The 5 Best Tablets for ZBrush Reviewed

tablet for ZBrush

Getting yourself a tablet is the best you can make as someone who wishes to reap the best from the artistic world.

Here is a sneak peek of what using a tablet in ZBrush offers you:

  • It gives the much-needed pressure sensitivity

  • A tablet makes work more accessible, detailed, and fun

  • Using a tablet enhances competitiveness

  • You can undo your work at the slightest mistake

By definition, a drawing tablet is a computer input device that utilizes a pen to sculpt. A tablet enables you to sense how hard you are pressing down on the cell to intensify the brush stroke. Moreover, a tablet notifies you of the direction you are tilting the pen while trying to alter the effect of brush strokes.

You can use a tablet alone or together with the mouse. However, please take note that it does need time to maneuver your way through this device before things can run smoothly. There are various tablets for ZBrush to choose from, and below is a discussion of the five highly preferred in the artistic industry.

Best Tablets for ZBrush

1. Wacom Cintiq 22

Wacom Cintiq 22

Wacom Cintiq 22 presents a flat-screen display to draw on using the provided stylus. It has a 21.5-inch display size and an active area of 18.7 x 10.55 inches. You also enjoy a larger drawing area 1920 x 1080 full HD screen with the Cintiq 22.

It also comes fitted with an anti-glare film that helps cut down on reflections. It also has a laminated screen and reduced distance between the glass and screen, enhancing low parallax for accuracy. Cintiq 22 has a color display ability of 72% and can present 96% of the color range when supported by an sRGB color profile.

With this device, you are set to enjoy one of the best pens in the artistic world, a pro pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels and 60 degrees of pen tilt recognition. This tablet is pressure-sensitive and fun to use. It also requires less effort to set up and use.

Unlike its Wacom counterparts, Wacom Cintiq 22 comes with a free stand that’s easy to use and adjustable to different angles. If you are an artist struggling with space, this is the right tablet for you as it does not take up too much desk space despite offering a big drawing area.

Equally important, Wacom Cintiq 22 has a penholder on its side that protects the pen from getting lost. It’s also a neat product to use as the cables are nicely tucked to the side. It accepts remotes from the other Wacom tablets; thus, you won’t have to buy another remote for this device.

Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet with Screen, 21.5" Full HD LCD Display Graphic Arts Tablet Includes Pro Pen 2 w/ Tilt Response, Graphic Design Animation Tablet for Mac, PC
  • Creative Pen Display: Animation tablet features optimized display and premium pen technology ideal for creative hobbyists, enthusiasts, or students for use on campus, in the studio, or at home
  • Precision Pen Performance: Included Pro Pen 2 features tilt recognition, virtually lag-free tracking, 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and 2 customizable switches for easy access to shortcuts
  • Vibrant Color Display: Windows and macOS tablet features LCD display with HD resolution and showcases uniform brightness, high resolution, and true to life color quality
  • Fingertip Control: Relaxed parallax gives you full control with your fingertips, and combined with the super responsive Wacom Pro Pen 2, makes creating feel as natural as drawing on paper
  • Includes: Wacom Cintiq 22 digital drawing pad, Pro Pen 2, 3 replacement nibs, nib remover, 3-in-1 connectivity cable, AC adapter, power cable, and quick start guide

2. Apple iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro

This is the best tablet for you if you are looking for a multi-use device; you can watch a video, take handwritten notes or even scan documents while using the Apple iPad Pro. Moreover, this device is light in weight and easy to carry around, and you don’t have to attach it to a computer to use it.

It is super-fast and has a 10.9 display size and a 10.2 x 7.44 drawing area. Apple iPad Pro tablet also makes it possible to get more layers and larger resolutions because it’s a faster processor. Its 2nd generation pencil is even more precise and offers a spectacular brightness of 450 nits.

Apple iPad Pro offers a 2160 x 1620 pixel resolution and can produce 105% of the sRGB color spectrum.

Moreover, Apple iPad Pro comes fitted with a powerful Procreate app that is user-friendly and has free tutorials and special add ons. Getting you an Apple iPad Pro means saying goodbye to power problems as this tablet can hold power for approximately 10 hours. ‘

Watch this video if you would like to see the iPad Pro in action with the ZBrush application:

2020 Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) - Space Gray (4th Generation)
  • 12.9-inch edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color
  • A12Z Bionic chip with Neural Engine
  • 12MP Wide camera, 10MP Ultra Wide camera, and LiDAR Scanner
  • 7MP TrueDepth front camera
  • Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay

3. HUION KAMVAS 22>

HUION KAMVAS 22

Huion Kamvas 22 tablet has a 21.5 inch 1080p full HD IPS display that is crystal clear and fun working on. Additionally, this device comes fitted with anti-glare glass etched onto the surface that makes you feel like you are drawing on paper.

The Huion Kamvas 22 tablet offers a dual touch bar ideal for left-handed and right-handed individuals with 20 programmable keys. It has a drawing area of 25 x 17.8 inches.

Apart from being a drawing tablet Huion Kamvas 22 also serves as a full-fledged PC. This tablet is portable and enjoys a compact design. The Huion Kamvas 22 tablet also offers a high-performance screen, and it’s super-fast, something made possible by its 6C/6T processor.

You also won’t have to worry about speed when performing many tasks on the devices as it runs on 8GB or 16GB RAM that makes it fast. Huion Kamvas 22 has dual-channel storage, namely the 1TB HDD and 120 GB or 240 GB SSD.

This tablet is ideal for color fanatics as it offers more than 16 million colors to choose from, plus amazing visuals. You will also get a battery-free pen that offers 8192 levels of pressure and tilt recognition tech.

It also has a cooling system that helps stop the processor from overheating and a ten different harness facilitating playing games on the tablet without much trouble. You will also enjoy an adjustable stand, a wireless mouse, and a keyboard when purchasing this device.

HUION Kamvas 22 Plus QLED Drawing Tablet with Full-Laminated Screen USB-C Connection 140% sRGB Tilt, 21.5 inch Graphics Art Tablet for Artist & Designer, Work with Mac, Windows, Linux & Android Black
  • Experience Brilliant Colors: A stunning 140% sRGB color gamut volume on Kamvas 22 Plus drawing tablet, which is delivered by Quantum Dots Technology to reveal a more vibrant color.
  • Reduce Glare, Enhance Precision: The Kamvas 22 Plus graphic tablet come with an etched glass, providing a glare-free experience while also enhancing your precision and control. With the advanced etching technique, the screen is more friction and corrosion resistant, and can also bring users a pen-on-paper drawing experience.
  • Full Lamination: The laminated screen helps eliminate parallax and ensures that your cursor appears exactly where you expect it to be.
  • More Screen, More Space:: The 21.5 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) pen display provides ample clarity and more room to work, eliminating the need to switch windows or move between different screens.
  • Premium Pen Performance: Powered by PenTech 3.0, the digital pen PW517 offers amazing precision and control with no noticeable lag, wobble, or delays.

4. XP-PEN Artist22E Pro

XP-PEN Artist22E Pro

XP-PEN Artist22E Pro has a 21.5-inch screen display that features 1080p resolution and a 77-82% accurate Adobe RGB Color Gamut. It also has an extra-wide 178 degrees viewing angle that enhances rich detail viewing. Purchasing this drawing tablet will leave you with 16 customizable shortcut keys to help you juggle between your works.

You will also have your screen looking clear and beautiful in extreme brightness due to this tablet’s custom-designed anti-reflective coating that can reduce glare by 56 percent.

It’s ideal for both left-handers and right-hand users. This device comes with two rechargeable styluses that can last you for two months each when fully charged. You will also get spare nibs, a stand, and a cleaning cloth when you purchase this tablet.

Additionally, the XP-PEN Artist22E pro comes with a multi-function stylus holder that helps safe-keep the pen nibs. It’s also a super responsive device with a 266RPS that works to give you a lag-free sculpting journey.

It boasts 8192 pressure sensitivity levels and two-fingered drawing gloves that help keep the screen clean and prevent the palm from sticking to the screen’s shiny surface. Its drivers are capable of supporting 4k displays.

XP-PEN Artist22E Pro Drawing Pen Display Graphic Monitor IPS Monitor 8192 Level Pen Pressure Drawing Pen Tablet Dual Monitor with 16 Express Keys and Adjustable Stand 21.5 Inch
  • Functions such as drawing, sketching, painting, design, and editing can now be performed directly on the surface of your monitor. Expand your creativity and work naturally and intuitively. Artist22E Pro drawing monitor meets the needs of all types of digital artists at any skill level
  • Features 16 customizable Express keys. Compared with Artist 22E, 16 express keys have 16 different functions for convenience and efficiency. It is designed for both left and right handed users. The driver allows the express keys to be attuned to many different software
  • Our 21.5 inch drawing pen display features 1080p resolution with 72% Color Gamut and an extra-wide 178° viewing angle. The Max Report Rate of the Artist 22E Pro has increased to 266 RPS with 8192 pressure levels provides unprecedented accuracy and precision in your work, to make lines flow smoother and perform better, working faster and efficiently
  • The Artist 22E Pro driver can support 4k displays. The custom-designed anti-reflective coating reduces glare by 56 percent. Latest Multi-function Pen Holder. It can keep your pen, pen nibs. You can use it as a pen stand and pen holder. It’s convenient for you to take everywhere
  • Artist22E Pro Graphic drawing monitor supports Windows 7/8/10 and Mac Os x 10.8.x or later. Compatible with popular digital art software such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Comic Studio, SAI, Zbrush, Medibang Paint, Toonboom Harmony etc

5. Wacom One

Wacom One

Wacom One is an ideal tablet for those artists looking for a budget-friendly device. It’s friendly in appearance with a 13-inch screen featuring 1920 by 1080 resolution that enables it to save on space and perfectly fit the desk. Equally important, Wacom One works perfectly with Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

Wacom one tablet offers an incredible drawing surface that is smooth and paper-like. It also has a great screen and a perfect tablet pen that’s thicker, lighter, and longer than a normal cell giving it a natural feel in your hand.

Moreover, the pen does not need charging, and you can use this tablet with other styluses other than the one sold with it. It has a 7.81 x 10.61 drawing area and a display size of 10.5.

Sale
Wacom One HD Creative Pen Display, Drawing Tablet With Screen, 13.3" Graphics Monitor; works with Mac, PC & Chromebook, photo/video editing, drawing & education Old Gen (2019)
  • Wacom One Creative Pen Display: High definition creative pen display designed for creative hobbyists, visual thinkers, and anyone needing a second screen or bigger digital canvas for work or play
  • Works With All Software: Wacom One display can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
  • Beautiful Display For Digital Freedom: Bring your creative juices to life in a full color spectrum on a 13.3" high definition display and draw,edit photos and videos, or use for easy note taking
  • Time Saving Pen Technology: Wacom One's button on pen can be customized for your favorite shortcuts like undo or copy/paste, helping you stay immersed in your art with efficiency and ease
  • Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life

Critical Considerations Before Purchasing a Tablet for ZBrush

It’s a known fact by now that using a tablet in ZBrush helps make work more accessible and more fun, but you don’t just go buying any tablet. There are factors to guide your decision, as discussed below.

The Tablet Should Be Compatible With the ZBrush Software

Even though all the above-reviewed tablets are compatible with ZBrush, hundreds of other tablets don’t marry this software. Therefore if you decide to purchase a sculpting tablet out of the five discussed above, do your homework well to ensure it’s compatible with the software.

The Stylus

This will be your primary tool of work throughout your artistic journey; therefore, choose the tablet wisely depending on its stylus’s specifications. Some tablets have battery-free styluses, while others have rechargeable ones. Your usage and power availability should guide you on which one to buy.

Moreover, don’t forget to check on the stylus’s pressure sensitivity, the thickness of the tip, grip, tilt support, and resolution as you purchase a tablet.

Responsiveness of the Tablet

The main idea behind getting a tablet for your sculpting is to make work easier and get realistic results. Therefore as you go out looking for a tablet to use in ZBrush, make sure its responsive level is high enough to give you the most accurate results.

Available Workspace

From the above discussion on the different tablets, it’s crystal clear that they occupy separate working spaces. As such, make sure to consider your working space before you settle on any tablet. The tablet should fit perfectly on your desk and leave you with a comfortable room to do your artistic work.

Conclusion

It’s not possible to decide on which tablet is suitable for your work with ZBrush software. Your choice will, of course, depend on your budget and preferences, but as you go out looking for a tablet for ZBrush, make sure to follow the above guidelines to the latter and choose one of the above five tablets to be on the safe side.