XP-PEN Deco Pro review
At the beginning of January I received the opportunity to try XP-PEN’s new Deco Pro tablet. Here’s a review of some of my thoughts!
Being someone who works exclusively in digital media having a reliable piece of equipment is invaluable, and I have to say I’m really impressed. It has proved to be unique in its design but never sacrificed any utility. From XP-PEN I received:
The Deco Pro small tablet itself
the pen
a glove
a cable
two phone adapters
extra pen nibs
a pen case
some useful guides on set up and use.
The set up for the tablet was quick and easy, no hassle, which is always a plus with new pieces of tech. That allowed me to jump straight into trying it out by drawing the piece I have below. The wheel on the edge of the tablet that they’ve created to be a zoom in feature, trackpad, and even shortcut navigator was great! It was easy to learn and definitely helped me improve my work flow in a way that I felt more focused on what I was drawing and spent less time jumping around between different things just to access whatever I needed.
Another feature of the wheel that I really enjoyed is that the edge of the inner ring glows, making it easier to use in dim areas. This really came in handy. I tend to draw for extended periods and plenty of times I’ve found myself sitting suddenly in the dark trying to find things.
Another point of interest for me with the Deco Pro is that you can use the tablet on your phone if you have a drawing app. I tried it out for myself, taking a break from sitting at my desk, and it was really convenient. The ability to use the tablet without needing my whole setup was a nice change and it could be really useful for someone who finds themselves drawing a lot away from home.
Overall I would highly recommend XP-PEN’s Deco pro tablet. Professionally, I use screen tablets and haven’t used a flat tablet in a long time but I didn’t feel impacted by the change. It was easy to use and navigate and I think it’s a great option for new and more experienced artists alike. It’s also worth mentioning that this isn’t a tablet that is going to cost you an arm and a leg. It’s affordable but still great quality. The cable being a USB instead of something tailor made also just lends itself to the tablet being user friendly. If you’re in the market for a new tablet I’d recommend you give these guys a try to. They make good equipment that isn’t intimidating to use and definitely gets the job done.
