Buying guide

The Best Pen Tablets and Pen Displays in 2026

Wirecutter’s top pick is the $80 Huion Inspiroy 2 M. On a tight budget, the $28 Huion H640P gets the job done. For pros, Wirecutter upgrades to the $380 Wacom Intuos Pro Medium, and Creative Bloq names the Intuos Pro its best pen tablet.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Prices & specs checked Oct 2026

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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Wirecutter’s top pick is the $80 Huion Inspiroy 2 M. On a tight budget, the $28 Huion H640P gets the job done. For pros, Wirecutter upgrades to the $380 Wacom Intuos Pro Medium, and Creative Bloq names the Intuos Pro its best pen tablet. Best overall: Huion Inspiroy 2 M, $80. Best budget: Huion Inspiroy H640P, $28.

Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (prices checked Oct 2026)
PickProductBest forPrice
Best overallHuion Inspiroy 2 Mmost people$80 (Wirecutter, Amazon)
Best budgetHuion Inspiroy H640Pbeginners on a budget$28 (Wirecutter, Amazon)
Best for prosWacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025)professionals$380 (Wirecutter)
Best pen displayHuion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3)a big, affordable pen display—

This guide covers pen tablets and pen displays that plug into a Mac or PC. If you want a standalone tablet like an iPad for drawing, see our best tablets for drawing.

Which should you buy? Our quick picks

Best overall
Wirecutter top pick; $80
Wirecutter budget pick; $28
Wirecutter upgrade; Creative Bloq’s best

How do they compare?

Pen tablets and displays compared (Wirecutter and Creative Bloq; prices checked October 2026)
ModelPrice notedTypeDrawing areaBest for
Huion Inspiroy 2 M$80 (Wirecutter)Pen tablet12 x 7 inMost people
Huion Inspiroy H640P$28 (Wirecutter)Pen tablet10.2 x 5.8 inBeginners on a budget
Wacom Intuos S$70–$78 (Wirecutter)Pen tablet, Bluetooth7.8 x 6.3 in (tablet)Wireless on a budget
Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025)$380 (Wirecutter)Pen tablet, Bluetooth11.5 x 8.1 in (tablet)Professionals
Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium$249.99; bundle $329.99 (Creative Bloq)Pen tablet, wireless—Value for pros
Ugee M908Under $50 (Creative Bloq)Pen tablet10 x 6.25 inA big budget tablet
Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3)—Pen display, 2.5K 90Hz21.5-in displayA big, affordable pen display
Wacom Movink 13—Pen display, OLED11.6 x 6.5 inDrawing on the go
XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2)$1,899 (Creative Bloq)Pen display, 4K 120Hz27-in displayA 4K studio display for less

The picks in detail

Best overall

1. Huion Inspiroy 2 M

Best for: most people

Wirecutter’s[1] top pick: for under $100 you get a 12-by-7-inch drawing area that doesn’t take up too much desk, plenty of function buttons, intuitive software and an excellent drawing experience. The included cordless stylus tracks with no perceivable latency. The tablet itself lacks wireless support.

Price (Oct 2026): $80 (Wirecutter, Amazon) Source

Pros

  • Lots of drawing space
  • Plenty of hotkeys
  • No perceivable stylus latency

Cons

  • No wireless connection
Check Huion Inspiroy 2 M price (opens in a new tab)
Best budget

2. Huion Inspiroy H640P

Best for: beginners on a budget

Wirecutter’s[1] budget pick. The 10.2-by-5.8-inch H640P isn’t as sleek as Wacom’s models or pricier Huions, but its stylus tracking and drawing experience feel very similar to pricier tablets, and it offers plenty of hotkeys for a very low price.

Price (Oct 2026): $28 (Wirecutter, Amazon) Source

Pros

  • Very cheap
  • Drawing feel close to pricier models
  • Plenty of hotkeys

Cons

  • Fewer features
  • Less sleek design
Check Huion Inspiroy H640P price (opens in a new tab)
Best for wireless on a budget

3. Wacom Intuos S

Best for: wireless on a budget

Wirecutter’s[1] best for wireless on a budget: Wacom’s entry-level Intuos offers a good drawing experience, a paper-like texture, five hotkeys and wireless connectivity. The 7.8-by-6.3-inch tablet is no-frills, with just a fabric loop instead of a pen holder.

Price (Oct 2026): $78 (Amazon); $70 (Best Buy) per Wirecutter Source

Pros

  • Bluetooth wireless
  • Paper-like texture
  • Wacom pen tracking

Cons

  • Small
  • No pen holder
Check Wacom Intuos S price (opens in a new tab)
Best for pros

4. Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025)

Best for: professionals

Wirecutter’s[1] upgrade pick and Creative Bloq’s best pen tablet. The 11.5-by-8.1-inch 2025 model offers great tracking, two mechanical scroll wheels, expanded pen support and Bluetooth, which Wirecutter says is more than most people need. Creative Bloq praises the quality build, slim design and precise, customizable controls, but notes it costs more than the Xencelabs bundle and comes with only one stylus. Wirecutter notes the new version loses the previous model’s multi-touch support.

Price (Oct 2026): $380 (Wirecutter) Source

Pros

  • Premium drawing experience
  • Fully wireless
  • Slim and light

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Only one stylus
  • No multi-touch
Check Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025) price (opens in a new tab)
Best for value for pros

5. Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle

Best for: value for pros

Creative Bloq’s value pen tablet: great value, wireless, great build quality and a fantastic drawing experience, with “nothing of note” listed as a downside. It’s $249.99 with two styluses and a pen case, but Creative Bloq recommends the $329.99 bundle, which adds the Quick Key remote.

Price (Oct 2026): $249.99; bundle $329.99 (Creative Bloq) Source

Pros

  • Wireless
  • Two styluses
  • Great build

Cons

  • Quick Key remote costs extra
Check Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle price (opens in a new tab)
Best for a big budget tablet

6. Ugee M908

Best for: a big budget tablet

Creative Bloq’s budget pen tablet: a 10-by-6.25-inch active area, a good stylus for the money and a portable size for under $50. No Bluetooth wireless.

Price (Oct 2026): Under $50 (Creative Bloq) Source

Pros

  • Large area for the price
  • Good stylus
  • Portable

Cons

  • No Bluetooth
Check Ugee M908 price (opens in a new tab)
Best pen display

7. Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3)

Best for: a big, affordable pen display

Creative Bloq’s value pen display: a 21.5-inch QHD screen at 90Hz, excellent stylus performance and a solid built-in stand included in the box, undercutting premium brands. Con: no on-frame Quick Keys.

Price (Oct 2026): — Source

Pros

  • 90Hz QHD display
  • Stand included
  • Excellent stylus

Cons

  • No on-frame Quick Keys
Check Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3) price (opens in a new tab)
Best for drawing on the go

8. Wacom Movink 13

Best for: drawing on the go

Creative Bloq’s portable display pick: Wacom’s thinnest and lightest pen display and its first with OLED, at 420 grams. Cons: only FHD resolution, some artists will want a bigger screen, and the stand is sold separately.

Price (Oct 2026): — Source

Pros

  • Slim and light
  • Vibrant OLED
  • Very accurate

Cons

  • FHD only
  • Stand sold separately
Check Wacom Movink 13 price (opens in a new tab)
Best for a 4K studio display for less

9. XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2)

Best for: a 4K studio display for less

Creative Bloq’s value large pen display: a 27-inch 4K display at 120Hz, excellent stylus and extras, and multi-touch, as a cheaper alternative to Wacom’s Cintiq Pro 27. It isn’t cheap at $1,899, feels bulky, and lacks on-frame Quick Keys.

Price (Oct 2026): $1,899 (Creative Bloq) Source

Pros

  • 4K at 120Hz
  • Multi-touch
  • Cheaper than Cintiq Pro 27

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Bulky
  • No on-frame Quick Keys
Check XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) price (opens in a new tab)

Also considered

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: Creative Bloq’s best pen display, with incredible build quality and on-frame Quick Keys, but you need the stand.

Wacom MovinkPad Pro 14: Wirecutter[1] likes this $900 Android tablet that doubles as a wireless pen display, but its wireless display tech is still in beta.

Pen tablet or pen display?

A pen tablet has no screen: you draw on the pad and watch your monitor. That takes practice, but it’s cheap, and Wirecutter’s[1] picks start at $28. A pen display lets you draw directly on screen, which feels more natural but costs far more and takes up more desk space.

What about an iPad?

If you want to draw away from a computer, a standalone tablet may suit you better. See our best tablets for drawing. For editing your work, see best monitors for photo editing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best drawing tablet for most people?
Wirecutter’s[1] top pick is the Huion Inspiroy 2 M, listed at $80.
What is the best cheap pen tablet?
Wirecutter[1] picks the Huion Inspiroy H640P ($28); Creative Bloq picks the Ugee M908 (under $50).
Is Wacom worth it?
For pros, Creative Bloq names the Wacom Intuos Pro its best pen tablet, but notes it costs more than the Xencelabs bundle, its value pick.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. Wirecutter: The best drawing tablets (April 8, 2026) (nytimes.com)
  2. Creative Bloq: Best drawing tablets (October 8, 2026) (creativebloq.com)