May 27, 2022

Pen Tablet Or Display Tablet?

Are you considering buying a graphic tablet? Not sure which one to buy– a pen tablet or a display tablet? Of course, it can be daunting to choose between two handy tools if you don’t know the difference between them.

In fact, the designers might get confused because of their similarities and purpose. They share similarities like their method of connectivity and use but there are dissimilarities too. This difference might vary depending on their model, display, and stylus compatibility.

Before we move on with their comparison, let’s address another important question - Their purpose! Do you know what exactly pen tablets and display tablets are used for? If not then check it out in the next section.

Purpose of Pen Tablet and Display Tablet

Pen tablet and Display Tablet, both are a kind of computer input equipment. Just like a keyboard or a mouse, when you connect these tools to your computer or laptop they provide you with ease of painting/writing digitally.

Also known as hand-painted tablets and hand-painted displays, pen and display tablets are electronic drawing tablets with different levels of pressure sensitivity.

Both these graphic tablets have connectivity ports, and some pen tablets and display tablets also have wireless connectivity options. Using them is pretty simple, just connect them to your computer or laptop, and voila! You can start working.

Key Difference Between Pen Tablet and Display Tablet

Wondering how to differentiate them if they both serve the same purpose? They can be differentiated according to various factors such as compatibility, pressure sensitivity, working area dimensions, etc., and the user’s needs.

Apart from these, one key difference between them is the display. Pen tablets don't have a display, while display tablets have a screen. When working with a pen tablet, you can only see your work on the computer screen.

On the other hand, display tablets give you the liberty to draw/write directly on the display. You can see what you are painting, where your stylus goes, and what changes are made directly on the screen.

Top 3 Pen Tablets

Mentioned below are the top three graphic tablets for artists.

- Deco Fun L

Available in four colours with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, Deco Fun L is the best drawing tablet on budget.

This graphic tablet for artist supports a tilt of up to 60 degrees and is compatible with several teaching and designing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.

- Deco Mini 7W

Another graphic drawing tablet to unleash your inner creativity. It is slim with just 9.3 mm in width and is further portable.

You don’t need to have a computer or laptop to work on this pen tablet, you can connect it with your phone! With a 177.8 x 111.1 mm working area, this pen tablet is best if you have just started exploring graphic designing.

- Deco Pro SW-MW

Deco Pro SW-MW is integrated with a Bluetooth v5.0 version for seamless wireless connectivity. With 9x5 inches/11X6 inches working area, this graphic drawing tablet is loaded with a large battery capacity.

It is one of the best XP pen tablets and comes with a 60 degrees tilt function, eight responsive keys, and two dial wheels.

Top 3 Display Tablets

Here is the list of top three digital drawing tablets.

- Artist 13.3 Pro

It has a replaceable anti-glare optical film on the screen, making it scratchproof. Along with this Artist 13. 3 Pro also minimizes parallax and is super portable.

With a flamboyant colour accuracy of 88%, this display tablet will be the perfect tool to feed your creativity.

- Artist Pro 16

With a 15.4 inches working area and X3 Elite Plus stylus, this display tablet allows you to run free with your aesthetic creativity. Artist pro 16 comes with 8 shortcut keys, one virtual wheel dial, and one mechanical wheel. This tablet is ideal for beginners as well as professional designers.

- Artist 22R Pro

With a 21.5 inch strikingly large display, Artist 22R Pro is one of the best XP pen tablets. It uses the latest innovation and techniques for accurate cursor positioning along with 88% colour accuracy.

Comparison Table - Select the best pick for you

Mentioned below is the detailed comparison of the best drawing tablet for artists.

Category	Deco Fun L	Deco Mini 7W	Deco Pro SW-MW	Artist 13.3 Pro	Artist Pro 16	Artist 22R Pro
Screen Resolution	No screen	No Screen	No Screen	1920 x 1080 pixels	1920 x 1080 pixels	1920 x 1080 pixels
Dimensions	12.40 x 8.77 x 0.49 inch	260.2 x 162.2 x 9.3mm	399.7 × 227 × 16.5mm	390.4mm x 249.98mm x 12.9mm	443.27 x 256.45 x 9mm	570 x 334.8 x 44.8 mm
Working Area	10 x 6.27 inch	177.8 x 111.1mm	11 x 6-inch	293.76mm x 165.24mm	340.99 x 191.81mm	476.064 x 267.786 mm
Pressure Sensitivity	8192	8192	8192	8192	8192	8192
Shortcut Keys	N/A	8 Press Keys	8 keys and 2 wheels	8 keys, 1 wheel	8 Press Keys	20 and 2 red dial wheel
Compatibility	Windows 7/8/10 Mac OS X 10.10 (or later) Android 6.0 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later) Linux	Windows 10/8/7 Linux (Detailed versions) Mac OS X 10.10 (and higher) Android 6.0 (and higher) Chrome OS 88.0.4324.109.	Windows 10 and Mac OS X 10.10 (or later) Android, Chrome OS, and Linux systems	Windows® 10/8/7 (32/64bit), Mac OS X® 10.10 and higher,Chrome OS	Windows 7/8/10, Mac OS X 10.10 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later), Linux	Windows 10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.10 and higher
Stylus	Passive Stylus	Battery-Free	Battery-Free	Battery-Free	X3 Elite Plus	Battery-Free
Tilt Support	60 degrees	60 degrees	60 degrees	60 degrees	60 degrees	60 degrees
Price	Rs. 4,499	Rs. 5,999	Rs. 14,999	Rs. 27,999	Rs. 48,999	Rs. 50,999

We hope that this article helped you pick the best option for you. XP-Pen is a leader in innovation and finding digital solutions.

They are committed to offering you next-gen technology with their pen tablets and display tablets.

FAQ's

1. Which tablet is better for drawing? Pen or Display Tablet
- A display tablet is better for drawing compared to a pen tablet for most artists, as it allows you to draw directly on the screen for more precise and natural control.

2. What is the difference between a pen tablet and a display tablet?
- The main difference is that with a pen tablet, you draw on a separate surface while looking at your computer screen, while with a display tablet, you draw directly on the screen, providing a more intuitive and immersive drawing experience.

3. Can you use a display tablet without a computer?
- No, you generally cannot use a display tablet without a computer because it relies on a computer's processing power and software to function.