Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 Tablet Review [Pros & Cons 2025]
Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 Review: Unleash The Artist In YouDisplays have come a long way from being a just part of the humble television and computer monitors. To...
Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 Review: Unleash The Artist In You
Displays have come a long way from being a just part of the humble television and computer monitors. Today we have creative pen displays that are a mix between a tablet and a monitor display. A creative pen display works much like a paper and pen in the hands of an artist. Here a digital pen is used to convert pencil strokes to a digital input.
So if you are looking for a good creative pen display that is also easy on your pocket then the Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 will be your best bet. Though graphics tablets are expensive, the Pro 13 is quite affordable for its features and is definitely a better buy than cheap displays. Cheap displays may save you money, but they may not have the desired features or may not even work altogether after just a few uses.
Wacom is a top brand when it comes to graphics tablets and the fact that you get the Pro 13 at a great price makes it an irresistible option. Read on to find out more details about the Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 in our review below.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 Specs
- A Full HD screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 for superior clarity
- Easy connectivity to Mac or PC with a single USB connection
- Etched glass screen for paper-like feel while drawing
- Ergonomic stand for an inclined work surface
- Wacom's Pro pen 2 which is super accurate and latency-free
Is The Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 The Best Creative Pen Display?
If you want a creative pen display that doesn't make you pay through your nose, then you should consider the Wacom Cintiq Pro 13. Not only does it come with a cost-effective price tag but it also packsin features of high-end pen displays in a compact 13-inch monitor giving you more value for your money. It is definitely a must buy for those who put quality over everything else and only have a budget constraint.
Below we will see each of the features in great detail to help you understand the capabilities of the Pro 13.Display
The Cintiq Pro 13 has an LCD display which has a high resolution of 1920 x 1080 p. This is the resolution for full high-definition images. It supports a wide variety of colors so that you can be sure that whatever you see on the screen does not differ from the end result.
The display uses the IPS (In plane switching) screen technology which is the latest in LCD screen technology. What this basically means is that the liquid crystals that form the display are arranged in a way that gives you a wide viewing angle.
So you don't have to strain and look straight into the display to see your drawing clearly. Also as you may use the display with the stand for an inclined work surface, the wide viewing angle gives you quality images from any point.
Wacom Pro Pen 2
The Wacom Pro pen 2 is the new and improved version of the Wacom Pen Pro. This digital pen is four times more pressure sensitive and accurate than its predecessor. It has been designed to completely eliminate lag and Parallax issues to give you total control over your strokes. But what you will really love about it is the fact that it does not use any batteries or does not need to be charged.
The best part is that the Wacom Pro Pen 2 supports tilt. This means you can use the digital pen just like you would use a pen or brush on paper. Though it may look a bit bulky to hold like a pen, it is something you get used to. There are two buttons on the Pro pen 2 to give you more control while using it on the screen.
Compact
If you like to work on a small surface because it is very handy and compact, then you will love the Pro 13. Its dimensions are 14.2 inches x 9.3 inches x 0.55 inches making it a really portable and a slim tablet. It is also very light weighing a mere 1.1 kg.
As it is so light, you can even hold it in your hand like a book and you won't feel any strain even when you work for long hours. It is therefore perfect for sketching and drawing and gives you the feel of working on real paper.
Design
The Cintiq Pro 13 looks like a tablet and has a 13-inch display. Producing the same effect as drawing on paper requires a special design as tablet screen are way too smooth to achieve the effect.
But to overcome this problem, the Cintiq Pro 13 comes with a brilliant etched glass screen. When the digital pen is used on this surface it offers the same type of resistance and feel that you get when you draw on paper. This lets artists effectively create and transfer their work into a digital format without any compromise on quality.
On the back panel is a built-in stand which has been designed to give a desk-like convenience. It folds into fit flush with the back panel so that you can place the display flat if necessary. When the stand is opened and locked in place, it lets you place the screen at a 20 degree angle and you can use in on any flat surface to reduce neck strain during extended periods of work.
Controls
Not only can you use the Pro pen to navigate through the workflow, but the Pro 13 also allow you to use multi-touch gestures to speed things up. So you can use features like zoom, pan and navigate by swiping on the screen just as you would on a tablet or a smartphone.
To make it more user-friendly you can add in custom options such as on-screen radial menus and pen side switches which will make you get your output much faster and let you create content without worrying too much about the technicalities.
Looks
The Cintiq pro 13 sports a neat look with an etched glass screen that goes beyond the display area. This forms a rich black bezel area that houses LED illuminated controls. There are five touch buttons lets you access all the basic functions quickly.
Construction
The housing is sturdy and durable as it is made of a metal alloy. The metal alloy is a lightweight material that keeps the weight of the device to a minimum for easy portability and handling. The overall body is very slim and yet it has been smartly designed to house the ports on the sides.
The back panel has two rubber feet on the top which when placed on a flat surface gives a slight and natural tilt of 5 degrees to your display. It also prevents your tablet from moving when you working on it.
Connectivity and Controls
On the left edge of the Pro 13 you will find two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. On the right edge is another USB-C port and an SD card reader slot. One of the USB-C ports is used for connecting your display to a power source. You will need another USB-C port to connect your tablet to your computer.
The power button is placed on the top right which makes it easy to quickly turn your display on or off when needed. On the top edge is also a slot where you can fix the pen holder that comes in the box. So instead of placing the pro pen on your desk and risk it falling off, you can simply fix it to the pen holder.
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Compatibility
The Pro 13 works with any standard 2D or 3D creative software. So it gives you a great amount of control over the content that you create. Therefore the end result is more accurate and original.
You can connect your digital display to your Mac or PC with a USB-C cable that comes in the box. Another option is to use the Wacom Link and cables and connect the Pro 13 to the Mini Display port and USB. It is compatible with Windows 7 SP1 or later versions. For Mac you should have Mac OS 10.10 or later.
Pros
- Professional quality output despite its small size
- Compatible with both Mac and PCs
- A quality graphics tablet that gives you more value for your money
- An affordable price point for its features
Cons
- The 13-inch display may not be large enough for professional needs
Conclusion
If you want a digital art display from a reputed brand and one that comes with the most accurate digital pens then don't even think twice. The Cintiq Pro 13 comes from the house of Wacom who are pioneers in producing quality graphics tablets. It has very positive customer reviews and is a bestselling product on the market. The Pro 13 also comes at a great price making digital art displays affordable for many users. Get one yourself and we are sure that you will be hooked to it.
Resources
- https://www.wacom.com/en/products/pen-displays/wacom-cintiq-pro-13
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom_(company)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_tablet
- https://forum.deviantart.com/technology/hardware/1825066/
- https://tlbhd.com/digital-computer-drawing-tablets-vs-touchscreen-tablets-3816/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/wacom/comments/5l1gr1/quick_review_of_cintiq_pro_13_finally_found_one/
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