Xencelabs Pen Display 24 review: specs, performance, cost

Xencelabs Pen Show 24

Should you’ve been following together with graphics pill evaluations or the previous few years, you already know a number of pen show tablets have been taken out for intensive check drives in my day-to-day work. Whereas being variety right here, they have been checks 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 little thing simply appears to overlook the usual of excellence set by earlier Wacom Cintiq fashions. Corporations have been across the edges of greatness, however none of them appeared to stay the touchdown.

That is mentioned by way of a long-term, first-hand expertise. For practically twenty years, I’ve labored on a choice of Wacom Cintiq tablets.

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

So, once 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 mentioned from a spot of expertise and joyful shock. The corporate’s identify is Xencelabs, and the show is the Pen Show 24 from their Studio Collection.

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

The Mac used on this evaluate 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 by way of eGPU. This Mac Mini is my on a regular basis machine and handles each undertaking with no points in any respect.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluate: Contained in the field

The Pen Show 24 arrived from the seller in unbelievable situation, because of using foam inserts, directions, and an ESD static lowering bag for safe transport. It’s the full package, and in case you take into account 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 Material.

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.4 x 15.3 x 1.4 inches
• Lively 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 Ft)
• Safety: Kensington MicroSaver 2.0 (Lock not included)
• Displayable colours (Most): 1.07 billion colours
• Shade 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 expertise: 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 features
• Instructions: 4 instructions (0 levels / 90 levels / 180 levels / 360 levels); textual content symbols may 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 may 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 in the marketplace.

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 in regards to the Pen Show 24 feels low cost. Not a single part feels prefer it would possibly disintegrate in your palms or break taking the unintentional onerous shot within the day-to-day lifetime of day by day use.

This isn’t to say it’s okay to throw this pen show round like an iPad or take into account 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.

Establishing the Pen Show 24 was extremely straightforward. It took minutes to unbox all of the elements, open the hooked up 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 brightness, and pen pressures, and really shortly I used to be drawing. Your entire preliminary course of took about fifteen minutes.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluate — 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 presents the deepest stage of customization for the pen show I’ve ever seen.

For instance, adjusting the brightness and distinction of the show display is dealt with by way of the motive force. Not with awkward menu buttons on the pill.

Shade profiles are equally dealt with within the driver. A deep stage of tilt and strain micro-adjustments to fulfill your wants? Within the driver, and one of the best I’ve ever seen.

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

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

That is among the key phrases for this pen show: customization.

From the motive force to the Fast Keys Controller, to the stylus pens, every little thing in regards to 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 may be eliminated, and the Pen Show 24 consists of VESA mount choices as nicely, for bigger stands, swing arms, and monitor mounts.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluate: stand

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

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

This is perhaps unusual, and it might be my older eyes accustomed to the 22HD pen show, however I had to enter the motive force and scale back the brightness of the show a bit. It is a good factor as I might all the time favor to have an excessive amount of reasonably than not sufficient, and in case you are somebody who loves a vibrant show, this delivers with room to spare.

The display 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 day by 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 evaluate — The entrance of the pill

One other high quality of life function is that there are not any followers. There’s 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 isn’t a contact display. I do know a number of artists who love contact display pinch, zoom, and rotate options so know this isn’t one thing the Pen Show 24 presents.

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

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

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

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluate – The pens

I favor 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 day by day use.

The second pen is a slim mannequin that appears like an Apple Pencil in measurement, form, and weight. It’s extra elegant and higher general for smaller palms with day by day use.

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

The upside is that each pens and their buttons may be absolutely personalized individually. This implies every pen can serve completely different functions for various makes use of while not having 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 route. This sensitivity is a large deal, with different manufacturers exterior of Wacom sometimes missing a easy, 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 approach.

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 presents 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, resembling Adobe and Foundry. A big dial on the Controller provides extra customization choices and permits the consumer to modify between configurations.

Xencelabs Pen Show 24 evaluate — Fast Keys panel

All of that is tracked with a vibrant LED show that labels the buttons’ features 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 might 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 isn’t required in my workflow. However, I might see it being invaluable for somebody not accustomed to such shortcuts and searching for fast, one-click choices.

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

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

From day one, this pen show has delivered and exceeded in each metric I’ve for what makes a chunk 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 develop into a real contender for the throne. In my view, not solely did Xencelabs step up, however it additionally reveals everybody what is feasible with bigger pen shows in a approach that exceeds Wacom.

I created a chunk of commissioned art work because the maiden voyage for the Pen Show 24, and your entire expertise was easy 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.

The whole lot in regards to the Pen Show 24 appears like Xencelabs appeared on the trade and several other of the pen shows in the marketplace and requested itself what may be improved. It then simply went out and made adjustments 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, to the pens, the motive force, and the complete vary of customization choices, all of it simply feels just like the form 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 customary for pen shows. Nevertheless, 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 severely. This value level implies that it isn’t an informal buy for many hobbyists and part-time illustrators.

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

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

That mentioned, the Pen Show 24 from the Xencelabs is certainly well worth the further funding.

In case you are able the place you might be 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 value, 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 corporations 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 show and huge workspace
• Sharp and responsive strains
• In depth customization choices

• Not a “low cost” choice for a big pill (see under)
• Utilizing the VESA mount for variant stand/arm choices might be dear.