software on Adobe Animate, so it represents a good product to start with.
- Why it stands out: A great entry-level tablet that provides solid performance without breaking the bank.
9. Lenovo Tab P12 Pro – Perfect for Animation on the Go
The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is indeed the most portable tablet that does not lag behind in performance. However, a 120Hz refresh rate and 12.6 inches of the AMOLED display guarantee great visuals that animate detailed presentations – including cartoons. High pressure sensitivity ensures smooth drawing experience with the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. This is the best tablet for animators, using it both professionally and as an all-day device.
- Why it stands out: Excellent value with strong performance for 2D animation and motion graphics while being highly portable.
10. Gaomon PD1560 – Affordable and Reliable for Digital Animation
Gaomon PD1560 is one of the most affordable options that do not compromise on quality. This 15.6-inch tablet brings to the table a Full HD display and a sensitive stylus with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. It is a decent tablet for anyone to start their digital animation or just as something reliable without breaking the bank on a drawing tablet. While not expensive, this tablet can handle many industry-standard animation software programs.
- Why it stands out: An affordable option that provides solid performance for budding animators.
What Features Should You Look For in the Best Animation Tablets?
When looking for the best animation tablet, several key features should be considered:
- Screen Size and Resolution
Greater detail with clarity will result from the large screen high resolution in animation. For 2D animation, a 12-inch screen minimum is appropriate but greater screen options offer comfortability in details in work.
- Stylus Performance
High sensitivity of the tablet to pressure-8192 levels is preferred. An animation pen should feel like the paper and pencil as far as responsiveness go.
- Compatibility
Ensure that the tablet is compatible with industry-standard software, such as Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, or Clip Studio Paint, to ensure ready integration into your animation pipeline.
- Build Quality
Durability and ergonomics are factors for long hours working on animation, and customizable button tablets can certainly improve productivity, providing shortcuts to workflow.
What is the Best Drawing Tablet for Animation for Beginners?
If you are just starting with animation, then best animation tablets for beginners are available in the market. XP-Pen Deco MW and Huion Kamvas Pro 16 are two good examples. The reason behind using these devices is that they find a balance between affordability, performance, and functionality. These are pretty easy to set up, and most of them come with beginner-friendly software and tools to make you comfortable with the use of these devices.
What Do Animators Use to Draw?
Animation artists employ several devices for the creation of their artwork. One of the most popular ones for drawing animation is drawing tablets. Among the most common options available include Wacom, iPads, and XP-Pen tablets. In accordance with level and preference, a great drawing tablet for animation can vary from a low, budget model to the high end professional-grade.
Smart Tip for Freelancers
Many software providers for animations offer developers to freelance. You will surely enjoy this if you are just getting started and want to learn from experienced animators. This is a perfect time to connect with them and get insight into the industry.
Can We Animate on a Drawing Tablet?
The drawing tablets for animation are supposed to be specifically designed for animators to draw, outline, and color projects. Whether it is a 2D animation, animating characters for the motion graphic, or creating an explainer video, this device is thought to be capable of all sorts of animation tasks.
Conclusion
knowing the best drawing tablets for animation can work wonders for even the most experienced artist or a novice like everyone in the animation scene. With the right tablet, you can efficiently produce great animations and really let your creativity take off.
When selecting the best animation tablet, precision, stylus performance, and screen resolution should be what you are considering. Be it 2D or 3D animation, motion graphics, or anything else creative, an investment in a quality drawing tablet is an investment in your creative future.
Now that you have the top 10 animation tablets of 2025, selecting which one is right for you must be taken under consideration.
Happy animating!
FAQs
1. What is the best tablet for animation?
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 is always the best solution in terms of tablets for animations. But it serves well and is the industry leader due to 4K, responsive stylus, and professional-grade features. For budget-friendly options, the XP-Pen Artist Pro 24 is a great alternative.
2. Can you animate on a drawing tablet?
Yes, you can animate on a drawing tablet for animation. Some fantastic devices for animating are the iPad Pro or the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 because they can be quite precise with animation software compatible, and generally offer displays of superior quality.
3. What is the best tablet for drawing and animation?
It is because the iPad Pro offers very impressive performance and comes with the biggest screen tablet size that ensures great functionality by providing excellent integration with the best top apps such as Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, for any kind of drawing or animation whether 2D or motion graphics.
4. What do animators use to draw?
Commonly, animators use an animation tablet such as the Wacom Cintiq, XP-Pen Deco, or iPad Pro. These drawing tablets for animation use stylus pens that have pressure sensitivity, allowing for detail and smoothness in drawing for animations.
5. What is the best animation tablet for beginners?
Two of the best animation tablets for beginners are XP-Pen Deco MW or Huion Kamvas Pro 16. They will provide great value for money while offering good features including 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as compatibility with widely popular animation software.
