Wacom is a brand known for their high-quality drawing tablets at the upper end of most artists’ budget. Luckily, It also launched a series of entry-level tablets attempts to fit a more affordable price range.

If you are looking for a wacom graphics tablet but on a tight budget, You will find 3 cheap wacom options include One by Wacom (2020), Wacom intuos (2018), and newer Wacom One (2023).

Are you torn between these three tablets: What’s the difference betwen them? which one is best for you? You are not alone, Many users have the same question.

If you are a beginner and don’t know much about drawing tablets, the little difference between them will put you in turmoil. Then you’ll require some source that can guide you correctly.

Therefore, in this article, I will compare three graphics tablets – one by Wacom, Wacom intuos, and newer Wacom One to give you a clear idea, which tablet will best suit your needs.

One by Wacom vs Intuos vs Wacom One 2023 pen tablets Comparison

Now let’s have a quick look at the features and get ourselves familiar with these devices.

Key Pen Tablet Features In-Depth Comparison

Below is an In-Depth comparison of the One by Wacom, Wacom Intuos and Wacom One Pen Tablets 2023, covering all important features and specifications.

Tablet Size

All of these Wacom tablets are graphics tablets, which means they have no built-in display at all. You will have to draw on the tablet surface and then look up at a separate monitor.

The active areas of the small and medium versions of newer Wacom One (2023) are almost same to the small and medium Intuos and also the One by Wacom.

Tablet size is strongly determined by computer screen size – the larger it is, the bigger the tablet should be for a comfortable use.

As for these 3 wacom tablets, Small versions are more portable and affordable, while medium ones provide more drawing space, and higher precision. Feels better.

If you want to use you pen tablet for drawing, I recommend you get the medium version, as the small version may feel limiting when working on detailed pieces.

If you’re a photographer and use it for photo editing & retouching in photoshop, then the size is not an issue, either is ok.

Stylus Pen

Stylus Pen directly influences how natural and comfortable the drawing feels. One of the biggest selling features of the Wacom tablet is the incredibly accurate digital pen.

All the 3 stylus pens are battery free, powered through electromagnetic resonance (EMR), meaning they don’t require recharging or battery replacements. Thus they’re light, comfortable, and convenient for extended use.

The Intuos and newer wacom one have 4,096 levels of pen pressure, which means that you can get really nice, smooth transitions between opacity and line width, and it feels a lot more natural to draw.

In one by wacom model you only had 2,048 pressure levels, which is an obvious disadvantage. if your work relies on lineart then yes, 4096 levels will give you more control .

Both the pen of Wacom intuos and one by wacom does not support tilt recognition. Only the newer wacom one models support tilt like the more expensive Wacom Intuos Pro lineup.

Tilt sensitivity enables the stylus to detect the angle at which it is held, affecting the direction and shape of the brush stroke. It allows for dynamic line variation, making the digital experience feel closer to traditional media.

If you need both higher 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, then you have to go with the new wacom one (2023).

But that’s not all in terms of pen performance or drawing experience. wacom intuos have lower initial activation force (IAF) than One by wacom and even new Wacom one. Higher IAF means that you have to press slightly harder for the tablet to register your pen strokes.

Although not support tilt, The Wacom Intuos has a very low IAF-2g, and the lines are almost transparent showing that the tablet is capable of drawing extremely light pen pressures. That’s why many users report that the pen performance of intuos is better than newer wacom one.

Connectivity

One By Wacom doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth connectivity. So you need a cable to connect the tablet to your computer.

Both Intuos Medium Version and new Wacom One Small & Medium comes standard with wireless Bluetooth connectivity. For Intuos Small, The wireless is optional.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology, so you can enjoy the convenience of wireless creating. This capability also helps keep the area around your desk less cluttered, eliminate cable clutter.

Generally, You can save a lot by choose the wired only version. and This is not a must-have feature! wired connection ensures a more stable and intact signal transmission.

Note that the wireless bluetooth version also supports USB connection and comes with a usb cable. So if the bluetooth isn’t working to your satisfaction, just attach it with a cable.

In addition, Both One by wacom and Wacom intuos have the USB-A Cable/Port, While new Wacom one comes with a modern USB-C Cable/Port. For Mac users, you’ll need to get an extra Usb-A To Usb-C Adapter.

Express Keys

One of the largest differences between wacom intuos and other two tablets in terms of appearance is the progammable buttons.

You’ll notice that there are four Express Keys on wacom intuos, and you can program these Express Keys to do just about anything.

The one by wacom and newer wacom one does not have any buttons on the table. This makes the intuos better if you want buttons.

Design

All 3 wacom tablets are lightweight, uncomplicated and stylish, making it an excellent choice for those early in their creative career.

One by Wacom: Its drawing surface is black and the base is bright red.

Wacom one 2023: Its drawing surface is black and the base is white.

Wacom Intuos: Its drawing surface is black and the base comes in black, pistachio and berry colors that suit any surrounding.

Build Quality

All three wacom tablets have similar build quality that are very solid, But if we must compare them side by side, The Intuos is better constructed, especially the stylus pen-a bit heavier. It’s built and should last for years of use.

This is also related to market positioning. Wacom Intuos is positioned as mid-range pen tablet while one by wacom and wacom one are positioned as entry-level.

Drawing Surface

All 3 wacom tablets have a nice rougher textured surface, which feels more paper like, and it has dotted guides that help you easily navigate the path you’re drawing.

I think the dots are super useful, especially if you’re using a small tablet and have a small display screen because sometimes you can get lost where you’re drawing on.

Compatibility

All three wacom tablets can easily integrate with Windows, Mac OS, and Chorme OS. So you can use them with top designing & drawing software on Windows & Mac platforms, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio paint, Sketchbook, Corel Painter, Artrage 6, Rebelle 7, GIMP (free), Krita (free), Medibang Paint (free), etc.

However, one by wacom lacks the compatibility with android, while the other 2 tablets support that. If you want to buy a drawing tablet to use with your android smartphone or tablet, you need to be aware of this.

Conclusion

Wacom is the leading brand in the pen tablet industry, and their products are pricey – but you know that you’re paying for quality and durability.

All 3 tablets are for beginners and budget conscious people. Personally, I think they are good enough for production work as well, but that’s just me.

Choosing the right wacom graphic tablet absolutely depends upon your requirement. I suggest you make your check-list before plunging into the market that includes size, pen performance, bluetooth connection, and most importantly your budget.

Buy what you can afford. These are simply tools after all. Anything will do the job effectively if you learn to use it in such way.

Since the Wacom intuos is a very old model, it has been sold at a discount. This makes the price seem a lot more reasonable.

The new Wacom One (2023) is far more expensive than the one by wacom (2020), If price is your greatest concern, I would strongly recommend getting an one by wacom.

Although it doesn’t support tilt and has lower 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, it’s still good enough for painting, editing photos, taking notes, playing OSU, annotating pdf, etc.

If you have the money to get extra features and specs like tilt sensitivity, more pressure levels, and wireless functionality, then get the Wacom One (2023). It’s a really capable product that can handle even professional work environments.

Explore More: 7 Best Wacom Drawing Tablets of 2025