Noise

Overview

Overall, drawing tablets are very quiet devices. Many are silent. This document explains the possible sources of noise.

Noise from tablet components

Pen tablets - drawing tablets without a screen - are completely silent. Nothing in them makes noise.

Pen displays - drawing tablets with a screen - may or may not be silent, depending on the model. For example, many of them have no fans, so they are silent. Some do have fans, and those will produce audible fan noise. The amount depends on the specific model.

Noise from pen and tablet surface

When you drag the pen on the surface of a drawing tablet, there is a little friction. Drawing tablets vary widely in how rough their texture is.

Depending on the pen nib material, surface material, and texture, you might hear the pen move on the surface.

For pen tablets, it can sound like a pencil scratching on paper. It can also be very quiet. The nib material often makes a big difference. Felt nibs can cause more noise than plastic nibs.

For pen displays, the pen usually does not produce much sound because the surface is only slightly textured.