Best Drawing Tablet Under 500$

For under 500$, you can draw with a drawing tablet that has all the bells and whistles that you would need. For both beginners and professionals, the Wacom Intuos Pro is our best-recommended choice with its multi-touch function, and features that guarantee both convenience and quality.

For beginners with a budget, the Wacom Intuos S with Bluetooth is another great choice. We’ve also included display tablets such as the XP-Pen Artist12 Pro and Huion KAMVAS Pro-16 discussed further here in our detailed compilation of the best drawing tablets below $500.

#1 Wacom Intuos Pro

• Display Screen: No
• Size: 13.2” x 8.5”
• Active Drawing Area: 8.7” x 5.8” (Medium)
• Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192

The first one on our list is the Wacom Intuos Pro which comes at varying sizes and prices.  For artists that are more comfortable using a drawing tablet without a display screen, this might be your perfect pick. You can choose from three size options, with the medium size (13.2” x 8.5”) as the most popular choice.

It has a large active area, a convenient touch wheel, and eight customizable express keys according to our preference. It has wireless Bluetooth capability, which is handy because we can move it around without worrying about multiple wires. Its pen has tilt recognition that creates interesting textures and provides a variety of outcomes from a single brush setting.

What sets it apart from other drawing tablets is that it has multi-touch, which means the drawing area itself recognizes our fingers when we pinch to zoom in or out of our drawing. This feature can be turned on or off through a physical switch on the device. Having to go back and forth with our keyboard and mouse to navigate our drawing may be a hassle, but with the multi-touch feature, touch wheel, and express keys, that dilemma is one less problem to worry about.

Check out the Wacom Intuos Pro on Amazon.

#2 Wacom Intuos S with Bluetooth

• Display Screen: No
• Size: 7.8” x 6.3”
• Active Drawing Area: 6.0” x 3.7”
• Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 4,096

For the beginner digital artists out there who are looking for an introductory drawing tablet that is affordable yet high-quality, the Wacom Intuos S with Bluetooth is worth every penny. It is also bundled with drawing software such as Corel Paint, and Clip Studio Paint which is perfect for starters.

It has four customizable express keys on the tablet and a battery-free stylus pen. With its beginner-friendly compact size (7.8” x 6.3”), it is easily portable and perfect for limited desktop set-ups. Aside from Windows PC, Mac, and Chromebook compatibility, it can even be connected to Android devices with the use of an OTG connector.

Check out the Wacom Intuos on Amazon.

#3 XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro

• Display Screen: Yes
• Display Screen Specifications: 1920×1080 HD display paired with 120% SRGB Color Gamut
• Size: 15.6”
• Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192

For artists who prefer drawing directly on a display screen, I recommend the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro as one of the better budget-friendly choices.

It is equipped with eight customizable express keys and a dial that can be used for rotating and scrolling to navigate drawings. Its battery-free pen features a 60-degree natural tilt recognition that allows for a smoother coloring and shading experience. Its convenience and portability are further proven with its own stand, pen holder, and a three-in-one cable design for charging.

Check out the XP-PEN on Amazon.

#4 Huion KAMVAS Pro 16

• Display Screen: Yes
• Display Screen Specifications: 1920×1080 HD display paired with 120% sRGB Color Gamut.
• Size: 15.6”
• Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192

The Huion KAMVAS Pro-16 is another great drawing tablet with a display screen that most professional digital artists love. With its impressive 15.6-inch display screen, you can enjoy a large drawing space for a better drawing experience. It features a full-laminated glass technology that reduces potential eye damage and enhances the accuracy of the stylus to screen transfer.

It is equipped with six press keys and a touch bar that surely takes our artistic productivity on another level. The express keys are customizable and may be set according to our preference.  Its battery-free stylus pen is equipped with a 60-degree natural tilt recognition that provides an accurate and natural drawing experience as if drawing on paper. It also comes with its own adjustable stand that is always convenient for us artists.

Check out the Huion on Amazon.

To sum it up,

For professional digital artists looking for an upgrade, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the perfect non-display screen option with its extra convenient multi-touch feature. Beginners are also welcome to kickstart their digital art career with this high-end option, but for those with a tight budget, we assure you that the Wacom Intuos S with Bluetooth still provides every feature that a beginner would need.

For any artist who prefers drawing directly on display screens, the XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro is a budget-friendly option without sacrificing helpful features such as express keys and dial for navigation. If you have a higher budget, we’d recommend the Huion KAMVAS Pro 16 for a larger drawing space, better display accuracy, and even eye protection with its full-laminated glass technology.