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How to Buy a Professional Drawing Tablet

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Professional Drawing Tablet

Get the right screen for your art by timing your purchase and spreading out the cost without interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $850 before anything else
Across the 0% window $56.67/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $850 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

A good tablet should last you five years or more. You are looking for something with a high-resolution screen and a pen that feels natural, not laggy. If you buy a cheap one now, you will just end up replacing it in a year when your skills outgrow the hardware.

New models usually drop in the spring, which makes the November sales the perfect time to grab last year's flagship. The tech does not move that fast, so a year-old pro model is almost always a better deal than a brand-new entry-level one.

This is not a gift from the bank. If you still have a balance after those 15 months, the standard interest rate kicks in on whatever is left, and that gets expensive fast.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your size

    Think about your desk space. A huge screen is great but hard to move, while a medium one is usually the sweet spot for most illustrators. Check the color gamut to ensure what you see on screen matches what you print.

  2. 02

    Wait for November

    Major retailers drop prices significantly during the week of Thanksgiving. Bookmark your choice now so you do not get distracted by flash sales on brands you have not researched.

  3. 03

    Use the 15-month window

    The Discover it® Cash Back (Discover) offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. This lets you take that $850 price tag and turn it into $56.67 a month while you get to work.

  4. 04

    Check the pen tech

    Make sure the stylus is included in the box. Some brands charge an extra hundred dollars for the pen, and you need one with tilt support to make your digital strokes look like real ink.

  5. 05

    Skip the expensive stand

    Manufacturers love to upsell proprietary stands for $100 or more. A generic VESA mount or a sturdy laptop riser from a third party does the same job for a fraction of the cost.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Is a screen tablet better than a pen tablet?

Screen tablets let you draw directly on your work, which is more intuitive for most people. Pen tablets are cheaper but have a steeper learning curve because you look at a monitor instead of your hand.

Do I need the latest model?

Not really. Tablet tech has plateaued lately, so a model from two years ago still handles high-resolution textures and pressure sensitivity perfectly fine.

What happens if I miss a payment?

You will likely lose that 0% rate immediately. Set up an autopay for the $56.67 so you do not accidentally end up owing interest on the full purchase.

Should I buy used?

Only if you can test the screen in person first. Scratches on a drawing surface are a nightmare, and battery life on older portable tablets can be hit or miss.