Best drawing tablet under 300$

What is the Best drawing tablet under 300$ with a screen? In our article on the types of drawing tablets, we pointed out that there are 2 types of tablets. Those that come with a screen and those that do not.

Those that come with a screen are further subdivided, depending on the need to use a computer or not.

Some must be connected to a computer to use while others do not need a computer. You can still get tablets under 100$ but these ones will not have an inbuilt screen.

Best Standalone drawing tablets under 300$

The first category has a screen and a computer and can be used without a computer connection. They are also referred to as standalone or portable drawing tablets.

The best thing about buying a standalone tablet is that you still can connect it to a computer and use it if you want.

Although most of the tablets are expensive, you can still get some good tablets for under 300$.

1. Samsung Galaxy s6 lite Best overall Tablet for Drawing under 300$
2. Simbans Picasso Best Budget Standalone Drawing Tablet
3. Huawei MediaPad M5 lite
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A Cheapest Standalone drawing tablet under 300$

Best drawing tablet under 300$ with a screen

1. Huion KAMVAS Pro 13 Best overall
2. VEIKK VK1560 15.6 Inch
3. GAOMON PD1560
4. GAOMON PD 1320

Samsung Galaxy s6 lite

Best Samsung Tablet for Drawing under 300$

1. Screen Size; 10.4 inches
2. Stylus; S Pen
3. Pen pressure; 4096
4. Screen resolution; 2000 by 1200 pixels
5. Screen technologies; Amoled screen
6. Processor; Exynos 9611 octa-core
7. RAM; 4GB
8. Storage; 64G/128GB
9. Weight; 400g

Samsung has been a trusted brand for many years. It is no wonder they start us off on this list. With the Samsung Galaxy S6 lite, you will get most of the great features in Samsung’s more expensive tablets for a fraction of the price.

For example, you will still get the great S Pen found in S7 plus and S8 on the S6 lite. The AMOLED screen too is also available on the S6 lite.

Screen and Display

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 lite comes with a 10.4 inches screen size and 1200 x 2000 pixels, and a 5:3 Aspect ratio. The screen size is one key factor that can influence the choice of an art tablet.

Although a bigger tablet is preferable, 10.4 inches is still good and usable not to mention it is only a few inches smaller than the more expensive 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro.

The tablet’s display is crisp and clear and will show vivid colors thanks to the AMOLED screen display which is way better than a traditional LCD display. You will find this type of screen only on more expensive Samsung tablets so it is a big plus in this price range.

Pen

Another thing found on this tablet that you can only get on premium Samsung tablets is a great S Pen. The Samsung S Pen borrows a lot from Wacom’s Pen 2 which is an art industry standard pen.

The Pen has 4096 Pen pressure levels which are good but unfortunately is not battery-free.

Storage Space

The tablet comes with a large storage space where you will store your Apps and files. You can get 64 GB space and a larger 128GB option.

Processing Speed

The processing speed is determined by the RAM and processor. The tablet scores well in both areas. It comes with Samsung’s Exynos 9611 octa-core processor and 4 GB RAM. This means that the tablet will run programs fast and efficiently even when multitasking.

Simbans Picasso Best Budget Standalone Drawing Tablet

The Simbans PicassoTab lands on top of our list courtesy of a nice portable size and effective features.

Panel size of 10.24 by 6.81 by 0.39 inches allows you to move around easily and a lightweight of 3.08 lbs makes portability easier and better.

The tablet features a large working area and a 10-inch display, making the screen fill up the front side of the tablet.

Additionally, the tablet uses an IPS HD display, revealing quality and crisp colors and visuals. One setback you may encounter on the display is a low level of screen resolution, going for 1280 by 800 pixels. 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution would have been better, but don’t be too alarmed, the displays are quite lovely.

When it comes to the drawing experience, the PicassoTab brings in the Picasso Active pen. The pen uses AAA batteries for power, offering up to 5hrs of drawing after a full charge.

Additionally, the pen is comfortable for your hand for long-term use and when you combine this with a natural stroke production, the experience is better and more authentic.

When it comes to processing, the Simbans PicassoTab is run by the MediaTek Quad-core processors that are fast and effective. When you combine this with 4GB RAM, you get a boost in multitasking capabilities for more effective interaction.

Lastly, you can enjoy storing files and documents on your tablet using the provided 64GB that is expandable through MicroSD.

Point to note, the Simbans Picasso is run by the Android 10 operating system making it compatible with multiple programs.

 Huawei MediaPad M5 lite

Cheap Standalone tablet

The Huawei MediaPad M5 lite is another affordable standalone tablet and the features are quite effective.

A portable panel size of 9.58 by 6.39 by 0.3 inches allows you to carry the tablet with ease. Since the tablet is a standalone tablet, this is perfect for artists who prefer to work on the go.

The working area of 10.1 inches is quite large, making it easy to draw and write notes with unlimited space. Additionally, the screen display is large and the Huawei clarify technology enhances clarity and brightness.

This is made better by a screen resolution of 1920 by 1080, making your colors and visuals better and crisp.

The Huawei MediaPad M5 lite features the M-pen stylus for drawing and jotting down notes. The pen holds a pen pressure sensitivity level of 2048, unveiling a natural and authentic drawing experience.

A fast and effective Kirin 659 Octa-Core processor is responsible for running the tablet. The processing is made faster by a RAM of 3GB, allowing the running of multiple programs simultaneously.

As for internal storage, you can save a load of files and documents courtesy of a 32GB HDD.

The MediaPad M5 lite is run by the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system, making it compatible with multiple drawing and art programs.

Best drawing tablet under 300$ with a screen that needs a computer

The Second type of tablet has an inbuilt screen but does not have a computer so you must connect them to a computer or your mobile phone. Basically a host for your drawing Software.

1. Huion KAMVAS Pro 13 Best overall
2. VEIKK VK1560 15.6 Inch
3. GAOMON PD1560
4. GAOMON PD 1320

Huion Kamvas Pro 13

Huion is a trusted brand when it comes to art tablets. Huion KAMVAS is not their best but based on this price range, it is definitely worth the money.

First, it comes with a 13-inch screen size. This size matches the Apple iPad Pro and is perfect for art. The tablet’s screen also has a good display with a 1920 by 1080 full HD display.

The screen employs IPS technology that ensures more clear colors and displays preferably over LCD display type.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S6 lite which has only a 5:3 Aspect Ratio, the 16:9 screen display is a better and more comfortable view.

What is a Laminated Screen and which one is better

A laminated screen features 3 screen layers fused together to one screen without any spaces in between. A non-laminated screen has air space in between.

Laminated screens are better and more clear than non-laminated ones. This is because the air space in between interferes with the light movement on non-laminated screens.

In Huion Kamvas 13 Pro, the screen is fully laminated meaning that it has a layer covering the screen that will give a clear display and a realistic Pen to paper feel when drawing.

The screen also is created with anti-glare technology meant to regulate the amount of light that gets to your eyes.

Huion Kamvas Pro 13 Pen

As an art-focused tablet, the pen is quite good. The tablet comes with a battery-free PW507 pen. 8192 pen pressure levels ensure a great feel while drawing plus the 5080 lines per inch resolution is perfect.

Finally, the tablet features 4 programmable buttons that you can set to your most used functions speeding up your workflow. When it comes to compatibility, the Huion Kamvas Pro 13 can work with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.12 or later, and Linux. It is unfortunately not compatible with Android.

VEIKK VK1560 15.6 Inch

• Product Dimension: 424.2mm(L) x 262mm(W) x 16.5mm (H)
• Active Area: 15.6 inch
• Pen: Battery-free Passive Pen
• DPI: 1920 x 1080
• Pen Pressure: 8192 levels
• Resolution: 5080 LPI
• Data Report Rate: 250 PPS
• Reading Height: 10 mm
• Contrast Ratio: 800:1

VEIKK VK1560 is a good large-size tablet you can use for drawing. It features a large 16 inches screen that is bigger than the Kamvas 13 Pro screen. The display is good at full HD 1920 by 1080 pixels with an IPS display just like the Kamvas Pro 13.

Although it is a great-looking screen it is not laminated and may not match up with the clarity of the Kamvas Pro 13.

The pen is perfect and battery-free. First, it has 8192 pressure levels and 5080 LPI resolution. Additionally, you will get 2 on purchase with one as a spare pen.

You will get a free stand on purchase. Added to the 7 free customizable buttons and great features, this is a sure buy. It is a great tablet for a very fair price

The package includes

1. 1 x Pen Display Tablet
2. 2 x Passive Pen
3. 30 x Replacement Nibs
4. 1x Pen Remover + Pen Clip
5. 1 x Pen Pocket/Pen Box
6. 1 x Drawing Glove
7. 1 x Cleaning Cloth
8. 1 x DP to HDMI Cable

GAOMON PD1560

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GAOMON PD1560 is the largest drawing tablet in this outline. Holding an impressive 15.6 inches size, the working area is made bigger making it easier to work on your designs. The screen resolution of 1920 by 1080 showcases a stunning display of colors.

Furthermore, an 8192 pen pressure sensitivity level is precise on the lines and offers a nice realistic feel and with a 233pps response rate, the pen pressure response is fast giving a canvas-like experience.

Gaomon Pd1560’s AP40 stylus pen is comfortable with an impressive 350hrs of battery life after a 2.5 full charge period. The tablet is compatible with Mac OS 10.11+ and Windows 7, 8, and 10 plus numerous programs that are connected by an HDMI cable or a USB-C cable.

Equipped with 10 shortcut buttons, you save precious designing time as you can customize the keys to your liking to fit your design habits and workflow. Additionally, the PD1560 has a 20-80 degree stand that helps position the tablet at an elevated level for a comfortable working area to boost productivity.

Best Drawing Tablets under 300$ Without A screen

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium

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Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is a premium gadget with a size of 12.6 by 9.13 inches and a 7.62 mm thickness that offers a designer a large design area and a pen pressure sensitivity level of 8192 drawing of lines, coloring, and editing is made it more effective. Furthermore, adjustable LED screen lights spice up the experience by nicely lighting up the drawing area.

Shipped with two differently sized battery-free pens, working with this tablet is quite an experience and offers an extra option according to your design it’s quite magical once the pen meets the screen since the pen supports +60 degrees tilt function for maximum control and accuracy.

The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium has a customizable remote offering up to 40 shortcuts to a designer’s liking enhancing quick navigation and productivity. Additionally, a seamless and gently curved palm rest creates optimum comfort-enhancing longer productive hours.

Compatibility with Mac OS 10.11+ Windows 7, 8, and 10 and Linux plus programs are enabled and are made possible by a USB cable while a USB-A to USB-C cable adapter powers the tablet. 6 additional pen nibs are part of the package offering a longer period of use before needing to purchase the replaceable nibs.

How to choose the Best Drawing Tablet under 300$

Size

The size of a tablet helps you have a nice working area while a small size ensures easy mobility. Moving around with a tablet is important, especially when working at home and your workplace or when you need to travel.

Pressure Sensitivity level

The higher the levels of pressure sensitivity, the better the precision of strokes in both outlines and shading. Every designer’s dream is to express his art to the fullest with accurate perfection and high-pressure sensitivity levels offer just that.

Response rate speed

Response rate time is the speed at which the pen pressure is transmitted to the computer from the tablet. Fast rates offer almost immediate screen display and it does come in handy for a digital artist by eliminating lags.

Compatibility

There are a lot of differences in artistic programs and different operating systems support different capabilities as well as programs and software. When it comes to compatibility, you would probably want a tablet that is compatible with your preferred operating system and programs.

Screen resolution

Having a beyond-HD view whether, on a television, laptop, or tablet makes your experience even better. Designing relies a lot on clarity and the display should showcase close if not exact color and image.

Budget

There is a wide selection of drawing tablets under different price ranges and most digital artists are afraid of spending money on a drawing tablet and not receiving their value for money regarding the features above.

Since this factor is a problem for most digital artists, we have highlighted some of the Best Drawing Tablets under 300 and outlined features to ease your search with your personal preference.

Difference between a Standalone Tablet and a Drawing Tablet

The Standalone Tablet is an independent tablet meaning a computer is not needed in operating such a tablet. It offers a lot of additional features compared to drawing tablets which are brought about by its inbuilt computer. A drawing tablet on the other hand is fully dependent on a computer.

Best drawing tablet under 300$

1. Samsung Galaxy s6 lite Best overall Tablet for Drawing under 300$
2. Simbans Picasso Best Budget Standalone Drawing Tablet
3. Huawei MediaPad M5 lite
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A Cheapest Standalone drawing tablet under 300$
5. Huion KAMVAS Pro 13
6. VEIKK VK1560 15.6 Inch
7. GAOMON PD1560
8. GAOMON PD 1320