Cintiq Alternatives: Exploring Beyond Wacom’s Options

The Wacom Cintiq is one of the most popular drawing tablets around. It’s highly sought after due to its powerful features and excellent sensitivity. 

You can create incredible artwork, illustrations, and animations with Cintiq. But it’s also costly.

But Wacom drawing tablets are not the only options out there! There are some great tablets like Cintiq on the market. You need to know what to look for! 

So, read on to discover the best Cintiq alternative for you! Plus, I’ll walk you through the features you need to look out for when shopping around.

What exactly is the Wacom Cintiq Drawing Tablet?

You might be wondering what’s so special about the Wacom Cintiq. So, here’s a summary for you!

The Wacom Cintiq is a superb drawing tablet that comes with 8,192 pressure levels. It’s extremely sensitive and also has tilt recognition. 

This factor makes it easy to create intricate details and lighter or heavier shading. You can produce spectacular results and advanced illustrations with this tablet.

The Cintiq screen measures 15.6 inches, giving you a large space to work on. The HD display is crystal clear, so your artwork looks fantastic.

With 16.7 million colors, your designs are bright, vivid, and true to life. You can draw on the screen for a simple user experience.

The pen feels smooth, well-balanced, and easy to control. Another bonus is that you don’t need to charge the pen. So, you can sketch and draw for as long as you like.

Wacom Cintiq Alternative Buying Guide

Now that I’ve introduced the Wacom Cintiq, you know what makes it so popular. But it’s hard to ignore that hefty price tag. If the Wacom Cintiq’s not in your budget right now, don’t worry. There are some great alternatives from Wacom competitors out there.

To help you choose the best Cintiq alternative, you must know what features to look out for. So, here’s your guide to selecting a cheap Cintiq alternative! 

I’ll go over the factors that make the Cintiq drawing tablet such a great product. Plus, what you should look out for to ensure you get the best Wacom alternative.

Screen Quality

The screen is one of the most critical factors when choosing a drawing tablet. You’ll need to compare the resolution and size of the screen. 

The best Cintiq alternative should have an HD display with at least 1920 x 1080 pixels. With these specs, you’ll know that your illustrations will look incredible.

Don’t forget to double-check the color quality. That refers to both the accuracy and range of the colors. In comparison, the Wacom Cintiq has 16.7 million colors and 97% RGB coverage.

Tilt Sensitivity

Tilt sensitivity is another essential feature. This means that the tablet can recognize the angle of the pen as you draw. It will take this into account and create a thinner or broader line. 

You can also shade more effectively with tilt recognition. It will feel like you’re drawing with pencil and paper for a realistic and nuanced effect.

Connectivity

The best drawing tablets offer WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. This feature allows you more flexibility in where you draw and reduces the clutter of wires.

Excellent Customer Support 

One reason that Wacom is so popular is that it offers exceptional customer service. Before you buy an alternative, you should look into how you can get support for your device.

Does the company have a customer hotline you can ring for help? Or is there an online forum where you can ask questions?

Accessing support can improve your experience with your new drawing tablet. 

You should also check whether the product has a warranty and for how long. You want to be covered if something goes wrong, so you’re not left out of pocket.

5 Best Wacom Cintiq Alternatives

HUION KAMVAS 22

AlterHuion Kamvas 22

(Images credit: Huion)

The Huion Kamvas 22 is an excellent alternative to the Wacom Cintiq. With 8192 pressure levels, it matches the Cintiq. 

But it also has a generous screen size of 22 inches compared to the Cintiq’s 16 inches. So, you get more space to draw and display your creations.

The pen and screen are very responsive for a smooth user experience. It also offers tilt sensitivity, accuracy, and no lagging.

The Kamvas has USB-C and USB-A ports but no WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity. While it’s easy to connect to your laptop and other devices, it’s not clutter-free.

The color range is impressive, with a 120% RGB gamut, so your artwork will look incredible. Plus, the 178-degree viewing angle shows off your work at its best, from all directions.

The anti-glare screen and vivid colors make this tablet a fantastic tool for any artist. 

Pros:

  • Generous screen size and excellent color range for outstanding results
  • The pen is very sensitive and has tilt recognition

Cons:

  • It’s not the cheapest Cintiq alternative

Check price on


XP-PEN Artist 22PRO

XP-PEN Artist 22PRO

(Images credit: X-pen)

XP-Pen is another well-known brand of a drawing tablets. The XP-Pen Artist Pro is a powerful tablet designed with artists in mind. 

You’ll love this tablet no matter what type of digital art you create. The specs are impressive! It comes with 8192 pressure levels and a 1080-pixel HD screen. 

You can run all your favorite design apps like Photoshop with ease. The express keys are handy tools for any busy artist, saving you time for a customizable workflow.

The screen provides incredible clarity and precision. Every detail is clear and easy to see. With a wide viewing angle, you can display your designs at their best.

The Artist Pro also has an adjustable stand. This feature allows you to find a comfortable position to draw, so you can keep going for longer.

The only thing missing is Wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You’ll need to connect this tablet to your computer with HDMI and USB cables. But that’s just a small drawback.

Overall, the XP-Pen Artist Pro is an excellent tablet for any artist, amateur, or pro.

Pros:

  • An excellent alternative to the Wacom Cintiq
  • Powerful and advanced, with great accuracy and screen resolution

Cons:

  • It doesn’t connect to your laptop via WiFi

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GAOMON PD1560

GAOMON PD1560

(Images credit: Gaomon)

This 15.6-inch drawing tablet from GAOMON is also worth considering. It’s quite a bit cheaper than the Cintiq but offers many of the same features.

You can use this tablet for graphic design, illustration, animation, sketching, and more. It comes with a digital pen and finger gloves, giving you more options for using it.

The specs don’t disappoint. The screen has a 1920 x 1080 HD display and a 178-degree viewing angle. 

With 8,192 levels of sensitivity, you have excellent control over your work. You can create gradient and sketching effects with ease.

This tablet has ten express keys you can program to work however you like. This feature makes the user experience seamless and intuitive.

You will need to charge the pen occasionally. But once fully charged, it’s good to go for 350 hours of drawing. That’s impressive battery life!

Pros:

  • Fantastic sensitivity and a crisp, HD screen
  • Programmable express keys make this tablet easier to use

Cons:

  • The pen needs to be charged from time to time

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Huion KAMVAS Pro 12

Huion KAMVAS Pro 12

(Images credit: Huion)

I’ve already reviewed the Kambas Pro 22 above, but you might be looking for a smaller model. When it comes to comparing Cintiq vs Huion, it’s a tight competition!

The Kamvas Pro 12 is lightweight and portable, making it perfect for sketching on the go.

It’s also more affordable, so it’s perfect if you have a smaller budget. 

This tablet would be perfect for a graphic design or art student. It would also suit anyone just getting started with digital art!

You get all the features you’d expect from a respected brand like Huion. It comes with a battery-free pen that has excellent tilt sensitivity. 

While the screen is smaller, it lacks nothing else. The display has a 120% RGB gamut for vivid, precise colors. With 16.7 million colors, there are no barriers to what you can create.

The stylus travels smoothly over the fully laminated glass. With the anti-glare effect, you can use it anywhere, inside or out. 

Its compact size makes the Kamvas Pro 12 the ideal tablet for use on the go.

It’s a great little tablet with impressive capabilities. Don’t be fooled by the size or price – it won’t disappoint!

Pros:

  • A superb tablet
  • Vivid, accurate colors and an HD display

Cons:

  • You might feel limited by the smaller screen

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Simbans PicassoTab 10 Inch

Simbans PicassoTab 10 Inch

(Images credit: Simbans)

If you’re looking for a cheap Cintiq alternative, check out the Simbans PicassoTab! At 10 inches, it’s smaller than the Cintiq. But it’s much more affordable and fantastic for anyone on a budget.

This tablet comes with everything you need. A digital pen, drawing glove, and charger are included. You even get a free tablet case and screen protector for durability.

The HD display ensures that your designs are crisp and sharp. And with 32GB of memory, you can download apps or save as many images as you like.

You can hook the PicassoTab up to your WiFi for easy connectivity.

The PicassoTab is more suited to amateurs, students, and beginner artists. It’s perfect for kids and teens just starting with digital art or animation.

You get a great range of features with fab value for money. So if you’re on a tighter budget, snap up the PicassoTab now! 

Pros:

  • Superb value for money
  • Accurate HD display

Cons:

  • Not as powerful as some tablets on this list – better suited to amateurs than pros

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XP Pen Artist 13.3 Pro

(Images credit: Simbans)

The XP Pen Artist 13.3 Pro is a great drawing tablet for beginner and professional artists. It’s easy to set up and compatible with both Mac and Windows computers.

The specs are impressive, and it’s fast and responsive. 

But most importantly, the screen is high quality and feels nice to draw on. It’s smooth but provides just enough friction to provide feedback as you work.

The XP Pen offers advanced features like tilt recognition and 8,192 pressure levels. So, you can make your drawings as detailed and intricate as you like. 

It’s possible to create beautiful drawings and perfect your shading with this tablet. It provides all the tools and controls you need to achieve your best work.

As for colors, they look vibrant and realistic. It’s not quite as vivid or true-to-life as the most expensive models. But the 88% color gamut is enough for most artists.

When you install the XP Pen, you might need to uninstall graphic design drivers first. That can be a bit time-consuming, but you only need to do it once. Then, you’re good to go. 

Overall, the XP Pen is an excellent pen display screen that offers great value for money. 

Pros:

  • Fantastic sensitivity with 8192 pressure levels
  • Advanced features like tilt recognition set it apart from cheaper models

Cons:

  • It’s not a standalone tablet, so you can’t use it on the go.

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The Wrap Up

While the Wacom Cintiq is an excellent drawing tablet, it’s not right for everyone. So if you need a cheap Cintiq alternative, grab one of my recommended products.

These drawing tablets are ideal for any kind of digital art. They combine the essential features at attractive prices.

There’s something for everyone on this list. So, take your pick and click the link to buy today. You’ll love getting creative on your new drawing tablet.

If you enjoyed this guide to the alternatives to Wacom Cintiq, make sure to share it. Let me know in the comments which one is the best Cintiq alternative, in your opinion.

And before you go, sign up for the Proactive Creative newsletter. I’ll keep you updated with more creative resources like this article! 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Proactive Creative may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Author

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.


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