Tablet with pen: five models in comparison

In technical jargon, the special pens, which were specially designed for tablets with touchscreens, are also called stylus or – translated into English – pencil. Suppliers like Apple have developed their own pen, which is very expensive on the one hand () is not even compatible with all iPad and iPhone models.

In the meantime, however, there are a large number of inexpensive Apple Pencil alternatives that also harmonize with other brands. They all have one thing in common: They make writing or painting on a mobile PC more realistic and ensure precise execution. There are already very cheap tablets for less than 100 euros, but they are less suitable for drawing. For this reason, five higher-priced models are presented below.

1. Huawei MediaPad M5 lite

The PC, which weighs just 475 grams, is equally suitable for photos and books, games and films. The tablet does not come with a pen, but it can will. The average battery life is eleven hours, so you have enough time to paint and draw and then examine your works of art with the very good image quality in Full HD. Other advantages of the tablet include the four speakers, the integrated fingerprint sensor and the eight megapixel front camera and eight megapixel rear camera. In addition, the Huawei MediaPad supports Micro-SD, so that you can expand the storage capacity.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Here the tablet is supplied with a pen: the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite can be used as a digital drawing board for sketching, writing, noting and editing photos – but also for surfing and listening to music, for gaming or for streaming. The long-lasting battery lasts up to twelve hours (according to the manufacturer), but that always depends on what the tablet is used for. Its advantages include the slim and light design, the fast loading times and the expandable memory. In addition, the software and hardware of the mobile PC has been equipped with a high-performance security platform to protect your data from external attacks.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Significantly more expensive to buy, the Galaxy Tab S3 from Samsung also has a lot more to offer than the cheaper Tab S6 Lite: Here, too, the tablet comes with a pen that can be used for writing and drawing – even when the display is on is turned off. The recording of notes “in the dark” is made possible by the integrated “Screen Off-Memo” function. The four speakers, which adapt their stereo sound to the orientation when you turn the tablet, should also be positively emphasized. Optionally, you can also connect an external keyboard to the mobile PC to make typing easier. Otherwise, the Galaxy Tab S3 trumps with a 13 megapixel main camera, a powerful processor and HDR video support.

4. Apple iPad Air

This iPad is compatible with the expensive one , but must be purchased separately. Alternatively, a cheaper one is also suitable that works perfectly with Apple products. And other external accessories such as a Smart Keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard can also be connected to this iPad. Its clear strengths include – according to Apple – the pixel-perfect precision of the pencil, a strong processor, a large memory, the eight-megapixel rear camera and seven-megapixel HD front camera as well as a powerful battery that promises up to 10 hours of running time, and the Touch ID function. Here, too, it depends on the purposes for which the tablet is used (surfing, listening to music, drawing).

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

By far the most expensive tablet in this round of introductions comes home without a pen, although the with 4096 pressure levels can also be easily reordered here. It can not only be used in classic apps such as OneNote, but is also compatible with programs such as Adobe Photoshop CC. The more than twelve-inch display makes the Surface Pro 7 an ideal drawing board, which by adding a (read a keyboard) can also be converted into a laptop. Additional accessories can be added via USB-A or USB-C, for example to connect an external display or other devices. Another advantage that the tablet has to offer is the powerful battery, which (according to the manufacturer) should last up to ten hours

Tablet with pen: the most important purchase criteria

Before you decide on one of the tablets mentioned – or another one – you should think in advance about which criteria are important for you. Depending on whether you want to use the mobile PC for work or just in your free time for surfing, playing or streaming, it must meet different characteristics. Regardless of whether the tablet comes with or without a pen, the following points should be considered in your purchase decision: