Wacom and Huion are the most common brands competing against each other in the field. Each of them offers a host of tablet options, versatile specifications with ranging prices, and effectiveness. Bottom line, each device features its share of strengths and weaknesses depending on usage.
Recent technological advancements have made it easier for digital artists to develop art with ease. Drawing tablets are some of the most important tools that both professional and beginner artists use.
This makes choosing one over the other complicated. You need to understand the important considerations of a good drawing tablet, the difference between them, and which one works best for your needs.
Wacom and Huion: A Brief History
Wacom tablets have been around for a long time. Wacom is a Japanese company founded back in 1983. It has for many years been considered an authority and standard in the drawing tablet industry. Their products are largely preferred by professional artists because they have long been associated with quality, durability, and reliability.
Wacom has always been good but is not cheap. For this reason, in 2011, Huion, a new Chinese brand, was established to offer affordable drawing tablet options without compromising the performance.
While they may not be as premium as Wacom, their commitment to quality and affordable delivery has made them very popular. Currently, for every Wacom tablet out there, there is a sort of similar Huion tablet for a fraction of the price.
Which Company Makes the Best Drawing Tablets?
Both brands create different types of tablets, such as graphic tablets, pen displays, and pen computer tablets. To best understand which is better for you, below is a list of the differences between the two brands.
To best compare the two brands, we will compare the Wacom Intuos and Huion HS64 for tablets without a screen and the Wacom Cintiq 16 and Huion Kamvas 16 for those with an inbuilt screen.
Most Wacom tablets are more expensive compared to their Huion counterparts. Additionally, many professional artists find Wacom tablets to be of higher build quality.
The stylus feel on both brands is similar. However, it will vary from one product to the next from each brand. Generally, how good one is is a matter of personal preference.
Many Wacom tablets come with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, which is more accurate and features higher pen pressure. Huion tablets, on the other hand, have cheaper pen options compared to expensive Wacom pens.
Wacom is a Japanese brand that has existed for longer than Huion. Huion is a Chinese brand that has only existed since 2011.
Body and Build: Both Huion and Wacom have created a wide variety of tablet options. For example, the Wacom Studio 16 has a full product dimension of 16.45 inches in length and 10.3 inches in width. The tablet has a screen size of 16 inches.
Similarly, Huion Kamvas Studio, which is a similar device to Huion, has a 22-inch screen size. The product dimensions are 23.2 inches in length and 13.5 inches in width.
Most tablets from the two brands have this common minimal approach to the screen to maximize the working area. Both tablets need a stand, but you will have to buy the stand separately for both of them.
Shortcut keys: Most Huion tablets have shortcut keys on the body of the tablet and more on the stylus pen. Wacom tablets either lack or have fewer of them on the body. To make up for this, you will need to buy a separate device if you go with Wacom.
A good comparison is between Wacom Cintiq 16 and Huion Kamvas 16 Pro . Kamvas 16 has four shortcut keys plus a touch bar. We have also done a Wacom Cintiq 13 and Huion Kamvas 13 comparison. The Wacom Cintiq 16 has no shortcut keys on the body, and you have to buy a Wacom shortcut remote, which will add to the price.
Huion vs. Wacom Pen Tablets
If you are a beginner, both Huion and Wacom brands have perfect drawing tablets for your level. What is great is that they are some of the cheapest drawing tablets you can buy. Under this category, we will review Wacom Intuos vs. Huion HS64.
Wacom Intuos vs Huion HS64: Best Drawing Tablets No Screen
- Type: Pen Tablet
- Active Area: 6.0 x 3.7 inches
- 4 shortcut keys
- Pen pressure: 4096 levels
- Pen Resolution: 2540 lines per inch
- Connectivity: USB and Bluetooth Classic
- Weight: 229.63 g
Wacom Intuos for beginners is a great, cheap entry-level tablet. The tablet is small and compact, with a 6.0” x 3.7” working area. You can easily carry it from place to place, but it must be connected to a computer to be used.
The Wacom Intuos Stylus pen comes with a large 4K, 4096-level pressure sensitivity that ensures a natural drawing feel. The pen comes free with the tablet.
As mentioned earlier, the Wacom Intuos is not a standalone tablet. It lacks a screen and a computer. When it comes to connectivity, you can either opt for a USB connection to your computer or the Wacom Intuos wireless Bluetooth connection, which is not so common in this price range.
It is compatible with Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, and Android. Finally, you will get four customizable buttons on the tablet for quick navigation. The great price and easy usage make this tablet one of the best.
- Type: Pen Tablet
- Working area: 6.3×4 inches
- Resolution: N/A
- Battery-Free Stylus
- Pen Pressure: 8192
- Customizable buttons
- Digital pen PW100
- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android & Linux Black
Huion has not been left behind when it comes to the cheapest drawing tablets. Huion HS64 takes the spot for Huion. Just like the Wacom Intuos, this tablet lacks a screen and computer and must be connected to one for use.
What is great is that it has a slightly larger working area than Wacom Intuos at 6.3×4 inches and almost double the pressure sensitivity at 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 5080LPI pen resolution. It is a good pick as an Osu tablet.
All this comes at almost half of Wacom Intuos’s price. You will still get four customizable buttons that you can set to your preferred shortcuts to speed up your workflow.
It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Android. One shortcoming, however, is the lack of wireless connectivity available on Wacom.
Wacom Cintiq 16 vs Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Comparison
In a general overview, both these tablets are very similar. However, on closer examination, you will notice some distinct and subtle differences that set them apart.
Some key comparison areas that are important to digital artists when choosing include the Design and Build quality, Screen Size and Resolution, Screen Type, Stylus Pen, Shortcut Keys, Tablet Stand and mount, Price range, Compatibility, Connectivity, and Tablet type.
Below is how the two Wacom Cintiq 16 and Huion Kamvas Pro 16 compare.
- Type: Pen Display
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1080 Pixels
- Shortcuts: None
- Anti-glare: Yes
- Stand: Free Retractable stand
- Laminated Screen: Yes
- Color Gamut: 96% sRGB
- Pen: Wacom Pro pen 2, Battery Free
- Pressure levels: 8192 Levels
- Pen Resolution: 5080
Wacom Cintiq 16 is a great drawing tablet for starters or entry-level users, although it is a bit expensive, keeping in mind that it is best suited for amateurs. However, it does possess great features like a perfect stylus and a working area, not forgetting the pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels.
This tablet is also compatible with other devices, like Windows and macOS. Wacom products are known to be of good quality and superb build, and Cintiq 16 is no exception. The display is superior, and it has impressive responsiveness.
With its Pro Pen 2 Stylus, the drawing experience is simply amazing, making it worth every coin. Looking to upgrade from pen-and-paper to creating projects directly on the screen? This is the best upgrade for professional artists and designers.
The Wacom Cintiq has all the features of high-end tablets, yet the price is so affordable. This drawing tablet has an HD resolution (1920×1080) and superb levels of pressure sensitivity (8192), making it a great choice for pros.
Pros
- High levels of pressure sensitivity
- High resolution
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t support multitouch
- Type: Pen Display
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1080 Pixels
- Shortcuts: 6 shortcut keys
- Anti-glare: Yes
- Stand: Comes separate
- Laminated Screen: Yes
- Color Gamut: 120% sRGB
- Pen: PW507, Battery Free
- Pressure levels: 8192 Levels
- Pen Resolution: 5080
The 15.6-inch size and 1920×1080 pixels resolution produce a crisp HD display, which is awesome. When drawing, you will notice a paper-like feel on the screen that makes for a natural drawing experience, basically like drawing on paper.
It comes with an anti-glare protection film, which eradicates the impact of environmental light that can affect your view. This allows you to use it both indoors and outdoors. Meanwhile, the matte finish of the protection film is more similar to the texture of paper. You can enjoy a realistic life-like drawing experience.
Kamvas 16 is great and enjoyable to use, plus it is quite easy to set up. The tablet is calibrated on purchase and already displays standard-quality color.
You will have six customizable keys you can set to your preference thus speeding up your workflow. An extra slider key ensures you do not interrupt your workflow by making navigation super easy. Huion drivers and programs make the tablet simple and easy to use.
However, please note that it is not a standalone tablet, and you need a computer to use it. Pen pressure was superb, with 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition. Overall, it is a great drawing tablet, especially for its budget range.
Pros
- Large 15.6-inch size and 1920×1080 pixels resolution with a protective antiglare film
Cons
- Must connect to a computer to use
Conclusion
When it comes to features, both tablets almost match up. However, one differentiating factor is the price, with the Huion Pro 16 being cheaper than the Wacom Cintiq 16. The lack of support on the Wacom tablet is also a major disadvantage. Both fall short of being standalone drawing tablets and are dependent on a computer to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wacom better than Huion?
Huion is more economical and offers more value for money. However, Wacom is better than Huion when it comes to overall performance and power.
What are the differences between Wacom and Huion tablets?
Huion tablets are cheaper and come with budget-friendly accessories. Being a new brand, they offer a smaller variety of products compared to Wacom. Wacom comes with a wider variety of products with better specs. They have a more powerful pen, but it will cost a little extra.