If you are a graphic artist, creative connoisseur, or an art student looking to buy the best tablet for ZBrush, this guide will help you make a good choice.
We’ve narrowed down only the best tablets for producing incredible artwork. These tablets are well-suited for sculpting, painting, onscreen design and editing.
Our recommendations are also good for Photoshop, Maya, Painter, Mari, Blender, Krita, Adobe Illustrator, and Lightroom.
So, what are the best tablets for getting the most out of ZBrush? Read on for our picks of the best tablets for ZBrush.
Best Tablets for ZBrush at a Glance
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom Cintiq 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | Huion Kamvas Pro 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Wacom Cintiq 22 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | Wacom Intuos Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Microsoft Surface Book 3 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 9 | Huion Inspiroy H640P | Check Price on Amazon |
| 10 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 11 | XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 (Editors’ Choice)
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)
The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 is our Editors’ Choice and the best tablet for getting the most out of ZBrush.
It is 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 the best drawing tablet for ZBrush.
2. Wacom Cintiq 16
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)
Aside from the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16, the Wacom Cintinq 16 is another fantastic tablet for ZBrush. 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 Wacom 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 professional artists, and art students. It is highly recommended as one of the best wacom tablets for ZBrush.
3. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)
PROS
- Impressive display
- Excellent audio
- Fast operating system
- Responsive Face ID
- Incredible battery life
- Excellent pen integration
CONS
- No provision for external storage
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) Key Specifications
Display: 12.9-inch IPS display, 2048 x 2732 pixels
Chipset: Apple A12Z Bionic chip
OS: iPadOS 13.4
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Size: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches (280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm)
Weight: 1.41 pounds (641g)
Rear Camera: 12MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 7MP
Battery: 9720 mAh
The Apple iPad Pro is another decent tablet for ZBrush.
With a 12.9-inch screen, and a 2048 x 2732 pixel display, the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch screen is beautiful. It comes with 6 GB RAM which makes it exceptionally fast.
Its whopping 1TB of internal storage space lets you store as many drawings, documents, videos, pictures, music as possible. You may well buy models with lesser internal storage. Available internal storage includes 128 GB, 256 GB, 512GB and 1TB.
As you would expect, it runs one of Apple’s best operating systems: iPadOS 13.4. Because Apple is way ahead of the curve, you will almost never experience any lag when using ZBrush.
Unlike the Wacom Cintiq 22 and Cintiq 16, the iPad Pro has full multi-touch capabilities.
The Apple iPad Pro has been built to handle the power needs of a top-notch tablet thanks to its very outstanding long-lasting 9720 mAh battery.
We love the fact that you can just attach the Apple Pencil which is sold individually to the iPad Pro for charging and even storage. Using the Apple Pencil feels even better than using a pen and paper to draw.
With the iPad Pro’s 120Hz screen, 3D modeling, painting, and drawing is faultless.
If you believe in spending money on tools that make your tasks a lot easier, the Apple iPad Pro is worth considering.
Given its powerful hardware and a responsive pen, the Apple iPad Pro remains one of the best tablets for ZBrush.
4. Huion Kamvas Pro 16
PROS
- Excellent display quality
- Affordable
- Perfect for sculpting and drawing
- Fast and responsive
CONS
- Customizable keys too close to power button
Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch, IPS, (Full HD) 1920 x 1080 pixels
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Colour Gamut: 120% sRGB
OS: Windows, macOS
Pen: Battery-free digital pen
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: USB -C
Size: 17.24 x 9.89 x 0.45 inches (437.8 x 251.2 x 11.5 mm)
Weight: 2.98 pounds (1.35 kg)
If you are on a budget, the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is an affordable tablet for sculpting, drawing and painting in ZBrush.
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 is a bigger version of the Kamvas Pro 13. This simple tablet sports a decent 15.6-inch display which highlights every detail a creative connoisseur needs to see.
The tablet is slim at 11.5mm, and weighs 2.98 pounds (1.35 kg). So, lugging it around shouldn’t be a problem.
You’ll find three customizable buttons on both sides of the Kamvas Pro 16’s panel. Additionally, there’s a power button and a function button.
The Huion Kamvas Pro 16 ships with a stylus. It is responsive enough to make sculpting, designing, drawing, and painting a pure joy. Like the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16‘s and the Wacom Cintiq 22‘s pen, the stylus works with a battery-free technology and has an 8192 level of pressure sensitivity.
We recommend the Huion Kamvas Pro 16 as one of the best graphic tablets for ZBrush.
5. Wacom Cintiq 22
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)
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 drawing.
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 one of the best tablets for ZBrush and is highly recommended.
6. XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro
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)
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 ZBrush.
7. Wacom Intuos Pro
PROS
- Large screen for drawing
- Excellent value for money
- Decent display
- Affordable
CONS
- Pen stand won’t win awards
Wacom Intuos Pro Key Specifications
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Pen: Wacom Pro Pen 2
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Size: 16.8 x 11.2 x 0.3 inches (430 x 287 x 8 mm)
Active Area: 12.1 x 8.4 inches (311 x 216 mm)
Weight: 2.86 pounds (1.3 kg)
The Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition is one of the best tablets for ZBrush deserving of note.
It is shipped with a stand, a Wacom Pro Pen 2, four coloured pen rings and a cable.
With regard to performance, the Wacom Intuos Pro delivers. There is really no annoying lag when sculpting, painting or drawing. The battery-free, electromagnetic Pro Pen 2 which has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity works well, too. You can tweak the Pro Pen 2 to suit your needs.
The Wacom Intuos Pro is available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The small size weighs 0.99 pounds with dimensions 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches (269 x 170 x 8.45 mm). The medium size is 1.54 pounds and has a 13.2 x 8.5 x 0.3-inch footprint. The Large size weighs in at 2.86 pounds with a 16.8 x 11.2 x 0.3-inch footprint.
As for the many features of the Wacom Intuos Pro, they come with a bit of a learning curve. If you’re willing to put the time in, however, they pay dividends.
The Wacom Intuos Pro’s battery life is very impressive, so expect its runtimes to stretch into the double figures without taking a booster pack along for the ride.
Our only qualm with the Intuos Pro, and this remains minor, is that the Pen’s stand does not grip the Pro Pen 2 firmly.
All in all, the Wacom Intuos Pro remains one of the tablets for sculpting, texture painting, and drawing. We strongly recommend it as one of the best tablets for ZBrush.
8. Microsoft Surface Book 3
PROS
- Impressive display
- Very good backlit keyboard
- Excellent graphics processor
- Detachable
CONS
- Thunderbolt 3 port absent
- Mediocre speakers
Microsoft Surface Book 3 Key Specifications
Display: 13-inch, 3240 x 2160 pixels
CPU: Intel Core i5 – Intel Core i7
GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i5); Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 (i7)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256 GB – 2TB
Size: 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.91 inches (312.4 x 232.2 x 23.1 mm)
Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.53 kg)
OS: Windows 10 Home
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable, which could serve as a tablet or laptop.
Like its predecessor, it is made of aluminium chassis, looks great and comes with a wealth of handy features. It is thin and light.
Armed with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is capable of running ZBrush without a hitch. If you want more storage, your best bet is to get the model with 2TB of storage.
Of course, it ships with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor. The Core i7 will make running many programs effortless. There’s a Core i5 model, which is cheaper. However, we recommend the Core i7 variant for ZBrush.
The Surface Book 3 offers more graphics performance than the previous model, the Surface Book 2.
Elsewhere, using the Surface Book 3 with the Surface Pen (which is sold separately) is a pure joy.
The Surface Book 3 has a good selection of ports for connecting to external displays using the DisplayPort standard, lightning-fast external drives, and pretty much any USB peripheral.
The ports on the 2-in-1 are: two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SDXC card reader. It is worth mentioning that all variants of the Surface Book 3 have the same port selection.
With regard to weight, the Surface Book 3 is lightweight at 3.4 pounds.
As for battery life, you’ll get around nine hours out of the 2-in-1 from a single charge, if not more.
The speakers are a bit of a letdown. The Surface Book 3’s speakers do not pump amazing sound as the Apple MacBook Air, and the MacBook Pro.
The Surface Book 3 is still one of the best tablets for maximizing the features of ZBrush.
9. Huion Inspiroy H640P
PROS
- Good value for money
- Decent display
- Affordable
- Excellent build quality
CONS
- Pen lacks an eraser
Huion Inspiroy H640P Key Specifications
Resolution: 5080 lpi
Pen: PW100 battery-free pen
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Size: 10.2 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches (260 x 147.7 x 8 mm)
Active Area: 6.3 x 3.9 inches (160 x 99.1 mm)
Connection: USB
Weight: 0.61 pounds (277 g)
Another decent drawing tablet for ZBrush is the Huion Inspiroy H640P. It’s affordable and perfect for graphic artists, creative connoisseurs, art students, and beginners.
The Huion Inspiroy H640P is lightweight at 9.8 pounds and has a 10.2 x 5.8 x 0.3 -inch footprint.
Working area is reasonable: 6.3 x 3.9 inches (160 x 99.1 mm).
The Huion Inspiroy H640P graphics tablet ships with battery-free pen, a pen holder with 8 replacement pen nibs inside, and a micro USB cable.
For drawing, the battery-free stylus shipped with the tablet is responsive with 8192 pen pressure sensitivity levels. The pen is very light, sturdy, and easy to hold and use.
On another front, the tablet has 233 rps report rate, and 5080 lpi surface resolution. Again, the tablet has 6 customizable buttons.
Put all the features together and you get a knockout tablet for ZBrush that delivers professional performance.
The Inspiroy H640P is compatible with Windows 7 or higher. It is also compatible with Mac OS 10.11.0 or better.
All things considered, the Inspiroy H640P is strongly recommended as one of the best tablets for ZBrush.
Notable Mentions
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 and XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium are very good tablets for ZBrush worth considering, too.
10. 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)
11. XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium
PROS
- Excellent build quality
- Affordable
- Good value for money
CONS
- Software could use some improvements
XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium Key Specifications
Active Area: 11 x 6 inches (278.9 x 157.0 mm)
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
OS: Windows, macOS or Android
Pen: Battery-free stylus
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
Ports: USB-C
Size: 15.7 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches (399.7 x 227 x 16.5 mm)
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Wacom Cintiq 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | Huion Kamvas Pro 16 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | Wacom Cintiq 22 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | Wacom Intuos Pro | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Microsoft Surface Book 3 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 9 | Huion Inspiroy H640P | Check Price on Amazon |
| 10 | Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 11 | XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium | Check Price on Amazon |
Bottom Line
We’ve reviewed the best performing tablets suitable for sculpting and drawing with ZBrush. These tablets are a great pick for professional artists, and art students who need decent, robust, fast, and responsive tablets that work without issues.
Every tablet we’ve recommended for getting the most out of ZBrush is worth considering.
