12 Best Tablets for Photo Editing in Photoshop and Lightroom

By Robin Owens 4 days ago, Graphic Tablets

top 3 best tablets for photo editing

Need the best tablet for photo editing but for an affordable price? Will you use the tablet for Photoshop, Lightroom or storing photos? If your answer is yes, I’ve gathered top photo editing tablets and graphic tablets you can use to edit your photos quickly and easily on the go.

Top 12 Tablets for Image Editing

  1. Wacom Intuos Pro - Best overall choice
  2. HUION Inspiroy H950P - Budget wireless pen tablet
  3. Wacom Intuos Wireless - Affordable graphic drawing tablet
  4. XP-Pen Deco 03 - Multi-function Red Dial design
  5. XP-Pen CR Artist 15.6 Pro - Mid-range drawing tablet with a large surface area
  6. Wacom Cintiq 22 - Affordable pen display with Pro Pen 2 technology
  7. Huion KAMVAS 20 - Comfortable tablet with a screen for Photoshop
  8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 - The best Windows tablet for photo editing
  9. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus - Super sharp screen
  10. Apple iPad Pro 2021 - The best iPad for photo editing
  11. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 - Affordable Android tablet for photo editing
  12. Amazon Fire HD 10 - A great budget option for basic editing

Up until recently, you needed to have a powerful computer with a large screen for editing photos in Photoshop or Lightroom. Today, almost all professional photo retouchers and graphic designers use graphic tablets for editing photos on the go.

When looking at photos taken by professional photographers, it’s important to understand that they were post-processed. Experienced photographers know how to fine-tune colors, edit the background or remove unwanted objects. If you have never edited photos on portable sensor devices, you can always use the FixThePhoto service. Our professionals will easily perform any photo manipulation. They can change a hairstyle, transform a photo into a digital painting, or add special effects.

1. Wacom Intuos Pro – Our Choice

Still a fantastic all-rounder
wacom intuos pro tablet for photo editing

Active area: 8.7 × 5.8 inches | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: USB, Bluetooth | OS: Windows or macOS

  • ✚ The best graphic tablet in this price range
  • ✚ Wired or wireless connection
  • ✚ Multi-touch support
  • ✚ Keyboard shortcuts
  • ✚ Responds to the pen’s tilt
  • It’s not standalone
Rating

This is a great graphic tablet for photographers and retouchers that comes with all the necessary features for photo editing and color grading. The image editing surface is as rough as paper. It has an updated stylus technology that provides a pressure-sensitive 8.192 level to ensure accuracy. It has built-in tilt support.

I like that the stylus works without a battery, so you don’t have to worry about charging it. The kit stylus stand has a stylish design and ensures that the stylus is always there when you need it. This is the best tablet for photo editing that comes with a USB port, supports Windows or macOS.

It also supports Bluetooth, which allows you to connect it to mobile devices. You get multi-touch gestures, radial menus, customizable short keys and convenient side switches.

2. HUION Inspiroy H950P

Easily connect to your phone
huion inspiroy h950p tablet for photo editing

Active area: 8.7 × 5.4 inches | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: USB, Bluetooth, OTG connector | OS: Windows, macOS, Android

  • ✚ Good tablet for beginners
  • ✚ Budget-friendly choice
  • ✚ 8 customizable press keys
  • ✚ Slim and sleek design
  • No screen
  • Needs to be plugged in
Rating

If you are not sure that an image editing tablet is something that you will use regularly enough to justify the cost, the H950P will provide you with all graphic tablet features for an affordable price.

Though the image editing area is small, the stylus is sensitive enough to give you a true idea of the creative benefits that such tablets can offer. This is the perfect option for beginners. If you find that you are comfortable with this device, then you can safely buy a more professional photo editing tablet.

3. Wacom Intuos Wireless

Doesn't need to be charged
wacom intuos wireless tablet for photo editing

Active area: 6,0 × 3,7 inches | Stylus touch sensitivity: 4,096 levels | Connection: USB, Bluetooth, OTG connector | OS: Windows, macOS, Android

  • ✚ Affordable
  • ✚ Thin and lightweight
  • ✚ Four customizable ExpressKeys
  • ✚ 3 creative software trials included
  • Small editing area
  • You need to buy adapters separately
Rating

The Wacom Intuos wireless tablet is an excellent choice for users who enjoy image editing. If your budget is very limited, but you like the Wacom brand, you can’t find a better tablet. After working with this photo editing tablet for some time, you’ll probably notice the similarity with more expensive tablets for photo editing, which have a smooth work surface.

The stylus does not have an eraser. This is a small minus, but the eraser mode is very useful in some cases. However, the stylus still has two buttons on the case. Since the Intuos doesn’t have a screen, it’s perfect for those who don’t care about portability. This tablet is suitable for photo editors who prefer large computer screens to small tablet screens.

4. XP-Pen Deco 03 Wireless

Built to last with a robust design
xp-pen deco 03 tablet for photo editing

Active area: 10 × 5.62 inches | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: USB, USB receiver | OS: Windows or macOS

  • ✚ Handy, ergonomic stylus
  • ✚ Wireless connection
  • ✚ Large photo editing area
  • ✚ Zoom roller
  • Breakable case
Rating

This tablet for photo editing and color grading may become an indispensable device for beginner designers. The editing surface is slightly bigger than the previous models have, but not as large as the more expensive tablets have.

I really like the convenient arrangement of six buttons on the left side of the tablet, as well as the roller for quick zooming and changing the brush size. The roller will be convenient only for digital artists. Professionals will find the keyboard more useful.

5. XP-Pen CR Artist 15.6 Pro

Sleek design with red touch dial
xp-pen artist cr 15.6 pro tablet for photo editing

Active area: 13.54 × 7.62 inches | Resolution: 1920 × 1080 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: HDMI, USB | OS: Windows or macOS

  • ✚ Good stylus and editing surface
  • ✚ Top-quality build
  • ✚ Laminated anti-glare screen
  • ✚ Precise controls
  • May get hot
  • Stand isn’t included
Rating

The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 is a drawing tablet with a display. It will not give you the perfect tactile sensations since its screen doesn’t imitate paper, but it will allow you to see everything that you draw right under your hand, as it has a display.

This is not a standalone computer, but simply an imitation of your display on the tablet screen. The corners of the screen are not very sensitive, so if you are working on Windows, you are unlikely to be able to open the programs in the bottom panel. If you’d like to work faster in Photoshop, choose the best laptop for Photoshop or the best computer for photo editing.

6. Wacom Cintiq 22

The most natural drawing experience
wacom cintiq 22 tablet for photo editing

Active area: 19.5 × 11.5 inches | Resolution: 1920 × 1080 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: HDMI, USB | OS: Windows or macOS

  • ✚ High pressure sensitivity
  • ✚ Smooth work
  • ✚ Customizable express keys
  • ✚ Convenient stand
  • Low screen resolution for such a size
  • Heavy and expensive
Rating

The Wacom Cintiq 22 is a graphic tablet for professional digital artists, designers, architects, and video editors who need the widest range of features with a first-class matrix covering the whole range of colors on an sRGB scale. This is a large 21.5-inch monitor with Full HD resolution. It is built on H-IPS, which makes it the best tablet for viewing pictures as it displays over 16.7 million colors and shades and covers 72 percent on the NTSC scale.

The response speed of the panel is 14 msec. This is enough even for very fast work with a stylus on the monitor surface (hatching, etc.). You get lots of possibilities to set up and calibrate this editing tablet. The Express Keys panel allows you to set a value or combination of keys for all mechanical buttons that are present on the tablet. Switch to the Touch Strip tab and do the same but with the touch area.

7. Huion KAMVAS 20

Smoother transitions between richer colors
huion kamvas 20 tablet for photo editing

Active editing area: 17.09 × 9.37 inches | Resolution: 1920 × 1080 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, USB | OS: Windows or macOS

  • ✚ Anti-glare glass
  • ✚ Support for various interfaces
  • ✚ 120% sRGB Color Gamut
  • ✚ 178° wide viewing angle
  • Very heavy
  • Doesn’t have express keys
Rating

If you want to do professional photo manipulation and editing, but your tablet is too expensive, you don’t need to worry, as there are many cheap graphic tablets available on the market. The Huion KAMVAS 20 is a great alternative to the Wacom Cintiq that also supports Full HD resolution. This graphic tablet is fully compatible with such software as Manga Studio, Photoshop, Lightroom, Clip Studio, and the best laptops for graphic design.

Another thing that makes the Huion a user-friendly tablet is an adjustable stand included in the kit. It supports from 20- to 80-degree fixation angles. Like the Pro Pen 2 model, which is included in the Cintiq kit, the Huion stylus is battery-free. In general, the screen size of 19.5 inches and its high availability make it one of the best photo editing tablets for an affordable price.

8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Powerful laptop-like performance
microsoft surface pro 7 tablet for photo editing

Active area: 12.3” | Resolution: 2736 × 1824 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 4,096 levels | Connection: Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, mini DisplayPort | OS: Windows

  • ✚ Modern ultra-thin design
  • ✚ Great battery capacity
  • ✚ Speedy SSD
  • ✚ SD-card slot
  • ✚ Available in several configurations
  • Accessories aren’t included
  • Expensive
Rating

If you are looking for a Windows-based tablet, you are unlikely to find a better option than the Surface Pro 7. It delivers powerful performance on par with the best laptops. The tablet is fitted with a multi-touch PixelSense screen and has great battery life. Besides, it supports several extra modes, including the Studio mode for drawing and the laptop mode with a removable keyboard. The Surface Pro 7 has a convenient stand, touchpad, and pressure-sensitive stylus.

The device is fitted with the recent generation Intel processors with multiple cores, so you can use not only mobile versions of graphics suites and OS. The Surface Pro is powerful enough for Windows Pro, which allows you to run full versions of Photoshop and other graphic editors. Even if you opt for a basic configuration with 8 GB of RAM and the Intel i5 CPU, it will suffice to run Lightroom CC. Thanks to this editing tablet, you won’t need to use a PC for complex photo editing tasks.

9. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

Super sharp screen
lenovo tab m10 plus tablet for photo editing

Active area: 10.61’’ | Stylus touch sensitivity: 4,096 levels | Connection: USB Type-C port, headphone jack, microSD card slot | OS: Android

  • ✚ High color accuracy
  • ✚ Stylus support for precise editing
  • ✚ Excellent battery life
  • ✚ Budget-friendly
  • Mediocre camera quality
  • Limited options for using full desktop versions of software
Rating

Lenovo Tab M10 Plus tablet for photo editing boasts a high-performance processor, which is essential for smooth and responsive editing. The screen is impressive, with its sharp visuals, wide viewing angles, and good color accuracy. In terms of pricing, the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus falls into the budget-friendly category, making it an attractive option for those on a tight budget.

Battery life is another standout feature of the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus. It lasted me nearly 12 hours on a single charge, which is great for those long editing sessions. The tablet also offers ample internal storage, and if that's not enough, you can easily expand it with a microSD card.

10. Apple iPad Pro 2021

Brilliant Liquid Retina display for next-level performance
apple ipad pro 2021 tablet for photo editing

Active editing area: 12.9” | Resolution: 2732 × 2048 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connection: Lightning, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | OS: iOS

  • ✚ Super-fast
  • ✚ Large, responsive screen
  • ✚ Intuitive, improved stylus
  • ✚ New M1 chip
  • ✚ TrueDepth selfie camera
  • The stylus is sold separately
  • No microSD slot
Rating

This is the latest model in a series of high-performance Apple tablets. The iPad Pro 12.9 offers significant performance improvements compared to its predecessor, as well as a smaller frame. This luxury Retina LCD screen with True Tone technology offers game console-level graphics, making it an excellent surface on which you can draw your projects.

The new Apple Pencil 2 now offers a magnetic connection and new features that can improve your workflow, such as double-tapping to switch modes. It is not suitable for everyone as it does not allow you to download full-fledged software, such as Photoshop CC. This option is suitable only for photo editing or working with other programs, such as Affinity Photo or Pixelmator.

11. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Expanded Galaxy connectivity
samsung galaxy tab s4 tablet for photo editing

Active editing area: 10.5” | Resolution: 2560 × 1600 | Stylus touch sensitivity: 4,096 levels | Connection: USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | OS: Android

  • ✚ Best Samsung tablet design
  • ✚ 12-hour battery life
  • ✚ Fast charging
  • ✚ Comes with the S Pen
  • Slightly outdated features
Rating

Android enthusiasts have a wide range of powerful tablets to choose from. However, many users prefer the Samsung Galaxy S4. With every new version, this series becomes even more impressive. The fourth generation of the tablets from the S series is just as powerful as a 10-inch iPad Pro. However, now, its price became even more affordable.

It’s always pleasant when you don’t have to pay extra for the best stylus for photo editing, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 comes with a quality stylus. Like previous Samsung tablets from the Galaxy series, this one also ensures a nice and smooth editing process. There is also a good set of graphics applications and programs available for Android, although iOS still has a slight advantage in this regard.

12. Amazon Fire HD 10

Alexa is happy to help
amazon fire hd 10 tablet for photo editing

Active editing area: 10.1” | Resolution: 1920 × 1200 | Stylus touch sensitivity: - | Connection: USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | OS: FireOS

  • ✚ Easy to use
  • ✚ Alexa hands-free mode
  • ✚ Add up to 512 GB with microSD
  • ✚ Battery lasts 10 hours
  • A limited choice of apps
  • No graphic stylus support
Rating

The Amazon Fire HD 10 will be a perfect option for those who are looking for a cheap portable editing tablet. Its 10.1-inch Full HD screen makes it suitable for presentations. Besides, this model weighs only 500 g, which makes it quite portable.

As a part of the Amazon ecosystem, the Fire HD has the Alexa voice assistant. The Amazon app store is regularly updated with new apps, so you will easily find a perfect solution for editing your images on the go. Since this tablet was released by Amazon, you can purchase it at a discount price to save money.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
wacom intuos pro table
Wacom Intuos Pro
OUR CHOICE
  • Wired or wireless connection
  • Multi-touch support
  • Keyboard shortcuts
CHECK PRICE
huion inspiroy h950p table
HUION Inspiroy H950P
FOR BEGINNERS
  • Budget-friendly choice
  • 8 customizable press keys
  • Slim and sleek body
CHECK PRICE
wacom intuos wireless table
Wacom Intuos Wireless
BUDGET
  • Thin and lightweight
  • 4 customizable ExpressKeys
  • 3 creative software trials included
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Best Tablet for Photo Editing?

Mirrorless cameras made by Sony have been bestsellers until recent years. Now Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm have started producing mirrorless cameras with a focus on adding the newest features, but Sony continues to be the leader in this area. Why does Sony attract so many fans around the world that they run to the store as soon as any new Sony model appears on the shelves?

If you plan to buy a tablet for working in Photoshop, you should keep in mind a few things that will help you select the best tablet for photo editing easily and for your budget.

Price – this is the most important factor for many beginner designers. If you are just starting to work with a graphic tablet, then purchase a model below $100, which is a great option for mastering the ropes.

Work specification – perfect optimization and recognition of random touches of the fingers and the palm while working with a stylus, which allows you to freely touch and lift the palm at any moment. Almost all modern models are perfectly optimized for this effect.

best tablet for phot editing multitouch

Speed and convenience – express buttons that enable you to customize the functions for each application.

Mobility – the possibility to work away from the main workplace. This is important, as the models which have a display are very heavy and cannot be used without a PC or laptop.

best tablet for photo editing display

The presence of the display on the tablet (many users don't need it, but some designers prefer to have a display). You also need to decide on whether it will be a full-fledged tablet with good camera resolution or an additional display for a computer.

The stylus is also the most important item on the list. The best option is a stylus-based electromagnetic resonance technology (does not require charging) that has a low Initial Activation Force.

Photo Editing Tablet Accessories Recommended by FixThePhoto

To work with a graphic tablet, you need a stylus. There are numerous models you can use, and each stylus is designed for a different purpose.

1. Wacom Pro Pen 3D

wacom pro pen 3d tablet for photo editing

The third button may not seem new, but it allows the Pro Pen 3D to support panning and zooming in three dimensions, providing 3D artists with unobstructed navigation when using the Wacom tablet.

2. Apple Pencil 2nd Gen

apple pencil 2nd gen tablet for photo editing

Apple Pencil brings your work to life. With imperceptible lag, pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, it can be transformed into your favorite creative instruments, like a paint brush, charcoal, or pencil.

3. Adonit Pro 4

adonit pro 4 tablet for photo editing

If you don’t like the Apple Pencil or it isn’t compatible with your iPad, this stylish pen works on any iPad (or Android tablet). The pen combines a pointed tip with a plastic circle. It’s quite convenient to use.

4. Huion Artist Glove

huion artist glove tablet for photo editing

Give your hand the support you need for long-term work. The Artist glove is made of high-quality sports compression material. This glove also helps minimize friction when you draw on a digital graphics tablet. This is a great advantage since friction appears only between a stylus nib and the surface of the tablet.

5. Stargoods Artist Glove

stargoods artist glove tablet for photo editing

This glove was created with the help of special fabric technology, which makes it quite comfortable to use. A mixture of fabrics is known for breathability, moisture absorption and evaporative cooling, which is great for intense work.

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