u/despoika

Hi! I hope the formatting is okay, I'm on mobile and a bit confused

I’m a university student and digital artist trying to choose a device that can realistically become my main portable setup.

I’ve been stuck between:

2-in-1 laptops

more powerful hybrid devices

and I’m getting VERY mixed opinions from friends and online reviews :'((

Some people tell me tablets are just hype and can’t replace a real computer, while others say 2-in-1s are the perfect compromise.

I’d really appreciate advice from people who ACTUALLY draw/use CSP/stylus and not just casual note-taking users.

---

My budget

Around 1400–1500€ max

Refurbished / second-hand is completely fine

---

What I need the device for

University/Taking notes

Art / drawing

Possibly a little bit of gaming if possible, but not necessary

I use:

Clip Studio Paint

digital illustration

possibly animation in the future

I currently own a Huion Kamvas 22, so I’m already used to:

decent pen precision

stable lines

smooth drawing experience

This is why I’m worried about buying something that feels “worse” or frustrating for art.

Things that matter a LOT to me:

low latency

good palm rejection (but I can just use gloves really)

smooth pen feel

minimal jitter/wobble

comfortable drawing experience

good screen colors

---

University use

I also need this for:

note-taking

annotating PDFs/slides

multitasking

battery life

studying in cafés/library

portability

writing essays/research

I move around a lot, so portability matters a lot to me.

---

Software / productivity

I also want:

proper file management

ability to use real desktop software

flexibility/freedom

multitasking

maybe some light gaming /modding/emulation/APKs/etc.

This is one reason I’m scared of being “locked in” with iPadOS/Android-only workflows.

---

Video editing

Nothing insanely professional, but I’d like it to handle:

light/moderate video editing

AMVs/edits

Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve at a reasonable level

---

My biggest fears

I’m worried that:

tablets will feel limiting long-term

some 2-in-1s will feel terrible for drawing

I’ll sacrifice either art OR productivity

I’ll regret not getting a “real laptop”

OR regret not getting something more portable/cozy for studying and drawing

---

Devices I’m considering

Right now I’m mostly looking at:

Surface Pro

Lenovo Yoga 9i

ASUS ROG Flow Z13

maybe other suggestions?

---

My ideal device would be:

portable

good for drawing

good for studying

strong enough for CSP + multitasking

good battery

comfortable to use for long sessions

realistic as a main device

capable of light video editing/ gaming

---

Questions

1. Which device felt closest to a real drawing tablet for you?

2. Can a Galaxy Tab/iPad realistically replace a laptop for this workflow?

3. Are Surface devices actually good long-term for artists?

4. Does the ROG Flow Z13 feel too “gaming laptop” heavy/noisy for everyday university use?

5. Is the Yoga 9i good enough for serious drawing, or does it feel awkward compared to a real tablet?

Thanks in advance! I’d especially love replies from:

CSP users

artists

students

people who switched from drawing tablets/Huion setups.

Hi! I hope the flair and formatting is the right one, I'm a bit confused

I’m a university student and digital artist trying to choose a device that can realistically become my main portable setup.

I’ve been stuck between:

2-in-1 laptops

more powerful hybrid devices

and I’m getting VERY mixed opinions from friends and online reviews :'((

Some people tell me tablets are just hype and can’t replace a real computer, while others say 2-in-1s are the perfect compromise.

I’d really appreciate advice from people who ACTUALLY draw/use CSP and not just casual note-taking users.

---

My budget

Around 1400–1500€ max

Refurbished / second-hand is completely fine

---

What I need the device for

University/Taking notes

Art / drawing

Possibly a little bit of gaming if possible, but not necessary

I use:

Clip Studio Paint

digital illustration

possibly animation in the future

I currently own a Huion Kamvas 22, so I’m already used to:

decent pen precision

stable lines

smooth drawing experience

This is why I’m worried about buying something that feels “worse” or frustrating for art.

Things that matter a LOT to me:

low latency

good palm rejection (but I can just use gloves really)

smooth pen feel

minimal jitter/wobble

comfortable drawing experience

good screen colors

---

University use

I also need this for:

note-taking

annotating PDFs/slides

multitasking

battery life

studying in cafés/library

portability

writing essays/research

I move around a lot, so portability matters a lot to me.

---

Software / productivity

I also want:

proper file management

ability to use real desktop software

flexibility/freedom

multitasking

maybe some light gaming /modding/emulation/APKs/etc.

This is one reason I’m scared of being “locked in” with iPadOS/Android-only workflows.

---

Video editing

Nothing insanely professional, but I’d like it to handle:

light/moderate video editing

AMVs/edits

Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve at a reasonable level

---

My biggest fears

I’m worried that:

tablets will feel limiting long-term

some 2-in-1s will feel terrible for drawing

I’ll sacrifice either art OR productivity

I’ll regret not getting a “real laptop”

OR regret not getting something more portable/cozy for studying and drawing

---

Devices I’m considering

Right now I’m mostly looking at:

Surface Pro

Lenovo Yoga 9i

ASUS ROG Flow Z13

maybe other suggestions?

---

My ideal device would be:

portable

good for drawing

good for studying

strong enough for CSP + multitasking

good battery

comfortable to use for long sessions

realistic as a main device

capable of light video editing/ gaming

---

Questions

1. Which device felt closest to a real drawing tablet for you?

2. Can a Galaxy Tab/iPad realistically replace a laptop for this workflow?

3. Are Surface devices actually good long-term for artists?

4. Does the ROG Flow Z13 feel too “gaming laptop” heavy/noisy for everyday university use?

5. Is the Yoga 9i good enough for serious drawing, or does it feel awkward compared to a real tablet?

Thanks in advance! I’d especially love replies from:

CSP users

artists

students

people who switched from drawing tablets/Huion setups.

Hi! I hope the formatting is okay, thanks in advance for the help!

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

Country

Italy (EU purchase, possibly second-hand/refurbished in EU marketplaces)

---

Budget

€1200–1500 (≈ $1300–1650 USD)

---

Are you open to refurbs/used options?

Yes

---

Screen size

13"–16" preferred (flexible if pen experience is better)

---

Weight limit

Preferably under 2 kg, but portability is important over exact weight

---

Purpose

I am a university student and digital artist looking for a single portable device that can handle both creative work and academic use.

Primary use:

University work (good battery, notes, PDFs, essays, research)

Digital art (very important)

Clip Studio Paint (main software)

Possibly animation in the future

Secondary use:

Studying in cafés/library/on the go

General multitasking

---

Form factor

Strong preference for:

2-in-1 laptop OR tablet-style Windows device with keyboard support

Pen support is ESSENTIAL (almost as important as performance)

Some options I could find:

Microsoft Surface devices

Lenovo Yoga series

ASUS ROG Flow Z13

---

Intended usage

Software:

Office / Google Docs / research

Heavy multitasking (browser + notes + art software)

Clip Studio Paint (priority)

Light–moderate video editing (Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve)

Requirements:

Good for University purposes (battery, multitasking, software compatibility)

Smooth drawing experience (low latency, no jitter/wobble if possible)

Good palm rejection (I can just use gloves though)

Stable performance in Clip Studio Paint

Ability to handle both art and productivity workflows without lag

Light video editing capability

I currently use a Huion Kamvas 22, so I’m used to a proper drawing tablet experience and care a lot about pen feel and precision.

---

Desired battery life

6–10 hours of real-world use or as much as possible without it deteriorating fast :-:

---

Requirement list in order of most important to least important:

1. Performance (University - Clip Studio Paint + multitasking + editing)

2. Pen/drawing experience

3. Battery life

4. Screen size

5. Portability / weight

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Info/Requirements

Must have a good battery that won't deteriorate fast

Must have a very good stylus experience

Must run Clip Studio Paint smoothly

At least 16GB RAM strongly preferred

Prefer Windows for software flexibility (but open to Android if justified)

Good display quality (OLED or high-quality IPS preferred)

Good thermal performance (no heavy throttling under drawing/editing load)

Budget hard cap: €1500

---

Devices I am considering (but I'm open to suggestions) :

Microsoft Surface Pro (latest models or used/refurb)

Lenovo Yoga 9i / Yoga 2-in-1 series

ASUS ROG Flow Z13

---

Questions:

1. Which device gives the closest experience to a real drawing tablet (like Huion)?

2. Is a Galaxy Tab / iPad realistically usable for a full student + art workflow?

3. Are Surface devices still a good long-term choice for digital artists?

4. Is the ROG Flow Z13 practical for daily university use or too “gaming-heavy”?

5. Is a 2-in-1 like the Yoga 9i a good compromise or does it feel bad for drawing compared to a tablet?