I like my (ancient) Intuos. You can use an iPad with a Pencil to simulate a Cintiq. I prefer looking at the monitor while using mine so that’s also a preference too.
I've been using Wacom tablets for over 25 years to edit my photos. Having a wireless pen/brush that can become an eraser, as you would use a pencil eraser, is a nice feature of them, and the side of the pen has the usual mouse button functions built-in where your finger tips are positioned. My older Intuos Tablet (now 26 years old) has a wireless 3 button mouse and a wireless air brush to use with it as well as the pen/brush. While I don't use the air brush often, it has been very handy for some art work.
Editing photos with a mouse is about like trying to draw or sign your name with a hockey puck. It's very un-natural and difficult to make accurately placed lines, etc. With a smaller wireless pen/eraser, it lets you work as if holding a pencil. With the tip near (about 1/2") to the tablet surface, the pen and tablet begin working together. Varying the tip pressure to the tablet surface can let you vary the width of the line being drawn or erased. The software gives you the ability to use different pen/brush styles and even patterns, so patterns can be drawn by just drawing a single line, straight, or following/edging along a previously drawn shape. Physical buttons on on the tablet also allow you to assign personal frequently used functions, so you don't need to bring up the pop-up menus to select your choice of function. The tablet working surface gets matched to your display screen, so right/left edge on tablet matches the right/left edges of the display. Top and bottom edges match too, so regardless of which tablet size you buy, the controlling surface of the tablet matches to the full size of the display screen. You see the pen tip like a curser on the screen and you can move it to the point that you want to work before touching the pen/brush to the surface of the tablet. When it does touch, you begin seeing the line being drawn on the screen as you move the pen/brush. Lift it and the line being drawn ends, just as if you were using a pencil and paper. Your eyes can watch the screen while your hand and pen/brush move separately on the tablet alongside of your monitor. It quickly become intuitive even with no prior tablet experience.
that's good to know! I have the newest Wacom Intuos Pro, but I think I would like the Cinitq much better . Just wish there was a place that had them so I could see first hand.
