Best Tablet For UX Designers – 7 Expert Recommendation

Last Updated on January 17, 2023 by Nurul

What skills should a qualified UX Designer possess? To be a talented UX designer, you need to be an excellent researcher to have enough information about a product or service that you want to present to your audience. Getting the best tablet for UX designers is one step to an awesome product outcome.

As a UX designer, you need to have prototyping skills. Here, you come up with an idea, put it in a model, and later the model should be reviewed and approved before being manufactured and presented to the users.

To think visually in UX design is a skill you need to have. You have to think visually before putting the idea on paper or a model.

When you start as a UX  designer, there are specific tools you will need, and this includes; a laptop or a tablet, a pair of earphones or headphones, a notepad, a special pen for sketching, and a plain page book.

Check out the best tablet for UX design in this article.

Comparison chart for UX designer’s gadgets:

ProductStylus pen in the boxStorage capacityScreen display
Micro Surface Pro 7 plusNo8 GB/128 GB12.3 inches
Wacom Cintiq 22Yes16 GB/512 GB21.5 inches
2021 Apple iPad ProYes /128 GB12.9 inches

Here are the features and specifications of each tablet device in the above table.

1. Micro Surface Pro 7+ Tablet

Micro Surface 7 Plus is a two-in-one tablet that can be used as a tablet and at the same time as a laptop, tho the keyboard is purchased separately from the tablet.

Screen display

Surface plus 7 has a screen of 12.3 inches, making it an excellent view for the user. The tablet has a three-by-two aspect ratio, so this gives out a lot of screens on the Surface Pro 7 compared to other tablets.

Micro Surface Pro 7 is one of the tablets for UX best practices like designing and branding products for the end-users. The screen display helps the designer zoom in and see what he wants to spot at a specific angle.

Surface Pro 7 pen

 Micro Surface Pro 7 doesn’t come with the pen on purchase; you need to buy it separately. As a UX designer, you require the Pro 7 pen for sketching, drawing, and painting.

The pen has a top button on the eraser; it doesn’t have a battery, so it is a rechargeable pen. The advanced tip on the pen makes the drawing experience smooth and a lot of fun.

The pen has a USB C charging dock, and the pen is magnetically attached to the port and. Knows when it’s plugged in, it will automatically start to charge. The charge lasts for a couple of days.

2. Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet

The Wacom Cintiq is an excellent pen monitor with well-packaged accessories.

 Inbuilt stand for Wacom

The stand for the tablet can be adjusted to any angle. The Wacom has wires to connect the Wacom to a computer window or Mac supporting system.

The Waco Cintiq was designed to give designers the quality of a Wacom display tablet. This is an excellent tablet for anyone who wants to work directly on the screen.

Screen Display

The tablet has a screen of 22 inches, which is a pretty big screen compared to other tablets, which are about 8 – 12.5 inches.

Wacom Cintiq has an HD screen that brings out the virtual idea you have to live on the display screen. It has 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically, thus giving good clarity.

The display is very vivid, with 16.7 million colors, and it’s a highly recommended tablet for any drawing work.

Cintiq interactive pen

The Wacom Cintiq tablet comes with a creative pen included in the accessories. The pen has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity.

You can make specific programs on the pen using the side buttons. The pen has excellent cursor tracking and great calibration and works remarkably perfectly.

The pen has a low activation force and tilt detection that offers you amazing for the most precision drawing experience possible.

The uniqueness of the pen; it charges via screen while you work, becoming a less battery pen.

Has an anti-glare film.

Wacom Cintiq has an anti-glare film, thus reducing reflections when working under sunlight or in a harsh area with a lot of light.

3. 2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Screen display

The 2021 iPad Pro has a screen of 12.9 inches which is great for UX design. The new version has a liquid retina  XDR display, thus highlighting certain areas bringing out a rich experience.

Storage capacity

The iPad Pro has RAM of 8GB and  128GB, which is enough space for installing large files for future use.

iPad Pro has inbuilt iCloud storage to store files, notes, photos, etc. Every Apple user gets free iCloud storage for a start, and if you want more, you can also purchase more storage.

A UX designer requires adequate space and storage to store images and graphic designs for the many projects he might be having. The 2021 Apple iPad is a great device for designing purposes.

Apple pen

You need to tap the icon on the screen that shows the pencil icon; then it will show the markup toolbar, lastly, the handwriting tool, and start writing. The pen charges magnetically when attached to the Apple iPad.

The pencil can be easily charged by attaching it to part of the iPad.You can add or compose a sketch to an outgoing email with an Apple pencil.

Last but not least, you can sign a document using a pencil. The Ipad is a suitable device for designers who want to draw and, at the same time, run other applications on the same machine at the same time.

Buyer’s Guide

When deciding on which tablet to purchase, you need to consider a few things depending on the work you are about to do using the tablet.

Processor

As a UX designer, you do a lot of digital art, and this requires a good processor and heavy RAM due to the 3D work you perform daily. A device with a RAM of 8GB and a quad-core CPU will work out well.

Types of tablets: You need to connect to a computer because they don’t have a computer chip in them.

You must connect them to a laptop or a computer to access the drawing software; they are conventional plastic tablets. An example of such a tablet is the Wacom Cintiq which we have discussed in this article.

What do you want to do?

This is a question you need to ask yourself before purchasing a  tablet. Even the lifestyle you live in will also determine.

If you are an ongoing student or have a full-time job, you must go for a portable tablet with all the features you need for drawing. Get a perfect tablet for UX design.

The 2021 Apple iPad Pro or Micro Surface tablet with a robust stylus pen can be a good fit for you, and it will be flexible to create enough artwork.

To get that laptop experience, you can get the Surface Pro keyboard case and attach it to the tablet.

If you are working from home and have a computer that runs drawing applications well, you can go for a stationary tablet like the Wacom Cintiq.

If you want something you can use anytime, anywhere, go for the 2021 Apple iPad Pro for UX designers. This will serve you great in the stylus pen and the display.

Some fantastic artists do their art on the iPad Pro, presenting excellent drawings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do UX designers use tablets?

Yes. The UX Designers require a tablet because they sketch/ make drawings digitally before producing the outcome.

Is the iPad useful for UX design?

An iPad can be used in the UX design, but at the same time, it can be tricky because there is some software that you won’t be able to have access to when using the iPad.After all, it uses the iPad’s operating system.

What are the best tablets for UX designers?

Some of the best tablets for UX designers include the iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface Pro, and Wacom Cintiq.

How much should I spend on a tablet for UX design?

The cost of a tablet for UX design can vary significantly, ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars. It is generally recommended to invest in a high-quality tablet that fits within your budget, as it will likely be an important tool for your work as a UX designer.

What should I consider when choosing a tablet for UX design?

There are several factors to consider when choosing a tablet for UX design, including the size and resolution of the display, the processing power and memory of the device, the type and sensitivity of the stylus, and the availability of software and app support.

Is an iPad Pro a good tablet for UX design?

Yes, the iPad Pro is a popular choice for UX designers due to its high-quality display, powerful processor, and strong app support. It also has a wide range of accessories and input options, including the Apple Pencil, which offers precise and responsive stylus input.

Is the Microsoft Surface Pro a good tablet for UX design?

Yes, the Microsoft Surface Pro is another popular choice for UX designers. It has a high-resolution display, a powerful processor, and a wide range of input options, including the Surface Pen, which offers precise and responsive stylus input.

Is the Wacom Cintiq a good tablet for UX design?

Yes, the Wacom Cintiq is a professional-grade tablet specifically designed for creative work, including UX design. It has a high-quality display, precise stylus input, and a range of customization options, making it a popular choice among professional UX designers.

Can I use any tablet for UX design?

While it is possible to use any tablet for UX design, some tablets may be more suitable for the task due to their hardware and software capabilities. For example, tablets with high-resolution displays, powerful processors, and responsive stylus input may be better suited for UX design compared to lower-end tablets with lower-quality displays and slower processors.

Do I need a stylus for UX design on a tablet?

While a stylus is not strictly necessary for UX design on a tablet, it can be a helpful tool for precision input and creating more detailed designs. Some tablets, such as the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro, offer stylus options that are specifically designed for creative work.

Can I use a keyboard with a tablet for UX design?

Yes, many tablets offer the option to connect a keyboard for easier typing and input. This can be especially useful for UX designers who need to quickly input text or data.

Do I need specialized software for UX design on a tablet?

There are several software options available for UX design on tablets, including industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Sketch. Some tablets, such as the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro, also offer their own proprietary design software, such as Procreate and Autodesk Sketchbook.

Conclusion

Finding the best tablet for UX designers certainly is not easy, with so many options available in the market. Many designers are really relying on tablets to realize their projects.

A drawing tablet can make your life as a designer so much easier and more enjoyable.

In our tablet review, most tablets can be used for UX design. The essential tool to have is the stylus pen because of drawing and painting purposes.

Consider getting yourself a tablet that has all the features required for UX designing. A tablet that runs Windows and Android would be the best due to installing different applications from the play store.

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