XPPen Deco Pro LW (Gen 2) Review: Big, Wireless, Great Pen
Quick verdict
A large wireless pen tablet with XPPen's best pen, for mid-range money. There are no keys on the tablet, so check the listing includes the remote.
Buy it if
- You want a large wireless tablet.
- You want the X3 Pro pen with an eraser.
- You use a big monitor.
Skip it if
- You want keys built into the tablet.
- You want the lightest tablet to carry.
- Your listing doesn't include the remote and you need shortcuts.
Specs
| Active area | 279 x 178 mm (11 x 7 in) |
|---|---|
| Pen | X3 Pro Smart Chip, battery-free, eraser |
| Pressure levels | 16,384 |
| Tilt | 60° |
| Shortcuts | No keys on tablet; mini key-dial remote on this Amazon listing |
| Connection | USB-C |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, 10+ hours |
| Weight | - |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux (Bluetooth: Windows/macOS) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large 11 x 7 inch area.
- X3 Pro pen: 16K levels, tilt and eraser.
- Bluetooth plus wired USB-C.
- Clean drivers (Parka Blogs).
Cons
- No keys on the tablet itself.
- The remote is sold separately on some versions.
- Battery around 10 hours.
- Bigger than it needs to be for laptop users.
Real-world math
Drawing space. 279 x 178 mm, about 497 square centimeters. That's about 28% more than the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium or the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium.
How it maps to your screen. On a 24-inch monitor, each millimeter on the tablet moves the cursor about 1.9 mm. That's relaxed and precise, and it scales well to 27- and 32-inch screens.
Battery. 10 hours or more, per XPPen. At four hours a day, that's a charge every two or three days.
The pen
The X3 Pro pen has 16,384 levels, 60° tilt and an eraser, and needs no battery. Parka Blogs found the matte surface with felt nibs "satisfying," and noted little difference versus 8K pens in practice.
Shortcuts
There are no keys on the tablet. Shortcuts live on XPPen's ACK05 remote, with 10 keys and a dial. Parka Blogs' review unit included it. XPPen sells it separately for some versions, so check the listing.
How it compares
| Spec | XPPen Deco Pro LW (Gen 2) | Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (2025) | Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle v2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Active area | 279 x 178 mm (11 x 7 in) | 263 x 148 mm (10.4 x 5.8 in) | 262 x 147 mm (10.3 x 5.8 in) |
| Pen | X3 Pro Smart Chip, battery-free, eraser | Wacom Pro Pen 3, battery-free, swappable grips | Two v2 pens (3-button and thin), battery-free, erasers |
| Pressure levels | 16,384 | 8,192 | 8,192 |
| Tilt | 60° | ±60° | 60° |
| Shortcuts | No keys on tablet; mini key-dial remote on this Amazon listing | 10 ExpressKeys + 2 dials | Quick Keys remote with OLED labels (in the Bundle); no keys on the tablet |
| Connection | USB-C | USB-C (USB-C to USB-A cable in box) | USB |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, 10+ hours | Bluetooth | Private wireless dongle, 16 hours |
| Weight | - | 411 g | 711 g |
| Works with | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Linux (Bluetooth: Windows/macOS) | Windows 10+, macOS 13+ | Windows (incl. ARM), macOS 10.13+, Linux |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Is the remote included?
- XPPen says the ACK05 remote is sold separately for some Deco Pro Gen 2 models. The Amazon listing we link mentions a mini key-dial in its title. Check the listing before you buy.
- Which size is this?
- The LW, with an 11 x 7 inch area. XPPen also makes the smaller MW (9 x 6) and larger XLW (15 x 9).
- Does it work with Chromebook?
- Wired, yes: XPPen lists ChromeOS 88 or later. Bluetooth works with Windows 10+ and macOS.
- How long does the battery last?
- XPPen says 10 hours or more.
Bottom line
If you want a big wireless tablet with a great pen for less than the Wacom Intuos Pro, this is it. Just confirm the remote is in the box if shortcuts matter to you.