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The tablet market has become increasingly competitive, providing digital artists, illustrators, and hobbyists with devices that offer an almost paper-like drawing experience. Historically, tablets were limited in their capabilities. Today, however, it’s common to find feature-rich devices that include stylus pens, with the exception of Apple’s iPad Pro series, which doesn’t come bundled with the various generations of Apple Pencil.
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For those who prefer Android, the advancements in drawing capabilities have been significant. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 stands out as a strong alternative to the iPad Pro, designed for a professional drawing experience. While both the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab offer a plethora of features and tools for artists, their steep prices can be a barrier, requiring at least $900 to purchase either.
In contrast, the tablet deemed the best for drawing by users is priced at just $130. The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, bundled with the Amazon Stylus Pen, offers savings of around $45. Marketed as a device for creativity, it supports drawing, sketching, and coloring. The stylus can be utilized for annotating PDFs, taking notes, and more. While the Fire HD 10 is considered mid-range, it competes well with many premium brands.
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What users are saying about the Amazon Fire HD 10
Among the various drawing tablets available on Amazon, the Fire HD 10 boasts the highest number of user ratings at 24,074, with over 75% of reviewers giving it five stars, resulting in its designation as an Amazon’s Choice product. The bundled 32 GB version features lock screen ads, but these can be removed for a one-time fee of $20. The included Stylus Pen is powered by an AAAA battery that lasts up to six months and is also compatible with the larger Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet.
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Alongside its effectiveness as a drawing tablet, the Fire HD 10 functions as a complete tablet. According to user feedback, many have found it suitable for entertainment purposes, allowing seamless streaming of content. It has received praise for its multitasking capabilities, enabled by the octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM. However, this RAM size may appear small and outdated given that Samsung Galaxy tablets have offered similar capacity since 2014.
Others have highlighted the Fire HD 10’s 10.1-inch display, with claims that it is clearer than some MacBooks and HD TVs. With the stylus included, the package presents an excellent value for both productivity and entertainment. Although it does not support many of the top Android applications for drawing and animation, Amazon’s Fire OS does provide a variety of alternatives.
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Drawing apps to use on the Fire HD 10
Considering its affordability and specifications, the Fire HD 10 doesn’t stack up to its premium competitors. Many of the popular drawing applications supported by the device are aimed at children. For example, Bejoy Mobile’s Kids Doodle features a straightforward design with 18 different brushes, aimed at encouraging doodling and sketching on a blank canvas. Notable features include a “shake device” option to clear the screen and a movie mode that lets users playback their drawings like a short film.
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For more advanced art projects, Fire OS does offer a few more sophisticated applications. ArtFlow Studio’s ArtFlow is a noteworthy option for sketching, drawing, and painting, equipped with over 50 brushes and tools, including color adjustment elements. Users can create layered compositions, making the app suitable for more complex art projects that require blending techniques. Brush controls for flow and opacity are also available to enhance creativity.
4Axis Technologies Pte Ltd’s Drawing Desk also stands out as a highly recommended app for digital artists and those looking to improve their drawing skills. With over 25 tools, including various styles such as pen, pencil, and watercolor brushes, it offers extensive creative possibilities. For aspiring manga and anime artists, Drawing Desk features over 800 lessons to guide users from basic to advanced techniques. Keep in mind that some app features might require in-app purchases.
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