pentablet

Pentablet is a term used to describe a class of tablet devices that emphasize stylus input for drawing, writing, and annotating. It can refer to standalone tablets with a built-in display or to graphics tablets with screens that pair with a computer or mobile device. The common thread is a high-precision, pressure-sensitive pen and supporting touch input, aimed at artists, designers, students, and professionals who require digitized handwriting or raster and vector work.

These devices typically feature a high-resolution display with accurate color rendering and a digitizer that detects pen position, pressure, and sometimes tilt. Palm rejection helps users draw with the hand resting on the screen. Pens may connect via active technology such as electromagnetic resonance or capacitive sensing, or via Bluetooth, and may include buttons or erasers. Some models offer keyboard docks, USB-C or wireless connectivity, and either battery-free or rechargeable styluses.

They run common mobile or desktop operating systems and are compatible with drawing, sketching, photo editing, and note-taking applications. The main value lies in precise input, low latency, and compatibility with various stylus systems.

As a category, pentablet is not universally standardized and is often used informally to describe devices in the broader space of pen-enabled tablets and graphics tablets. In practice, users may refer to devices as graphics tablets with displays, pen-enabled tablets, or iPad-like drawing tablets, depending on the manufacturer and workflow.

See also: Pen tablet, Graphics tablet, Digital pen, Stylus.