Wacom Intuos Medium Bluetooth Review: Safe, But Showing Age
Quick verdict
Simple, reliable and wireless, with Wacom's drivers and software bundle. The pen is dated next to Huion and XPPen, and Bluetooth can lag.
Buy it if
- You want the simplest, most reliable setup.
- You want a wireless option for a tidy desk.
- Your school or job already uses Wacom.
Skip it if
- You want tilt. It doesn't have it.
- You want lots of shortcut keys.
- You want the most features for the money.
Specs
| Active area | 216 x 135 mm (8.5 x 5.3 in) |
|---|---|
| Pen | Wacom Pen 4K, battery-free |
| Pressure levels | 4,096 |
| Tilt | No |
| Shortcuts | 4 ExpressKeys |
| Connection | USB |
| Wireless | Bluetooth, 15+ hours |
| Weight | 410 g |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy setup and dependable drivers.
- Bluetooth, with 15+ hours on a charge.
- Paper-like surface with a little bite.
- Works with Windows, Mac, ChromeOS and Android.
Cons
- 4,096 pressure levels and no tilt.
- Only 4 shortcut keys.
- Bluetooth can lag. Some owners go back to the cable.
- The design dates back to 2018.
Real-world math
Drawing space. The active area is 216 x 135 mm, about 292 square centimeters. That's nearly the same as the Huion Inspiroy 2 Medium at about 305.
How it maps to your screen. On a 24-inch monitor, each millimeter on the tablet moves the cursor about 2.5 mm. That's a comfortable ratio for most people.
Pressure. The pen has 4,096 levels. The Huion has 8,192 and the XPPen claims 16,384. Honestly, most people can't feel the difference past about 4,000. Tilt is the bigger miss if you shade with angled brushes.
Battery. 15 hours of use per charge is about two work weeks at an hour and a half a day.
The pen and surface
The Wacom Pen 4K is light, needs no battery and does the job. Best Buy owners of the Intuos line praise the surface texture, which one described as feeling like good paper. There's no tilt, and only 4,096 pressure levels.
Bluetooth
Wireless is the reason to pick this version. It works for a lot of people. But HighTechDad found the connection "a bit spotty" with multi-second delays, and went back to the cable. If you're sensitive to lag, plan to use it wired sometimes.
Why people still buy it
Setup is easy, the drivers are reliable, and it works on Chromebooks and Android. The Intuos Small has over 1,400 Best Buy reviews at around 4.7 out of 5, and ease of use is the top praise. That's a strong track record.
How it compares
| Spec | Wacom Intuos Medium Bluetooth | Huion Inspiroy 2 Medium | XPPen Deco 01 V3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Active area | 216 x 135 mm (8.5 x 5.3 in) | 221 x 138 mm (8.7 x 5.4 in) | 254 x 159 mm (10 x 6.25 in) |
| Pen | Wacom Pen 4K, battery-free | PW110, battery-free | Battery-free |
| Pressure levels | 4,096 | 8,192 | 16,384 (claimed) |
| Tilt | No | ±60° | 60° |
| Shortcuts | 4 ExpressKeys | 8 keys + 3 group keys (24 shortcuts) + scroll wheel | 8 keys |
| Connection | USB | USB-C (wired) | USB (USB-C adapter in box) |
| Wireless | Bluetooth, 15+ hours | No | No |
| Weight | 410 g | 420 g | - |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Does the Wacom Intuos support tilt?
- No. The Wacom Pen 4K has 4,096 pressure levels but no tilt.
- How long does the battery last?
- Wacom says at least 15 hours of use, with up to 3.5 hours to charge.
- Is Bluetooth laggy?
- It can be. HighTechDad saw delays of several seconds over Bluetooth and switched to the USB cable, which worked fine.
- Does it come with software?
- Wacom includes trials and licenses for creative apps like Clip Studio Paint when you register. Check the current bundle, since it changes.
Bottom line
It's the safe pick, not the best value. If you want Wacom's reliability and wireless, it's fine. If you want the better pen and more shortcuts for less, get the Huion Inspiroy 2 Medium.