Tablets

XP-PEN Innovator 16, is it really an innovative graphics tablet?

The XP-PEN Innovator 16 is another of the mid-range options from XP-PEN, a brand determined to compete with Wacom on all fronts. It offers a 15.6-inch screen with FullHD resolution for drawing and stands out for its solid workmanship, which earned it a renowned Red Dot industrial design award, an honor it shares with another tablet of the same brand, the XP-PEN Deco Pro SW. Without preamble, it’s time to get to know it in detail.

XP-PEN Innovator 16 Technical Specifications

XP-PEN Innovator 16
Dimensions 443.27 x 256.45 x 9mm
display area 344.16 x 193.59mm
Color range 92% Adobe® RGB, 88% NTSC, 125% sRGB
Screen resolution 1920×1080
mechanical wheel one
virtual wheel one
Shortcut keys 8
Optical pencil No battery
Inclination 60°
pressure sensitivity 8192 levels
color depth 16.7M
Contrast 1200:1
Resolution 5080LPI
Report rate 220RPS (Maximum)
Precision ±0.01 (center)
reading height 10mm
interface support USB
Response time 16.4ms
Vision angle 178°
aspect ratio 16:9
Brightness 250cd/m2
Compatibility Windows 7 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later), Mac OS X® 10.10 (and later)
Manufacturer’s site XP-PEN
Package content 15.6 inch graphic display, Battery-free stylus, 3-in-1 USB cable, Extension cable, Power adapter, Portable stand, Pen holder (the one with 8 nibs), Cleaning cloth, Black drawing glove, Guide fast.

A design that takes home an award

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the XP-PEN Innovator 16 wins the “Contemporary Good Design Winner” award awarded by the Red Dot organization, which serves as a portfolio of his outstanding design. Going into detail, the body is super slim at 9mm thick and looks as stylish, if not more so, than anything else in its price range due to its silver finish. It also packs a nice heft, along with its metal and glass exterior that looks and feels quality.

Design

If we take a closer look at it, we can see a 344.16 x 193.59mm working areaand on the left edge of it there are 8 configurable buttons and a pair of rotating wheels (one of them is virtual).

However, being an award winner doesn’t automatically make it a perfect device, as it lacks rubber feet on the back, making it mandatory to use it with a stand (included), for which we’ll deduct a few points.

wheels and buttons

Screen of the XP-PEN Innovator 16

The main component of a drawing tablet is, of course, its screen. In the XP-PEN Innovator 16 case we have a solid bet, but it is obviously not the best on the market. We are before a panel 15.6-inch IPS with 1080p resolution and 92% ADOBE, 88% NTSC, and 125% sRGB color gamut.

XP-PEN Innovator 16

As you will see, the drawing area is wide, but the resolution is not up to par and the same goes for the brightness. In this sense, individual pixels are visible when using a small brush or when zooming.

The brightness does not dazzle us either; even when plugged in and set to maximum brightness, whites are not quite pure whites. It’s bright enough to draw indoors, but forget about drawing in a moderately sunny spot. That said, the screen surface is matte and does a good job of preventing glare and unwanted light reflection, so brightness is definitely the Achilles’ heel.

Screen

Despite those details we mentioned, drawing on the XP-PEN Innovator 16 is a good experience. The screen appears to be close to glass, like that of a high-end phone or an iPad Pro. It is very responsive and precise. in terms of hand-eye coordination; There is also no lag to complain about.

For its part, the 8 programmable buttons are very useful, but the most useful is the virtual and mobile double dial, perfect for zooming, panning, or changing brush size.

digital pen

The XP-PEN Innovator 16 ships with a Battery-free stylus with 8192 sensitivity levels and 5080LPI resolution. This particular model is nothing special, but it is comfortable to use and has two programmable buttons, useful for switching to an eraser or an undo/redo combo.

XP-PEN Innovator 16 - PA2 Stylus Pen

Some users report that it can occasionally lose calibration, but that it can be recovered by resetting the pen to default calibration or restarting the drawing software being used.

What is remarkable is that it comes with its own case that protects it. It also contains 8 spare tips which is a nice extra.

software

A drawing tablet is only as good as the software it supports, and we’re happy to say that the XP-PEN Innovator 16 supports over 25 art and design programs, including the must-haves photoshop and maya to open source tools like Gimp and Blender.

XP-PEN Innovator 16 - Software

It also works with all Windows distributions since 7, including 64-bit and 32-bit versions. It is also compatible with all versions of Mac OS from OS X 10.10 onwards.

connectivity

This tablet connects to our desktop or laptop computer with a patented three-in-one cable. The end that connects to the screen is USB Type-C, with a 90-degree plug that looks reasonably sturdy. From there, it splits into three different cordons. One has an HDMI output for video signal. Another is a USB Type-A for screen controls and stylus functionality. The third is also a USB type A, which provides power.

XP-PEN Innovator 16 - Connectivity

This means that we must have at least one HDMI port and one free USB Type-A port on our PC. Here it is necessary to make two important observations; first of all, having all 3 cables together can cause more mess than fix in some desk setups. Second, this isn’t exactly a common or easy to replace type of cable, you’ll have to order a new one from the company’s site if you lose it or it gets damaged.

Availability and price of the XP-PEN Innovator 16


Those interested in this versatile graphic tablet will be able to acquire it from Amazon.co.ukbut it is still available in PC Components for a similar price. As a last option we can recommend buy it at Geekbuying. As always, choose the option that suits you best or offers the best price.

PROS:
  • The winning design of a Red Dot Award
  • Wide software compatibility
  • Good price
  • Good digital pen

CONS:
  • It is not multi touch
  • Connects with a patented design cable

8
Total score

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