Types of drawing tablets

Non-standalone drawing tablets

• Pen tablets (also called "screenless tablets") do not have a screen. You use them with a computer or laptop. More here: Introduction to pen tablets

• Pen displays (also called "screen tablets") have a screen. You use them with a computer or laptop. More here: Introduction to pen displays

• To choose between them, see Pen tablets vs pen displays.

Standalone drawing tablets

• Pen-enabled mobile devices are devices like iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tab S models that support a pen. They are not strictly drawing tablets, but they use similar technology and can work as standalone drawing tablets. More here: Introduction to pen-enabled mobile devices

• Pen computers are drawing tablets that are essentially laptops. I do not recommend them. More here:

  • Introduction to pen computers

  • The case against pen computers

• Pen-enabled 2-in-1 laptops are devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro or Samsung Galaxy Book 5 360 that can be used with a pen. More here: Introduction to pen-enabled 2-in-1 laptops