The Best Tablets for UX Designers

As a UX designer, you need a tablet that can keep up with your workflow, whether you’re sketching out wireframes or putting the finishing touches on a polished design. With so many tablets on the market, it can be hard to know which one is the best fit for your needs.

But fear not! We’ve done the research for you, and we’ve scoured the Internet to compile a list of the best tablets for UX designers out there. The tablets were chosen based on features, value for the money, and overall usability for UX design work.

See our selection below.

Best Tablets for UX Designers

Our top pick for the best tablet for UX designers is the Apple 2021 iPad Mini. This powerful tablet offers the best value for the money of all iPads right now, and it’s easy to see why.

With a height of 7.69 in and a width of 5.3 in, weighing just 0.65 lbs, the iPad Mini is a compact tablet that you can take with you wherever you go. But don’t let its size fool you — this tablet packs a punch. The touchscreen Liquid Retina display has a diameter of 8.3 in, with a resolution of 2,266 x 1,488 px at 326 PPI, is big enough for sketches and mockups, and sports an antireflective, fingerprint-resistant coating.

But it’s not just the display that makes the iPad Mini a great choice for UX designers. The Apple chip and integrated graphics are powerful enough to run Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps and other UX design iOS apps without worry, and yet economic enough to give this tablet a long battery life.

One of our favorite features of the iPad Mini is its camera. It sports two 12 MP cameras — one on the front for conference calling and another on the back for taking photos and recording videos. The back camera can capture stunning 4K video at 25, 30, and 60 FPS, making it perfect for work and play.

Above all, the iPad Mini works with the second-generation Apple Pencil so that you can turn your iPad into a drawing tablet and bring your ideas to life without the need for pen and paper. The Apple Pencil is very precise, making it easy to create detailed sketches and designs.

Dive deeper: 2021 Apple iPad Mini Review

Our runner-up pick for the best tablet for UX designers is the Wacom One Pen Display. This pen display is designed to feel like pen and paper — but with all the benefits of a digital tablet. It’s no wonder that Wacom, the Japanese leader in drawing tablets for creative professionals, has created a product that is sure to please.

The Wacom One Pen Display has an 8-bit, 13.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,080-px (Full HD) display that is precise and clear. The pen that comes with it is battery-free, so there’s no need to worry about running out of power while you work. The tablet itself is 8.9 inches long, 14.1 inches wide, and weighs 2.2 pounds, making it a compact and portable option.

The ergonomic stand with built-in legs that fold out from the back lets you position the tablet at an optimal angle of 19 degrees on your desk. This makes it comfortable to use for long periods of time, and ensures that your work is always at the right angle.

The Wacom One Pen Display has a USB-A port and an HDMI port, so you can easily connect it to a monitor or TV screen when you need to present your ideas to clients or teammates. And it’s compatible with Windows and macOS computers, so you can use it with the software that you’re already familiar with.

While this pen display isn’t for everyone, it’s a great option for those who are looking for an affordable drawing tablet that won’t take up too much space on their desk. The fact that it needs to be plugged into a wall outlet at all times may be a downside for some, but it ensures that you’ll never run out of power while you work.

And while the display could have higher contrast and richer colors, it still feels great to use. Overall, the Wacom One Pen Display is a great option for the UX designer who’s looking for a compact, portable, and affordable drawing tablet that’s comfortable to use for long periods of time.

What to Look For

As a UX designer, selecting the right tablet can be a daunting task. There are two types of tablets to consider: regular, touchscreen tablets and drawing tablets.

The first thing to consider is how you will be using the tablet. If you want a multi-purpose device that you can use for more than just UX work, a regular tablet might be the best option. You can use it for browsing the web, chatting with others, attending conference calls, listening to podcasts, or watching YouTube clips. A regular tablet can be used for pretty much anything you could do with a mobile device.

If your main focus is on sketching, mocking up, and drawing, then a drawing tablet might be more suitable. A drawing tablet is a single-purpose device that allows you to draw directly on the screen. This can be very helpful for designers who prefer to sketch out their ideas by hand rather than using a mouse or touchpad.

When selecting a tablet, it’s important to consider the size and the price.

Generally, you want a tablet that’s affordable and compact, so that it’s easy to carry around in a bag or backpack and doesn’t take up too much space on your desk. The quality of the touchscreen and the availability of drawing pens is also key. Look for a tablet with a responsive, high-quality touchscreen that allows you to draw and sketch with precision. If you opt for a drawing tablet, make sure that it comes with a good quality drawing pen that feels comfortable and natural to hold.

Another important consideration is the operating system of the tablet. If you’re already familiar with iOS or Android, it may be best to stick with a tablet that uses the same operating system. This will help you to get up and running quickly and make the most of the tablet’s features.

Ultimately, the right tablet for you will depend on your needs and wants as a UX designer. By considering your priorities and doing your research, you can find a tablet that meets your needs and helps you to work more efficiently and effectively.