Drawing tablets with Screen  are a great option for artists who want to have more control over their drawings and avoid the Hand-eye disconnect problems.

Generally, Display tablets like Wacom Cintiq are much more expensive than screenless graphics tablet and would probably be better suited for professionals rather than hobbyists.

Fortunately, with the fierce competition in the graphics tablet market. Gone are the days when you had to shell out thousands of dollars to get a decent drawing tablet with screen. It’s easy to get an affordable drawing tablet with a screen under $200 or $300.

These cheap display tablets are so good that you don’t have to sacrifice quality of features, such as laminated display, tilt recognition, high pressure levels, wide color accuracy, etc.

However, With so many great cheap display drawing tablets on the market these days it can be quite daunting to figure out which is best.

So I’m going to show you my top 10 picks of 2025 below. They give every inch of satisfaction of using a digital drawing experience that too by lying on the budget.

6 Best Budget Drawing Tablets with Screen Under $200 or $300

I have compiled a list of the best budget drawing tablets with a screen in 2025 for your convenience. These top-notch products offer excellent performance and reliability, all while maintaining an affordable price range.

1. XPPen Artist 10 (2nd Gen)

Priced at $169.99, The 10.1″ XPPen Artist 10 (2nd Gen) can be a good cheap pen display for a hobbyist or someone looking for a fully functional display tablet.

Display quality is glorious with laminated screen tech, 1080p resolution, wide 120% sRGB color gamut, and a matte textured surface.

The X3 Elite stylus with advanced Smart Chip pen tech does not disappoint either. It comes with low 3 grams Initial Activation Force, 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection support.

The real-life performance of the stylus is good compared to older xppen artist models. The lines drawn by it are clean, consistent, straight, and respond well to changes in pressure.

You can choose from four shell colors to suit your style. And There are 6 programmable buttons on the tablet left side that can be set to any shortcut of your choice.

To use Artist 10 (2nd Gen), you need only one USB-C to USB-C Cable to plug it into a laptop, Which greatly increases its portability.

As your budget increases, you can get the larger 11.6-inch Artist 12 (2nd Gen), 13.3-inch Artist 13 (2nd Gen), and 15.4-inch Artist 16 (2nd Gen) model.

2. UGEE UE16

UGEE UE16 is an excellent 15.4-inch screen tablet for an unbeatable price of $199.99. you can’t find another one in this price range that offers such a spacious canvas.

1080P resolution is packed into a 15.4inch fully laminated display with superb color accuracy choice of 147% sRGB, 92% adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3, etc. The screen is vibrant and very crisp.

The pen is slim and has a matte textured surface that provides good grip. Build quality is plasticky but solid enough. There are two customisable side buttons and an eraser.

The 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity in the pen tip understands your every angle, tilt, and amount of pressure. This results in a responsive and desirable drawing experience.

Additionally, You can save an extra $30 by downsizing to 11.6 inch Ugee UE12 or 11.9-inch Ugee UE12 Plus. The major difference between the two UE12 tablets is the screen size and the amount of hotkeys.

3. Huion kamvas 13 (Gen 3)

Priced at $269.00, The 13.3-inch Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) is a decent product with fantastic drawing performance that worth the money you pay for it.

Compared to older popular Kamvas 13 model, It improves a lo with enhanced color accuracy of 90% Adobe RGB, upgraded pen tech, and more convenient USB-C connectivity.

The best part is It comes with Huion’s most recent pen model -PW600L, features advanced Pentech 4.0 technology. The 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and low 2g IAF ensure a fluid and natural drawing experience.

Unlike other budget display tablet in this list that come with a textured anti-glare film applied to the screen, Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) has an etched
glass surface that offers a silghtly stronger texture feeling and is more durable.

4. Wacom One 12

Priced at $249.95, Wacom One 12 is ideal for illustrators and designers who want precision without a large footprint.

It’s compact, supports USB-C to USB-C Cable connection, making it perfect for small workspaces or travel, but it doesn’t skimp on quality.

The Wacom One uses a 11.6-inch laminated display with anti-glare film, 1080p resolution, covering an average 99% sRGB color coverage.

It uses Wacom’s industry-leading pen technology with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, Tilt recognition and low initial activation force that feels natural when drawing.

You’re paying a premium for the Wacom brand, and there are fewer bells and whistles compared to cheaper alternatives. But it is a great entry point into Wacom’s display drawing tablet lineup.

5. GAOMON PD1161

The Gaomon PD1161 is a great portable, compact size pen display for a variety of purposes, that’s fairly easy on the budget at $151.99.

Gaomon PD1161 comes with a decent 11.9 inch IPS display featuring a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, 100% sRGB color gamut and anti-glare film.

The battery-free stylus is precise and accurate, with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt function.

The only cons is the parallax effect when drawing on it because the screen is non-laminated. In addition, It doesn’t support single USB-C cable connection.

6. VEIKK VK1200

The budget price of $$149.99 makes VEIKK VK1200 a great entry level pen display with a build that doesn’t feel cheap and seems like it would be quite robust.

The VK1200 is an 11.6-inch pen display tablet, with an IPS panel sporting a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 120% sRGB color gamut, allowing us to create detailed and colorful artwork.

It also has an anti-glare lamination that works quite well considering how minimal or rather unnoticeable the parallax is. The screen has a textured anti-glare film, making drawing enjoyable and free from distractions.

You get 2 stylus pens that feels stable and smooth and has all the fancy features such as 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt detection as well as faster report rate for a lag-free drawing experience.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Drawing Tablet with Screen

When selecting the perfect drawing tablets with screen, it’s important to carefully evaluate factors such as display size and quality, stylus performance, Connectivity, and more.

These features can significantly impact your overall experience and productivity.

1. Display Size

The size of the tablet’s screen is important because it will determine how much space you have to work on your drawings.

Think about comfort; larger screens provide more space, while smaller screens are more portable.

In addition, The prices increase with the Screen size.

2. Display Quality

A high-resolution screen with excellent color accuracy is essential for creating vibrant, lifelike visuals.

Aim for a Full HD resolution (1920×1080) or higher, with a wide color gamut (like 90% Adobe RGB or 100% sRGB) to ensure your drawings look rich and true to life.

3. Screen Tech

A laminated screen will be more clear and durable than a non-laminated one.

If you want to minimize glare, go for a matte screen surface, which reduces reflections and offers a smoother drawing experience.

4. Stylus Pen Performance

The stylus pen is crucial for accurate and responsive drawing.

Look for a pen with high-pressure sensitivity, Low initial activation force, and tilt recognition for added precision. These features allow for a more natural, fluid drawing experience.

A good stylus ensures that your drawing movements are captured exactly as intended, making it easier to produce detailed, accurate artwork.

Additionally, All display tablets in this list comes with a battery-free stylus that uses EMR tech. This allows you to draw as long as you can without ever having to worry about charging it.

5. Compatibility

Display Drawing tablets are not standalone devices and need to be connected to a computer to work.

It’s important to choose a display tablet that is compatible with the OS and drawing software you may already use.

Luckily, if you buy from my list you don’t need to worry about that as these tablets mentioned here are all compatible with Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS and Android Devices.

6. Connectivity

Modern display drawing tablets can connect to a computer through a single USB-C Cable or 3-in-1 Cable (HDMI + 2 USB-A to USB-C). This is a big upgrade compared to the old models.

Older display tablet models like Wacom Cintiq 16, Huion Kamvas 16 or XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro may only support 3-in-1 cable.

Single USB-C cable connection support means that your display tablet is significantly more portable, which is great for artists on the go. Additionally, less cord clutter makes it much easier to move your tablet around as needed.

Of Course, this also depends on the port of your computer. Desktop pc or older laptop user can choose to purchase older display tablet models to save some bucks.

7. Customizable Shortcut Keys

Some ergonomically designed pen display drawing tablets have extra shortcut keys which is an added advantage.

These customizable ExpressKeys let you have your favourite shortcuts within easy reach to make the drawing experience easier.

8. Brand

Wacom has been the gold standard for graphics tablets for years, and loved by professional digital artists. When it comes to reliability and accuracy these drawing tablets remain a premium option.

However, Their Display Drawing tablets like Wacom Cintiq are very expensive.

Many beginner artists go for affordable drawing tablet brands like Huion, XPPen, Ugee, etc that can offer almost the same functions and performance but at a low price.

What’s the difference between budget display tablets and more premium tablets?

There are several factors that can make premium drawing tablets more expensive than the options on my list above.

First, there’s screen size and resolution. Many of the tablets above are on the smaller side and have lower resolution screens.

A higher 2.5K or 4K pen display with a large drawing area will provide you with more space to work with and a more detailed image but will cost more too.

More expensive screen tablets may also have more productivity features such as multitouch support, Etched glass surface, Wireless Shortcut Remote, and handy design features like adjustable stands.

Should I get a drawing tablet with a screen or not?

As a beginner, you have two options. Either go with the normal pen tablet without a screen or get a drawing tablet with screen.

If you want one under $100 your best bet is likely one without a screen, at that range you can’t find one with a screen.

Well, there is nothing wrong with starting with the pen tablets without screens. They are cheaper, reliable, and get the job done.

But with normal pen tablets, you draw on the graphics tablet placed on your desk while looking up at your monitor at front. For the very first time, it feels weird and it requires a few days to get used to this setup.

If you have more budget, You can easily find a decent display tablet for under $200 or $300, especially for hobby art.

Display tablets are simply better and provide a superior and most natural drawing experience. Drawing over a screen is as natural as drawing on paper and it requires no learning curve.

Also, since you can see what you are drawing right beneath your hands, it feels way more engaging and your learning curve gets faster.

Do Pen display tablets need a computer?

The screen drawing tablets in this list are requires cable connection to a computer to function.

They does not have its own built-in screen or processing power like standalone tablets.

For a similar experience without a computer and needs portability, consider a standalone drawing tablet like Apple ipad.

Best Budget Wireless Drawing Tablets with screen

Display drawing tablet like wacom cintiq, Huion Kamvas, or XPPen Artist doesn’t support wilreless Connectivity, if you want to use it wirelessly, the only choice is to get a standalone drawing tablet with pen.

Unlike Pen Display Tablets, standalone drawing tablets offer full portability,  doesn’t need to be connected to a computer to work, making them ideal for artists, graphic designers, and other creatives who need the flexibility to work anywhere.

The most affordable standalone drawing tablet with screen you can get include Apple iPad 10th Gen (10.9″), Ugee UT2 (10.36″), Simbans Picasso Tab X11 (11.6″), Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (10.4″), Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (10.9″), XPPen Magic Drawing Pad (12.2″).

These standalone Tablets usually runs on Android or Ipad OS. Unlike tradition drawing tablets major designed for Windows and MacOS, They will be compatible with different drawing applications.

Conclusion

Many artists go for cheaper drawing tablets that can offer almost the same functions and performance but at a low price.

Technically they can’t replace a premium pen display’s features completely but they are good enough to provide basic and necessary functions.

I highly recommend all of the budget-friendly drawing tablets with screen on my list above. They’re great options for beginners who want to start to explore digital art without making a huge investment.

Take the time to consider what you require to suit your needs as an artist and your budget. Make a choice that works for you, not anyone else.

Happy drawing!