XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) Review: Good Pen, Some Setup Pain
Quick verdict
A budget 16-inch with a great pen and good color. The stand and single-cable USB-C lead cost extra, it's dim, and the drivers can be fussy.
Buy it if
- You want a 16-inch screen for little money.
- Pen feel matters more than extras.
- You already own a stand.
Skip it if
- You want everything in the box. The UGEE UE16 includes a stand and cables.
- You work in a bright room.
- You don't want to fight drivers.
Specs
| Screen size | 15.4 in |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Panel | IPS, fully laminated |
| Glass | Anti-glare matte |
| Color (claimed) | 127% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB |
| Brightness (claimed) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured about 176) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Pen | X3 Elite, battery-free, no eraser |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 |
| Tilt | 60° |
| Shortcuts | 10 keys |
| Touch | No |
| Connection | 3-in-1 cable (USB-C to USB-C sold separately) |
| Stand | Not included |
| Weight | - |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux (Android limited) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Pen starts lines at about 3 grams; smooth tapering.
- Good measured color: 99% sRGB (Parka Blogs).
- Laminated, almost no gap.
- Pleasant matte surface.
Cons
- No stand in the box.
- Dim: Parka Blogs measured about 176 nits.
- Driver reinstalls and lost settings reported.
- No eraser on the pen.
Real-world math
Drawing space. 341 x 192 mm, about 654 square centimeters. Exactly the same as the UGEE UE16, and about 95% of the Kamvas 16.
Brightness. XPPen claims 220 nits. Parka Blogs measured about 176. That's 20% below the claim. Keep it in a dim room.
Real cost. Add a stand and, if you want one-cable setup, a USB-C to USB-C cable. The UGEE UE16 includes both.
The pen and screen
Parka Blogs praised the pen's light 3-gram start, smooth tapering and accurate tilt, and measured 99% sRGB and 92% Adobe RGB after calibration. Creative Bloq gave it 8/10 and called the pen "one of the best I've used in a while."
Drivers
This is the weak spot. Creative Bloq had to reinstall the driver three times and saw settings not restore after reboot, plus screen flicker when switching displays. Parka Blogs hit a Windows install failure that support fixed.
How it compares
| Spec | XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) | UGEE UE16 | Huion Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Screen size | 15.4 in | 15.4 in | 15.8 in |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) | 2560 x 1440 (16:9) |
| Panel | IPS, fully laminated | IPS, fully laminated | IPS, fully laminated |
| Glass | Anti-glare matte | Anti-glare coating | Anti-glare etched (Canvas Glass 2.0) |
| Color (claimed) | 127% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB | 143% sRGB (Parka Blogs measured 99% sRGB) | 99% sRGB, 90% Adobe RGB |
| Brightness (claimed) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured about 176) | 220 nits (Parka Blogs measured 191) | 220 nits |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Pen | X3 Elite, battery-free, no eraser | U-Pencil, battery-free, eraser | PW600L, battery-free |
| Pressure levels | 8,192 | 16,384 | 16,384 |
| Tilt | 60° | ±60° | ±60° |
| Shortcuts | 10 keys | 10 keys + wheel | 6 keys + 2 dials on the frame |
| Touch | No | No | No |
| Connection | 3-in-1 cable (USB-C to USB-C sold separately) | Full-featured USB-C or 3-in-1 cable (both in box) | Full-featured USB-C, or 3-in-1 cable (HDMI + USB) |
| Stand | Not included | Included, 21–64° | Included (Amazon version) |
| Weight | - | 1.28 kg | 1.25 kg |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux (Android limited) | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux | Windows, macOS, Android (USB-C with video), Linux |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- What's in the box?
- XPPen lists the display, X3 Elite pen, 3-in-1 cable, extension cable, 10 nibs, nib puller, cloth, glove and power adapter. No stand.
- Does it support one-cable USB-C?
- Yes, but the USB-C to USB-C cable is sold separately. Parka Blogs noted some third-party cables don't fit the recessed ports.
- Does it work on a Mac?
- Yes, though Parka Blogs found pressure didn't work in Adobe Illustrator on macOS during testing.
- Is it good for beginners?
- The pen is great for beginners. The setup extras and driver quirks are the trade-off.
Bottom line
The pen and color are good for the money, but you'll pay extra for a stand and cable. I'd look at the UGEE UE16 first, which includes both.