7 Best Drawing Pad for Mac: Tested
With the world breaking the chrysalis of monotony and spreading the wings of creativity more and more with time, mankind is unfolding the creative aspects within itself and digging further into it.
Drawing and painting have been essentially a source of relaxation and hobby. But with a boost to creativity, it is also moving toward the mainstream of the corporate world. Therefore, tools like drawing pads have become essential.
When it comes to choosing these devices, there are plenty of options available. Furthermore, if you are a Mac user, it is critical to understand which is the best drawing pad for Mac that is fully compatible with macOS.
We have brought you a list of drawing pads for Mac that would help you pick the best! Also, we have a small guide that would fill you up with things you need to know while buying a drawing pad for mac.
7 Best Drawing pad for Mac
1. XP-PEN StarG640
XP-PEN Star G640 stands number one on our list. This 6×4 inch ultra-thin digital graphics drawing tablet comes with a PN01 Battery-Free Pen that offers a sensitivity pressure of 8192 levels providing us with a real-time drawing experience.
Specially designed for tasks like drawing, e-signatures, painting, web designing, online teaching, photo editing, and other such works, this drawing pad is compatible with Mac 10 or above, Chrome OS 88 and above, and windows 7/8/10.
Not just that, but it is even compatible with most of the graphic designing and artistic tools like adobe photoshop, Corel Draw, Illustrator, paint tool sai, Corel Painter, manga studio, and the list goes on!
This apple drawing tablet with a pen is a perfect tool for amateurs and experts too. It is easy to use, easy to connect, and you can carry it anywhere, may it be classrooms, conference halls, home, etc.
This drawing pad is a perfect substitute for a mouse and makes your experience more comfortable and makes you feel as if you are naturally sketching.
In addition to these incredible features is its customer service. They provide you with technical assistance with minimal effort from your side, and if you find any problems with the hardware which is not done by your side, then within one year, it can be replaced with a similar device, by the company.
Pros:
- Natural experience of sketching
- Compatible with many systems
- Great customer service
- A perfect alternative for a mouse
Cons:
- Button placement on the pen is a bit troublesome.
2. Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet (CTL4100)
Coming down to the number 2, we have an apple sketch pad which is designed exclusively for beginners who have just started freshly into drawing, painting, writing, photo edits, using their smartphones and computers.
With a 4096 pressure sensitivity level, it gives you a realistic feeling when you draw with the battery-free pen and offers you precision and absolute control while you are at it with any application you are using.
This Apple drawing pad offers you four ExpressKeys on the tablet and two keys on the pen that are customisable to let you quickly access your favourite shortcut keys. Undo, scroll or pan, (or any function you choose) are all just a click away. ExpressKeys may be used on both a Windows PC and a Mac.
The Wacom tablets have been trusted by animators, filmmakers, architects, and fashion designers from all over the world for their pen technology for around 35 years.
This Apple sketch pad is compatible with Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later), Mac (OS X 10.10 and above), PC (Windows 7 and above), Chromebook (devices running the latest Chrome OS), and Chromebook (devices running the latest Chrome OS). Simple USB-A connection: some gadgets require USB-C or OTG adapters.
Pros:
- Excellent tool for beginners
- Compatible with multiple devices
- Precision and control while drawing
Cons:
- Free software redemption problem
- Lack of proper tutorial
3. XP-PEN Artist12
This Apple drawing pad is compatible with Mac 10.10 and later, Chrome 88, Windows 7 or higher versions of windows, and Linux OS. All you have to do is to connect it with your computer, and you are all set to work on photoshop, illustrator, Medibang, clip studio, etc.
This drawing tablet for mac is an ideal tool when it comes to digital drawing, sketching, photo editing, animation, 3D sculpting, etc. Its 11.6-inch screen is perfect for the purpose of online teaching and remote work.
Stylus with no batteries and a digital eraser at the end: The XP-PEN superior P06 passive pen was designed to feel like a standard pencil! It has a non-slip adhesive grip that is tack-free, a partially transparent pen tip, and an eraser on the other end—all of this in a hexagonal design.
The six-screen features offer you shortcut keys that can be customised according to your needs, and you can zoom in and out through your canvas using the toolbar. These customisable options allow you to streamline your approach and generate ideas more quickly and efficiently.
The minuscule 1920×1080 HD display from XP-PEN, with a 72 percent NTSC(100 percent SRGB) Color Gamut, displays bright images, vibrant colours, and incredible detail for a spectacular display of your artwork. It also has an anti-reflective screen protector mounted.
Pros:
- Vibrant and crisp display
- Easy setup
- ExpressKeys are handy
- No lag while drawing
Cons:
- The duplicate display unavailable in landscape
- Only works with computer
4. HUION Inspiroy H640P
Huion H640P weighs only 0.5 pounds and is barely 0.3 inches thick. Its lightweight and compact form makes it ideal for use in a classroom or on a business trip. It is ideal for restricted desktop areas and provides increased space to create a 6x4inch great sketching area.
With the help of a stylus and the H640P, teachers and learners may write it with their own hands, edit, diagram, do the math, and comment on a virtual whiteboard while streaming or broadcasting in Zoom, Team, or Xsplit, making it ideal for Online education.
With a pen resolution of 5080LPI and absolutely no lag, you’ll experience complete accuracy and control. It’s also battery-free, so there’s no need to charge it. The pen’s side buttons allow you to quickly switch between pen and eraser.
Huion H640P is not only compatible with Mac and Windows, but also with Android 6.0 and later through a does include OTG adaptor, providing you to turn your tablet or phone into a virtual sketching canvas.
You don’t need to install the Huion driver to play OSU! or similar games on the H640P drawing pad with the responsive pen. It’s a fun way to spend time while also changing the way you play.
This Apple sketchpad is widely used in banking and finance, retail, and other industries for digital business signatures in Word, Spreadsheet, Pdfs, and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC signature software.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Programmable shortcut keys
- Almost no lag
Cons:
- It does not support iPhone or iPad
5. GAOMON S620
Amongst the list of drawing pads for Mac, the GAOMON S620 stands on the 5th in rank with its 6.5 x 4 inches screen, and battery-free pen eliminates the bothersome process of charging the pen.
It moreover features 8192 levels of pen pressure and four customisable express keys. It will provide you with precise control and accuracy at your fingers, allowing you to create more natural strokes and enhance your artistic abilities.
It’s available for Windows 7/8/10 and macOS 10.12 and beyond. It is compatible with Sketchbook Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Krita, Illustrator, Open Canvas, Clip Studio, Lightroom, Manga Studio, FireAlpaca, Corel Painter, Paint Tool Sai2, and other art programs.
It’s a bit pen tablet, measuring 190.8mm*177mm*6mm and weighing only 249 grams. You can effortlessly stuff it into your backpack and carry it with you wherever you go.
It’s also large enough for digital art, calligraphy, gaming, and animation design, among other things.
This mac drawing pad is supported by four rubber feet to prevent it from slipping. Support for both left and right-handed people To set left-hand mode, rotate the GAOMON Driver 180 degrees.
When you are using it over computers, it offers us the work area of 6.5*4Inch. And while utilising it over Android phones, it provides you with the work area is 4*2.4Inch.
Pros:
- Rubber grip on the stylus and several nibs
- Easy navigation through the software
- Compatible with android phones
Cons:
- Issues found with the pen
6. XP-Pen Deco 01 V2
For digital art sketching, animation, photo-editing, 3D modelling, or design work, the XP-PEN Deco01 V2 art tablet is ideal for kids and beginners and digital artists.
To make lines flow run more smoothly and work more effectively, we’ve implemented the latest High Tech IC. Both right and left-handed users will find it helpful.
P05 is a battery-free stylus that can tilt up to 60 degrees. The battery-free stylus has 8192 pressure sensitivity levels, allowing you unprecedented control and fluidity to increase your creative output. You can immediately shift it from a Pen to an Eraser with just one click.
It is an ideal tool for web-conferencing and online teaching: It’s compatible with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Zoom, Xsplit, PowerPoint, OneNote, and allows for simultaneous digital inking with an XP-PEN Apple sketch pad.
The Deco 01V2 graphics drawing pad for mac has eight spherical, customisable express keys that are comfortable to use.
You can quickly locate your express keys thanks to the blind spot reduction design, and the shortcut keys can be configured to a variety of software tools.
To work, the XP-PEN Deco01V2 drawing tablet needs to be connected to a Chromebook, laptop, computer, and Android device.
It runs on Windows 10/8/7(32/64bit), Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Android 6.0 or later, and Chrome OS 88.0.4324.109 or beyond and also works with Linux!
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Excellent sensitivity pressure
- Battery-free pen
Cons:
- The buttons aren’t customisable
7. HUION 420 OSU Tablet
The final apple drawing pad we have for you is the HUION 420 OSU tablet. The 420 digital drawing pad for mac is only 7mm thick and weighs 165g. With a sleek and lightweight design and a functional area of 4×2.23 inches, it is ideal for fixed desktop areas and is easy to carry while travelling.
The Huion 420 is a low-cost graphics apple sketch pad with a responsive pen best suited for children and novice artists who want to draw, sketch, and edit images. It’s simple to set up, and it is helpful for left-handed and right-handed people.
It is compatible with Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.12 or later, USB port Most drawing software, including Paint Tool SAI, Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Manga Studio, Corel Painter, Sketchbook, Clip Studio Paint, and a lot more. It is also compatible with the Huion 420 drawing pad.
The 420 mac drawing pad allows the user to have a density of 4000 LPI, 2048 pen pressure levels, a DC5V supply voltage, and power consumption of 0.35W. It allows you to operate in a very smooth manner. It is a fantastic mouse substitute.
Files updated in Word, Excel, and transcripts in PDF or JPG formats are all suitable with the signing capability enabled by our products while using the 420 electronic signature pad.
Pros:
- Easy to install and use
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Compatible with almost every OS
Cons:
- Limited support with Krita
- Limited pen pressure
Things to Consider While Buying A Drawing Pad For Mac
Durability
Drawing pads without a screen can endure up to 5 years if used regularly. With everyday use, this time frame can be extended to ten years. If taken seldom, the same tablets can last indefinitely.
Compatibility
Check to see if the drawing pad is compatible with the tools you’re using. The majority of Apple drawing pads use Bluetooth to connect to Mac devices. However, some devices require drivers or configurations to connect with them, and some of them are more compatible than others.
Although most significant graphics tablet makers offer full support for Windows, Mac, and Linux, it’s relatively uncommon for less costly models to offer Windows support.
Set up
A drawing pad may or may not be part of your standard toolset, depending on the type of job you do.
Regardless of whatever manufacturer created your drawing tablet, it arrived with a CD that contained installation software, drivers, and potentially a user manual.
Before connecting the device to Windows 7, install the company’s software. The software will most likely aid in customising the pad to react quickly to your handwriting and gestures.
Screen/Display
Graphic tablets and Display Tablets are the two types of items accessible for your consideration. You can draw instantly on display using a drawing pad, just as you would with a pencil on paper.
Graphic tablets, on the other hand, allow you to draw on the tablet’s surface and have your work displayed on the computer screen.
When drawing on graphic tablets for the first time, it may take a few hours to get your hand-eye coordination in sync – but it’ll be pretty seamless in no time.
Apple drawing pads are typically quite comfortable and straightforward to use, but they are more costly than graphic tablets.
Graphic tablets, on the other hand, are small and ideal for those who are just getting started with digital painting.
Verdict
All the drawing pads for mac are well deserving here, which is why they are all on the list. Choosing a winner from these apple sketch pads is really a tough call. If I were to choose a drawing pad for my mac, I would definitely go for the XP-PEN Star G640.
It is without a doubt one of the best apple drawing pads for artistic uses. Moreover, it is compatible with most systems and gives you a real-time experience while you draw.
The most attractive feature is the pen that offers a sensitivity pressure of 8192 that gives you the exact feel of natural sketching. And the best part is that it is very affordable.
But if you want a drawing tablet with more features, you can choose HUION 420 OSU Tablet without second thoughts.
