Tablets

XP-Pen Artist 12, the ideal drawing tablet to start with

The XP-Pen Artist 12 It is a highly recommended graphics tablet for graphic design students and beginning artists who require an affordable, feature-rich device to unleash their creativity. This has two models and even a Pro version, but this time we will be examining the base model, which consists of an 11.6-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution and 72% NTSC color gamut, which is accompanied by the stylus. passive P06 to capture in great detail what is on our mind.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a higher category tablet, perhaps of practically professional quality, we can better recommend the Huion Kamvas Pro 20 for that case.

XP-Pen Artist 12 Technical Specifications

XP-PEN ARTIST 12
Mark XP-PEN
Dimensions 36.4 x 21.8 x 0.8 cm
Weight 907 grams
Technology Passive electromagnetic resonance
Screen type 11.6 inch IPS monitor
Resolution 1920 x 1080 (16: 9)
Active area 263.23 x 148.07 mm
Pen pressure levels 8192 levels
Color range 72% NTSC, 127% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB
Reading height 10mm
Viewing angle 178 °
Tilt support 60 °
Contrast ratio 1000: 1
Number of colors 16.7M (8 bits)
Report ratio 266 RPS
Response time 14 ms
Video ports and interface USB type C, HDMI, USB type A x 2
Supported operating systems Windows 10/8/7 (32 / 64bit), MAC OS 10.10 and higher, Linux
Quick Pen Keys 6 programmable keys and 1 touch bar
Package content
  • Pen display
  • X3 Elite Stylus
  • 3-in-1 USB cable
  • Extension cord
  • 8 pen nibs
  • Tip extractor
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Black drawing glove
  • Fast guide

Compact and slim

The XP-Pen Artist 12 is without a doubt a elegant and stylish drawing monitor. It is the size and dimensions of a lampshade suitable for easy portability in a small bag. It’s also quite slim considering that it doesn’t come with a built-in stand, but instead has one in the box. To be exact, the dimensions are 36.4 x 21.8 x 0.8cm and it weighs around 0.8KG.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Coating

The body of the tablet is made of smooth plastic on the front, the rear panel is the same. The plastic panel provides more durability to the tablet in the event of an accidental drop. Unfortunately there is only one color option available, which is black, but in the second generation version there are 4 to choose from.

In the back (or below) there are four round rubber feet on both sides of the tablet. These are useful to keep it in place when we do not have the support of it at hand.

One of the most important attractions of this tablet are the 6 programmable keys found on the left, each is customizable and offers a satisfying tactile response to touch. In the middle of these is a touch bar, which unfortunately is not programmable, but has different functions, such as adjusting the pen size, zooming in or out, etc.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Design

It’s technically a 13-inch tablet, but as we’ll see next, the usable space is 11.6 inches, which brings us to the next point of interest: the screen.

Screen

As we mentioned at the beginning, we are facing a 11.6-inch IPS LCD screen with full lamination and 1080p Full HD resolution, nothing to write home about, but for this price we couldn’t wait any longer. Similarly, the small screen size helps to maintain a decent pixel density and provide a sharp image every time.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Display

When it comes to viewing angles, the screen does a good job, though it does look dark when viewed from the most extreme angles. However, this is not a big deal when we consider that it is a drawing tablet and not a monitor.

It should be noted that it is not a touch screen, without the digital pen we will not be able to do anything.

Going into details, XP-Pen Artist 12 covers 72% of the NTSC color gamut which, when tested, turns out to be true. This means that the drawing tablet can be used for jobs that require color accuracy, but not to a professional grade, where it is inevitably overshadowed by higher-end products. That said, the initial color settings look fine, but if you’re unhappy with it, it’s always possible to manually adjust the colors via the OSD options.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Color Gamut

And speaking of a digital pen, the XP-Pen Artist 12 comes with a pen without battery P06 with 8192 pressure levels, which works very well and is on the same level as other high-quality battery-operated drawing pens. Additionally, the tablet includes a donut-shaped pen holder that holds the stylus in an upright position and is accompanied by 8 replacement nibs along with a nib extractor in the middle.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Digital Pen

Connectivity

The tablet has a single USB Type-C connection port, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. In this sense, a 3-in-1 cable that goes from USB Type-C on the tablet to USB Type-A and HDMI on the computer, and also a longer cord that plugs into the outlet.

XP-Pen Artist 12 - Connectivity

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro

As we mentioned earlier, there is a Premium version of this tablet, appropriately named XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro. The displays on both models are the same, but the XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro has a dial that replaces the touch bar and supposedly offers greater precision and freedom. What is an objective improvement is the inclusion of 8 customizable keys instead of 6, as well as the presence of the drawing pen PA2, which adds its own advantages to the list.

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro

The XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro is definitely worth it if you’re on a slightly looser budget.

Availability and price of the XP-Pen Artist 12

Those interested in this renowned drawing tablet will be able to purchase through Amazon.com, where it enjoys excellent ratings from users. In the same way, it is available for purchase via Geekbuying for a similar price. As a last option we can suggest the equally reliable shop PC Components.

PROS:
  • High sensitivity display
  • Reasonable price
  • Compact and of good construction
  • 8 customizable buttons
  • Compatible with the software you need

CONS:
  • The resolution is only 1080p
  • Relatively small work area
  • A single port for all 3 connections
7.9
Total score

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