The Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank is an excellent all-in-one printer that can handle a wide range of tasks. It has a supertank ink system that produces an astounding number of pages while having a pretty inexpensive refill ink, making printing in bulk very affordable. It’s also made for printing and copying in mid-volume for a family’s home office.
The G6020 comes with enough ink to print thousands of pages, much like the other entry-level all-in-one printers in the same range. However, many inexpensive bulk-ink printers demand you to compromise your productivity and other convenience features in order to achieve their low operating costs. This is not the case at all with the G6020.
Although it lacks an automated document feeder (ADF) for scanning and copying multipage documents, its large paper input trays, strong networking choices, and other useful features more than make up for it to be a good all-in-one printer for your home.
If you’d like to find out more, just keep scrolling to read our review below.
The most obvious reason to favor the Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank is the use of refillable ink tanks, which enable significant ink savings and dramatically low print prices, thanks in part to the thousands of pages worth of ink that come free with the printer. However, the G6020 provides much more than just low-cost printing.
The compact form is suitable for use in any home office, but don’t let its size fool you. The G6020 also offers a plethora of handy features that will surely benefit any home. To be more specific, you get twin paper trays with a total capacity of 350 pages as well as an automatic duplexer for quick two-sided printing. Additionally, due to their built-in scanning and copying, both features give a speedy performance.
Overall, it has all a home office needs (as long as you don’t require faxing). And, despite its affordable price, it can handle far bigger workloads than the average low-cost inkjet in the market.
The maximum monthly duty cycle for the G6020 is 5,000 pages, however, Canon hasn’t officially provided a suggested monthly volume. With that in mind, I don’t think this implies you can print 5,000 pages every month on this small printer without it wearing out. As a safe recommendation, I would suggest not going over 3,000 pages per month.
Furthermore, the G6020 allows voice-activated instructions to do things like monitoring ink levels, reviewing alerts and other notifications, and printing hands-free via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant smart home devices, just like many inkjets from Epson and HP nowadays. You can also utilize Siri from Apple, Cortana from Microsoft, or other voice-activated services that are readily available.
Features & Specifications
Brand: Canon
Dimensions: 15.9 x 14.6 x 7.7 inches
Weight: 1 lb.
Technology: Inkjet
Printing Speed: 13.0 ipm (black), 6.8 ipm (color)
Paper Sizes: 3.5” x 3.5”, 4” x 4”, 4” x 6”, 5” x 5”, 5” x 7”, 7” x 10”, 8” x 10”, Letter, Legal, U.S.#10 Envelopes
The G6020 features a tiny body that makes it ideal for use in any home office. The model weighs 17.8 pounds and is measured 15.9 x 14.6 x 7.7 inches. For a model with ink tanks, this is rather compact compared to other similar printers. It has a duplexer for printing two-sided documents, but it lacks an automated document feeder (ADF) for multi-page copying and scanning.
When it comes to the overall design, the G6020 is definitely pleasing to the eyes and has fantastic build quality. Despite being entirely made of plastic, the printer feels solid and well-made. The scanner’s lid can stay open without assistance, preventing it from dropping while the ink tanks are being refilled. It can also stretch to handle thicker papers or volumes.
So you don’t have to manually open the tray and perhaps stop an ongoing print job, the front input tray contains a tiny window where you can view how much paper is left. It’s also worth noting that the printheads are completely replaceable, which makes it a lot easier to repair them if they ever get damaged or clogged.
The control panel also features a few physical buttons for choosing operations and browsing settings menus. For example, there are specific buttons for copying/scanning in black-and-white and color. Additionally, a tiny monochrome LCD sits in the center of the display. Owing to the absence of illumination on the two-line display, it might be a bit difficult to read in dimly lit settings.
Print Speed
The G6020 has a monochrome print speed of 13 pages per minute (ppm), which is 4.3ppm quicker than earlier MegaTank models but slower than most competitors in the same league.
To be more specific, the G6020 produced a five-page monochrome document in 33.5 seconds, or 9 pages per minute, which is just a little below the average. Keep in mind, the category average is 9.1 pages per minute. Furthermore, the G6020 produced a six-page document with a mixture of text and color images in 2 minutes, 46 seconds, or 2.2 pages per minute, which was slower than the industry average of 2.6 pages per minute.
In terms of print speed, depending on what you’re using the printer for, this can be a deal-breaker or it won’t be an issue at all. Like many entry-level printers, you can’t really expect the G6020 to have outstanding printing speeds, but it’s definitely decent enough for any casual user.
So if you’re only going to be using this as a home printer, then the slightly sluggish print speed shouldn’t bother you at all. Not to mention, despite its below-average print speed, what you can count on with the G6020 is its excellent printing quality.
Print Quality
The Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank, like most of Canon’s previous Pixmas models, produces high-quality prints with well-shaped, readable text at all point sizes along with highly detailed, bright, and properly colored pictures.
The G6020 produced color graphics with a high level of fine detail, appealing textures, and vibrant, natural-looking hues. However, there was some very minor banding, but you’d have to hunt for these problems on purpose to really notice them. Color images printed on both sides were also equally amazing.
Overall, I have no issues with the print quality of the G6020, and I have no reservations about utilizing this printer in a more professional setting that requires marketing materials to create a strong first impression.
Ink Costs
The G6020’s use of refillable ink tanks results in exceptionally reduced ink prices, with text pages costing only 0.2 cents and color pages costing only 0.8 cents.
The G6020 comes with three bottles of black ink (enough to print up to 18,000 monochrome pages) and one set of color bottles (enough to produce roughly 7,700 color pages when paired with black ink).
Both monochrome and color printing are amazing deals, depending on what you print.
Despite the fact that you’ll pay two to four times more for the printer than you would for a comparable non-bulk-ink device without the supertank ink system, the refillable ink tanks on the G6020 will save you a lot of money in the long run.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed the things we liked and disliked about the Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular all-in-one printer.
Pros
Ink tanks and refills are supplied, resulting in extremely reduced ink expenses.
Two paper trays and a duplexer are included.
Speedy scanning and copying.
Cons
Lacks an automated document feeder.
No faxing capabilities.
Our Final Verdict
The Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank is an excellent home all-in-one printer. It features a terrific ink tank system that can produce a large number of black and color pages while keeping the ink bottles inexpensive, making it highly cost-effective in the long term. Its printing quality is just as good, but print speeds are a little slower than average. Because there is no automated document feeder on the built-in scanner, scanning multi-page documents can take a while too. But despite that, the G6020’s inexpensive entry-level price, low ink expenses, and top-notch print, copy, and scan quality, this all-in-one inkjet printer provides a lot of value.
Do you already own an all-in-one printer for your home use? Did you get the Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions, suggestions, or insights to share. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
Epson‘s WorkForce Pro product range caters to small workgroups and office settings, but they’re also terrific printers for home use. This particular lineup offers a diverse range of printers, including the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820, which we’ll be reviewing for today. This all-in-one printer is here for all of your printing needs. A compact device with a comprehensive range of capabilities that goes beyond printing to increase and maximize productivity.
With that being said, let’s dive in further and see what the fuss is all about. If you’d like to find out more and see if this all-in-one printer is worth the try, just keep scrolling to read our review below.
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 is one of the best all-in-one wireless printers you can acquire for your home office or your small business if you’re on a budget. This is a low-cost printer that supports Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi via a router, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service. So you have a lot of options when it comes to networking.
Furthermore, this printer has an Ethernet interface and can print directly from USB flash drives. It’s well-built and strong for the price, and the cartridges and any potential paper jams are simple to remove and rectify. Among the scanning features of the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 are a flatbed scanner, an automated document feeder, and built-in fax.
Three color cartridges are provided, and the total color document production is fairly decent. As a result, you just need to replace the color that has gone out, saving you money in the long run. This model prints photos at a respectable speed, with good quality and highly accurate colors. Monochrome sheets and documents, on the other hand, print almost instantly.
On the other side, its automated document feeder does not support duplex scanning. This makes processing long, double-sided sheets challenging for the machine. It also has low black page yields, which means you’ll have to replace the cartridge frequently if you’re printing monochrome pages in bulk. Apart from those little issues, this is a terrific all-in-one printer that you should really consider if you’re on a budget.
What We Love About The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820
Design & Build
At first glance, the WF-3820 definitely shares a similar look with the rest of its siblings in the WorkForce line. This isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, the overall design of the WF-3820 is a pleasant addition to any workstation. It not only features a rounded edge for a sleek appearance, but it also has a matte black finish that gives the printer a very premium and high-end appeal.
But the thing I like best about this printer is that it isn’t your usual chunky and bulky business printer. The WF-3820 is a pretty compact printer that fits easily into any small office or household, measuring only 16.7 inches by 14.9 inches by 9.8 inches. Not to mention, this equipment is rather easy to move, weighing only 19.4 pounds. Moving this from different areas of your office won’t be too much of a hassle.
Furthermore, the WF-3820, like the other printers in the same lineup, has a built-in ADF on top as well as a flatbed for scanning multipage documents. The ADF on the WF-3820 can hold up to 35 pages and is manual-duplexing. To scan the opposite sides, you’ll have to flip a stack of two-sided sheets.
It also incorporates a 2.7-inch color LCD touchscreen on the front panel for simpler control and printing preparation. You can view the display from a variety of angles thanks to the tilted panel.
The WF-3820 also has one 250-sheet drawer that may alternatively be configured to handle 50 sheets of premium picture paper or ten #10 envelopes in terms of paper handling and capacity. With a suggested monthly print and copy volume of 1,300 pages, it has a maximum monthly duty cycle of 26,000 pages.
Terrific Functionality
The WF-3820 is a wireless all-in-one printer that comes with a full suite of features, including printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. It delivers reliable performance for each function which can significantly contribute to your productivity.
Apart from that, it also introduces a new level of printing experience with its PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology. With a maximum print quality of 4800 x 2400 dpi, this equipment is capable of handling any document you throw at it. The automated duplexer also allows you to print two-sided documents without the need for user interaction.
Additionally, the WF-3820 also has a scanner, allowing you to store crucial documents in digital form on your computer or in the cloud. A flatbed or ADF scanner with a stable optical resolution of 1200 dpi can be used. This scanner can scan documents up to 8.5 inches by 11.7 inches and save them in the most common formats including PDF, JPG, and PNG.
If that’s not enough, the WF-3820 also works well as a fax machine, at a speed of 33.6 Kbps. This feature allows you to send and receive both mono and color faxes.
Decent Printing Speed
The Epson WF-3820 produces monochrome pages at 21 pages per minute (ppm) and color prints at 11 pages per minute (ppm), which is faster than your typical low-end business all-in-one printer. Personally, I don’t think this is the fastest printer on the market, but I would admit that it is fairly quick when compared to other inkjets in its class. If you’re going to be using this for casual printing or mainly for home use, then the printing speed should be more than enough to satisfy you.
High Quality Prints
When it comes to printing quality, the WF-3820 provides professional output quality. For each document, including text-heavy contracts, graphics-heavy reports, and even marketing pictures, this printer delivers terrific print outputs for its price. It produces very readable and well-shaped characters while working with text. Surprisingly, this inkjet printer could generate crisp and deep black color comparable to laser printers.
The WF-3820 also performs admirably in terms of charts and graphics. It performed well for tiny lines with no visible strokes, resulting in a smooth printout of Excel drawings and charts. Smooth color dispersion adds value to this entry-level commercial printer in a test with fills and gradients. Despite the fact that it is not a picture printer, the WF-3820’s photo printing capabilities are more than enough for the average user. Across some of the more complicated gradient fills and dark backgrounds, it creates vibrant colors with little to no banding.
Our Least Favorite Things
High Running Costs
Black pages cost roughly 3.6 cents each page and color pages cost about 11.7 cents each when you buy Epson’s highest-yield ink cartridges for this all-in-one printer. These figures aren’t out of the ordinary for business-oriented printers in this price bracket, but if you’re printing in large quantities, they’ll rapidly add up.
Before being enticed by a low purchase price, make sure you examine the printer’s lifetime cost of use. You have a variety of alternatives for lower-cost printing now that a number of bulk-ink printers are available. Certain printers may even initially cost more than the WF-3820, but depending on how much you print, you might save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the printer’s lifetime.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed what we liked and disliked about the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular all-in-one printer.
Pros
Overall design and build quality is excellent.
Impressive color accuracy for photo printing.
Lots of scanning features.
Generous connectivity options for you to choose from.
Cons
High running costs.
Yield for black pages is quite mediocre.
Our Final Verdict
To sum it all up, the Epson Workforce Pro WF-3820 is quite a game-changer. It combines ease and dependability with professional output quality without breaking the bank. Thanks to Epson’s sophisticated print technology, simple setup, and consistent print speed, all your printing concerns will be put to rest as this all-in-one printer will surely do everything for you without the frills and fuss.
Do you already own an all-in-one printer for your home or your office? Which one did you get? Was our review of the WF-3820 helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions, suggestions, or insights to share. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a fairly new model in the drawing tablet industry that took everyone by surprise. While there are already countless graphics tablets that forego built-in displays, what sets this particular tablet apart is that the company is made up of former Wacom employees who poured all of their design and industry knowledge into this Pen Tablet tool.
The promise was that Xencelabs’ tablets would equal Wacom’s high-end devices in terms of build quality, but at a price that would make them affordable to every digital artist, both professionals and amateurs alike.
However, competition is tight and there are plenty of drawing tablets in the market without displays that will cost you less than the Xencelabs’ asking price. So this begs the question: is it worth the investment?
Right away, I could say that the Xencelabs Pen Tablet is one of the best drawing tablets on the market right now in terms of features, build quality, and performance. But then again, what can you expect from a solid team of former Wacom employees designing this tablet, right?
Its 10.33 x 5.8-inch active area is perfect for a drawing tablet and should satisfy most digital artists. It also provides a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is pretty much the standard with today’s displays. This pen tablet also includes two lag-free pens with 8,192 pressure levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection to ensure that your sketches are accurate and presented in real-time on your computer screen.
Overall, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a near-perfect size for most digital artists, provides a fantastic drawing experience, and is priced just low enough to undercut rival Wacom tablets. Not to mention the integrated Quick Keys remote when you opt for the bundle provides customization choices to deliver a seamless drawing experience. You may set up your hotkeys in this manner to boost your productivity.
However, do keep in mind that because this is a graphics tablet, you’ll need to connect it to another display to view what you’re drawing. This model has no built-in display and this was probably the only way Xencelabs has been able to keep its costs down. Aside from that, though, this drawing tablet is a joy to use.
Features & Specifications
Brand: Xencelabs
Dimensions: 13.62 x 8.74 x 2.68 inches
Item Weight: 3.12 pounds
Drawing Area: 6.93 X 3.89 inches, 16:9 aspect ratio
Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 levels
Express Keys: Yes
Connections: USB-C to USB-A
Stylus: Battery-free
What’s In The Box
Xencelabs digital drawing products
Xencelabs Pen Tablet
3 Button Pen
Thin Pen
Pen Case
Dongle
USB Cable (ACWTU06-201A)
6 Standard Nibs
4 Felt Nibs
Adapter – USB-A to USB-C
Glove Medium (ACG-12M)
Carrying Case
Nib Extracting Ring
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Booklet
Check Out The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Preview Below.
What We Love About The Xencelabs Pen Tablet
Design & Build Quality
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet comes in two distinct packages: the standard kit with the tablet and two pens and a bundle that has the same things but with the addition of the Quick Keys remote. Regardless of which setup you pick, everything in the package just screams high quality. With a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 10.33 x 5.8-inch active surface, and a few very cool small design cues, the tablet is quite ergonomic and enjoyable to use.
The total size of the pen tablet is slightly under 13 inches, so it’s neither too big nor too little. It’s also only 8mm thick, giving it a very sleek and thin design. An ergonomic curved is seen on the front edge that gives the impression that your comfort has been considered. This is especially beneficial and highly appreciated given the number of hours you might spend on sketching and creating your artworks.
Apart from that, four corner LEDs, which may be customized in eight different colors, outline the active area. Personally, I think this is a pretty useful function and you can use various colors for different programs if you wish. Three little buttons, also configurable, reside at the top of the tablet. They appear to be ideal for changing applications and accessing tablet or pen settings.
Quick Key Remote
Because Xencelabs seems to be all about refining the details and points of a single product, those fast key shortcuts you usually see in other drawing tablets have been moved from the tablet to this extremely nice, separate nine-button remote with an OLED display and an actual wheel dial. Bear in mind that this is not included in the standard kit. So if you want to get your hands on this, I suggest getting the bundle.
The remote has the same high-quality construction as the tablet and can be customized with up to 40 shortcuts to your preference. The nicest part about it is that it, like the tablet itself, can also be customized by color. A little work spent in the settings yields a simple dial sequence arrangement that’s ideal for scrolling, zooming, rotating, and adjusting brush sizes. Just simply designate a color for each task.
It’s also easy to recall which button is set to what in each setup thanks to the OLED display. Don’t worry if all of this sounds like a lot of work! It isn’t at all. This, as well as the initial setup and driver installation, is quite simple and stress-free when compared to other drawing tablets in the market. It’s quite clear that Xencelabs has your overall experience in mind and considered it from start to finish.
Stylus Pens
The inclusion of not one, but two distinct pens with this Pen Tablet is a fantastic decision by Xencelabs that further distinguishes them from their primary competitors. The thicker, traditional-style pen has three buttons, while the thinner variant has only two. Furthermore, both include EMR erasers on the other end that may be customized separately.
It’s a lovely touch to be able to tune both pens to various settings according to your preference. For example, one can be used for shading or light pencil work, while the other is used for inking or painting. It saves a lot of time not having to go into the settings and adjust everything every time you want something different.
Both pens also include pressure sensitivity levels of 8,192 as well as tilt functionality of 60 degrees. Overall, the pens provide an excellent sketching experience. When sketching at speed, there is no latency, all lines are flawless, and no markings are missed. In addition, the case includes ten additional nibs, four of which are felt tips, as well as a nib extraction ring.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Xencelabs didn’t disappoint at all and their attention to detail didn’t end with just the build and design of this model. They also gave functionality and performance a lot of care and consideration.
The setup is quite straightforward. It recognizes all connected devices instantly and loads them into an interface that allows you to personalize the tablet, pens, and Quick Keys remote to your preference.
You can also opt to use the tablet either plugged in or wirelessly through the accompanying dongle, depending on how you set things up. Personally, I find it inconvenient to have to plug in a dongle to use the tablet wirelessly when your computer may already have Bluetooth built-in, but Xencelabs claims that doing so helps them to reduce latency and assure a steady connection.
Overall, the performance and the drawing experience you get from the Pen Tablet are excellent. Every built-in feature worked as described, and the tablet and pens had an accurate pressure response that is exceptionally sensitive on the low end of the curve.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed the things we liked and disliked about the Xencelabs Pen Tablet, here is a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular drawing tablet.
Pros
Accessories are included in the package.
Terrific build quality.
Excellent drawing experience.
Great alternative to Wacom’s more expensive models.
Cons
Does not have a built-in display.
Quick Keys remote is sold separately.
Pricing is still higher compared to most non-display drawing tablets.
Our Final Verdict
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet is a strong statement that, despite being new to the game, the company is here to make its mark in this industry, producing a good tablet and accessories package that is discreet yet extremely nice, at a reasonable price. Overall, this is a terrific choice to explore whether you’re an expert or just getting started with digital art.
Have you already bought your own drawing tablet? Did you pick the Xencelabs Pen Tablet? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
The Wacom Cintiq 22 is one of the newest models in the company’s effort to lower the costs of its well-known lineup of drawing tablets. The Cintiq 22 features a 1920 x 1080 full HD pen display with vibrant color that you can easily plug into your computer and draw on with the included Wacom Pro Pen 2. While lacking some of the more high-end features found in Wacom’s Cintiq Pro range, the Cintiq 22 appears to be aimed more at digital art aspirants, students, and casual users. With that in mind, let’s dive into our review to see what makes this drawing tablet unique and worthwhile.
If you’re not new to the digital art world, you’re probably already aware that Wacom has long been at the forefront of this industry when it comes to providing some of the best digital drawing tools. That’s why it comes as no surprise that the Cintiq 22 immediately became a fan favorite among the digital art crowd. In fact, this drawing tablet is quite popular among both professionals and beginners.
You won’t need an external monitor to view the artwork you’re sketching thanks to its stunning 22-inch 1080p display. Although the Full HD resolution lacks the high pixel counts of more recent models from Wacom’s Cintiq Pro line, the 1080p display should be enough to satisfy most users unless it is absolutely necessary for you to have a higher resolution on your artworks.
Furthermore, the anti-glare surface ensures that you can use this drawing tablet for hours on end and draw to your heart’s content without hurting your eyes. With that in mind, it’s safe to say that drawing on this tablet will be a very satisfactory experience.
Apart from its display, the provided Wacom Pen 2 is also one of the best styluses you can get on the market. With 8,192 pressure levels of pressure sensitivity and perfect tilt detection, it’s almost as if you’re sketching on real paper or canvas when you’re using it. Personally, once you get a taste of this experience, it’s hard to go back or settle with anything lesser.
Features & Specificiations
Brand: Wacom
Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches
Item Weight: 3.3 pounds
Operating System: Windows
Compatibility: Windows 7 & later, Mac OS 10.13 & later
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Full HD
Drawing Area: 18.7 x 10.5 inches
Color Gamut: 72% NTSC (CIE1931) typical
Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 levels
Express Keys: No
Connections: HDMI, USB 2.0
Stylus: Battery-free
Stand: Foldable Legs (Optional Adjustable Stand)
What’s In The Box
Wacom Cintiq 22 Pen display
Wacom Pro Pen 2
Adjustable Stand
Detachable Pen holder (with 3 replacement nibs)
A nib removal tool
HDMI to HDMI cable (2M)
USB2.0 (2M)
Power cable (1.8M)
AC adaptor (60W)
Quick Start Guide
Check Out The Product Preview Below of The Wacom Cintiq 22
When it comes to drawing tablets, the first thing you usually look for and consider is the screen resolution as this will have a significant impact on how your drawings will look like. The Cintiq 22 shares the same full HD 1080p display as its smaller sibling, the Cintiq 16.
This instantly implies that these two displays have a significant trade-off. The Cintiq 22 has a wider drawing area, allowing for more comfortable, expressive arm movement when sketching without having to continually zoom in on certain areas you’re working on. At the same time, this also means that the screen image quality will likely be less crisp compared to the Cintiq 16.
While the image quality on the Cintiq 22 isn’t as crisp in comparison to other Cintiq models, this shouldn’t sway you from the fact that the drawing experience on this tablet is truly remarkable. Unless it’s an absolute requirement for you to create your artworks on higher resolution displays, then the 1080p display shouldn’t bother you at all.
Not to mention, compared to the Cintiq 16, the bigger size of the surface truly shines when you’re sketching for an extended period of time since it allows you to create more lengthy pen strokes and more comfortable arm movements as you draw.
Speaking of the drawing area, the Cintiq 22’s active surface is actually rather good. The anti-glare glass is coated to give it a subtle texture, giving you a drawing experience that makes you feel like you’re sketching on actual paper when you glide the stylus across it.
Color Gamut
For some of you, the Cintiq 22’s color gamut might be something of concern. Compared to other Wacom drawing tablets, specifically the models under the Cintiq Pro line, the Cintiq 22’s stated color gamut is 72 percent NTSC, putting it in the same category of the more budget-friendly drawing tablets you might find in the market.
The color spectrum of Cintiq Pro monitors is 94 percent NTSC. While that technical difference may appear to be a deal-breaker, keep in mind that the Cintiq 22 can display 96 percent of the color gamut permitted by the sRGB color profile, which many professional designers and artists use by default.
So this shouldn’t really be too big of an issue if you’re just doing digital art as a hobby or you’re not really aiming for higher percentages on your drawing tablet’s color gamut.
Wacom Pro Pen 2
The addition of the Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus, which we’ve seen on other Wacom drawing tablets, is one of my favorite features of the Cintiq 22. With 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and excellent tilt sensitivity, it’s a pleasant and responsive pen to use.
It also doesn’t need to be charged since it uses Wacom’s electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology to pull power from the Cintiq 22, eliminating the need for a battery. The stylus can be stored in a tight fabric loop on the drawing tablet’s side when not in use.
Upon closer inspection, the Pro Pen 2 seems and feels like a big pen in your hand. It includes two physical controls that are next to one other so you can easily access and press them. The one closest to the pen tip is a right-click button, while the one behind it opens a circular onscreen menu with eight menu options split like pie slices.
Our Least Favorite Things
Expensive
While the Cintiq 22 is definitely a lot more affordable compared to other Wacom drawing tablets under the Cintiq Pro line, it’s still pretty hard to deny that this model still borders on the more high-end range of digital art tools. So if you’re on a budget, I highly suggest looking for a cheaper alternative that can provide you with better value. However, I do think that the Cintiq 22 is still a pretty solid option for those who can afford it. Wacom tablets are always worth the investment and this is no exception to that rule.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed the things we liked and disliked about the Wacom Cintiq 22, here is a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular drawing tablet.
Pros
Large drawing surface.
Industry-standard drawing experience.
Overall, a very high quality product.
The Wacom Pro Pen has excellent quality with terrific tilt sensitivity.
Cons
Lacks built-in Express Keys.
Expensive.
Our Final Verdict
Overall, I have to say that the Wacom 22 does not disappoint at all. This is pretty much expected of any Wacom drawing tablets at this point. If you want to start your digital art career or hobby on one of the best drawing tablets in the market, then this is a good place to start.
It’s not as expensive as the other Wacom models within the Cintiq Pro lineup but it definitely covers all the basics and more for any budding digital artist. This is perfect for you if you don’t necessarily need a higher resolution such as a 4k display for your artworks or the extra fancy features professionals require in their line of work.
Moreover, because Wacom is the industry standard, familiarizing yourself with how a Wacom tablet feels and performs is a wise move and a great investment if you’re serious about pursuing a career in digital art. However, do keep in mind that while the Cintiq 22 is relatively more affordable compared to its Pro counterparts, it is still quite pricey with a price tag that goes over a thousand bucks.
Have you already bought your own drawing tablet? Did you get the Wacom Cintiq 22? Was our review of this particular drawing tablet helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
If you’ve ever purchased a nice set of noise-canceling headphones, I’m pretty sure you know how quickly you can get attached to them. At the same time, it’s also fairly easy to lose track of your favorite headphones. Searching for them in every corner of your house can be an exhausting and annoying task. But with the Sennheiser Momentum 3, that’s no longer an issue. With an innovative Tile tracking technology, you’ll never misplace your headphones again. All you have to do is get the app on your phone. If you’d like to know more, just keep scrolling to read our Sennheiser Momentum 3 review below and you’ll find out if these feature-packed over-ear Bluetooth headphones are worth the money despite being a lot pricier than their main competitors.
The Sennheiser’s first and second generations of their successful Momentum line were instant hits, and their third and most recent version is no exception as well. In the wireless headphone market, Sennheiser’s Momentum Wireless headphones are pretty well-known, so it was good news to everyone that the third iteration of the popular series did not disappoint even after it took a minute before it launched.
You can really tell that Sennheiser took their time elevating their latest flagship pairs in the now-iconic Momentum line and have brilliantly reflected the series’ portfolio, together with their broad family of wired, over-ear, one-ear, in-ear, and true wireless siblings. Getting into the details, there are three noise-canceling settings to pick from, as well as a number of smart features you can use to play around with.
aptX, AAC, SBC Bluetooth, and aptX Low Latency are also supported by the Sennheiser Momentum 3. This improves the synchronization of the audio in your headphones with the visual content on your TV screen. So if you’re intending on using these headphones for gaming or a movie marathon, latency shouldn’t be an issue at all.
Furthermore, the Momentum 3’s performance is better than it has ever been. This is no little claim, mind you, given the Momentum family’s history and renown. Thankfully, despite having big shoes to fill, this third iteration did its job well. The Momentum 3 headphones have remarkable clarity and rhythm while also providing all-day comfort, making them a fantastic choice for any audio listening activity.
The Momentum 3 Wireless features the same clean, simple shape as its older brothers, thanks to Sennheiser’s decision not to dramatically change the aesthetics. Sennheiser obviously recognizes that it has one of the most appealing looks on the market, so there was no need for a major redesign.
The earcups are still covered in matte black plastic on the exterior, while the elastic headband and ear pads are topped with real leather that feels significantly smoother than the previous edition. Stainless steel connectors and yokes connect these parts and add to the headphones’ upscale look. Additionally, you also have two color options to choose from: the standard black and a sandy white variant.
Build
Another thing worth noting is that typically, the most recent model in a headphone series is designed to be thinner and lighter than its predecessors. However, that’s not the case with the Sennheiser Momentum 3. In fact, these headphones are bigger and weigh more than the Momentum 2.
Although the soft cushioning provides improved ear comfort, take in mind that the added weight can have a strain on the skull after a few hours of usage. Those with a strong pain tolerance may be able to wear them for long periods of time, but some of you may not. So if you’re eyeing this model, just keep that in mind.
Apart from the difference in weight and size, these new Momentum 3 Wireless headphones now do away with their predecessors’ cumbersome buttons. The power button has been replaced with an automated on/off mechanism that detects when the headphones are put on and taken off your ears.
That isn’t to say these headphones lack control buttons though. One multifunction button is still present and may be used to navigate your soundtracks. You must push it once to play or pause your music, twice to skip to the next track, and three times to return to the previous track. There’s also a button to activate your device’s voice assistant, as well as a button to manage the noise-canceling feature of the headphones, which lets you switch it off or on.
The extender’s sliding mechanism, which enables smooth adjustment on the move, is also an underappreciated feature. It’s a more practical alternative to most over-ear headphones’ click settings. The extenders are the right length to fit bigger heads, making them an excellent alternative for athletes or any person with a larger head in general.
Smart Features
Sennheiser has expanded the feature set of the Momentum Wireless beyond Bluetooth and active noise-cancellation, emphasizing the need for premium wireless headphones to be as convenient as feasible.
You won’t have to re-pair the headphones every time you use them, and you won’t have to search for your phone’s stop button if someone interrupts your music. The Momentums power up and link with a recognized source as soon as they are unfurled. When they detect that they are being taken off or put on ahead, they automatically halt or restart playing.
But what really sets apart the Momentum 3 from its competitors is the built-in Tile tracker, making them tough to misplace. You can simply dial your headphones using the Tile app on your phone if you can’t find them, and voila! You’ll be able to track your device in an instant. As a person who can be pretty forgetful at times, this is a great feature to have.
Adding to the smart capabilities of these headphones, you can also utilize a dedicated button to activate your device’s voice assistant, whether it’s Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa.
When compared to other high-end competitors, Sennheiser’s ANC technology is highly advanced and effective. Anti-Pressure (low), Anti-Wind (middle), and Max (high) are the three ANC modes available on the headphones, each of which is designed to reduce ambient noise to a specific degree.
When listeners don’t want to take off their headphones, the Momentum 3 includes a Transparent Mode that allows them to be more aware of their surroundings. This is beneficial since it helps you not be completely oblivious of your surroundings, especially when you’re alone.
Audio Quality
The Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones use 42mm transducers to imitate the balanced depth and accuracy of a studio recording. The more powerful bass response combines nicely with the mids and highs, providing you with hi-fi audio that allows you to pick up even the smallest details in recordings.
You may also modify the sound settings with the app’s equalizer, whether you want a powerful bass mix or the more natural sound of treble-rich music. It’s a fantastic addition for people who wish to customize their headphones completely.
Overall, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless headphone’s broad soundstage and precise sound make it highly capable of articulating your music, no matter how complicated. The clarity is also excellent, and you may even notice features of your favorite songs that you had previously overlooked.
Our Least Favorite Things
Battery Life
For a pair of Bluetooth headphones at this price point, you would expect these would have a battery life that will last you throughout the day. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless’ 17-hour battery life appears to be alright at first glance. After all, people rarely actually listen to music for 17 hours straight. But when compared to headphone models within the same range that offer up to 30 hours of continuous playback for a lower price, it is pretty disappointing.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed the things we liked and disliked about the Sennheiser Momentum 3, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with these Bluetooth headphones.
Pros
Excellent noise-cancellation capabilities.
Packed with smart features you can use to adjust your audio preferences.
Great sound quality.
Tile tracking app.
Cons
Battery life could be better.
Expensive.
Our Final Verdict
All in all, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless isn’t that game-changing. That’s not to say it’s an awful product though. Competition is just simply tough in the wireless headphone market. It has tiny improvements over its predecessors, with slightly greater sound and noise cancellation packed into an (almost) same design. These Bluetooth headphones also have a modern appeal thanks to their unique smart features. It is more expensive than its main competitors, but it’s still worth giving consideration.
Do you already own the Sennheiser Momentum 3? How was the experience for you? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, questions, or insights to share regarding our Sennheiser Momentum 3 review. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
As you might already know, noise-canceling headphones are the crème of the crop in the world of headphones. They’re highly sought after because they’re able to filter out any unwanted external noise and allow you to enjoy your audio content without distractions. However, the best wireless noise-canceling headphones from the most popular and well-known brands like Bose and Sony to name a few tend to be quite pricy. Not everyone is willing to drop a couple of hundred dollars on a pair of headphones, which is where the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 comes in. To find out more about this budget-friendly Bluetooth headphones, just keep scrolling to read our review below.
For its price, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless (2016) is one of the best Bluetooth headphones we’ve seen on the market. While many Bluetooth headphones have difficulties with audio lag and latency, this particular pair supports the aptX-LL codec.
This enables these headphones to deliver low latency and a steady connection, especially when used for viewing TV. However, in order to fully exploit this function, you’ll need a Bluetooth adapter or transmitter that supports the codec.
The original Plantronics BackBeat Pro garnered a lot of high praise when it was first released. They weren’t perfect, but they featured a lot of cool features, sounded excellent, and had decent active noise cancellation (ANC). Plantronics, on the other hand, has enhanced the BackBeat Pro 2 by keeping what works and improving what doesn’t, such as its size and weight.
The sound profile of the BackBeat Pro 2 is well-balanced, with just enough bass and thumps to ensure that you hear the colorful sound effects as well as every beat of your favorite programs or music. With 30 hours of continuous playback, you won’t be disappointed when it comes to battery life. If you’re planning on binge-watching a TV show or a certain podcast, these are the headphones for you.
Overall, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 offers exceptional battery life, superb sound quality, and effective active noise cancellation for a reasonable price. They are undoubtedly amazing value for money, despite not having the best noise-canceling on the market. If you’re still on the fence, let’s dive into this device’s specifics below.
Features & Specifications
Brand: Plantronics
Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.8 x 9 inches
Item Weight: 0.63 lbs
Type: Over-Ear
Noise Cancelling: Yes
Built-In Mic: Yes
Battery Life: 24 hours
Color: Black and Tan
What’s In The Box
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Headphones
3.5mm Simple Inline Cable
USB to Micro-USB Charge Cable
Zipper Soft Pouch
Safety Booklet
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Insert
Check Out The Product Preview Of The BackBeat Pro 2 Below.
Thanks to the large protein leather pads and matching synthetic leather-topped headband, it’s easy to tell that the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is a pair of full-size headphones up close and even from a few feet away.
You’ll either love or loathe the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 design because of its relatively unique and somewhat awkward nature. Personally, I find the design appealing and fresh. The headphones have a dark brown color scheme and unfortunately, that’s the only option available. This particular choice of color can result in dividing opinions regarding aesthetics but to each their own.
Then there’s the faux wood accent, which some may find cheap and out of place, but it does at least make the headphones stand out from other, more generic-looking Bluetooth headphones on the market. And for the effort alone, Plantronics gets a couple of bonus points from me.
Build
In comparison to its predecessor, the OG BackBeat Pro, this second iteration is significantly thinner and sleeker. The hefty control wheels on either side have been eliminated, and the over-ear earcups are roughly two-thirds the size of the original. Playback and volume controls are now incorporated into the rear of the left earcup, which has a textured ring surrounding a big, smooth circle around a smaller circle.
The huge circle may be clicked left or right to jump ahead or backward in a track, while the ring navigates the volume. Meanwhile, the play/pause button is in the center of the circle. The earcups also include a slew of sensors that identify when you’re using the headphones, the music will automatically stop when you take them off and your incoming calls will be answered when you put them on.
Active noise cancellation is controlled by a tiny three-way toggle switch on the side of the left earcup, which may be switched on, deactivated, or set into an Open Listening mode.
Furthermore, a round button on the rear of the right earcup is used to answer and stop calls and a power switch while a microphone mute button is located on the left side of the right earcup. At the bottom of the right earcup is a micro USB connector for charging with the provided cable, as well as a 3.5mm port if you’d like to use the BackBeat Pro 2 as a wired headphone.
Comfortability
While the design is questionable for some of you, the comfortability this pair of headphones provide is what makes the BackBeat Pro 2 shine. To put it simply, these headphones are a joy to wear. They have a nice, elongated shape for the earpads that will cover most ears than the original BackBeat Pro.
The fake leather earpads are velvety and well-cushioned, and the headband has just enough cushioning to make the headphones comfortable to use for extended periods of time. If you’re someone who often experiences headaches or fatigue when wearing over-ear headphones, then you’ll certainly have none of that with the BackBeat Pro 2 and will enjoy using this pair for hours on end.
Audio Quality
The first BackBeat Pro headphones had a pleasant, slightly bass-heavy sound characteristic when they first came out. A lot of people actually liked this and lucky for us, Plantronics has carried over this particular sound profile to the BackBeat Pro 2.
Certain audiophiles might be a little disappointed by the overpowering bass the BackBeat Pro 2 provides but for fellow bass heads out there, you will really appreciate the bass-heavy sound profile of these headphones. If you’d like to lessen the bass, I found that using the BackBeat Pro 2 in wired mode significantly reduces the bass too.
Furthermore, you’ll also be relieved to learn that ANC still works pretty well in wired mode when listening to music. This means if you don’t mind dealing with a cord for a while, you can save a few hours on the battery life. Because a little extra bass helps filter out distracting external or ambient noise, we can see why Plantronics chose a bass-heavy sound signature.
Our Least Favorite Things
Noise-Cancellation Is Not The Best
For its price, you can’t really complain. While some of you might argue that other headphone models from different manufacturers and brands offer better noise-cancellation capabilities, the BackBeat Pro 2 isn’t half-bad. The noise cancellation in the BackBeat PRO 2 isn’t nearly as good as higher-end models, but it does a decent job of dampening street and subway sounds.
Whereas other headphones effectively eliminate external and ambient noises, the Backbeat Pro 2 only cuts it in half. In other words, it was less intrusive of the listening experience, but you can definitely still hear some of it while using these headphones.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have finished discussing the things we like and dislike about the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, here is a narrowed-down list of the pros and cons of this particular pair of Bluetooth headphones.
Pros
Beefy battery life that can last you throughout the day.
Comfortable to wear even after extended periods of time.
Solid sound performance.
Great value for the money.
Cons
Noise cancelation isn’t the best.
Our Final Verdict
All in all, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 headphones are a significant improvement over the original model. Apart from better noise-canceling technology, they’re smaller, sleeker, and sound better. You may argue that there are better alternatives on the market (which is correct) but in terms of price and value? This is a great option for anyone looking for a good set of Bluetooth headphones that’s comfy and lasts throughout the day without spending a lot of money.
Do you already own the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2? How was the experience for you? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, questions, or insights to share regarding our review of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
