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Last Updated on December 2, 2020
The numbers don’t lie. Only around 8% to 10% of the world is left-handed. Putting this into perspective, this means out of nearly 8 billion people on the planet, only around 800,000,000 are left-handed.
This means is that most of the time, things are created without lefties in mind – all for the benefit of the other side: the righties. Consider our very own writing system.
Because we write directionally from left to right, lefties are at a natural disadvantage and are more prone to smudging some ink on their hands. Even beyond writing, we see a similar trend. From the zippers on your trousers to scissors to shoelaces and even to handshakes, you cannot deny that if you’re a leftie, you are at a disadvantage.
Unfortunately, this extends even to tech and includes keyboards, mouses, and tablets. So, if you are an artist looking for a tablet to take your technique up to the digital level you may face some challenges.
This is where we come in. We totally understand your struggle and have done our research in finding some of the best drawing tablets that are suitable for left-handed artists. Now while the tablets in our list aren’t specifically designed for left-handers, they are still virtually identical in function irrespective of handiness.
Best Drawing Tablet for Left-Handed People of 2020
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Huion Inspiroy Ink H320M Dual Purpose Drawing Tablet
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The first on our list is by far one of the finest tablets (and kind on the wallet) out there for left-handed artists. The Inspiroy Ink Model (H320M) since its recent release has shifted the entire playing field by introducing the first dual-purpose screen to the market.
This means you can find an LCD writing tablet with e-paper technology on one side and on the other, you’ll find your regular drawing tablet. With this feature, if one word could describe the tablet, it would be seamless. You can turn any flash of inspiration into a working outline on the LCD-side and then immediately turn it into a reality on the other.
This is no mere gimmick. This tablet is still a solid player when it comes to functionality. With the front covering 228.6 x 142.99mm and the back covering 259.2 x 157.4mm, you will have a respectably large draw area to work upon.
And looking at the pen, with its 60-degree tilt and pen pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels, you won’t be able to find a sweeter deal out there. Further, with a pen resolution of 5080LPI (which by far exceeds what even elite artists need) and a PPS Report Rate of 266, this means drawing on this tablet will be practically as responsive as drawing on paper.
Now why this is ideal for left-handed artists is in its design. The H320M model is built with one of the most functional yet leveled designs we’ve ever seen in tablets. Pristine, smooth yet totally flat without the obstruction of switches, buttons or covers, this ensures that the differences between lefties and righties are minimal. Regardless of handiness, you can rest assured that you will have a similar drawing experience.
Now returning to its flatness – this imparts another advantage: portability. Such a design makes it effortless to slip into your backpack without bumping or clinging to anything inside.
This coupled with the H320M’s featherlight weight of 350g means that you’ll probably not even notice it’s with you. But with portability, durability is often sacrificed. Fortunately, the H320M goes about this problem through in-built protection including rubber feet on each corner of the tablet along with a complimentary screen to prevent bumps and scratches.
With all these combined, you might think the price is astronomical but fret not. The H320M model also boasts an astonishingly affordable price.
Huion Inspiroy H640P
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Similar to the H320M Model – minus the dual-screen -, the H640P Model is the more dated sibling between the two, being one of Huion’s first tablets to incorporate battery-less pens. Regardless, this tablet is still a very worthwhile purchase especially if you are looking for something cheaper.
Its design can be summed in a single word – minimalist. Nothing but the most crucial features can be found on its smooth, plastic drawing surface. Yet though silky, its surface is not too smooth, so you need not worry about losing control over your pen while drawing. Again, this also serves to benefit its portability and along with its 270g weight, luging this tablet around is akin to carrying a book.
While not quite as paper-like as the H320M, it still possesses a very workable texture suitable for all from beginners to veterans.
Rounded edges along with rubber feet also work to prevent scratches on the device while keeping your hands free from annoying ‘pressure marks’. One thing to note however that the H640P Model comes at a size of 160.02mm x 99.06mm. This is a relatively small size for a drawing tablet so make sure it’s something you really want.
With a Report Rate (PPS) of 233, 5080LPI pen resolution and pressure level of 8192, you will find that your drawing experience is nearly identical to the H320M model save for size.
Drawing will be seamless and will appear on your monitor instantaneously. Do not be fooled by the low price – while it may be deceptive, you are absolutely paying for a high-quality product.
Why we think the H640P is great for lefties is because Huion is one of those rare companies that truly considers how many artists are lefties and have designed their tablets in such a way that with a press of a button, handiness can be flipped.
Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2
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This tablet sits comfortably as the second most expensive on our list for a reason – it is an absolute powerhouse and is often praised as one of Huion’s masterpieces by both professional and amateur artists alike. The Q11K V2 is filled with several unique features, so many in fact that we’d need an entire article to go in-depth, but we’ve done our best to summarise the important bits.
Design-wise unlike the HM320M and H640P models, the Q11K V2 looks less like a tablet and more like a laptop coated with buttons (8 in fact). Its build quality isn’t quite up to the highest standards being composed of mainly plastic but there is still minimal flex and our reports find it to be very durable.
Its surface is also like the other Huion products on this list, high-quality – not too slippery yet smooth enough with the underside protected by rubber feet that both prevent scratches and sliding around while drawing. And with the pen pressure at 8192, report rate of 233 and full 60-degree natural tilt support, no corners are cut when it comes to actual drawing.
The most noticeable detail is its significantly large drawing area spanning 279.4mm x 173.625mm. This translates to a diagonal size of 13 inches, which is massive for drawing tablet standards!
On one hand, this is fantastic for focusing and working on small details and viewing beautiful images but on the other hand, you end up with a heavier product that weighs in at 880g. This weight along with size means reduced portability and while you could stuff the tablet into most backpacks, you will definitely notice it.
Another feature worth mentioning is that this tablet is wireless. You won’t need to be tethered to some unwieldy cable so you will be able to move around as free as a bird.
Will this tablet also be suitable if you’re a leftie? Absolutely. It may have more buttons than the latter two but rest assured, with a click of a checkbox and a 180-degree flip of the tablet, you’ll be set to go without any hindrance.
One by Wacom Graphic Drawing Tablet for Beginners
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Wacom’s One model is nothing short of excellent by our standards and is a fitting edition for their line of products. With such an established and trusted brand name in the art industry, you can absolutely but your faith in their hands.
With compatibility for both Windows and Mac, this tablet is particularly good for budding artists looking for their first digital tablet to start out. While its pen pressure levels of 2048 is relatively less compared to higher-end Wacom models, this will not be readily noticeable. Drawing space will be more than ample with Wacom One’s dimensions 210.82mm X 144.78mm x 7.62mm.
Despite this, the tablet only weighs 703g – largely possible from its mainly plastic build. Make no mistake, while it may be mainly plastic, it still has a slick and pristine design made from the highest-quality materials that create a product with minimal flexing and feels solid under your hands.
The pen too, has been reported as being well-balanced, lightweight, battery-less and easily stands up to other rival products in terms of quality.
Now for you left-handers, take note: Wacom One falls under the Cintiq class of pen displays – so not only will you have a vivid display, you won’t have any odd buttons sticking out so changing the tablet’s setting from right-handed to left is a piece of cake. All you need to do is to set the tablet up on your computer, go the settings and choose the configuration you want.
With Wacom themselves explicitly stating that left-handers face no issue in doing this, you have nothing worry about.
Wacom Intuos Wireless Graphics Drawing Tablet
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Finally, we come to the Wacom Intuos, the most expensive drawing tablet on our list. While the price tag is certainly nothing to be scoffed at, we truly believe that this is a premium, professional-grade product worth every penny.
The Wacom Intuos Model is a remarkably stylish product that excels not just in functionality but in terms of ergonomics and comfort. Durability-wise, this thing is pretty solid and can definitely last for years with proper care.
Looking at its other features, it enjoys a large drawing area of 215.9mm x 134.62mm that is composed of a unique texture bordering on feeling to paper during use.
Complementing this, pen pressure levels are also set at 4096 levels which is the highest in our list and is suitable for the most intricate and detailed drawings, making it a great option for photographers, traveling artists, and beginners alike.
It also is entirely wireless, using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity which imparts a huge convenience for left-handers – no hassle over wires here.
And on switching modes between right and left handiness, nothing can be more intuitive in our list. You just flip the tablet, choose the left-handed mode and you’re all set to draw!
Five Things to Look for in a Drawing Tablet
An era ago the tool of an artist was his canvas, brush, and paint. But now in our increasingly digitized world, the tools of the modern artist are the drawing tablet and digital pen. While this newfound development comes with a host of advantages in terms of portability, convenience, and functionality, there is one catch: picking a suitable tablet is tricky. It doesn’t help that there are countless varieties out there all claiming to do the same things and look the same!
So, to help you budding artists out there, we’ve written a mini-guide on four crucial things you should consider before splurging on a tablet.
Size: While size can refer to either the drawing area or overall size of a tablet, we focus specifically on the former here. Small tablets are great for portability (and usually price) but at the end of the day, look towards your needs. Larger tablets will require your hand to cover more distance and can be tiring but more fitting for drawings that require intricate levels of detail. Conversely, smaller tablets can do the job but may require more handling to achieve the same result.
Wired/Wireless: This is particularly important to consider for left-handers. While you won’t face issues with wires from the tablets in our list, should you choose to explore other models, do remember to check whether being left-handed will lead to any wire obstructions!
Portability: This depends heavily on what you plan to do. If you are just going to draw from the comfort of your desk at home, then portability wouldn’t be much of a concern. But if you intend on moving around a lot either from office to cafe to home, ensure you consider the size and weight of the tablet before purchasing.
Pressure Sensitivity: A digital pen with higher pressure sensitivity means that your pen will be able to detect more pressure points. This, in other words, determines how wide or narrow your lines will be and also affects transparency, color, and responsiveness. While a pressure level of at least 1024 is usually sufficient for general use, whether this applies to you depends on what you do. For instance, drawing intricate images by freehand would benefit more from higher sensitivities over simple edits on photoshop.
Price: Lastly, onto perhaps the most important consideration, cost. A good tablet should have a good balance of durability, functionality, and portability – all of which you will find in our suggestions – but whether you should spend more or less cash on a tablet depends on your needs. If you are a beginner, we suggest cheaper models such as Wacom One. More experienced artists can opt for Wacom Intuos.