We have rounded up the best Wacom tablets for students. The digital age has transformed the way students learn and create. For those pursuing fields like art, design, architecture, or even note-taking, a Wacom tablet can be a game-changer. Renowned for their precision, natural feel, and versatility, Wacom tablets offer an unparalleled creative experience.
But with a variety of models and features available, choosing the right Wacom tablet for your specific needs can be daunting. Whether you’re a budding artist, a design enthusiast, or a student simply looking to enhance your note-taking, this guide is here to help. We’ll break down the essential features, compare popular models, and provide expert recommendations to ensure you find the perfect Wacom tablet to fuel your academic journey and unleash your creative potential.
Here are the best Wacom tablets for students.
Best Wacom Tablets for Students
| 1 | Wacom Cintiq 22 (Best Pick) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom MobileStudio 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | One by Wacom | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Wacom One 13 Touch | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Wacom Cintiq 22 (Best Pick)
Wacom Cintiq 22 Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 19.5 x 11.5 inches | Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connections: HDMI, USB 2.0 | OS: Windows, macOS
Pros
- Large drawing area
- Excellent pen performance
- Improved design
- Durable build quality
Cons
- No built-in shortcut keys
The best Wacom tablet for students is the Wacom Cintiq 22. The Wacom Cintiq 22 is a high-quality pen display that stands out for its durability, pressure-sensitive pen, and good value for money.
Even though other brands offer features like 4K resolution and gesture control for a similar price, the Cintiq 22 prioritizes a solid build quality and a tried-and-true pen that professional artists are familiar with. The 22-inch Full HD display with anti-glare coating provides a spacious and clear working area, while the Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8192 pressure levels delivers a natural drawing experience. While some competitors might boast even higher pressure sensitivity, the Pro Pen 2 is known for its comfortable design and responsiveness.
The Cintiq 22 is a good choice for those who prioritize a reliable and long-lasting pen display over the latest features. It comes with an adjustable stand, but it lacks shortcut buttons and gesture control functionalities, which are available as separate purchases.
2. Wacom MobileStudio 16
Wacom MobileStudio 16 Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 15.6 inch or 13.3 inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (UHD) | Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels of pen pressure | Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi, x3 USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 3, SD card | OS: Windows
Pros
- Powerful performance
- Excellent pen
- Large, high-resolution display
- Portable
Cons
- Expensive
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is a powerful pen computer designed specifically for professional digital artists. Unlike the iPad Pro, which can only run mobile versions of design software, the Wacom runs a full Windows operating system, allowing you to use the same software you would on a desktop computer. This makes it a great choice for artists who do 3D design and visual effects (VFX) work, as these programs require a lot of processing power.
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 has a larger screen and more connection options than the iPad Pro. It has a wider bezel, but it also has a USB-C port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an audio jack, and an SD card reader slot. This allows you to connect it to a larger monitor or other devices if needed. The Wacom also has customizable shortcut buttons and a dial that can be used to select brushes, files, and other tools.
Another advantage of the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is that it has a very fast solid state drive (SSD) for storing your files and programs. It also has a built-in camera that can be used for 3D scanning using Intel RealSense technology. However, the cameras are not the best quality.
The biggest downside to the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is that it is heavy and bulky, and it doesn’t come with a built-in stand. This means that it is not as portable as the iPad Pro. However, it is very well-built and reliable, and many artists appreciate the fact that they can upgrade and repair the components if needed. Another downside is that the battery life is not as good as the iPad Pro.
3. Wacom Cintiq Pro 27
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 335 x 596mm | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K) | Battery powered: No | Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 | Connections: USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A
Pros
- Large 27.9-inch Ultra HD display
- High sensitivity levels
- Double the refresh rate (120Hz) compared to Pro 16
- Can function as a full-fledged monitor for a laptop or PC
Cons
- Expensive
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 pen display boasts a massive 27.9-inch Ultra HD display, providing an incredibly spacious drawing area. With high sensitivity levels and multi-touch support, you can create using either the stylus or your fingers for a natural and intuitive experience.
While the price is certainly steeper compared to the smaller Pro 16 model (almost double!), the Pro 27 offers significant upgrades. The refresh rate is doubled (120Hz vs 60Hz), providing smoother visuals. The color gamut is also vastly improved (30-bit vs 8-bit), ensuring richer and more accurate colors. Additionally, the large screen can function as a full-fledged monitor for your connected laptop or PC, eliminating the need for a separate display.
However, this size comes with drawbacks. The sheer scale of the Pro 27 makes it less portable and more cumbersome than other options. Sitting close to such a large screen for extended periods can be uncomfortable, and the size makes it impractical to use with a wrist support on your desk. This display is truly geared towards professional artists who can take advantage of the expansive workspace and don’t mind the footprint. Amateur or aspiring creatives might find a smaller and more manageable option to be a better fit.
4. One by Wacom
One by Wacom Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 152 x 95 mm (S), 216 x 135 mm (M) | Battery powered: No| Pen pressure sensitivity: 2,048 |Connections: USB
Pros
- Affordable
- Great drawing experience
- Portable and lightweight
- Easy to use
- Multiple sizes
Cons
- Limited features
One by Wacom is a budget-friendly drawing tablet designed for beginners, especially young artists. Unlike most drawing tablets, it doesn’t have a screen, so you’ll be drawing on the tablet while looking at your work on a separate computer monitor. This makes it very affordable.
The tablet comes in two sizes, small and medium, making it compact and portable for those who like to draw on the go. While it doesn’t have the fancy features of some other drawing tablets, it does have a pressure-sensitive pen with 2,048 levels of pressure, which allows for creating lines with varying thickness based on how hard you press. The pen is comfortable to hold and it provides a good drawing experience, even though it lacks shortcut keys.
This is a great entry-level option for those who are just starting out with digital art and want an affordable way to get started.
5. Wacom One 13 Touch
Wacom One 13 Touch Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 294 x 165 mm | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) | Battery powered: No | Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 | Connections: USB-C, HDMI
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Great drawing experience
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and Android
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Plastic build
- Large bezels
The Wacom One 13 Touch is an affordable drawing tablet designed for students and aspiring artists. It’s an upgrade to the previous Wacom One model, offering a more compact design with a 13.3-inch display and a smaller footprint. This makes it easier to hold in your lap and carry around, even though there’s no built-in stand.
The name says it all – the 13 Touch supports multi-touch gestures, but you can turn it off if you prefer using just the pen. The screen is made of glass, which feels more premium than the plastic surface of the earlier model. It also boasts improved contrast, brightness, and acceptable Full HD resolution, although it might not be enough for professional work.
Overall, the Wacom One 13 Touch is a good choice for those starting out with digital art or looking for a portable drawing tablet.
6. Wacom Intuos Pro (Large)
Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) Key Specifications
Active drawing area: 12.1 x 8.4in | Screen resolution: NA | Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connections: USB, Bluetooth | OS: Windows or macOS
Pros
- Customizable shortcut buttons
- Large drawing area
- Industry-leading pressure sensitivity
- Battery-free pen
- Durable and well-built
Cons
- Isn’t a standalone tablet
The Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) is a drawing tablet designed for professional artists and designers. It’s compatible with pretty much any creative software you can imagine, making it a versatile tool.
This tablet is known for its large size (16.8 x 11.2 inches) and feels very sturdy thanks to the black anodized aluminum and fiberglass composite resin build. It’s just 8mm thin and has a slight flex to it, making it feel comfortable to use.
One of the key features of the Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) is the Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels, which allows for very natural drawing experience. The tablet also supports multitouch gestures and comes with eight customizable shortcut buttons and a dial on the side.
Unlike some cheaper tablets, the Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) connects to your computer via Bluetooth and comes with everything you need to get started, including the pen. It’s important to note that this tablet only comes with one pen, the traditional Wacom design, but other pen styles are sold separately.
The Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) is very well-supported with excellent calibration software and near universal compatibility with creative software. It’s easy to set up and use, but if you’re upgrading from a different tablet, make sure to uninstall the old drivers first.
Best Wacom Tablets for Students
| 1 | Wacom Cintiq 22 (Best Pick) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom MobileStudio 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | One by Wacom | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Wacom One 13 Touch | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | Wacom Intuos Pro (Large) | Check Price on Amazon |
