GAOMON PD1561 Review: Old, Cheap and Very Dim
Quick verdict
A long-running budget pen display with a decent pen and a stand in the box. The screen is very dim, washed out and easy to scratch, and newer screens beat it.
Buy it if
- You find it on a deep sale.
- You draw in a dim room.
- You want a stand included on a tiny budget.
Skip it if
- You can get the UGEE UE16. It's better in almost every way.
- You want one USB-C cable.
- You care about color.
Specs
| Screen size | 15.6 in |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Panel | IPS, 6-bit (262K colors) |
| Glass | Anti-glare protector |
| Color (claimed) | 72% NTSC (about 100% sRGB) |
| Brightness (claimed) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured 117) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Pen | AP50, battery-free |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 |
| Tilt | Yes |
| Shortcuts | 10 keys |
| Touch | No |
| Connection | HDMI + USB + power (3-in-1 cable); no USB-C video |
| Stand | Included, 10–90° |
| Weight | - |
| Works with | Windows, macOS |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Decent pen with a light touch and tilt.
- Adjustable stand included (10° to 90°).
- 10 shortcut keys.
- Low price.
Cons
- Very dim: Parka Blogs measured 117 nits.
- 6-bit panel with washed-out color.
- Screen protector scratched within a week (Parka Blogs).
- No USB-C video; needs HDMI, USB and power.
Real-world math
Brightness. GAOMON claims 220 nits. Parka Blogs measured 117. That's about half. It's the dimmest screen on this site by far.
Colors. It's a 6-bit panel showing 262,000 colors. An 8-bit panel shows 16.7 million. That's 64 times fewer shades, which shows up as banding in smooth gradients.
Drawing space. About 344 x 194 mm on a 15.6-inch screen, roughly 667 square centimeters. Same class as the UGEE UE16.
The pen
This is the good part. Parka Blogs found the AP50 pen starts lines easily and tapers smoothly, with slight jitter on diagonal lines. A long-term owner called the pen and stand the highlights, though the buttons can be finicky.
The screen
Beyond the low brightness, Parka Blogs found the matte protector washes out the image and scratched within the first week. The stand relies on rubber feet and can slide.
How it compares
| Spec | GAOMON PD1561 | UGEE UE16 | XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 6.8/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Screen size | 15.6 in | 15.4 in | 15.4 in |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Panel | IPS, 6-bit (262K colors) | IPS, fully laminated | IPS, fully laminated |
| Glass | Anti-glare protector | Anti-glare coating | Anti-glare matte |
| Color (claimed) | 72% NTSC (about 100% sRGB) | 143% sRGB (Parka Blogs measured 99% sRGB) | 127% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB |
| Brightness (claimed) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured 117) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured 191) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured about 176) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Pen | AP50, battery-free | U-Pencil, battery-free, eraser | X3 Elite, battery-free, no eraser |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 | 16,384 | 8,192 |
| Tilt | Yes | ±60° | 60° |
| Shortcuts | 10 keys | 10 keys + wheel | 10 keys |
| Touch | No | No | No |
| Connection | HDMI + USB + power (3-in-1 cable); no USB-C video | Full-featured USB-C or 3-in-1 cable (both in box) | 3-in-1 cable (USB-C to USB-C sold separately) |
| Stand | Included, 10–90° | Included, 21–64° | Not included |
| Weight | - | 1.28 kg | - |
| Works with | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux (Android limited) |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Is there a newer version?
- Yes. GAOMON now sells the PD1561 V2 with a 16K pen, full lamination and better color. I'd look at that first.
- Does it work with a single USB-C cable?
- No. It needs HDMI, USB and power through the 3-in-1 cable.
- Does it work with a Chromebook?
- GAOMON lists Windows and macOS only.
- Is a stand included?
- Yes, an adjustable stand from 10 to 90 degrees.
Bottom line
It was a good deal once. Today, the UGEE UE16 gives you a brighter, better screen with more in the box. I'd only buy the PD1561 on a big discount.