9 Best Tablets With Stylus Pen For Drawing & Writing | 2024 Edition

Which are the best tablets with a pen? After very few tablets came with a stylus initially, the selection is much bigger now. Each year, lots of devices that support an active stylus are released. Some run Windows 11, others Android, and after some hesitation, all iPads now support an Apple Pencil. I’ve reviewed almost every tablet that has been released since 2008 and here are the best ones you can buy with a pen.

At the beginning of this list, you’ll find a rough overview of the tablets that I currently recommend. Further down, you will find more information and you can compare them in detail. My detailed reviews are linked for each. Additionally, you can watch my videos about each tablet.

We start with our top recommendations, which are also very expensive. Further down, more affordable models are listed. All tablets that I recommend here are very suitable for handwritten notes and drawings. For most people, an entry-level to mid-range tablet is sufficient. However, the expensive models are worth it for professionals.

Best tablets with a stylus: An Overview

Here is a quick overview of my recommendations.

• Best iPad with a stylus: Apple iPad Pro (at Amazon*). The 11-inch and 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro are the best tablets you can currently buy. Both support the Apple Pencil 2 and Pencil USB C, have 120Hz displays, and the stylus is exceptionally well supported by the software. At the same time, the performance is good enough for the most demanding graphic apps.
• Best Android tablets with a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series (at Amazon*). Among Android tablets, the three tablets of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series are our test winners. The 11-inch S9, the 12.4-inch S9+, and the 14.6-inch huge S9 Ultra support the S Pen, and it is even included. They each have 120Hz AMOLED displays and the software for the S Pen is excellent.
• The best Windows tablet with a stylus: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (at Amazon*). If you want a tablet with Windows 11 and a stylus, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best choice based on my reviews. The Slim Pen 2 works very well, we also get a fast 120Hz display here, and the pen is well supported in Windows.
• The best iPad Pro alternative: Apple iPad Air (at Amazon*). If the iPad Pro is too expensive for you, then the iPad Air is the best alternative from Apple. It supports exactly the same Apple Pencil 2, the software is identical, and the 10.9-inch display is similar to the 11-inch Pro. However, it is a regular 60Hz panel. Still, the performance is almost as good thanks to the M1 chipset.
• The best 8-inch tablet with a stylus: Apple iPad Mini (at Amazon*). Unchallenged, the Apple iPad Mini is the best 8-inch tablet with a stylus on the market. It works with the Apple Pencil 2, has a chic and small 60Hz display, and the software is very good. It’s just a shame that it is unrivaled and the only recommendable 8-inch tablet with a stylus.
• Best mid-range tablets with a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series (at Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+ are an excellent choice if you’re looking for good mid-range tablets with a stylus. In many respects, the 11-inch FE and 12.4-inch FE+ are almost as good as the more expensive regular S9 series – the S Pen works almost the same. However, to make a cheaper price possible, features like an AMOLED display are missing.
• More affordable iPad with a stylus: Apple iPad 10 (at Amazon*). In many respects, the iPad 10 is similar to the iPad Air but is a good bit cheaper. Hardly anyone will notice a real difference in performance. However, it’s a pity that the display is not laminated and it only works with the Apple Pencil 1 and USB C.
• The best value for money with a stylus: Apple iPad 9 (at Amazon*). Due to its low price, the Apple iPad 9 has the best value for money on this list. It supports the Apple Pencil 1 and the software is the same as the iPad Pro. Although the 10.2-inch 60Hz display is not laminated, this will not be a problem for most people, especially students.
• The most affordable Android tablet with a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022 (at Amazon*). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022 is the most affordable Android tablet with a stylus that I can recommend. Although it is at the bottom of the list, it is still very well suited because the excellent S Pen is included and the software is just as good as the S9. But of course, the 10.4-inch display and performance are weaker.

Best tablets with a stylus: All the details

Let’s take a closer look at the tablets. As said, the reviews are linked respectively. It’s also worth comparing between more expensive and more affordable models. You will see that many do not need to go for the most expensive tablet, as mid-range products are often good enough.

Apple iPad Pro: My Top Picks

The 11-inch and 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro, according to my tests and all results, are the best tablets on the market. And since both support a stylus, they are also the best tablets with a pen. The Apple Pencil 2 must be purchased separately, as with the others on this list. The tip of the pen is pressure-sensitive and supports over 4000 pressure levels. It charges via induction on the side of the iPad.

Software-wise, the Apple Pencil 2 is really well supported. A notes app comes pre-installed. In it, you can write handwritten notes, handwriting recognition works wonderfully, and it also serves as a drawing pad. The Scribble feature is quite new. With it, you can write by hand in almost any standard text field, and your handwriting is converted into typewritten text.

In addition to the in-house apps, you can, of course, install many more. One advantage of iPads is that the selection of apps optimized specifically for tablets is enormous. So, there are many professional drawing apps, but also photo editing programs like Adobe Photoshop.

You can get the iPad Pro with an 11-inch and a 12.9-inch screen, both of which are very good. At 600 nits, they are brighter than the other tablets on this list, and they have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This means, for one thing, that animations look smoother than on typical 60Hz displays, but also that the “ink” from the Apple Pencil appears on the display faster. There is thus no visible lag when writing.

Overall, the iPad Pro series is among the best tablets out there. The built-in Apple M2 chipset is more powerful than some expensive laptops and significantly more powerful than the best Android tablet. Thus, not only can you play the latest games, but also edit and render 4K videos.

Other features include Face ID facial recognition, four excellent speakers, a high-quality metal case, good cameras, and a LiDAR sensor. There are also two keyboard covers as optional accessories, the Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.

Yet even the top pick is not perfect. They are not only very expensive, but the 12.9-inch model suffers from blooming effects in some situations.

Also Read: My Ultimate Apple Pencil Guide: Everything About Pencil 1, 2, and USB C

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra: The Best Android Tablets

The tablets of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series compete very strongly with the Apple iPad Pro, are better in some aspects, worse in others, and often almost as good. They are definitely the best Android tablets on the market, and all three models include the S Pen. This is Samsung’s active stylus, which, unlike the Apple Pencil, never needs to be charged. However, it can be charged, and this also happens via induction.

Samsung offers significantly more software features for the S Pen, including the excellent Samsung Notes app. With it, you can write handwritten notes, create drawings, and annotate PDFs. Thanks to the S Pen commands, you can create a new note from any app, take screenshots and annotate them, or use the pen as a magnifying glass. In addition, there are numerous features that are more of a novelty.

Quite cool is that the S Pen can act as a remote control in the camera app and in Microsoft PowerPoint. For this, the pen’s battery needs to be charged. However, the pen itself does not require energy for writing and drawing.

The Galaxy Tab S9 has an 11-inch Super AMOLED screen, while the Galaxy Tab S9+ is 12.4 inches large, and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has the same display but in a huge 14.6 inches. All of these also support 120Hz, so animations, including writing from the S Pen, look very smooth.

Although the built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is not as powerful as the Apple M2 chipset, it is more powerful than any other Android tablet on the market. It is supported by 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB of RAM and is powerful enough for the latest games and complex graphic apps.

The Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra each have fingerprint readers, excellent speakers, high-quality metal casings, and good cameras. Especially great is the water and dust protection according to IP68. Pre-installed is Android 13 including the Samsung DeX desktop mode. Just like Apple, Samsung also offers two different keyboards as optional accessories for its flagship tablets.

In my pen test, the S9 and iPad Pro series are mostly on par, as the results are very similar. They differ largely in software and performance.

Also Read: Best Note-Taking Apps for Android Tablets

Microsoft Surface Pro 9: The Best Windows Tablet with a Pen

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is, in my eyes, the best Windows tablet you can get with a stylus. It’s interesting if you need Windows 11 and/or want to replace a full-fledged laptop. That’s exactly what you can do with the Surface Pro 9, as it has the same hardware as many notebooks. Only that it can also be used as a pure tablet with a pen.

You can write on the Pro 9 with the Microsoft Surface Pen and the Slim Pen, which are the pens from the predecessor models, and they are supported just as well. However, new and specially developed for the new model is the Slim Pen 2, which can be charged by induction in the keyboard cover. What’s cool is that the Slim Pen 2 has a built-in vibration motor that simulates some resistance. This makes it feel more like you’re drawing on real paper.

The 13-inch PixelSense display is among the best out there and supports 120Hz just like the flagships from Apple and Samsung. Thus, even the Surface Pen or Slim Pen looks very smooth when drawing and writing.

Windows has supported a stylus for almost two decades, so navigating the system with it is no problem, and even “old” traditional programs like Adobe Photoshop and other graphic applications support active pens quite well. OneNote, a program by Microsoft, is especially suitable for handwritten notes.

You can get the Surface Pro 9 with a powerful Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor of the 12th generation, as well as with 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB RAM and an SSD of up to 1TB. We get a high-quality metal case, two good speakers, Windows Hello facial recognition, and an optional and very good keyboard cover.

If you’re looking for a tablet for real work, I can also recommend our list of the best business tablets. A cheaper but significantly weaker alternative to the Surface Pro 9 is the Surface Go 4.

Also Read: Best Apps for the Surface Pen

Apple iPad Air: The Best iPad Pro Alternative with a Pen

The Apple iPad Air is the best alternative to the iPad Pro if you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem but save some money. With its 10.9-inch display, it looks almost identical to the 11-inch Pro and supports the exact same Apple Pencil 2. The iPadOS software, including the good Notes app and the Scribble feature, is identical. In comparison, both perform almost equally well.

With 10.9 inches, the iPad Air has a slightly smaller display, but it’s not noticeable. However, those who look closely will notice that it has “only” a 60Hz panel instead of a 120Hz screen. So, if you draw with the pen quickly, it doesn’t look quite as smooth as on the Pro. However, I think most people will hardly notice a difference because you have to look very closely. With 500 nits, it’s also a bit dimmer than the Pro.

The Air features the Apple M1 chipset, which is only slightly weaker than the M2 of the current Pro series. Thus, the processor and graphics performance are outstanding, and you can also play the latest games with the highest graphics settings on the Air or edit complex 4K videos.

It does not support Face ID, but it does have a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. There are two speakers on the sides with a total of four speaker slots. Thanks to the high-quality metal case, it looks and feels as premium as the Pro. However, the LiDAR sensor and the wide-angle camera are missing on the back.

As you can see, the iPad Air is very similar to the Pro, and if you want to save money, you only have to make a few compromises.

Apple iPad Mini: The Best 8-Inch Tablet with a Pen

The Apple iPad Mini is the best 8-inch tablet on the market and, since it supports the Apple Pencil 2, it is also the best 8-inch tablet with a pen. It is my current favorite tablet, but it lacks competition. Currently, there is not a single 8-inch Android tablet with a pen that is somewhat current and can even remotely compete with the Mini.

You can see it as a shrunken iPad Air. So, while the display is very good, like the Air, it is only 500 nits bright, and it has a standard 60Hz panel. With 8 inches, however, it is very handy and thus roughly the size of an A5 notepad. I find this size perfect for handwritten notes, also because it is much lighter than a large tablet.

It has exactly the same software as the Pro and Air, and the Apple Pencil 2 is also charged by induction on the side of the Mini.

The performance of the Apple A15 processor is weaker than the M1, but it is still superior to almost any Android tablet. We get a high-quality metal case, weighing under 300g. There’s a fingerprint reader, a USB-C port, two good stereo speakers, and two good cameras.

In my test, I only noticed one major weakness. If you hold the iPad Mini upright and scroll, for example, in a browser, a kind of rolling shutter effect is visible. However, we have to live with this, as there is no other 8-inch tablet that is even remotely as good.

My comparison with other 8-inchers shows that the Lenovo Legion Tab Y700 2023 is the only serious alternative. This also supports pen input, but is only available in China. Those willing to import it can see it as the 8-inch test winner with Android.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE & S9 FE+: Top Mid-Range Tablets with Stylus

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ are two significantly more affordable alternatives to the Galaxy Tab S9 and S9+. They are the same sizes, 11 inches and 12.4 inches, respectively, and even have casings that are protected against water and dust. However, the displays are not 120Hz AMOLEDs but 90Hz LCDs.

Included at no extra charge is the S Pen, and the tablet stylus works just like it does in the standard S9 series. Unlike those models, however, it never needs to be charged, which means it can’t be used as a remote control in PowerPoint and the like. Otherwise, it functions the same, looks the same, and the same software is installed. This includes Samsung Notes and the S Pen commands.

Although the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series looks almost as high-end as the S9 series and both even have fingerprint readers, the speakers and cameras are somewhat weaker. The processor performance is significantly weaker, as inside is only a Samsung Exynos 1380 chipset with less RAM and storage than the premium models. However, unless you’re playing very demanding games, this should not be a problem.

For work, I very much enjoyed using the S9 FE and S9 FE+. Although they have a TFT display and the image is not quite as good as on the S9, the resolution is still very high. One can almost only notice a difference to AMOLEDs when watching movies and series.

Also Read: Best apps for the S Pen

Apple iPad 10: Affordable iPad with Pencil Support

The Apple iPad 10 is similar in many ways to the iPad Air. It also has a 10.9-inch display, which is nicely high-resolution at 2360 x 1640 pixels, just as bright at 500 nits, reproduces great colors, and supports True Tone. Unfortunately, however, the display is not laminated. There’s a visible air gap between the IPS panel and the touchscreen.

Because of this air gap, it might look like you’re not directly touching the display with the stylus. However, most people don’t notice this. The first-generation Apple Pencil is supported and works very well. It’s almost ridiculous that you have to buy an adapter for 10 euros to connect the Pencil 1 with its Lightning connector to the iPad 10 and its USB-C port.

Nevertheless, the stylus works excellently and supports the same software features as on the iPad Air. This includes all gestures, the Scribble feature, and the Apple Notes app. The software is almost identical to that on the iPad Pro, only the Stage Manager is missing.

The Apple A14 processor provides decent performance for the iPad 10, accompanied by 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 256GB of storage. Although the A14 is slower than the M1 chip, the iPad 10 is still more powerful than any Android tablet on this list.

Update: You can now also get the Apple Pencil USB C as a stylus for the iPad 10.

Apple iPad 9: Best Value for Money

The Apple iPad 9 is weaker than the iPad Air, but many of the tablet’s features still play in the upper leagues. And since it’s so affordable, I consider it the best value for money on this list. For a price starting at 380 euros, it simply has a lot to offer.

Although the iPad 9 does not support the Apple Pencil 2, you can use it with the functionally identical Apple Pencil 1. It only differs from the Pencil 2 in two ways. It does not have a touch-sensitive button on the side, and instead of charging by induction, it is charged via the tablet’s Lightning connector. The software, including Apple Notes and the Scribble feature, is identical to that on the Air, Mini, and Pro.

With a 10.2-inch display, it’s slightly smaller than the Air’s, but it’s just as bright at 500 nits, and it also has a 60Hz panel. It’s quite a shame, however, that the screen is not fully laminated. There’s a small air gap visible between the IPS panel and the touchscreen. This makes it look like you’re not directly touching the display with the stylus.

This is almost only noticeable if you know about it because when I show the iPad 9 to ordinary friends compared to the Air, they never notice. Many apparently don’t pay attention to this in a tablet display. The image is still good, and for handwritten notes and drawings, I find it super nonetheless, especially since it’s so good in other areas. If you need to draw very precisely for work, the Air and Pro are better.

I find the design looks pretty outdated, but the metal casing feels very high-quality, as is typical for Apple. We get a Touch ID fingerprint reader and two good speakers. It’s a shame, however, that we get the old Lightning connector instead of a USB-C port.

The processor is the Apple A13 chipset. Although this SoC is significantly weaker than the Apple M1, especially the graphics performance of the iPad 9, despite its affordable price, is superior to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. Thus, Adobe Photoshop and games run smoothly.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022: Most Affordable Android Tablet with Stylus

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022 can be described as a smaller and weaker version of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. It also competes with the Apple iPad 9 and is the most affordable tablet with a stylus that I can currently recommend. But even though it’s lower on this list, I find it recommendable. Especially if you don’t want to spend too much money.

As with the S9 and S9 FE, the S Pen is included in the package and works exactly the same. The stylus never needs to be charged and, like the S9 FE, cannot be used as a remote control in PowerPoint. However, the functions such as the Samsung Notes app and the S Pen commands are exactly the same.

Samsung equips us here with a 10.4-inch IPS display, which is quite good but falls just short of the iPad 9 display. It’s a bit dimmer, but it’s fully laminated. In this price range, it’s naturally also a standard 60Hz panel.

Inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, through which the performance is significantly below most tablets on this list. For common applications and especially for note-taking and drawing apps, the performance is good enough. You can also play most games on the tablet, often, however, not with high graphics settings.

Other features include a metal casing, a USB-C port, and two solid speakers. Premium features like a fingerprint reader are missing.

Which is the best choice for you?

Which is the best tablet with a pen for you? This varies from person to person, as everyone has different preferences and wants to do different things with their devices.

First, you should ask yourself which operating system you need or prefer. Do you need one with Windows 11, which can run programs not available for other systems? Or do you want an iPad because you also use an iPhone? If you have a Galaxy Note smartphone, a Samsung tablet could be interesting for you, as the features are largely the same.

Then consider how much money you want to spend. Of course, if you have no limit, then you can get excellent tablets like the iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface Pro 9, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. But they are also very expensive. If you don’t need that much performance, cheaper ones might be sufficient.

Read: The Best Samsung Tablets In Our Comparison

You should also think about the display size. Tablets like the iPad Pro or Microsoft Surface Pro 9, which are 12 to 13 inches, can hardly be carried without a backpack or laptop bag. On the other hand, the iPad Mini fits into many jacket pockets and handbags.

How I review tablets

To get comparable test results, I always test tablets the same way. I usually start with standard benchmarks to test the performance. Then comes a battery test to see how long the devices last. I always run an HD video on a loop at medium brightness. Then I use the devices privately – to watch YouTube and Netflix, to surf the internet, but also to work with apps like Microsoft Word.

If the tablet supports an active pen, I naturally test that too. This is of course the case with the models in this best list. I check whether the stylus supports different pressure levels. Does the pen need a battery or does it have a rechargeable battery? And how can the battery be charged?

I mostly use pens to take handwritten notes. If the tablet supports it, I also like to edit photos with it in programs like Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo. Additionally, I check whether the palm is recognized and ignored while writing or drawing.

Questions and Answers