What To Know
- The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium boasts a sleek and minimalist design, featuring a black plastic body with a soft-touch finish.
- The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium is typically priced in the mid-range segment, offering a good balance of features and value.
- The XP-Pen Star G960 offers a more affordable price point, but the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium provides a more premium experience and better software support, justifying its slightly higher price.
Choosing the right drawing tablet can be a daunting task, especially when faced with a plethora of options. Two popular contenders in the mid-range category are the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium and the XP-Pen Star G960. Both offer compelling features and affordability, but which one comes out on top? This comprehensive comparison will delve into the key aspects of each tablet, helping you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and preferences.
Design and Build Quality
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium boasts a sleek and minimalist design, featuring a black plastic body with a soft-touch finish. Its compact size and lightweight construction make it easy to transport and set up. The tablet’s surface is textured, providing a comfortable drawing experience.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 adopts a more traditional design with a black plastic frame and a smooth, glossy surface. It’s slightly larger and heavier than the Intuos Medium, but still remains portable. The tablet’s surface offers a slightly less textured feel compared to the Wacom.
Verdict: Both tablets offer solid build quality, but the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium edges out with its more premium design and comfortable textured surface.
Active Area and Resolution
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium features a 9.7″ x 6.5″ active area, providing ample space for drawing and sketching. It offers a resolution of 4000 LPI (lines per inch), ensuring precise and detailed strokes.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 boasts a slightly larger active area of 10.6″ x 6.25″, offering more real estate for creative work. However, it has a lower resolution of 2540 LPI, which might result in less precise strokes compared to the Wacom.
Verdict: The XP-Pen Star G960 wins this round with its larger active area, but the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium’s higher resolution might be a deciding factor for users who prioritize precision.
Pen and Pressure Sensitivity
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium comes bundled with a pressure-sensitive pen that offers 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. This allows for a wide range of line thickness and brush strokes, creating natural and expressive artwork. The pen also features side buttons for customizable shortcuts.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 also includes a pressure-sensitive pen with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. While this is slightly higher than the Wacom, the difference might not be noticeable for most users. The pen features two side buttons for customization.
Verdict: Both tablets offer excellent pressure sensitivity, with the XP-Pen Star G960 having a slight edge. However, the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium‘s pen is generally considered to be more comfortable and responsive.
Connectivity and Compatibility
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium offers both Bluetooth and USB connectivity, providing flexibility for different setups. It’s compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems, as well as select Android devices.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 relies solely on USB connectivity, which might be limiting for users who prefer wireless solutions. It’s compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems.
Verdict: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium takes the lead with its Bluetooth connectivity and wider compatibility across platforms.
Software and Drivers
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium comes with Wacom’s intuitive software, which offers a range of features for customizing pen settings, creating custom shortcuts, and accessing online tutorials.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 uses XP-Pen’s driver software, which provides basic pen customization and driver updates. The software is functional but lacks the depth and user-friendliness of Wacom’s offering.
Verdict: Wacom’s software suite offers a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience, making the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium the winner in this category.
Price and Value
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium: The Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium is typically priced in the mid-range segment, offering a good balance of features and value.
XP-Pen Star G960: The XP-Pen Star G960 is often priced slightly lower than the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium, making it a more budget-friendly option.
Verdict: The XP-Pen Star G960 offers a more affordable price point, but the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium provides a more premium experience and better software support, justifying its slightly higher price.
The Final Verdict: Choosing the Right Tablet for You
Both the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium and the XP-Pen Star G960 are excellent drawing tablets that cater to different needs and budgets.
Choose the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium if:
- You prioritize design and build quality.
- You prefer a textured drawing surface.
- You need Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with Android devices.
- You value Wacom’s software and driver support.
Choose the XP-Pen Star G960 if:
- You’re on a tighter budget.
- You need a larger active area.
- You prefer a smooth drawing surface.
- You don’t require Bluetooth connectivity.
Ultimately, the best drawing tablet for you will depend on your individual preferences and requirements. Consider your budget, the type of creative work you do, and the features that are most important to you.
Beyond the Verdict: Additional Considerations
While this comparison has focused on the core features of each tablet, there are other factors to consider when making your final decision:
- Brand Reputation: Wacom has a long-standing reputation for quality and innovation in the drawing tablet market. XP-Pen is a newer brand that has gained popularity for its affordable offerings.
- Pen Nibs and Accessories: Both tablets come with a standard set of pen nibs. However, Wacom offers a wider range of replacement nibs and accessories, providing more customization options.
- Customer Support: Wacom is known for its excellent customer support, while XP-Pen’s support can be more inconsistent.
Popular Questions
Q: Can I use the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium with my iPad?
A: While the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium is compatible with some Android devices, it’s not directly compatible with iPads. You’ll need a specific iPad-compatible Wacom tablet for that purpose.
Q: Does the XP-Pen Star G960 have tilt sensitivity?
A: Yes, the XP-Pen Star G960’s pen features tilt sensitivity, allowing you to create more nuanced brush strokes and effects.
Q: Which tablet is better for beginners?
A: Both tablets are suitable for beginners. However, the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium‘s user-friendly software and comprehensive driver support might make it a slightly better choice for those new to drawing tablets.
Q: Is the Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Medium worth the extra cost compared to the XP-Pen Star G960?
A: The answer depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you value design, build quality, Bluetooth connectivity, and Wacom’s software support, the extra cost might be justified. However, if you’re on a tight budget and don’t require those features, the XP-Pen Star G960 offers a compelling alternative.