Getting started with digital art can feel daunting, especially when you look at the price tags on some high-end drawing tablets.
But what if you could get a capable, standalone drawing tablet without breaking the bank?
Enter the Ugee UT2 (also referred to as Yugi UT2/U12), an Android tablet aiming squarely at beginners and budget-conscious creators.
I recently got my hands on one, and here are my first impressions after unboxing and taking it for a spin.
(prefer to watch a video? Check it out below where I use the Ugee UT2 and talk about it!)
Table Of Contents
Unboxing: What’s in the Box?
Right out of the gate, Ugee impresses by including everything you need to get started.
Inside the box, alongside the tablet itself, you’ll find:
- The Ugee UT2 Tablet
- A Smart Folio Cover (more on this later!)
- The Stylus
- A USB-C Cable (for charging the tablet and stylus)
- A Power Adapter (Hallelujah! And it comes with multiple plug types for different regions)
- A Drawing Glove (with comfortable extra padding)
- Extra Pen Nibs and a Nib Extractor
- Quick Start Guide and Warranty Info
It’s genuinely refreshing to see a power adapter included, something often omitted these days to cut costs.
Plus, the inclusion of the folio cover and glove means you’re ready to draw comfortably and protect your device from day one without extra purchases.
Design, Build, and That Matte Screen
Picking up the UT2, the first thing you notice is how lightweight it is.
Only 466g and rather small, measuring 247.06 x 156.82 mm (~9.7 x 6.17 inches).
This makes it incredibly portable.
The build feels solid enough for its price point.
A major highlight is the 10.36-inch screen.
It boasts a 2000×1200 resolution and, more importantly, a matte finish. This is fantastic!
It significantly reduces glare and gives a slight texture that feels more akin to drawing on paper, similar to what I enjoyed on the more expensive XP-Pen Magic Drawing Pad.
The included Smart Folio Cover is also well-designed.
It functions as a stand (offering a couple of viewing/drawing angles), holds the pen securely, and features reinforced corners.
Those reinforced corners are a welcome sight for added protection, as someone prone to occasional drops. (oops)
The Stylus: Charging Required For This Android Pen Tablet!
Okay, let’s talk about the stylus.
It feels okay in the hand, though, like many styluses bundled with standalone tablets (even iPads), it’s on the thin side.
For longer drawing sessions, investing in a separate grip (like those from Paperlike or others) is highly recommended for better ergonomics.
The pen features a button on the end which, during my testing in Ibis Paint X, conveniently worked as an undo button.
There are no side buttons.
Here’s the main quirk: the stylus is NOT battery-free.
It has an internal battery and needs to be recharged via USB-C.
Before first use, you actually need to plug it in briefly to “activate” it.
While needing to charge your pen is a bit of a hassle compared to battery-free EMR pens (you have to remember to keep it topped up!), it’s likely a compromise made to keep the tablet’s overall cost down.
Setup and Software
Being an Android tablet, setup is straightforward – sign in with your Google account, connect to Wi-Fi, and you’re pretty much good to go. It uses Android 14 right now.
Ugee pre-installs a couple of popular free drawing apps: Ibis Paint X and Medibang Paint.
Both are capable apps, perfect for beginners.
Keep in mind that the free versions usually include ads, though they weren’t overly intrusive in my brief Ibis Paint X test.
(It also came with something called “AI Paintpal,” which I didn’t explore.)
Putting Pen to Tablet: The Drawing Experience
I decided to test the UT2 using Ibis Paint X, sketching a simple fashion outfit.
While I admit I often struggle a bit adapting to new drawing software, the tablet itself performed well.
It “worked as it should,” responding reliably to the stylus input.
I explored a few different brushes, and the process felt smooth enough.
For a beginner getting used to digital tools, the experience should be perfectly adequate.
“So far, so good,” as I noted during the test.
Ugee UT2: The Good and The Not-So-Good
Let’s break it down, the Pros and Cons of the Ugee UT2 Android drawing tablet.
PROS
- Excellent Price: Sits in the very affordable $200 range.
- Lightweight & Portable: Easy to carry around.
- Great Matte Screen: Reduces glare, nice texture for drawing.
- All Essentials Included: Comes with folio, adapter, glove, nibs – great value.
- Android Versatility: Use it for drawing, Browse, watching videos, playing games, etc.
CONS
- Stylus Requires Charging: The biggest drawback; needs occasional recharging.
- Stylus Ergonomics: Can feel a bit thin for long sessions (grip recommended).
- Basic Camera: Don’t expect great photos, but it’s likely sufficient for snapping reference pictures.
Who Should Buy the Ugee UT2?
Based on my initial experience, the Ugee UT2 is an excellent choice for:
- Absolute Beginners taking their first steps into digital art.
- Hobbyists who want a capable but affordable drawing tool.
- Anyone looking for a gift for an aspiring young artist.
- Users who need a multi-purpose Android tablet that can also handle drawing tasks well.
It’s a much more budget-friendly option compared to alternatives like an iPad or the XP-Pen Magic Drawing Pad (which costs roughly double).
While it’s relatively small, its portability is a plus for many, though artists wanting a larger canvas might look elsewhere.
Final Verdict
The Ugee UT2 delivers remarkable value for its ~$200 price tag.
It provides a solid entry point into the world of digital drawing without demanding a huge investment.
You get a decent matte, anti-glare screen, all the necessary accessories right in the box, and the flexibility of the Android operating system.
It’s also a quality budget android tablet, that offers 2k resolution and amazing colour so your drawings can be as beautiful and vibrant as possible.
While the need to charge the stylus is a definite downside in an era of battery-free pens, it’s an understandable compromise at this price point.
If you’re a beginner, a hobbyist, or just looking for an affordable and portable drawing solution, the Ugee UT2 is definitely worth considering. It’s light, capable, and gets the job done.
You might be interested in:
17 Digital Drawing Exercises To Boost Your Artistic Skills!
10 Ways To Give Digital Art As A Gift To Friends & Family
Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!
Enjoy your stay and as always:
Keep on drawing!
I just received the UT3 version and wanted to share some thoughts (in case this might be relevant to anyone). The UT2 is indeed an excellent solution for beginners and enthusiasts, and it’s also a great mobile option for those who spend a lot of time on the go: this tablet is compact enough to not take up much space in a travel bag, yet still large enough to avoid the hassle of a cramped screen. The UT3, however, is a completely different story—it’s big, it’s huge (yes, this might not be obvious to some), and its stylus attachment solution isn’t very well executed (IMHO). Additionally, the UT2 has a key advantage, or even two: a memory card slot and a mini jack for wired headphones.
Thank you for the extra info about the UT3 version Lexxei! That’s very helpful to know. Makes the UT2 an even better pick then.