A high-quality graphics tablet is essential for producing professional-quality artwork and designs. But things can get confusing when looking for an ideal drawing tablet. It’s difficult for consumers to choose the best tablet among the many available options out there.
The two most well-known brands of drawing or graphics tablets are Wacom and XP Pen. While both tablets serve a similar purpose, they are not without their differences.
The XP Pen is a lot cheaper than the Wacom tablet. However, Wacom is more well-known and widely used because of its sturdy construction and widespread availability, plus it’s an older brand. There are numerous notable distinctions when comparing the XP Pen to the Wacom tablet; our XP Pen vs Wacom comparison guide is designed to emphasize these differences.
This article will help you understand the key distinctions between the two tablets and make the best decision possible. That said, let’s get started now!
XP Pen vs Wacom Overview
XP Pen
XP Pen is a joint Japanese-Chinese venture. It was founded in Japan in 2005, and it has since built an office in Taiwan, where it has conducted research and development on graphic tablets.
In 2015, XP Pen Technology Co. was incorporated in the USA, and in the same year, they launched a branch in Shenzhen, China. The Hanvon Ugee Group of China has owned XP Pen as a holding company since 2019. Much like Wacom, XP Pen also makes graphic tablets, pen displays, smart pads, styli, and more.
If you’re trying to decide between a Wacom and an XP Pen tablet, it’s in your best interest to compare the two and see which one best suits your needs. We’ll compare two popular models so you can get the drawing tablet that works best for you.
Wacom
The Japanese firm Wacom is a household name for its high-quality graphic and creative pens and tablets. When it opened its doors in 1983, the company’s headquarters were in the Japanese city of Kazo.
The firm has consistently released innovative products since releasing the first wireless pen tablet in 1983.
Wacom is a company that produces high-quality and cutting-edge pen displays, tablets, smart pads, styli, and three distinct services and applications that any creator or designer would want when using its products.
Design & Display
Since it’s hard to get anything done on a little screen and equally unpleasant to create art and draw on a massive one, the display size is a crucial consideration when shopping for a drawing tablet.
Wacom and XP Pen have responded to this need by offering many different dimensions for their graphic tablets. XP Pen Artist Pro and the Wacom Cintiq 16 both have 15.6-inch screens, although the former is much more costly.
For example, while Wacom’s Cintiq 16 Graphics and Drawing Tablet has a minimalist front screen, the Artistic 15.6 Pro from XP Pen has front shortcut buttons and a similarly minimalist front screen.
The XP Pen Artist Pro’s display is laminated and covers 84% of the Adobe RGB color space, whereas the Wacom Cintiq 16 only covers 75% of the color space. XP Pen, in this aspect, offers a wider range of colors at a lower cost. The Cintiq 16 weighs 1.9 kg, while the Artistic 15.6 Pro comes at a more manageable 1.5 kg.
Quality as a whole is what customers care about most. Wacom is an older and more established brand compared to XP Pen and has a reputation for producing products of outstanding quality.
Even though XP Pen’s products are well-made and sturdy, Wacom is widely recognized as the industry standard for premium design and construction. Therefore, Wacom’s superior construction much outweighs XP Pen’s.
Active Area
When searching for a drawing or graphics tablet, the active area is just as crucial as the screen. When you’re just starting out, a working area that’s too big or too little might be frustrating. Both Wacom and XP Pen offer a variety of models with varying sizes of active (or drawing) regions.
Wacom tablets typically come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Some versions go as large as 32 inches, while others top out at 7.9 inches by 6.3 inches.
XP Pen offers a selection of graphics and drawing tablets with surfaces measuring anywhere from 4.8 inches by 3 inches, with the long side going up to 23.8 inches. When comparing XP Pen Vs Wacom, it’s clear that XP Pen offers greater customization possibilities and a larger working surface.
Although both brands perform equally in this segment, XP Pen offers more customization options than Wacom at a better value. The price of the medium-sized Wacom Intuos is about twice that of the smaller one, and you don’t receive any additional functionality. Once again, XP Pen is the way to go if you value portability, screen real estate, and functionality in your tablet stylus.
Our advice for those just starting is to steer clear of extremes like enormous (or tiny) tablets if they are not yet comfortable with drawing or using graphics tablets. Most individuals will be satisfied with a medium-sized drawing or graphic tablet.
XP Pen vs Wacom Performance
Performance, above all else, is the most important thing to any consumer. The performance of a gadget is best evaluated by looking at how well it holds up over time and how resistant it is to malfunctions after being put through extensive testing.
The experience of drawing or working on a Wacom tablet is very refined and fluid. Wacom is a more established brand that offers fewer options but exceptional functionality and quality.
Most Wacom products include slick, anti-glare glass that shields the screen from damage and makes it easier to work with. In contrast, XP Pen offers a wide range of options at a fair price but falls short in performance.
Using an XP Pen to draw is okay in most cases, but it cannot compare to the effortless premium accuracy offered by a Wacom. It’s common knowledge that XP Pen applications are unstable, often crash, and take forever to set up. Unavoidably, it’s a far less pleasant experience than Wacom offers.
Shortcut Buttons & Pen Holder
XP Pen is clearly superior in terms of shortcut buttons. XP Pen’s tablets outclass any Wacom tablet when it comes to the number and variety of shortcut buttons it offers. When there are more options for quick actions, it’s much simpler to complete tasks.
XP Pen tablets are the better option if you wish to be able to draw without constantly reaching for the keyboard; they contain between six and eight shortcut buttons, and many models feature dials, whereas Wacom tablets are notorious for offering fewer buttons.
The stylus or pen of a drawing or graphics tablet requires a holder, a feature not all manufacturers provide. Since basic Wacom models don’t include a pen holder, XP Pen has a clear advantage over Wacom in this comparison.
One handy feature of the XP Pen Deco series is a pen holder that keeps the stylus from slipping away, protecting it from accidental breakage.
This XP Pen’s pen holder has interchangeable nibs built right in, so you can swap them out anytime you choose. Thus, XP Pen is the superior pen holder choice over Wacom in this case.
Drivers
When initially utilizing a tablet, installing the necessary drivers should be a top priority since the tablet won’t function without them. The accompanying driver software is one of the most critical aspects of using a drawing tablet.
Wacom’s driver software is well-known for being simple to set up and easy to keep up to date. XP Pen might have problems if a new driver is installed or an existing one is updated.
Wacom tablets are well-known for being convenient, and their driver software is notably simpler to update and install than that of the XP Pen.
Pressure Sensitivity
Unfortunately, although increased pressure sensitivity is often a welcomed feature when working on a tablet, this is not always the case. It’s worth noting that many manufacturers tailor the pressure sensitivity of their drawing tablets to certain uses.
When comparing Wacom with XP Pen, Wacom has much less pressure sensitivity. Here’s an example — the pressure sensitivity of the Wacom Intuos is 4096, whereas that of the XP Pen Deco 01 V2 is 8192, making it more than twice as sensitive as the Wacom.
On the other hand, Wacom offers several tablets with even greater pressure sensitivity. If we ignore the pressure sensitivity and just look at how smoothly everything works, Wacom still comes out on top.
Interested in this Wacom Intuous vs Intuos Pro comparison? Take a look!
XP Pen vs Wacom System & Reliability
Any Windows OS can be used with drawing tablets from both companies. Wacom tablets are compatible with all subsequent Mac OS 10.10 versions, whereas XP Pen supports later versions of Mac OS 10.12.
With a Wacom drawing tablet, users may take their artwork to the next level with the use of free supplementary applications like Corel Painter Essentials, Clip Studio Paint Pro, and Corel AfterShot 3.
Wacom drawing tablets are well-known for their reliability and longevity in use, largely thanks to their sturdy construction and distinctive features like their scratch-resistant surfaces and raised rubber edges. If we compare them to XP Pen’s tablets, then unquestionably, Wacom will be ahead of the XP Pen.
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. In comparison, XP Pen customers can take advantage of the company’s one-year warranty anywhere in the world.
Heads up — if you buy an XP Pen tablet and ever run into trouble with it, save our troubleshooting guide on what to do if your XP Pen stops working!
XP Pen vs Wacom Pricing
This is a major point of contention in this XP Pen vs Wacom comparison. For instance, if you’re looking to spend about $800 on a drawing tablet, you have your pick of two excellent models. When comparing the XP Pen Artist 24 Pro and its QHD 24-inch screen to the Wacom Cintiq 22 with its 22-inch Full HD screen, the XP Pen will be the better value because of its bigger size and better quality. But the Wacom will be more high-end, making drawing much easier and more dependable.
Overall, XP Pen follows an affordable pricing strategy for its products, while Wacom does not compromise on pricing, and most of its models are costlier than similar models from XP Pen. So, if you want a cheap tablet with near-similar performance, then go for an XP Pen.
Once you buy your tablet, ensure you read our list of top drawing apps for your tablet!
Wacom Intuos vs XP Pen Deco 01 V2 Comparison
| Brand | Wacom Intuos | XP Pen Deco 01 V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Size/Active Area | 6.0″ x 3.7″ (small model)8.5″ x 5.3″ (medium model) | 10″ x 6.25″ |
| Pressure Sensitivity | 4096 levels | 8192 levels |
| Pen Buttons | 2 buttons | 2 buttons |
| Tilt Support | No | Yes |
| Eraser on Pen | No | No |
| Shortcut Buttons | 4 buttons | 8 buttons |
| Android Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wired/Bluetooth | Wired |
| Colors | Black, Pistachio | Black |
| Pricing | Check Price on Amazon (small) Check Price on Amazon (medium) | Check Price on Amazon |
Conclusion
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which of these two digital art tools you should invest in. If you have the money, go for a Wacom, but if you want the same features at a lower price, the XP Pen is ideal.
Let’s say you’re in the market for a new phone and have two options: an iPhone or another brand. While there’s no denying the quality of iPhones, it’s worth noting that other brands provide comparable features at lower prices.
As an analogy, Wacom is to the iPhone as the XP Pen is to any other Android smartphone with iPhone-like features in that both have similar functionality but are otherwise quite different devices. So be sure to consider the long-term implications of your decisions.
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