The magnificent 5 – Cintiq Revealed: Which Wacom Tablet Should I Buy?

The Wacom Cintiq is by far the most sought-after computer drawing pad on the market today.

The Cintiq is the ultimate tool for the professional cartoonist or digital artist. Like most good things, there are many options when it comes to actually purchasing a Cintiq—screen sizes vary, as do features, drawing experience, and the overall value for your money.

In order to help you make your decision on which one to purchase, let’s take a look at some of the various Wacom tablet sizes available, narrowing down the choices to five of the most popular models within the Cintiq line.

1) Wacom Cintiq 13HD (DTK1300) — Under $1,000

The 13HD features an active area of 11.6” x 6.5” (13.3” on the diagonal) that detects 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the pen tip and eraser and has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The 13HD is compatible with both Windows and Mac. A two-year warranty is included. Package contents include an applicable 3-in-1 HDMI cable for display and power, Pro Pen, pen stand, pen case, replacement nibs (9x), nib removal tool, and an adjustable display stand (three positions).

The 13HD comes equipped with four pre-configured ExpressKeys, and another four buttons on the Rocker Ring, providing easy shortcut access. These buttons are completely customizable to meet your needs. The overall setup stops the user from needing access to a keyboard except when changing tools. One particular button option allows for toggling between working directly on the Cintiq and working on another screen. This feature is especially useful for those who prefer a bigger screen while carrying out particular tasks. As far as the drawing experience, the 13HD is very sensitive when using the Pro Pen, as it registers the tiniest brushstroke and offers precise control. Further, there is a texture to the screen—somewhat of a satin-type finish. Using a standard nib is comparable to using a Copic marker on marker paper. Due to the small size of the screen, drawing movements mimic normal sketching.  See latest price and further details of the 13HD right here

2) Wacom Cintiq 22HD (DTK2200) — Under $1,900

The 22HD features an active area of 19.5” x 11.5” (21.5” on the diagonal) that detects 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the pen tip and eraser and has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The 22HD is compatible with both Windows and Mac. A two-year warranty is included. Package contents include applicable cables for display and power, Grip Pen, pen stand, replacement nibs (10x), and an adjustable display stand featuring display rotation.

The 22HD comes equipped with a pair of rear-mounted Touch Strips, along with four Touch Strip Toggle Buttons that provide access to functions, such as brush size, zooming, scrolling, and on-screen canvas rotation. Sixteen ExpressKeys (eight on each side of the display) provide quick access to keyboard shortcuts and modifier keys, generously boosting productivity. All buttons are completely customizable. As far as the drawing experience, the pen pressure on the 22HD is extremely good, allowing you to feel every single stroke—simply put, it’s like drawing on butter, while also giving more control for finishing touches. The screen is the optimal size for all digital artists, regardless of the particular task. See latest price and further details of the 22HD right here.

3) Wacom Cintiq 22HD Touch (DTH2200) — Under $2,200

The 22HD Touch features an active area of 18.9” x 10.7” (21.5” on the diagonal) that detects 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the pen tip and eraser and has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The 22HD Touch is compatible with both Windows and Mac. A two-year warranty is included. Package contents include applicable cables for display and power, Grip Pen, pen stand, replacement nibs (10x), nib removal tool, and an adjustable display stand featuring display rotation. The 22HD Touch comes equipped with the same number of buttons as the non-touch 22HD—a pair of rear-mounted Touch Strips, four Touch Strip Toggle Buttons, and sixteen ExpressKeys. All buttons are completely customizable.

The 22HD Touch is the perfect device for those who want to work with both a pen and touch, as it combines multi-finger touch capabilities with battery-free pen technology. This particular tablet allows users to switch between the pressure sensitive pen and multi-touch to zoom, pan, rotate, and navigate your work. As far as the drawing experience, the 22HD Touch offers professional levels of pen-pressure and pen-tilt sensitivity that catch every detail with a screen that has a good, natural feel to it when drawing. It’s important to note that the screen isn’t quite as bright as the non-touch 22HD model. Further, unless you have a specific application for which you require touch, the non-touch model would be the all-around best choice for drawing. See latest price and further details of the 22HD Touch right here.

4) Wacom Cintiq 24HD (DTK2400) — Under $3,500

The 24HD features an active area of 20.4” x 12.8” (24.1” on the diagonal) that detects 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the pen tip and eraser and has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. The 24HD is compatible with both Windows and Mac. A two-year warranty is included. Package contents include applicable cables for display and power, Grip Pen, pen stand, replacement nibs (10x), VESA metal spacer and accessories, and an adjustable display stand featuring incline and height adjustment for multiple working positions.

The 24HD comes equipped with five ExpressKeys and a Touch Ring located on each side of the display’s frame. All buttons are completely customizable. As far as the drawing experience, the 24HD features Tip Sensor technology, offering users virtually the same natural experience as one working with traditional paintbrushes, markers, pens, or pencils. The screen itself is gorgeous and has an interesting soft texture that feels more like paper than expected and performs perfectly on all of the major digital artwork programs (Photoshop, Corel Painter, GIMP, etc.). The customization of the pen included is stellar, gliding across the huge screen with no lag whatsoever.  See latest price and further details of the 24HD right here. 

N.B. Due to low availability of this model the current price is unreasonably higher than the 24HD touch and you would be advised to look at that model in the first instance.  When availability of the 24HD increases and the price lowers we will amend this review.

5) Wacom Cintiq 24HD Touch (DTH2400) — Under $3,000

The 24HD Touch features an active area of 20.4” x 12.8” (24.1” on the diagonal) that detects 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on both the pen tip and eraser and has a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. The 24HD Touch is compatible with both Windows and Mac. A two-year warranty is included. Package contents include applicable cables for display and power, Grip Pen, pen stand, replacement nibs (10x), VESA metal spacer and accessories, and an adjustable display stand featuring incline and height adjustment for multiple working positions.

The 24HD Touch comes equipped with the same number of buttons as the non-touch 24HD—five ExpressKeys and a TouchRing located on each side of the display’s frame. All buttons are completely customizable. As far as the drawing experience, the screen is beautiful and makes drawing a dream, but some creative applications may not fully support the multi-touch of this model as of yet. The drawing surface is long lasting, fights off scratches, and maintains a nice texture. Get the latest price and further details right here.

So which is the best digital drawing pad for artists in the Wacom Cintiq range?

Now that we’ve taken a look at five of the top rated Wacom digital design tablets within the Cintiq line, perhaps your decision will have been made a bit easier. Although these tablets are similar, the 22HD (non-touch model) is superior to all the rest. The 22HD is not only a better value than both of the 24HD models, but it provides a better drawing experience than the 13HD—in other words, the 22HD is the best choice all around. The bottom line: while it’s true that it all comes down to personal choice, the 22HD is the one to go for.

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