Workflow Tested: The 5 Best Tablets for Graphic Designers
The market for creative tablets is a minefield of marketing nonsense.
You don't need a hobby researching processor benchmarks; you need a tool that makes you money.
The best tablets for graphic designers aren't about specs but the workflow.
This isn't a list of every option.
It's a strategic breakdown of the five tablets that provide maximum leverage for specific jobs, from UI/UX design to digital illustration.
This is about choosing an asset, not a toy.
- The best graphic design tablets prioritise workflow over specs, catering to specific professional tasks.
- Understanding your workflow, software ecosystem, and total cost of ownership is crucial before choosing a tablet.
- A tablet should be a productive tool that fits your needs, not just a powerful device.
Before You Buy: The Only 3 Questions That Matter
Before looking at a product page, you must honestly answer these questions. This 5-minute exercise will save you hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds.
What is your 80% Workflow?
What specific design task do you spend 80% of your billable hours on? Be specific. Is it creating vector logos in Adobe Illustrator? Painting complex, multi-layered illustrations in Procreate or Clip Studio Paint? Crafting UI mockups for apps? Editing photos in Lightroom? The ideal vector artist tool differs from a digital painter's.
Which Software Ecosystem Runs Your Business?
Your software dictates your hardware choice. If your entire business runs on the full desktop version of Adobe Creative Suite, an iPad-only workflow might create friction. Conversely, if Procreate is your moneymaker, you're locked into the Apple ecosystem. Be realistic about the ecosystem you're in and whether you have the time or patience to switch.
What’s the Total Cost of Ownership?
The price on the box is a fantasy. The real cost is the tablet, the stylus (often sold separately), a case or keyboard, and any new software subscriptions you'll need. A £799 tablet can easily become a £1,200 investment. Calculate the total cost before you commit.
The Top 5 Tablets for Designers in 2025
Here’s the breakdown. Each of these tablets serves a distinct professional. Find yourself in these descriptions.
1. Apple iPad Pro (M4) — The Uncompromising All-Rounder
- Screen: 11″ or 13″ Tandem OLED, 2,000,000:1 contrast, 100% DCI-P3 coverage
- Stylus: Apple Pencil Pro (£129, sold separately)
- Power: Apple M4 Chip, 8-16GB RAM
- Starting Price: £999 (11″) / £1,299 (13″)
Best for: The multidisciplinary designer or agency that does a bit of everything at a high level—illustration, photo editing, vector work, video—and needs a single, flawless device.
Top Pick:
Apple iPad Pro
Price:
£999
This is the industry standard for a reason. The M4 iPad Pro is impressive, the new Tandem OLED screen is the best on any portable device, and the app ecosystem for creatives is unmatched. Software like Procreate and Adobe Fresco simply runs better here than anywhere else. With its barrel roll and squeeze gestures, the new Apple Pencil Pro adds a layer of control that power users will appreciate.
The Reality: This is the definition of a “Pro” device, and it comes with the “Pro” price tag. It is magnificent, but it's also complete overkill for a designer who primarily works in Canva and Illustrator. You are paying a premium for a frictionless, high-performance experience. If your business can justify the expense through billable hours, it's a sound investment. If not, look further down this list.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 10 — The True Desktop Replacement
- Screen: 13” PixelSense Flow Display (LCD), 120Hz, sRGB coverage
- Stylus: Surface Slim Pen 2 (£119, sold separately)
- Power: Intel Core Ultra 5/7, 8-64GB RAM
- Starting Price: ~£1,199
Best for: The designer needs one foot in the creative world and the other in the corporate one. This is for the professional who lives in the full desktop versions of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and needs a single device for design, client presentations, and invoicing.
The Surface Pro's superpower isn't its drawing capability; it's the fact that it runs full-fat Windows 11. You aren't using a “mobile” version of Photoshop—you are using the version of Photoshop. This is a massive advantage for designers whose workflow involves complex actions, specific plugins, or integration with other desktop software. It's a laptop and a tablet, making fewer compromises than you'd think.
The Reality: While the Slim Pen 2 has improved, the overall drawing experience still isn't quite as fluid or natural as the Apple Pencil or a Wacom pen. There's a slight disconnect. You trade a bit of that pure drawing pleasure for ultimate versatility. It’s the pragmatic choice for the business-minded designer.
3. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 — The Illustrator's Dream Machine
- Screen: 15.6″ 4K UHD (LCD), 98% Adobe RGB coverage
- Stylus: Wacom Pro Pen 2 (Included)
- Power: Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro GPU
- Starting Price: ~£3,150
Best for: The specialist. The professional illustrator, comic book artist, or high-end digital painter whose income is directly tied to the quality of their linework and brush strokes.
Best For:
Specialist Illustrators
Price:
~£3,150
This isn't really a “tablet.” It's a portable, professional-grade drawing monitor with a computer strapped to the back. Wacom built its reputation on its pen technology, and it shows. The Pro Pen 2 offers 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the etched glass screen provides a paper-like texture and simply unmatched resistance. Drawing on a MobileStudio Pro feels right. For the dedicated artist, this feel is worth the entire cost of admission.
The Reality: It's a terrible tablet for general use. It's heavy, the battery life is atrocious, and the fans can get loud. It runs Windows but feels clumsy when you're not using the pen. This is a highly specialised tool for a highly specialised professional. It's the best digital drawing experience on the market, but don't you dare buy it to check your emails.
4. Apple iPad Air (M2) — The Smart Money Choice
- Screen: 11″ or 13″ Liquid Retina Display (LCD), 60Hz, P3 coverage
- Stylus: Apple Pencil Pro (£129, sold separately)
- Power: Apple M2 Chip, 8GB RAM
- Starting Price: £599 (11″) / £799 (13″)
Best for: The vast majority of working graphic designers, especially those focused on logo design, social media assets, web graphics, and branding projects.
Best For:
Most Graphic Designers
Price:
£599
Let’s be honest with ourselves. The M2 chip is still more powerful than what 95% of design software can even use. The iPad Air runs the same software as the Pro, supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, and has a fantastic, colour-accurate screen. It delivers nearly all of the Pro's functional experience for a fraction of the cost.
The Reality: The main difference between the Air and the Pro is the screen. The Air has a standard 60Hz LCD instead of a 120Hz OLED. Does this matter? For video editors and gamers, yes. For a graphic designer, lay out a brochure or design a logo? Absolutely not. Forgoing that high refresh rate is the biggest cost-saving you can make without sacrificing performance where it counts. This is the ROI champion of the list.
Struggling to create a visual identity that works on every screen size? Our graphic design team lives and breathes this stuff.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra — The Android Powerhouse
- Screen: 14.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz
- Stylus: S Pen (Included)
- Power: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12-16GB RAM
- Starting Price: £1,199
Best for: The Android-loyal designer, the artist who craves the largest possible canvas, or the professional looking for maximum value.
Best For:
The Android-loyal designer
Price:
£1,199
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a beast. The 14.6-inch AMOLED screen is stunningly vibrant and provides an enormous canvas for sketching and illustration. However, the most significant selling point is that Samsung's excellent S Pen is included in the box. This immediately makes its value proposition significantly higher than its competitors, where the stylus is an expensive add-on.
The Reality: The hardware is top-tier, but Android's professional creative app ecosystem is still playing catch-up to iPadOS. While apps like Clip Studio Paint and Krita are excellent, there's no Procreate, and the Adobe suite is less robust. However, if your workflow is centred on the available apps or primarily uses the tablet for sketching before moving to a desktop, the S9 Ultra offers incredible hardware for the money.
The Spec Sheet Traps That Cost You Money
Marketers love to fixate on impressive numbers with little real-world impact. Here are the traps to ignore.
Pressure Levels: The Myth of More
You will see tablets advertising 4,096 or 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Once you go past about 2,048, the difference is virtually imperceptible to even a seasoned professional artist. Good drivers, low latency, and initial activation force are far more critical than ever-increasing pressure levels.
Colour Gamut: Look for Adobe RGB, Not Just “Accurate”
Every manufacturer claims their screen is “colour accurate.” The term is meaningless without context. Look for the percentage of a specific colour gamut it covers. For digital work (web, UI), 100% sRGB or DCI-P3 is great. If you do any print work, you should seek coverage of the larger Adobe RGB gamut.
RAM vs. Reality: How OS Optimisation Changes the Game
Don't compare RAM numbers across operating systems. An iPad with 8GB of RAM will feel smoother and handle larger files more gracefully than some Windows tablets with 16GB. iPadOS is incredibly efficient. Windows requires more raw power to do the same job. Judge the performance, not the number on the spec sheet.
Your Tablet is a Tool, Not a Trophy
Choosing a tablet is a business decision. It's an investment in your productivity. The goal isn't to own the most powerful device; it's to own the device that creates the least friction between your idea and the final, client-approved deliverable.
Analyse your workflow. Be honest about your needs. Calculate the total cost. A tablet that sits on your desk because it doesn't fit your process is just an expensive coaster. A tool that helps you produce better work, faster, pays for itself.
Choosing the right tools is the first step. Creating a brand that uses them effectively is the next step. We can handle the brand strategy and design if you're focused on the tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best tablet for a beginner graphic designer?
The Apple iPad Air (M2) offers the best balance of price, performance, and access to professional-grade software like Procreate, making it an ideal starting point that you won't outgrow quickly.
Can I run full Adobe Photoshop on a tablet?
Yes, but only on a Windows tablet like the Microsoft Surface Pro 10. iPad and Android versions of Photoshop are powerful, but they are not complete desktop applications and lack some features.
Is 11 inches big enough for graphic design?
For many tasks like logo design, social media graphics, and UI work, 11 inches is perfectly adequate; for professional illustrators or those who do extensive digital painting, a larger 13-inch or 16-inch screen is often preferred.
Do I need a 4K screen on a tablet?
A 4K screen on a tablet-sized device provides diminishing returns for most graphic design work. Excellent colour accuracy and brightness are more critical than sheer pixel density.
Is Wacom still the best for drawing?
Regarding the pure drawing experience—pen feel, parallax, and surface texture—Wacom devices like the MobileStudio Pro are still considered the gold standard by many professional illustrators.
How much RAM do I need for graphic design on a tablet?
For iPadOS, 8GB of RAM is sufficient for almost any design task. For Windows tablets, a minimum of 16GB is recommended for a smooth experience with professional applications like Adobe Creative Suite.
Is the Samsung S Pen as good as the Apple Pencil?
The Samsung S Pen is an excellent stylus with Wacom technology inside. It offers superb pressure and tilt response. While some artists prefer the weight and feel of the Apple Pencil, the S Pen is a professional-grade tool, and the fact that it's included is a significant advantage.
What does “laminated display” mean, and do I need it?
A laminated display means the glass surface and the screen underneath are fused. This reduces the physical gap, minimising parallax (the apparent offset between the pen tip and the cursor). All the tablets on this list have laminated displays, and yes, it is essential for a professional drawing experience.
Can I use a tablet as my only computer for graphic design?
A powerful tablet like the Microsoft Surface Pro 10 can be a primary computer because it runs a whole desktop OS. For iPadOS or Android, it depends on your workflow. If you don't rely on specific desktop software or plugins, it's increasingly viable.
iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: What's the difference for a designer?
The primary differences are the screen (60Hz LCD on Air vs. 120Hz OLED on Pro) and the processor (M2 vs. M4). The performance difference is negligible for most graphic design tasks outside of heavy video or 3D work, making the iPad Air the better value proposition.
Build a Brand as Powerful as Your Tools
A great tablet is a start, but it's the strategic thinking and creative execution that build an unforgettable brand. If you're ready to pair best-in-class tools with a best-in-class design strategy, we're here to help.
Explore our graphic design services or request a quote to see how we build brands that mean business.
