Xencelabs Pen Tablet Review: Is It Better Than Wacom?

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?

See Where The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Ranks In Our List Of The Best Drawing Tablets In 2021.

Overview Of The Xencelabs Pen Tablet

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

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.

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!

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