Standalone drawing tablet offers unmatched convenience for digital artists due to their portability. They offer a chance to draw, paint, sketch, and edit whenever you get inspired, even during your travels.

As beginners and hobbyists, we don’t always require the best, highest spec’d, and most expensive standalone drawing tablets to carry out our ceative work.

There are many very good cheaper alternatives available on the market to the more expensive models.

That said, there is trade off for a reduced price, and many of the cheaper tablets come with limited tech specs, which some users may find difficult. However for the most part many are willing to make this trade off.

So in this guide, I have carefully crafted this list to ensure that you get the best possible standalone drawing tablet that fits your budget. You’ll also learn everything you need to know to pick a great tablet at an affordable price.

What is a Standalone Drawing Tablet?

Unlike traditional drawing tablets that must be connected to a computer to use, standalone tablets offer a screen and computer within one device.

This makes them highly compact and portable – allowing you to carry and work from almost anywhere.

Besides, many standalone drawing tablets can work as multipurpose devices, making them quite useful when you need the functionality of a standard tablet.

7 Cheapest Standalone Drawing Tablets: Affordable and Budget-friendly

In a hurry? Here are my top recommendations.

1. Apple ipad 10th Gen

The 2022 Apple iPad (10th Gen) is a solid all-around tablet that highly recommended for those on a budget because it’s the cheapest one Apple sold.

It comes with the button-free aesthetic of its more expensive siblings. The bezels are a little thicker here, but they are symmetrical and makes for a gorgeous design that is accentuated with fun colors.

The battery lasts around 10 hours, and it runs about any design app from Apple’s App Store with ease, including the well-known procreate drawing app.

Its 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, boasting a resolution of 2360 x 1640 and 101.2% of the sRGB color gamut, truly brings your artwork to life with vibrant colors and crisp details.

The A14 Bionic CPU and GPU system-on-a-chip has more than enough power to put most laptops to shame, which can handle demanding apps smoothly.

The 1st Generation Apple Pencil is sold separately, but it’s worth the extra cost. It glides on smoothly on the screen, and the superior pressure sensitivity, quick response rates, accurate tracking, tilt recognition lets you create more dynamic drawings.

However, it’s worth mentioning the absence of a laminated screen, causing slight parallax, and the limited base storage of 64GB for basic model. For most people, this isn’t a problem, but some artists may feel troubled.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a compact, solid Android tablet that will help you multitask, and draw without breaking the bank. It is all a step up from the Tab S6 Lite, but is not quite the level of the flagship Tab S9 model, of course.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9FE has a 10.9″ TFT LCD display with a resolution of 1140 x 2304 pixels and 98% sRGB color gamut coverage. The images are clear and crisp.

Further, the screen has a refresh rate of 90Hz which helps with smoother transitions and animations. It also has a powerful 8,000 mAh battery and supports fast charging via the included charger.

With 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, the octa-core Exynos 1380 processor does an excellent job of keeping it fluid and speedy.

Thanks to the EMR Tech, The included Samsung S Pen is battery-free and doesn’t require charging. To make sure the S Pen is always by your side when you need it – it magnetically sticks at the back of the tablet.

Other than that the pen tracking, pressure sensitivity as well as tilt sensitivity is also outstandingly good. All these features combined together result in a very natural drawing and writing experience.

With an 8000 mAh battery, the tablet carry through a day of moderate usage (video streaming, drawing and note-taking as well as web surfing) without demanding a charge.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9FE offers the best bang-for-buck for digital artists wanting an affordable standalone device.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is still one of the best android drawing tablets for beginner digital artists on a budget.

It comes with a 10.4-inch TFT LCD screen that has a resolution of 2000 x 1200 and covers 98.4% of the sRGB color gamut, which is quite frankly amazing, very bright, colorful, and crisp.

The tablet is powered by an Exynos 1280 octa-core chipset, which delivers adequate performance for everyday tasks, but not very fast as S9 FE and the RAM is limited to just 4GB.

Just like the S6 FE, it features the Samsung S Pen, which perfectly transforms the tablet into a virtual canvas. And the Big 7,040mAh battery offers enough battery life to last you an entire day.

There are other cheaper android tablets available in the market but none of them has the combination of a good screen and an excellent stylus that you get with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 lite.

4. Ugee UT2

The Ugee UT2 is an excellent budget android drawing tablet with a premium feel, perfect for digital art, note-taking, and reading.

The 10.4-inch IPS screen has a resolution of 2000 x 1200 and 100% sRGB color gamut, providing vivid and colorful pictures.

Display is laminated so there’s almost no gap between the line and the pen tip. The matte textured surface provides a subtle tactile drawing experience that feels nice.

You do get better tech specs than the Samsung Tab S6 Lite, The processor is an MTK Helio G99 (MTK8781) Octa-Core, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage with a microSD card slot.

The U-Pencil feels natural in hand, like a real pen. While it comes with a battery, charging through USB-C is very handy. It even has an eraser on the top end.

Other than that the pen tracking, palm rejection, pressure sensitivity as well as tilt sensitivity is also outstandingly good. All these features combined together result in a very natural drawing and writing experience.

Inside, the tablet holds a 7A battery that ensures a working time of up to 9.5 hours on a single charge. It runs on android 14 so most Android art apps can run on this device.

5. Simbans PicassoTab X11

If you’re looking for an entry-level standalone drawing tablet at an affordable price, then the Simbans PicassoTab X11 is an ideal choice.

The 11-inch IPS screen provides vibrant color accuracy and 2K resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 Pixels, enhancing the drawing experience and ensuring that artwork is rendered beautifully and distinctly.

Display is laminated so there’s almost no gap between the line and pen tip. Even better, The screen has a matte, anti glare coating on it.

The tablet uses a MediaTek MTK8183 Octa-core processor and 6 GB of RAM, which makes it easy to multitask. Its ample 128GB storage space provides enough room for storing your artwork, pictures, and more.

The Picasso Pen 3 is powered by one AAAA battery, uses USI 2 tech, supports tilt, 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and palm rejection.

The pen performance is not good enough to create professional art but for casual sketching or drawing it works fine.

The PicassoTab X11 runs on Android 13 OS that most people find familiar and easy to use. The tablet already comes with nifty pre-installed drawing apps, and you can even download more from the Play Store.

6. Huion Kamvas Slate 10

The Huion Kamvas Slate 10 impresses with its sleek and lightweight design. It feels comfortable to hold, and its slim profile makes it perfect for tossing in a backpack or satchel.

The tablet is fixed in its textured sleeve which also doubles as a stand and is home to the stylus.

The 10.1-inch display has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 90% sRGB color gamut, which gives ample drawing space with decent clarity and vibrancy.

While the display isn’t laminated, there’s minimal parallax between the pen tip and the cursor, ensuring a near-natural drawing experience.

On the performance side, the tablet is no slouch either, the Unisoc T616 Octa-core processor and 8GB of RAM is fast enough to easily glide through everyday tasks.

The HS200 stylus is battery-powered, uses USI 2.0 tech, delivers 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt, allowing for smooth lines and strokes.

The high-capacity 6000mAh battery supports up to 7 hours of usage on a single charge. It can run the best drawing apps for Android, including Sketchbook pro, Ibis Paint, Infinite Painter and more.

Overall, HUION Kamvas Slate 10 tablet and pen performance was fine for a casual doodler, or younger user as Huion claims it’s for. Affordable, easy to use, responsive, and portable.

7. Frunsi T11 Pro

Frunsi T11 Pro is a great android drawing tablet that you can get at the lowest budget.

The case provides full protection for the tablet. Behind the tablet is a stand with magnets at the bottom to “lock” the deployment angle.

The 10-inch IPS LCD display comes with a 1920×1200 px resolution. This allows for a very crisp and colorful image, very pleasant for the eyes!

The processor is the entry level Mediatek MT8183 Octa-core processor and 4GB RAM. It’s fast enough for general use such as web browsing, watching videos, drawing.

The pen is powered by one AAAA battery, supports palm rejection and pressure sensitivity, providing decent line quality – Lines are able to taper sharply and smoothly. .

However, the PicassoTab XL was not without its limitations. Its 64GB of storage occasionally felt limiting, and the battery life of 5-7 hours was somewhat shorter than what other tablets offered.

Overall, The Frunsi T11 Pro tablet is good enough for casual drawing, for kids or teenagers, but the drawing performance is not at the level required by professional artists.

What to Look for When Buying a cheap Standalone Drawing Tablet?

Here’s what to look out for when you’re shopping around for a cheap standalone tablet:

1. Screen Size

One of the most crucial aspects of a standalone drawing tablet is the screen size.

A larger display lets you create more elaborate pieces, while a smaller one makes a device more portable.

2. Display Quality

In a standalone drawing tablet, the quality of a display plays a crucial role in giving the best drawing experience.

You want it to have the ability to support a lot of colors to make your drawings more diverse. Similarly, you want a display with the right amount of brightness, and a nit value usually defines this.

As for resolution, you want crisp, clear visuals that let you see every detail of your work. In this case, the principle is simple: the higher the resolution, the better.

The addition of a laminated screen is a nice addition and really reduces parallax.

Moreover, it’s best to go for tablets with an anti-glare coating on the display as it reduces the light reflection. This feature is helpful for those who work outside in sunlit environments or heavily lit spaces.

3. Stylus Pen

Standalone drawing tablets may come with a stylus, or you may need to purchase one separately. This stylus or pen lets you draw on the tablet’s surface with precision.

So, always remember that it has to be light and comfortable as well as fast and responsive.

The styluses come in different styles, but the most common ones include the rechargeable variant like the Apple Pencil or the battery-free, EMR variant sold with Samsung tablets.

Hence, it would be great for those artists who want to avoid running out of ink or batteries.

4. Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity is a critical factor for any standalone drawing tablet. The higher the pressure sensitivity of your stylus, the better the work it does.

High-pressure sensitivity will allow you to sketch, shade, and draw accurate designs. Looking for tablets with at least 2048 levels.

5. Tilt Sensitivity

A more advanced feature found in some styluses, such as Apple pencil, or Samsung S Pen, is tilt sensitivity. This attempts to emulate a more natural drawing experience, and allows to change the direction of your strokes.

6. Performance

Choose a standalone tablet with a decent processor and sufficient RAM for smooth multitasking and drawing.

If possible, look for 4GB of RAM or more (exception for Apple ipads). This will help make multitasking smooth.

7. Storage

Pay close attention to storage specs, too. I recommend at least 64GB of built-in storage for installing apps and storing multimedia.

If you plan to store large photo or video files, you might need 128GB because they takes up a ton of space. Of course, a microSD card slot can’t hurt.

8. Operating System

When it comes to choosing a standalone drawing tablet, you should always pay attention to selecting the right operating system. The OS dictates the overall experience of a tablet and the apps and programs that you will be able to use on the device.

So, if you’re a beginner, it’s best to go for a drawing tablet that runs on an Android. However, if you already have devices like an Apple iPhone or a Macbook, choosing something that goes well with the Apple ecosystem might be better.

9. Battery Life

You want long battery life so that you work from anywhere on your tablet.

You don’t want the battery to run out when you’re not near a power source.

So, look for digital devices that offer 8+ hours of battery life on a full charge.

Are cheap standalone drawing tablets worth it?

Cheap standalone drawing tablets can be a good option for those who are just starting out with digital art or who don’t need a high-end standalone tablet for professional use.

These tablets may have limited features and may not be as responsive or precise as more expensive models, but they can still be a good tool for casual or beginner artists.

That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that you often get what you pay for when it comes to technology.

Cheap tablets may have weaker processor, less RAM, uses IPS screen instead pf OLED Screen, and may not last as long as more expensive models.

They may also have less accurate pressure sensitivity or other features that may impact the overall user experience.

Conclusion

Are you a digital artist who has to travel a lot? If yes, then a standalone drawing tablet is a handy tool to have.

I have personally gone through each one of the items on the list and can assure you that no matter which drawing tablet you pick; it will work exactly as described.

The Apple ipad 10th gen is the best, most affordable standalone drawing tablet. But other brands like Samsung and Ugee offer similar alternatives that are still budget-friendly.

Purchasing a tablet is an investment and I want you to get the very best one your budget allows.

So choose the model that meets your needs, and go start drawing!