In today’s digital age, PDFs reign supreme. From research papers to textbooks, these versatile documents hold a wealth of information.
Annotating PDFs on a tablet or a computer is a convenient way to highlight important information, add some explanation wherever needed, and even draw on the document.
Annotating PDF with a mouse is very hard on your wrists and produces poor results. A good tablet with pen can change the game.
If you’re buying your first graphics tablet or standalone drawing tablet, you don’t need the most powerful device on the market – but you do need something that’s affordable, reliable and capable of meeting your needs.
Whether you need a portable standalone drawing tablet or a traditional drawing tablet compatible with both windows and MacOS computer, you’ll find the ideal device on this list.
How to Annotate PDF on a Tablet or a Computer?
Annotating a PDF might sound tricky, but it’s actually quite simple.
Open the PDF file in a PDF annotation app on your tablet or computer.
Look for the annotation tools in the app. These tools may include a pen or pencil for highlighting text, and various shapes and symbols for marking up the document.
Select the tool you want to use and start annotating the PDF. You can use your mouse or a stylus to write or draw on the document.
Save your annotations. After you have finished annotating the PDF, make sure to save your changes so that they are reflected in the file.
Different Types of Drawing Tablets for annotating PDFs
There are three different types of drawing tablets available. They are:
1. Standalone Drawing Tablets
The most popular option is a standalone drawing tablet, such as an Apple iPad (iPadOS), a microsoft surface (windows), Samsung galaxy tab (Android) and more.
Standalone drawing tablets offers portability that allows you to be away from your usual computer. They are available in a variety of formats and are compact, providing flexibility similar to annotating on paper.
Standalone tablets can be more expensive than graphic tablets like wacom, but they can also be more versatile because they can be used for other tasks, such as browsing the internet, watching videos, or playing games.
Usually the pencil are sold separately. And this type of active pen contain a lithium battery that must be recharged regularly.
2. Screenless Graphics Tablets
Another option would be a traditional drawing tablet, which is a device that connects to your computer and allows you to draw or write with a stylus. You can choose either a drawing tablet with screen or a regular graphics tablet.
A regular graphics tablet does not have a built-in screen, so you will need to look at your computer screen while Annotating on the tablet.
The Pros for a screenless pen tablet are cheaper price, may support Wireless connectivity, less cable management, more portable and longer service life.
3. Drawing Tablets with Screen
On the other hand, a pen display tablet, allows you to annotate, write, or draw directly on the screen with a stylus.
This can make the Annotating experience feel more intuitive and natural, and it can also make it easier to see your PDF as you annotate it.
The Cons for a pen display are relatively higher price and still require a computer to work, so less portable.
Some popular brands include the Wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, Gaomon, Ugee, Veikk, Xencelabs, and more. The stylus is included in package, battery-free, do not require charging, and can senses pressure.
12 Best Budget Drawing Tablets for Annotating PDFs in 2026
Consider that almost any drawing tablets can do that well, which depends more on the PDF Annotation app than the tablet. So I have done the research to find the 12 best budget tablets in 2026 for you.
I have also made sure to include as much variety as possible for my list, so you should find the pen tablet you’re looking for whether you’re a student, teacher, business people or an artist.
1. One by Wacom
The One by Wacom is an entry level screenless graphic tablet that’s specially made for beginners.
It comes in two sizes: Small version with 6.0 x 3.7 active area, Medium Version with 8.3 x 5.7 inches of work area.
It Included a battery-free stylus with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, and three standard replacement nibs.
It requires only a single USB Cable connection to your Windows, Mac, Linux, android and chrome os devices.
One by wacom is compact enough to easily fit into a laptop bag. You can get it and annote digitally in Word, PDF or PowerPoint.
2. Huion H420X
Smooth, swift, and portable, easy to use at anywhere. Huion H420X’s 4.17″ x 2.6″ active area is pretty tiny for drawing but perfectly fine for annotating PDFs.
It uses a battery-free digital pen with a pressure sensitivity level of 8192, and a reading rate of 300 PPS, making lines quicker and smoother, and feel like a real pen.
Wirely compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android, Huion H420X is great for editing photos, playing OSU games, signing documents, writing, taking notes, and more.
If you need a slightly bigger size for working without sacrificing portability, get the Huion Inspiroy H640P with bigger 6×4 inches active area.
3. Gaomon S620
Gaomon S620 is very compact, lightweight and portable. The active area measures just 6.5 x 4 inches, which is a decent size if you are planning to use this with your laptop.
The battery-free Pen supports 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity that offers an accurate, precise and natural drawing experience.
The textured surface provides friction to the stylus resulting in a more controlled stylus movement and a better writing feel.
There are 4 programmable Express keys on the top that you can assign as shortcuts to make your workflow simpler and smoother.
Gaomon S620 is ideal for online education, e-learning, remote working, or web conference. You can sign, write and annotate in word, pdf, ppt, etc with it.
4. XPPen Star G430S
XPPen Star G430S is a small, portable pen tablet that is perfect for office use, signing PDF files, annotating, writing, sketching, photo editing, and online teaching.
It comes with a compact active area of 4×3 inch and is only 2mm thick.
The P01 stylus is light, battery-free and has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity that makes every stroke more fluent and accurate.
At $19.99, The price is so incredibly low that anyone who buys it can rest assured that even if they don’t love the product, they don’t have much to love.
If the working area of 4×3 inch is too limited for you, consider its brother- XPPen Star G640 with a bigger 6×4 inches working area.
5. iPad (11th gen)
The iPad 11th gen (2025) is Apple’s cheapest tablet, and well worth the cost of entry.
It comes with a 10.9-inch Retina display, with a sharp 2.3K ( 2360 x 1640 pixels) resolution and 109% sRGB color gamut, which is plenty sharp, detailed, and vibrant.
Under the hood, It features a powerful A14 Bionic chip, and 6GB of RAM that delivers reliable, powerful performance.
This iPad works with the 1st-gen Apple Pencil for pen input, which offers great drawing experience. But it needs to be purchased separately.
With a capacity of 7,698 mAh, iPad 11th gen offers up to ten hours of light productivity usage.
Overall, ipad 11th gen is powerful enough to support PDF annotation, note taking and drawing apps, like GoodNotes or Procreate.
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a good entry-level Android tablet which lets you take notes, annotate PDF and draw for fun.
Even if its 10.4-inch display doesn’t use a high-end AMOLED panel, the IPS LCD delivers vibrant colors, sharp 2K details, and the luminosity is above average.
It is equipped with a Exynos 9611 Octo-Core processor, and a 4GB of RAM that is enough for a slight amount of productivity.
The included S Pen is a useful addition for drawing, sketching and taking notes. but the lack of palm detection detracts from the experience.
The tablet is powered by a 7,040mAh battery, which is easily lasted through a day of typical use.
7. Ugee UT2
Ugee UT2 is a compact, portable, and affordable Android drawing tablet for students and teachers on a budget.
It runs on Android 14, so you can download PDF annotation apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Xodo, Foxit PDF Reader, and more from google play store.
The 10.36-inch IPS screen with 2K (2000 x 1200 pixels) resolution and 100% sRGB color gamut delivers sharp destails and vivid images.
The display is fully laminated that results in almost zero parallax, while the etched glass surface provides a bit of resistance for paper-like drawing and writing experience.
With 4096 pressure sensitivity levels, as well as tilt sensitivity of 60 degrees, The included U-Pencil offers fantastic drawing experience as if you are really drawing with a physical pen.
Under the hood, it’s powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 Octa-core processor, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, delivering decent performance for everyday tasks.
The 7000mAh battery lasts about 9 hours of use when fully charged and the standby time is about 130 hours.
8. XPPen Magic Note Pad
XPPen Magic Note Pad is a good low-cost, portable android drawing tablet with excellent drawing performance and screen quality, great for note-taking, drawing, and Annotating PDFs.
The 10.95-inch IPS screen looks fluid, accurate and clear with FHD (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 99% sRGB color space.
Its etched screen surface does reduce glare, and offer just enough friction for paper-like drawing feel. Plus, reading in Ink Paper Mode will tax your eyes a bit less if you’re reading in a dim room.
Powered by the MediaTek MT8781 8-core processor and 6GB of RAM, the Magic Note Pad was fast and smooth when indulged in some light productivity tasks.
The included X3 Pro Pencil 2 delivers an incredibly responsive and fluid feel through 16,384 levels of pressure and tilt recognition. It is battery-free, lightweight and has two buttons on the body.
You will also like the fact that the tablet has a robust 8,000 mAh battery as well as a sleek, small profile for Annotating PDFs, drawing, and taking notes on the go.
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is an updated version of Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite with better tech specs.
It is noticeably faster than the S6 Lite that can run more apps simultaneously and handle heavier tasks through higher 6GB of RAM and faster Exynos 1380 processor.
The 10.9 inch LCD display is quite frankly amazing, very smooth, bright and crisp, with a 2.1K (2112 x 1320) resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and roughly 100% of the sRGB color gamut.
The included S Pen features 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and Tilt recognition that allows you to draw realistic, smooth and constant lines without any lag. The S pen is battery free, no charging required, and comfortable to hold due to slim profile.
With the 8000mAh built-in battery, it last more than 8 hours of work. So you can annotate pdf, watch, browse, or work without frequent charging.
Overall, S10 Lite is definitely the perfect option for beginners who want a stylus but don’t need all the fancy features. you won’t go wrong with this choice!
10. Lenovo Tab M11
The Lenovo Tab M11 is a entry-level and cheap Android tablet with pen-input support that great for users on a budget.
It has a 11-inch LCD display with 1920×1200 pixels resolution and 72% NTSC color gamut. Colors appear rich, visual effects are excellent.
Inside, It is equipped with a decent MediaTek Helio G88 octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS storage. The 7,700 mAh battery should get you through a day of moderate use.
Despite the low price, It includes the Lenovo Tab Pen, an active, battery-powered stylus that offers decent performance for note-taking, drawing, and PDF annotation, though it may not be as precise as high-end models from competitors like Apple or Samsung.
What is a PDF annotation app?
PDF annotation app allows you to highlight PDF, add notes to PDF files, and underline your PDF files.
Most of the pdf reader apps doesn’t support PDF annotation function. The ability to edit/annotate a pdf might require some special annotation software.
The big difference is there are tools built in for typing comments, drawing with shapes, adding hatches, dimensioning.
10 Best PDF annotation Apps
There are lots of PDF annotation apps on the market that let you edit, comment, markup, and save the changes to PDF files.
It maybe a pdf reader, note taking app, online whiteboard, or even a web browser.
Below are the 10 highly rated apps for Annotating PDF:
1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
With Adobe Acrobat Reader, you are able to leave comments on PDFs with drawing tools or sticky notes, as well as highlight and markup text using annotation tools. This makes it one of the most comfortable PDF annotators.
It has a free version, but you can also step up to Adobe Acrobat Premium which gives you a lot more ability to work with PDF’s. It is available for Windows, MacOS, and Android.
2. Xodo PDF Reader & Editor
With Xodo, you can read, merge, annotate, sign, and share PDFs and fill in PDF forms.
You can open documents from your computer, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
It’s free and available for web, Windows, Mac, Android, Chrome OS, and iPadOS.
3. Drawboard PDF
Drawboard PDF is an all-in-one tool that assists in drawing different shapes, inserting signatures and images, and setting page calibrations per page on the PDF document.
The application provides a pen in its features through which you can add information and key points to your PDF.
Free Version is still available, But some tools and features have taken from the Essentials /Basic tier and moved into the Pro tiers. It’s available for Web, Windows, iPadOS and Android.
4. Foxit PDF Reader
Foxit Reader is a popular PDF reader that allows users to annotate and make comments on PDF documents. To create an annotation, head into the “Comment” tab in the Foxit software toolbar.
It have free and paid versions, All features in non-enterprise Foxit PDF Reader are free for non-commercial use.
Foxit Reader is available for Web, Windows, MacOS, iPadOS, android, and Linux.
5. PDF Expert
PDF Expert lets you read and annotate PDF documents, highlight text, make notes, draw with digital pen. But it’s only available on iPadOS and Mac.
PDF Expert is a premium software that requires a subscription to use its pro features. But the free version lets you read and annotate PDFs, create notes and comments, draw with your finger or the Apple Pencil, fill out forms, add cool stickers to PDFs, and work from the cloud.
6. Nebo
Nebo is one of the best note-taking apps that lets you handwrite documents, annotate PDFs, or get creative on an infinite canvas.
It’s optimised for modern digital pens like Apple Pencil and the Samsung S Pen, and it lets you turn handwritten notes into professional documents using handwriting recognition and write-to-text conversion.
Nebo offers a free version, with some in-app purchases. It’s Available for Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, iPadOS, and Android.
7. GoodNotes
GoodNotes is a popular note-taking app on iPadOS & Mac. It allows you to write and draw on “digital paper” with your fingers or the Apple Pencil.
For annotation, GoodNotes uses the same tools you’d use for note-taking. You can therefore handwrite comments and highlight sections in your PDF.
8. Xournal++
Xournal++ is a free, open-source and fully featured note taking and sketching tool for Windows, macOS and Linux.
It can be used to annotate PDF files, by loading the pages of a PDF file as backgrounds for a journal. you can pick its text or pencil tools and type or draw directly on the PDF!
9. Openboard
Openboard is an open-source software for interactive whiteboards, which Supports Mac, Windows, and Linux devices.
It provides an easy an intuitive way to annotate digital content. It has annotation tool, You can Use a graphic tablet to write, draw and annotate your PDFs.
10. Microsoft Edge
The PDF reader feature in Microsoft Edge Web Browser lets you annotate both offline and online PDF files.
The great things is tha you can use a drawing tablet like Wacom to write in Microsoft edge.
To access the inking feature on Microsoft Edge for PDF files , just Select the Draw option in the toolbar to start writing on the PDF file.
In Conclusion
With the pen tablet and PDF annotation software, PDF annotation has never been easier or more efficient.
The drawing tablets I have recommended are perfect for annotating PDFs without a problem. They are reliable, portable, and provide the best bang for your buck.
Get one of the drawing tablet in the list if it suits your budget, preferences and requirements.
If all these devices seem too cheap, or too limited for your needs, then you’d be better off with a more powerful or faster, drawing tablet like wacom intuos pro, ipad Pro, Surface Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, etc.
There are too much options available on the market. you can check it by yourself.
Let me know what you think is perfect device for annotating pdfs in the comments below.
