A drawing tablet with a screen provides a more intuitive drawing experience with precise input, eliminating any disconnect between your hand and eye coordination.
The two well-known models of pen display monitors are Wacom Cintiq16 vs XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro, which Both can be used for the drawing purpose, but the question is Which one is better for you?
So here is a comparison between two well-known models, which is based on features and technical specifications. We will looking at the things each excels in.
After the comparison, you should have a clear sense of which would be best for you, given your current needs and budget.
Brand
Founded in 1983, The Japanese firm Wacom is a household name for its high-quality graphic and creative pens and tablets.
XP-Pen is a chinese company which was founded in 2005, Much like Wacom, It also makes graphic tablets, pen displays, stylus, and more.
The formula of the past was that Wacom tablets = superior but expensive, and XPPen tablets = cheaper but less good.
However, XPPen has improved its more serious, professional tablets to the point where they seriously compete with Wacom's flagship models.
Wacom, meanwhile, has filled out the more affordable end of its range, with budget tablets, like cintiq 16 to tempt those who don't have huge amounts to spend.
Design and build quality
When it comes to design, the Cintiq 16 looks very minimalist, with nothing more than the touch screen at the front.
The XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro, on the other hand, has a screen plus a row of shortcut buttons at the top.
Both of these tablets are made of plastic. However, the Cintiq 16 feels much heavier and sturdier, with a more durable build.
Screen Quality
Both of the tablets have 15.6 inch screens with full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels resolutions. This is a surface generous enough to feel the freedom of drawing. Also you can zoom around and work on the small details of your art.
The Cintiq 16 has 72% NTSC/100% sRGB while the Artist 15.6 Pro has a wider color gamut of 88% NTSC/120% sRGB. That means that the colors of XP-PEN looks much more brighter and richer.
However, The Wacom comes pre-calibrated out of the box, while the Artist 15.6 Pro does not. That means with the Wacom you can start working straight away, while with the XP-Pen you would have to do a color calibration first to get the blue tint out of colors.
Screen Technology: Laminated vs Non-laminated Display
The Artist 15.6 Pro comes with a laminated screen while the Cintiq 16 comes with a regular non-laminated screen.
A laminated screen or display is one where the top glass and the display underneath are fused together. This reduces parallax so that the tip of the stylus and the cursor underneath line up perfectly.
In a non-laminated display, there is something of a lag so that the strokes appear a very short distance from the actual point of contact between the stylus and the tablet.
So the Artist 15.6 Pro shows the strokes and cursor right under the tip of the stylus while the Cintiq 16 shows some parallax.
Drawing Surface: Matte vs Glossy Screen
Surface texture Both of the two tablets come with matte screens offering a paper like surface texture through a scratch resistant anti-glare optical film.
In other words, the display is not glossy and will provide a tactile drawing experience.
Stylus Pen
Wacom is known for making premium styluses, and the Pro Pen 2 is considered the very best stylus currently on the market.
You get this battery-free stylus when you purchase the Cintiq 16, which is the exact same stylus you would get if you bought a more premium cintiq pro tablet. This is a huge plus.
The Artist 15.6 Pro also offers a pretty decent PA2 battery-free pen, which you won't have to recharge.
Both of the 2 styluses have 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and both support tilt recognition up to 60 degrees.
However, The Wacom stylus has much better tilt sensitivity. The pointer shifts off-center on the XP-Pen's stylus when you tilt it. The Wacom has no such issue. It's not a deal breaker, but it's noticeable.
When it comes to pressure sensitivity, while the both have 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the XP-Pen requires more pressure at the lower levels of the pressure spectrum to register a line.
The Wacom has much better pressure response because of lower initial activation force, with even the lightest pressure registering a line, and pressure changes are reflected much more smoothly.
Both of these pens have very ergonomic designs with rubber grip, and are quite comfortable to hold. Both have a wider grip in the front that tapers toward the back.
They both have 2 shortcut buttons on the side. But one advantage the Wacom stylus has over the XP-Pen stylus is that it has an eraser on the back, while the XP-Pen's stylus does not.
Shortcut buttons
The Artist 15.6 Pro comes with 8 shortcut buttons and one red roller wheel, while Wacom Cintiq 16, on the other hand, has no shortcuts on the tablet.
Each button of XP-Pen tablet has a unique pattern so you can identify it even without looking, and they all have a satisfying click feedback when pressed.
It's great to use the roller wheel to increase and decrease the size of pen brush. Furthermore, you can assign more functions to this wheel like zooming in and out or anything you want it to do.
If you want express keys for Cintiq 16, you can purchase the Wacom Expresskey remote separately, which has a touch ring and 17 shortcut buttons.
Connectivity and Compatibility
To minimize clutter, Both of them uses a 3-in-1 cable that both powers the device and connects it to your computer.
Both XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro and Wacom Cintiq 16 are compatible with the popular operating systems Linux, Windows and Mac.
Driver Settings
The software that XP-PEN comes with is very intuitive and easy to use. You can set up the desired pen pressure, calibrate the screen, and set the buttons' functionality. That's okay, but Wacom did better in this department.
Wacom's driver software is well-known for being convenient, and their driver software is notably simpler to update and install than that of the XPPen.
Accessories
Despite being cheaper than the Cintiq 16, the Artist 15.6 Pro comes with more accessories like pen holder. The outside is plastic while the inside has a soft material for cushioning the pen.
The cap of pen holder can also be used as a pen stand and has a set of 8 extra nibs in the back.
The Cintiq 16 comes with a fabric loop which can be fastened to the side. It is in this loop that you place the stylus when you're not using it.
You can also slide the loop off the side of the tablet to reveal a storage for 3 extra nibs.
The Artist 15.6 Pro comes with more extra nibs than the Cintiq 16, which is certainly an advantage.
In addition, XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro has a portable AC 41 tablet stand, while Cintiq 16 has 2 built-in legs.
The XP-Pen AC 41 stand is designed from fiberglass and ABS, which is lightweight but still pretty durable.
When collapsed, it's quite thin making it easy to transport. However, the stand is not adjustable and sits very low. It is probably only about 2.5 - 3 inches from the surface it is on.
We suggest propping it up on something, like a stack of books if you want your tablet to be at a good height.
Bonus Software
When you purchase your XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro tablet, you get a free license for one of two available software: ArtRage 6, openCanvas.
The other free extra that you get is a variety of downloadable lineart from their website that you can color and reinvent.
With Wacom Cintiq 16, users may take their artwork to the next level with the use of several months free trial applications like Corel Painter Essentials, Clip Studio Paint Pro, and Corel AfterShot.
Warranty
Both companies stand behind their tablets for at least a year, with Wacom varying its warranty terms depending on where the tablet is purchased. In the United States, consumers can take advantage of a one-year warranty, whereas in other countries, they can expect a two-year warranty.
Price
XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro cost as little as $359.99, while Wacom Cintiq 16 cost 599.95 dollars.
The price of an XP-Pen is significantly more affordable compared to a Wacom device with almost identical specifications.
If price is your greatest concern, We would strongly recommend getting an XP-Pen.
Conclusion
Your own level of skill, budget and expectation will determine what you need more of.
If you're looking for an affordable product with lots of features, you'll do well with XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro.
If you're more interested in better drawing experience, higher build quality, and a longer service life, then it's hard to beat the Wacom Cintiq16.
However, you can be sure that no matter your choice, both of them have great specs for this price range and can become your trustworthy partner in your drawing evolution.
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