Are you ready to ditch the 3-button mouse for a pen display and need advice on the best tablets for SketchUp and SketchUp Pro to buy? This guide will point you in the right direction.
Our top picks for the best tablets for SketchUp make drawing by hand a pure joy. You’d find on our list, the best tablets with impressive performance chops well-suited for maximizing the features this smart 3D modelling software offers.
From Wacom Cintiq 22 to Huion Kamvas Pro 13, we look at the best tablets for SketchUp and SketchUp Pro in detail.
Best Tablets for SketchUp at a Glance
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Wacom Cintiq 22 (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M2, 2022) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | Wacom Cintiq 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M1, 2021) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Huion Kamvas Pro 13 | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Wacom Cintiq 22 (Editors’ Choice)
At the moment, our absolute favorite tablet for drawing is the Wacom Cintiq 22, which also leads our list of the best tablets for SketchUp and SketchUp Pro.
Good pen integration, impressive colour accuracy, large screen for drawing, and affordability are some of its selling points.
It ships with a super responsive pen, the Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus. Using the Pro Pen 2 is a joy – you won’t have problems. The Wacom Pro Pen’s pressure sensitivity is spot on – Wacom nailed it!
This is not where the good news ends. The cheery on top of this, is that you will never have any need to charge the stylus because it does not use a battery. It is powered by electro-magnetic resonance technology.
Just know: Unlike the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16, the Wacom Cintiq 22 cannot run all of its programs. If you’ve got deep pockets, you may consider buying the MobileStudio Pro 16.
The Wacom Cintiq 22 has its drawbacks. First, the tablet lacks multi-touch capabilities. Second its screen resolution and brightness aren’t particularly the best you’d find on the best tablets for SketchUp.
Wacom’s Cintiq Pro 24 has multi-touch capabilities, so consider it if the Cintiq 22’s lack of full multi-touch capabilities for gesture-based finger control does not sit quite well with you.
Again, if you don’t like the Cintiq 22’s large screen, you may lean toward a smaller version, the Wacom Cintiq 16, which sports similar features as the Wacom Cintiq 22, however, with a 16-inch display.
Despite its drawback, the Wacom Cintiq 22 remains our Editors’ Choice for the best tablet for SketchUp and SketchUp Pro.
PROS
- Excellent colour representation
- Very comfortable to use
- Responsive pen
- Great bang for the buck
- Impressive screen
CONS
- Lacks multi-touch integration
- Brightness could be better
Wacom Cintiq 22 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch, IPS, Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 72% NTSC (CIE1931) (typ), 96% sRGB (CIE1931) (typ)
OS: Windows, macOS
Pen: Wacom Pro Pen 2
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: HDMI, USB-A
Size: 22.4 x 14.1 x 1.6 inches (570 x 359 x 40 mm)
Weight: 12.3 pounds (5.6 kg)
2. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is an excellent tablet for maximizing the features of SketchUp.
It’s for digital creatives, and graphic artists who need a solid drawing slate that just works without issues.
Using the tablet’s super responsive pen is a joy. It has a pen-on-paper feel.
The tablet pairs an Intel Intel Core i7-8559U processor with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. As for graphics, it is powered by NVIDIA Quadro P1000 GPU. With these powerful components, the tablet can handle demanding artistic tasks with aplomb.
It’s worth noting, as well, that the 512GB of storage can be upgraded to a maximum of 2TB. Need more RAM? You can get an extra 16GB of RAM.
Unlike the Wacom Cintiq 22 and Cintinq 16, the MobileStudio Pro 16 can run all of its apps and programs. Best of all, it has full multi-touch capabilities.
In terms of physical size, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 has a 10.20 x 16.45 x 0.84-inch footprint. All the units weigh in at 4.6 pounds (2.09 kg).
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16’s 4K resolution display can’t go unnoticed.
There are four customizable buttons on each side of a circular Windows Home key which doubles as a fingerprint scanner.
Every port you could reasonably expect is on the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16. On the top, there are three USB-C ports (two has Thunderbolt 3 capability, a Kensington Security Slot, and a USB 3.1 port. The bottom holds the rest of the goodies, like an SD card reader, and an audio-combo jack.
If you are on a strict budget, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 isn’t for you. You should probably lean toward the Wacom Cintiq 22, or Cintinq 16.
The one major flaw with the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16, though, is the battery life. It is decidedly average. Another minor but here — and it’s not unique to Wacom — is that the tablet gets warm.
Even with its tiny weakness, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is a strong buy. It remains one of the best tablets for SketchUp.
PROS
- Super responsive pen
- Portable
- Excellent 4K screen
- Compatible with many demanding programs
CONS
- Pricey
- Battery life could be better
Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch, 4K (UHD), 3840 x 2160 pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-8559U
GPU: Nvidia Quadro P1000, 4GB GDDR5
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Size: 10.20 x 16.45 x 0.84 inches (259.1 x 417.8 x 21.3 mm)
Weight: 4.6 pounds (2.09 kg)
3. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M2, 2022) 
The Apple iPad Pro 2022 is the best iPad for SketchUp. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is Apple’s top-of-the-line tablet as of 2023, featuring a powerful M2 chipset that gives it laptop-level performance. While some may argue that the M1 from the previous generation is more than enough for most tablet activities, the M2 ensures that this device is future-proof.
Apart from the M2, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) shares many similarities with its predecessor, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), such as its large 12.9-inch, 120Hz display that utilizes mini-LED technology for superior picture quality compared to smaller iPads. Despite packing all this tech, the tablet is surprisingly slim and lightweight.
Additionally, it features Face ID, capable cameras, and supports accessories like Apple’s Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil 2, which boasts hover-detection that makes it perfect for drawing.
If you are going to work with large, demanding files, we recommend the Apple iPad Pro 2022 with M2 chip.
As expected, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) comes with a hefty price tag, nevertheless, for those who want a tablet with unbeatable performance, this is the device to go for. The Apple iPad Pro 2022 with M2 chip remains the best iPad for SketchUp. Highly recommended.
PROS
- Lightning-fast performance
- Exceptional display
- Slim and sleek build
- M2 chip
- Incredibly durable
- Good audio
CONS
- Pricey
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M2, 2022) Key Specifications
Display: 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 2048 x 2732 pixels
Chipset: Apple M2
OS: iPadOS 16
RAM: 8GB/16GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot
Size: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm
Weight: 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G)
Rear Camera: 12MP, 10MP, TOF 3D LiDAR scanner
Front Camera: 12MP
Battery: 40.88 Wh
4. Wacom Cintiq 16
Aside from the Cintiq 22, the Wacom Cintinq 16 is another fantastic tablet for SketchUp. The Wacom Cintinq 16 sports a full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution.
Like the Cintiq 22, the Cintiq 16 ships with a Wacom Pro Pen stylus. The stylus is responsive with a very high level of pressure sensitivity.
Port selection on the Cintiq 16 is fairly reasonable. There are one HDMI port and a USB Type-A.
The Cintiq 16 isn’t perfect. In fact it lacks the multi-touch (finger) support you’d find on the Cintiq Pro 16 which has complete multi-touch capabilities, and a better resolution.
If you are on a tight budget, this is a great choice. On the other hand, if you’ve got deep pockets, you can upgrade to the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 or the Cintiq Pro 16 which more connectivity options, better colour gamut, UHD resolution and, of course, full multi-touch support.
It is important to note that the Cintiq 16 can’t run all of its programs like the Cintiq Pro 16 and most traditional tablets. It needs to be connected to a computer.
Overall, the Cintiq 16 is a good tablet for creatives. It is highly recommended as one of the best tablets for SketchUp.
PROS
- Fast and responsive
- Excellent stylus integration
- Easy to use
- Reasonably priced
CONS
- Resolution could be better
- Lacks multi-touch (finger) support
Wacom Cintiq 16 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 72% NTSC (CIE1931) typical
Pen: Wacom Pro Pen 2
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: HDMI, USB 2.0
Size: 16.6 x 11.2 x 1.0 inches (422 x 285 x 24.5 mm)
Weight: 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg)
5. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M1, 2021)
The Apple iPad Pro 2021 is stacked with so much power. Packed with Apple’s powerful M1 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the iPad Pro blazes through apps, browser tabs and videos without any sign of slowdown. Like the Apple iPad Pro 2022 with M2 chip, the Apple iPad Pro 2021 can handle large, demanding files effortlessly.
You can opt for the model with 16GB of RAM. For SketchUp, the 8GB RAM variant is pretty OK.
But before you get swept up by all that power, let’s not forget that beautiful new Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display. The 2021 iPad Pro’s gorgeous display is on the level of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. Pictures look more intense, expressive and realistic.
As for audio, you’d be equally impressed. The iPad Pro’s audio is respectable.
New for the iPad Pro is a USB-C port with USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 support. This means you can connect compatible devices and accessories effortlessly.
As you would expect, the iPad Pro isn’t filled with the kind of bloatware that manufacturers usually lade cheap tablets and phones with.
Elsewhere, it offers a ton of storage. Available internal storage includes 128GB, 256 GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
Apple isn’t skimping on the battery with the iPad Pro; the 40.88 Wh cell offers excellent endurance.
Sure, the iPad Pro 2021 12.9-inch is still a bit out of range for some people, price-wise. However, it gives a lot.
Sketching with the Apple Pencil 2 is a pure joy.
On the negative side, the colour options are a bit restrictive. Like its predecessors, the iPad Pros 2021 come in Silver and Space Gray colour options.
PROS
- Outstanding display
- Super-fast performance
- Slim build
- Durable
- Incredible battery life
- Good audio
- USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 support
CONS
- Limited colour options
- Pricey
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M1, 2021) Key Specifications
Display: 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR Mini LED display, 2048 x 2732 pixels
Chipset: Apple M1
OS: iPadOS 14.5.1
RAM: 8GB/16GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Size: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in (280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm)
Weight: 1.50 pounds (682g)
Rear Camera: 12MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP
Battery: 40.88 Wh
6. XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro
The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro boasts a colourful display with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a gamut of about 75 per cent RGB.
Like the Wacom Cintiq 16, the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro comes equipped with a good stylus for sculpting, drawing and painting. The stylus has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and is powered by electro-magnetic resonance technology, so it does not use a battery.
The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro ships with spare nibs, a built-in stand, a glove, and replaceable screen covers.
With regard to performance, you may notice a slight lag when drawing on the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro. Nonetheless, the tablet runs without issues.
The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro has customizable buttons on the side of the tablet. The buttons can be customized to zoom in and out. You can also tweak brush sizes.
If you don’t want to go with the Wacom Cintiq 16, then the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro is a good alternative. The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro has a smaller version, XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro, with a 13.3-inch IPS display.
We recommend the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro as one of the best tablets for SketchUp.
PROS
- Good screen
- Decently priced
- Portable
- Easy to use and setup
CONS
- Pen sensitivity could be better
XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 88% NTSC, 120% sRGB
Pen: Battery-free stylus
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Size: 17.4 x 11 x 0.50 inches (443 x 280 x 12.6 mm)
Active Area: 13.6 x 7.6 inches (344.2 x 193.6 mm)
Weight: 10 pounds (4.56 kg)
Notable Mentions
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 and Huion Kamvas Pro 13 are excellent tablets for SketchUp worth mentioning.
7. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
PROS
- Outstanding stylus
- Perfect for 3D modeling, sculpting and drawing
- Excellent colour gamut
CONS
- Pricey
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Key Specifications
Display: 23.6-inch, IPS UHD, 3840 x 2160 pixels
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 97% sRGB
OS: Windows, macOS
Pen: Battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: USB –C, HDMI or Mini/DisplayPort
Size: 26.65 x 15.50 x 1.90 inches (676.9 x 393.7 x 48.3 mm)
Weight: 15.8 pounds (7.2 kg)
8. Huion Kamvas Pro 13
PROS
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Good for 3D modeling and sculpting
- Durable
CONS
- Bright power LED button
Huion Kamvas Pro 13 Key Specifications
Display: 13.3-inch, IPS Screen, 1920 x 1080
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 120% sRGB
OS: Windows, macOS
Pen: Battery-free stylus
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: USB-C and HDMI
Size: 15.28 x 8.62 x 0.43 inches (388.1 x 218.9 x 10.9 mm)
Weight: 2.01 pounds (0.91 kg)
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Wacom Cintiq 22 (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M2, 2022) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | Wacom Cintiq 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (M1, 2021) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Huion Kamvas Pro 13 | Check Price on Amazon |
Bottom Line
We’ve highlighted the best tablets for maximizing the features of SketchUp. These tablets boast good specs geared towards enhancing your 3D modelling experience. Our top picks for the best tablets for SketchUp and SketchUp Pro provide the best bang for your buck and are worth considering.
