Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation: specs, efficiency, value

Xencelabs Pen Show 24

Should you’ve been following together with graphics pill opinions or the previous few years, you already know a number of pen show tablets have been taken out for in depth check drives in my day-to-day work. Whereas being form right here, they had been exams with a wide range of combined outcomes.

From a budget really feel and software program frustrations of the XP Pen Professional 24 to the close-but-not-there expertise of the Huion Professional 24, to the crushing private disappointment of the Wacom Professional 24, every thing simply appears to overlook the usual of excellence set by earlier Wacom Cintiq fashions. Corporations had been across the edges of greatness, however none of them appeared to stay the touchdown.

That is stated via a long-term, first-hand expertise. For almost twenty years, I’ve labored on a collection of Wacom Cintiq tablets.

I’m at the moment on my third Wacom Cintiq 22HD, and there was a time after I would suggest it to anybody who requested. It’s a workhorse however lacks a number of the trendy requirements we now have come to take pleasure in from current-gen tablets and shows, inflicting the 22HD’s age to point out right here in 2023.

So, after I say to you that there’s one other firm and pill available in the market, one which not solely rivals however exceeds the requirements set by Wacom, know it’s stated from a spot of expertise and joyful shock. The corporate’s title is Xencelabs, and the show is the Pen Show 24 from their Studio Sequence.

Xencelabs supplied us with its new Xencelabs Pen Show 24 for evaluation functions, permitting me to place this new pill via prolonged every day use for a number of weeks. It was an eye-opening expertise.

The Mac used on this evaluation is a 2018 Mac mini with a 3.2 GHz 6-Core intel Core i7, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and a Radeon RX Vega 64 through eGPU. This Mac Mini is my on a regular basis machine and handles each challenge with no points in any respect.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation: Contained in the field

The Pen Show 24 arrived from the seller in unbelievable situation, because of the usage of foam inserts, directions, and an ESD static lowering bag for safe transport. It’s the full equipment, and should you think about buying the Pen Show 24 from Xencelabs or one other on-line vendor, know that it’s going to arrive securely packed.

Setup directions for the Xencelabs Pen Show 24

Contained in the field: Pen Show 24, Fast Keys Controller, Fast Keys Clip, Pen Case, 3-Button Pen/Eraser, Skinny Pen/Eraser, Pen Clips, USB-C – USB-A Cable, USB-C – USB-A Cable (0.6m) (for Fast Keys), USB-C to USB-C Cable, HDMI Cable, DisplayPort Cable, Energy Adapter, Pen Nibs, Operator Glove, and Cleansing Fabric.

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.4 x 15.3 x 1.4 inches
• Energetic space measurement: 20.75 x 11.7 inches
• Show decision
• 3,840 x 2,160 pixels @ 60Hz (4K UHD)
• Weight: 6.0kg / 13.3lbs (6.9kg / 15.2lbs w/ Tilt Stand + Rubber Toes)
• Safety: Kensington MicroSaver 2.0 (Lock not included)
• Displayable colours (Most): 1.07 billion colours
• Colour gamut protection ratio: 99% Adobe RGB (CIE 1931) (typical) 93% DCI-P3 (CIE 1931) (typical)
• Floor: Edge-to-edge tempered glass with Tremendous-AG etching
• Brightness: 330cd/m2

• Pens: 3-Button Pen v2 + Eraser / Skinny Pen v2 + Eraser
• Pen know-how: EMR
• Pen strain ranges: 8192 ranges (Finely Tuned Strain Curve)
• Pen tilt angle: 60 levels
• Pen decision: 5,080 lpi
• Pen sort: Strain-sensitive, cordless, battery-free

• Product dimensions (W x H x D): 6.2 x 2.46 x 0.47 inches
• Product weight: 142 g
• Show: 3.12-inch OLED show; clearly shows key capabilities
• Instructions: 4 instructions (0 levels / 90 levels / 180 levels / 360 levels); textual content symbols could be learn horizontally or vertically
• Safety: Kensington NanoSaver (Lock not included)
• Hours per cost: 25-53 hours (1.5 hours charging time)
• Customized buttons: 8 per set. There could be 5 units giving a complete of 40 short-cut keys.
• Dial: As much as 4 modes (consumer outlined)

For bodily connectivity, the Pen Show 24 delivers two USB-A ports on the highest of the show close to the middle energy change. That is meant for the Fast Keys dongle and wi-fi equipment based mostly in your choice.

The decrease again of the Pen Show 24 delivers an array of ports, with the AC Adapter, a single USB-C port, a full-sized HDMI port, and a Show Port. All of the ports sit behind the built-in stand and make cable administration a lot simpler than different pen shows available on the market.

Proper out of the field, the Pen Show 24 is beefy, as it’s a wonderful 24 inches of pen show that carries measurement and weight. Be ready for this show to take up sizeable actual property in your workspace.

Nothing concerning the Pen Show 24 feels low cost. Not a single element feels prefer it would possibly disintegrate in your arms or break taking the unintentional arduous shot within the day-to-day lifetime of every day use.

This isn’t to say it’s okay to throw this pen show round like an iPad or think about it a full-time touring work resolution however know that it’s sturdy.

Persons are clumsy. I am clumsy. Construct high quality issues to me.

Organising the Pen Show 24 was extremely simple. It took minutes to unbox all of the elements, open the connected stand, join the cables, and energy up the show.

After a obtain of the Xencelabs proprietary driver adopted the quick-and-easy course of for calibrating the pens, the display screen brightness, and pen pressures, and really shortly I used to be drawing. All the preliminary course of took about fifteen minutes.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation — The Xencelabs driver

Past this preliminary setup, it’s normal to go and fine-tune settings to fulfill particular wants and luxury ranges. The Xencelabs driver is phenomenal with a clear look, and it affords the deepest degree of customization for the pen show I’ve ever seen.

For instance, adjusting the brightness and distinction of the show display screen is dealt with via the driving force. Not with awkward menu buttons on the pill.

Colour profiles are equally dealt with within the driver. A deep degree of tilt and strain micro-adjustments to fulfill your wants? Within the driver, and the most effective I’ve ever seen.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation — The driving force software program is sort of extensively configurable

With the three native buttons on the highest of the display screen bezel, you should use the driving force to customise their capabilities and alter the colour of the LEDs to coordinate with particular consumer profiles and options.

That is without doubt one of the key phrases for this pen show: customization.

From the driving force to the Fast Keys Controller, to the stylus pens, every thing concerning the Pen Show 24 is about making the expertise a totally customizable workflow and setting tailor-made to the person consumer. With the Pen Show 24, it’s all about consolation and ease-of-use whereas delivering skilled high quality instruments.

The Pen Show 24 features a sturdy and helpful stand for adjusting the working angle of the pill to fulfill the consumer’s wants. This stand could be eliminated, and the Pen Show 24 consists of VESA mount choices as effectively, for bigger stands, swing arms, and monitor mounts.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation: stand

Remember that this pen show is beefy and will require one thing costlier to carry the burden safely.

The Pen Show 24 makes use of its area and delivers it in true, wonderful 4k that’s tremendous vivid, clear, and wonderful glare-reducing for the parents who work in vivid studios and workplaces.

This could be unusual, and it may very well be my older eyes accustomed to the 22HD pen show, however I had to enter the driving force and scale back the brightness of the show a bit. It is a good factor as I’d at all times choose to have an excessive amount of somewhat than not sufficient, and if you’re somebody who loves a vivid show, this delivers with room to spare.

The display screen is double-glazed and laminated, so you aren’t going to see that bizarre hole you see on some cheaper pen shows.

The anti-glare is, once more, pretty for every day use. There have been no cases of annoying glare, even in an workplace that bathes in daylight. Not as soon as.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation — The entrance of the pill

One other high quality of life characteristic is that there aren’t any followers. There may be zero fan noise with the Pen Show 24, which will definitely assist customers keep concentrated with out the droning.

It’s value noting that the Pen Show 24 is just not a contact display screen. I do know a number of artists who love contact display screen pinch, zoom, and rotate options so know this isn’t one thing the Pen Show 24 affords.

This isn’t a deal breaker for me on this occasion, as I don’t like contact display screen options on my pen shows. I at all times disable them after I can, and at that time, I really feel like I’m paying additional for a characteristic I’ll by no means use.

Xencelabs gives two battery-free EMR pens with the Pen Show 24.

The primary is a chunky 3-button pen that may be a acquainted pal should you use Wacom, Huion, or different pen shows. It’s a hefty pen that feels good in your hand and affords an eraser tip possibility with a large, tactile grip.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation – The pens

I choose this pen over the slim fashion, as I discover that I don’t have to grip the pen for pricey life and speed up hand fatigue over prolonged every day use.

The second pen is a slim mannequin that looks like an Apple Pencil in measurement, form, and weight. It’s extra elegant and higher total for smaller arms with every day use.

It’s lighter than the opposite pen, nevertheless it nonetheless feels sturdy.

The upside is that each pens and their buttons could be totally personalized individually. This implies every pen can serve completely different functions for various makes use of with no need to globally reconfigure the pens within the driver.

Think about utilizing the big pen for “massive work” and the smaller pen for calligraphy or element work. Once more, it’s all about customization and providing a spread of choices for the consumer.

Each pens ship 8,192 completely different strain ranges with a decision of 5,080 lpi and can be utilized with a 60-degree tilt in any path. This sensitivity is a large deal, with different manufacturers exterior of Wacom sometimes missing a clean, responsive really feel when drawing.

Xencelabs is the primary to step as much as the road and ship a drawing expertise, vary of movement, and driver that matches Wacom in each manner.

The Fast Keys Controller is an excellent wi-fi instrument that has the potential so as to add pace and adaptability to your workflow on the Pen Show 24.

The Controller affords up eight customizable buttons that may be assigned and organized into 5 distinct units of shortcuts, instructions, and choices for a variety of software program companions, comparable to Adobe and Foundry. A big dial on the Controller provides extra customization choices and permits the consumer to change between configurations.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluation — Fast Keys panel

All of that is tracked with a vivid LED show that labels the buttons’ capabilities for every set. It’s all seamless and adjusted within the Xencelabs driver.

The Fast Keys Controller is a good suggestion, and with prolonged use, I’d discover my very own methods to place it into most impact.

Fast Keys mounted to the Xencelabs Pen Show 24

As somebody who makes use of key instructions and shortcuts with years of muscle reminiscence, the effectiveness of the Controller is just not required in my workflow. However, I might see it being invaluable for somebody not accustomed to such shortcuts and on the lookout for fast, one-click choices.

The Fast Key Controller attaches to the Pen Show 24 through a clip-on holder that may be mounted horizontally and vertically in one among six positions across the fringe of the pen show. That is excellent for each proper and left-handed customers.

I will minimize to the final web page with my working expertise: I actually love the Pen Show 24.

From day one, this pen show has delivered and exceeded in each metric I’ve for what makes a bit of {hardware} like this nice.

For years, I’ve lamented that we’d like somebody within the trade to step up to speed made my Wacom and change into a real contender for the throne. For my part, not solely did Xencelabs step up, nevertheless it additionally exhibits everybody what is feasible with bigger pen shows in a manner that exceeds Wacom.

I created a bit of commissioned paintings because the maiden voyage for the Pen Show 24, and the complete expertise was clean from begin to end.

A commissioned piece of artwork made with the Xencelabs Pen Show 24 [Brian Patterson]

Being a veteran with pen shows, it didn’t take lengthy to discover a new groove. From sketch to accomplished piece, I used to be overjoyed with the sleek dealing with, sharpness of the 4k show, and the texture of the pen.

Every little thing concerning the Pen Show 24 looks like Xencelabs seemed on the trade and a number of other of the pen shows available on the market and requested itself what could be improved. It then simply went out and made modifications with out muddying the waters or shedding sight of the aim with a bevy of ineffective options or gimmicks.

From the construct high quality to the display screen, to the pens, the driving force, and the total vary of customization choices, all of it simply feels just like the type of pen pill that belongs in each hobbyist {and professional} environments.

The Pen Show 24 from the Xencelabs is wonderful, and is a brand new gold normal for pen shows. Nonetheless, it’s removed from an informal buy at $1,899.

It’s not what anybody would name “cheap” by any means, as it’s a severe piece of {hardware} that needs to be taken critically. This worth level implies that it isn’t an informal buy for many hobbyists and part-time illustrators.

The closest comparable pill available on the market as of this writing is Wacom’s Cintiq Professional 24, which is on the market within the Wacom on-line retailer for $2,199. There’s additionally and Huion’s Kamvas Professional 24, offered within the Huion on-line retailer for $1,179.

So, this implies Xencelabs’ effort is cheaper {that a} vastly underwhelming providing from Wacom, but costlier than pen show that will get is 75% proper for my part.

That stated, the Pen Show 24 from the Xencelabs is unquestionably definitely worth the extra funding.

In case you are ready the place you’re able to make the step up from iPad workspaces or smaller non-display tablets to a full pen show workspace, the Pen Show 24 from Xencelabs is one thing that may wholeheartedly be really helpful, based mostly on the general worth, high quality, and a staggeringly good expertise.

{Hardware} like that is an funding of money and time, so that you want a pill that won’t solely meet these wants however exceed them. The Pen Show 24 from the Xencelabs does that.

Xencelabs is relatively new on the scene in comparison with different firms available in the market, and if that is the place it’s now, elevating the bar, will probably be thrilling to see what the corporate does within the years to return.

• Straightforward setup and driver set up
• Unbelievable display screen show and enormous workspace
• Sharp and responsive traces
• Intensive customization choices

• Not a “low cost” possibility for a big pill (see under)
• Utilizing the VESA mount for variant stand/arm choices may very well be expensive.