Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Review: Best Pro Pen Tablet?
Quick verdict
Two excellent pens, a shortcut remote with labels you can read, and a superb build. It's heavier than the Intuos Pro, and there are no keys on the tablet itself.
Buy it if
- You want a pro pen tablet without Wacom pricing.
- You use lots of shortcuts and want them labeled.
- You'd like a thin pen and a thick pen in the box.
Skip it if
- You want keys built into the tablet.
- You want the lightest tablet to carry.
- You're a beginner. The Huion Inspiroy 2 Medium is plenty.
Specs
| Active area | 262 x 147 mm (10.3 x 5.8 in) |
|---|---|
| Pen | Two v2 pens (3-button and thin), battery-free, erasers |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 |
| Tilt | 60° |
| Shortcuts | Quick Keys remote with OLED labels (in the Bundle); no keys on the tablet |
| Connection | USB |
| Wireless | Private wireless dongle, 16 hours |
| Weight | 711 g |
| Works with | Windows (incl. ARM), macOS 10.13+, Linux |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two pens included, both with erasers.
- Quick Keys remote with OLED labels (Bundle).
- 16-hour battery; wireless or wired.
- Excellent build; Creative Bloq gave the Bundle 10/10.
Cons
- No keys on the tablet itself.
- Heavier than the Intuos Pro at 711 grams.
- Wireless uses a dongle, not direct Bluetooth.
- No touch.
Real-world math
Drawing space. 262 x 147 mm, about 387 square centimeters. That's the same as the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium, give or take a few square centimeters.
What's in the box. Two pens, a pen case, a remote, a glove and a sleeve. With the Intuos Pro you get one pen and no remote.
Battery. 16 hours claimed, with a 2.5-hour charge. At four hours a day, that's about four days per charge.
Weight. 711 grams. That's about 300 grams more than the Intuos Pro. It stays put on a desk, but it's heavier in a bag.
The pens
You get a 3-button pen and a thin 2-button pen, both with erasers, 8,192 levels and 60° tilt. Creative Bloq found no lag or missed strokes. Having both sizes means you can pick by task or by hand fatigue.
The Quick Keys remote
The remote has an OLED screen that shows what each key does, and you can switch between sets. The v2 raised the total to 44 shortcuts. Creative Bloq, reviewing the pen display version, called Quick Keys "essential" rather than optional.
How it compares
| Spec | Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle v2 | Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025) | Huion Inspiroy 2 Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Active area | 262 x 147 mm (10.3 x 5.8 in) | 263 x 148 mm (10.4 x 5.8 in) | 221 x 138 mm (8.7 x 5.4 in) |
| Pen | Two v2 pens (3-button and thin), battery-free, erasers | Wacom Pro Pen 3, battery-free, swappable grips | PW110, battery-free |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 | 8,192 | 8,192 |
| Tilt | 60° | ±60° | ±60° |
| Shortcuts | Quick Keys remote with OLED labels (in the Bundle); no keys on the tablet | 10 ExpressKeys + 2 dials | 8 keys + 3 group keys (24 shortcuts) + scroll wheel |
| Connection | USB | USB-C (USB-C to USB-A cable in box) | USB-C (wired) |
| Wireless | Private wireless dongle, 16 hours | Bluetooth | No |
| Weight | 711 g | 411 g | 420 g |
| Works with | Windows (incl. ARM), macOS 10.13+, Linux | Windows 10+, macOS 13+ | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- What's the difference between the Bundle and the standard version?
- The Bundle adds the Quick Keys remote. Both include two pens, a pen case, the wireless dongle, nibs, a glove and a sleeve.
- What's new in v2?
- The v2 pens also work on Xencelabs pen displays, the Quick Keys hold more shortcuts, and it supports HP Anyware for remote work. The tablet itself is the same.
- Does it work with Linux?
- Yes. Xencelabs lists Windows (including ARM), macOS 10.13 or later, and tested Linux platforms.
- Is it wireless?
- Yes, through a private wireless dongle, with 16 hours per charge. It also works over USB.
Bottom line
This is the pen tablet I'd buy for pro work. You get two pens and a great remote in the box, and reviewers can't find much to fault. Just know the shortcuts live on the remote, not the tablet.