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Wacom Cintiq Pro 17 vs Xencelabs Pen Display 16
Short answer
Get the Xencelabs for 4K OLED color and two pens for much less. Get the Cintiq Pro 17 if you need touch, 120Hz, a stand in the box and Wacom's ecosystem.
Side by side
| Spec | Wacom Cintiq Pro 17 | Xencelabs Pen Display 16 (Essentials) |
|---|---|---|
| My rating | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Screen size | 17.3 in | 15.6 in |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 (16:9) | 3840 x 2160 (16:9) |
| Panel | IPS | OLED |
| Glass | Edge-to-edge tempered glass, AG etched | Etched anti-glare |
| Color (claimed) | 99% DCI-P3, 88% Adobe RGB | 98% Adobe RGB, 99% sRGB |
| Brightness (claimed) | 400 nits | 300 nits with hub and power (Parka Blogs measured 216 on one USB-C cable) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Pen | Wacom Pro Pen 3, battery-free | Two pens (3-button and thin), battery-free, erasers |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 | 8,192 |
| Tilt | ±60° | ±60° |
| Shortcuts | 8 ExpressKeys on rear grips | 8 keys on the frame |
| Touch | Yes, multi-touch | No |
| Connection | Mini DisplayPort, HDMI or USB-C | USB-C (single cable); hub adds HDMI/DP |
| Stand | Pro Easy Stand included; VESA 75 | Not in Essentials (Bundle adds stand) |
| Weight | 2.2 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Works with | Windows, macOS | Windows (incl. ARM), macOS, Linux |
| Check price Review | Check price Review |
Where the Xencelabs wins
- Price. It costs a lot less.
- OLED. Deep blacks, no IPS glow and 98% Adobe RGB.
- Two pens. A standard and a thin pen, both with erasers.
- Sharpness. About 282 pixels per inch versus 255.
- Linux support. Xencelabs lists it; Wacom doesn't.
Where the Cintiq Pro 17 wins
- 120Hz. The Xencelabs runs at 60Hz.
- Touch. Pan, zoom and rotate with your fingers.
- Brightness. 400 nits claimed. The Xencelabs measured 216 on one cable (Parka Blogs).
- Stand in the box. The Xencelabs Essentials has none.
- No OLED worries. No PWM flicker or burn-in questions.
My pick
For most pros paying their own way, I'd buy the Xencelabs, and I'd get the Bundle for the stand and remote. The Cintiq Pro 17 is the pick for studios on Wacom, or anyone who wants touch and 120Hz.