Huion Kamvas 13 is a budget level tablet with an inbuilt screen. However, many beginner artists are not sure whether it is worth it especially compared to the Kamvas Pro 13 or Wacom Cintiq 13.
In this article, we will share our findings after testing and reviewing the Huion Kamvas 13 to see what it has and if the issues in earlier Huion Pen display tablets were solved.
If you like comparing top drawing tablet brands such as Wacom and Huion, then the perfect comparison for Huion Kamvas 13 is Wacom’s Wacom One pen display tablet. For Xp Pen Artist users check out their 13 inch Pen display tablet.
Huion Kamvas 13 Specifications
Huion Kamvas 13 is a very affordable pen-display tablet. Here are some of the main Huion Kamvas 13 Specs that stand out.
- Very fast 266PPS Report Rate
- 2 Type-C Ports result in an easy and fast connection
- Realistic rich colors with 120% sRGB color Gamut
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Android connection
- Direct Power USB Laptop connection
- Battery-free Pen PW517 with PenTech 3.0
- 8 on-body Programmable Press Keys
Size and Built
The Huion Kamvas 13 comes in attractive 3 color varieties you can choose from. You can either pick the Midnight Green, Violet Purple, or Cosmo Black.
Although it is not a standalone tablet, the Kamvas 13 is easily portable for outdoor drawing thanks to its 366.5 mm x 217.4 mm size, ultra-slim 11.8 inches body thickness, and light 980 grams weight.
The Kamvas 13 body is made of plastic, which raises durability questions, especially compared to its predecessor, the Kamvas 13 pro which came with an Aluminum built-in back. You can solve this by buying a Kamvas 13 cover.
For left-handed artists, the Kamvas 13 has an option to swap to a left-handed or right-hand option.
Screen and Display
It comes with a large 13.3-inch screen measured diagonally, and a 293.76 × 165.24mm working area. This is slightly bigger than an iPad pro. The screen is crisp and clear with up to 1920×1080 pixels HD display.
You will not have reflection problems interfere with your view even in high light environments thanks to a 178 degrees wide viewing angle. This means that no matter from which angle you view it, the image quality remains crisp and clear.
For durability, the screen is protected from damage and scratches by a Fully laminated antiglare screen. This is better than Wacom One which only has a protective film.
A laminated screen means that the screen is covered by an extra layer for protection. On a normal laminated screen, there is a layer of air between the screen and the layer that can cause air bubbles to form, limiting accuracy.
A fully laminated screen leaves no air between the screen and layer, improving durability while at the same time eradicating the air bubbles problem.
The screen has perfect color accuracy and can display up to 16.7 million colors thanks to a wide color Gamut at 120% sRGB.
Connectivity
One of the most important things you need to consider when buying a pen display tablet is connectivity. This refers to what devices your tablet will be able to connect to and how easily. For example, the earlier Kamvas 13 pro was not compatible with Android. This means that you could not connect it to your Android phone and devices.
The Kamvas 13 scores well when it comes to connectivity. First of all, it is compatible with Android so you can easily connect with Android devices with a simple type C cable.
If your computer supports type C input, connecting to Kamvas 13 is easy and simple without using a type C to HDMI adapter. Additionally, it also supports connection with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.12 or later, and Android（USB3.1 GEN1). You will get a free 3-in-1 cable for computer connection too.
Stylus Pen PW517
The great display works great for viewing. However, for creators, the pen is another important factor that makes a drawing tablet worth it. Huion Kamvas 13 comes with a battery-free PW517 stylus pen.
First the pen has large 8192 pressure levels that make a drawing or note-taking feel natural. Additionally, plus or minus 60 tilt recognition technology allows you to draw a variety of lines.
This Pen is great especially compared to the less accurate PW507 that came with its previous version of Kamvas 13 pro. It was less accurate and this one is a great improvement.
The pen has 2 customizable shortcut buttons that you can use to speed up your workflow. You can set them to your eraser or any other regular tools you use in your drawing.
Fast reaction time at 266 Pps and Huion’s Pentech 3.0 technology sets apart the PW517 pen as a top pen in the industry. Finally, the Pen comes free in the box on purchase.
Shortcuts
As mentioned earlier the stylus pen comes with 2 customizable buttons. Apart from these 2, the Kamvas 13 comes with 8 more fully customizable keys next to the screen that can help speed up your workflow.
Huion Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13
Huion Kamvas Pro 13 is very similar to Huion Kamvas 13. However, unlike Huion Kamvas 13, it has only 4 buttons instead of 8. However, it comes with a touch bar. The Pro 13 display comes with a good, fully laminated screen, while the Kamvas 13 only has a laminated film.
The Kamvas Pro 13 has one big connectivity downside. Although it works well on Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.12 or later, and ChromeOS 88, it does not support Android. It uses an older, less accurate PW507 stylus compared to Kamvas 13 faster PW517 pen that has PenTech 3.0.
Huion Kamvas 13 Specs
- Working Area 11.5×6.5 inches
- Body Material Plastic
- Color options Cosmo Black, Midnight Green, Violet Purple
- Weight 980 grams
- Body Shortcuts 8 buttons
- Stand Free Stand
- Display Size 13.3 inches
- Screen Resolution 1920×1080 pixels
- Color Accuracy 120%RGB
- Contrast 1000:1
- Response Time 25 ms
- Laminated Screen Yes plus extra Anti-glare film
- Stylus Pen Battery-free, 8192 Pressure Levels, 60 degrees sensitivity, 2 pen shortcuts
- Brightness: 220 nits
- Price: Check Price
Does the Huion Kamvas 13 need a computer?
Huion Kamvas 13 is not a standalone tablet so the answer is yes, it must be connected to a computer to be used.
Is the Huion Kamvas 13 worth it?
A great display size, color accuracy, and fantastic pen make the Kamvas 13 surely worth it, especially for its very affordable price range.
Additionally, you will get a host of free stuff that comes with the tablet. These include a tablet stand, 10 replacement Nibs and a Nib remover, a 3-in-1 cable, a USB extender, an AC adapter, a drawing glove, a cleaning cloth, a Huion PW 517 stylus pen, and a free pen holder.
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Denis is a Graphic Designer with over 8 years experience. He can design logos, convert existing logos to vector format and print ready files. He enjoys designing fliers, banners, labels, social media graphics and posters. He spends most of his time creating digital art and vectors for different clients when not writing for this blog.