Comparison Wacom Cintiq Pro 32 vs XP-PEN Artist 12

The exact size of the active area of a tablet (or screen in a graphic display) in width and height. In general, it is more of a reference than a practically significant parameter: when choosing a traditional graphics tablet, there is often enough information about the format (see above), and for displays, primarily the diagonal (see above) and aspect ratio (see below) are of practical importance . However, the exact dimensions can also be useful in fact: for example, you can determine the aspect ratio from them (for classic tablets, this parameter is often not indicated).

Diagonal of the working area — the screen itself — in a graphic display (see "Type").

In general, the larger the diagonal, the more convenient the device is to use: a large working area covers a large area for drawing and at the same time allows you to work effectively with small details. On the other hand, this parameter directly affects the price, and the dimensions cannot be discounted: in some cases, there may simply be no room for a large device.

By the standards of graphic displays, 13.3" or less is considered small, 15.6" is considered medium, and many models have larger screens. And it is customary to evaluate the size of traditional tablets by the format, and not by the diagonal.

The number of control keys provided in the design of the tablet.

Each of these keys is responsible for a specific function, while the set of these functions can be configured: in some models they can be selected manually, in others the functionality of the keys changes automatically, depending on the currently active application. Anyway, additional keys allow the user to perform various actions without looking up from the tablet — this can be very convenient in the midst of the work process, when you don’t want to change the pen to the mouse again or reach for the keyboard. And the more control keys — so, respectively, more additional actions can be performed using the tablet. On the other hand, with relatively simple tasks, the abundance of additional buttons can hinder and confuse the user rather than help.

The most modest modern tablets provide up to 5 control keys ; the most popular option is from 6 to 10 keys, and in advanced models this number can reach 15 or even more.

A touch-sensitive surface, usually located along one of the edges of the front panel of the tablet case. The touch strip provides additional controls such as scrolling, zooming, canvas rotation, and other gestures that can be customized to perform different tasks. Thus, the strip can often be reprogrammed for certain actions, be it quickly switching between tools in a graphic editor or changing brush parameters.

The presence of a slot for memory cards in the design of the tablet.

This function allows the device to work with removable media — actually memory cards; but the specific format of such work may be different, depending on the model. The most popular option is to use the tablet as an external drive: you can store working materials (projects, sketches, sketches, finished drawings) on a memory card and have access to them regardless of which computer the device is connected to. Such features will be especially useful for those who often have to move from place to place — for example, students who work both in the classroom and at home. At the same time, a memory card makes it easy to transfer data to tablet PCs, laptops and other devices that support such media (although in some cases an adapter may be required for this).

The presence in the kit of a special stand that allows you to change the height of the installation and/or the angle of inclination of the installed tablet. Such a stand makes using the device more convenient: it can be raised above a tabletop that is too low, set at an angle that is most comfortable for the hand, etc.

- HDMI. A digital video interface found in graphic displays and computers (see Type). Models with an HDMI port are capable of receiving and transmitting video signals to devices connected via an appropriate cable. Moreover, HDMI supports the transmission of digital signals without loss of quality, providing a high-quality picture (and, if necessary, sound). To connect via HDMI, various options can be used, including the use of adapters for USB type C or miniHDMI connectors.

- DisplayPort. A digital interface similar in connection capabilities to HDMI (see above). It supports high-definition video (1080p and above) along with multi-channel audio. Such interfaces are rare in graphics tablets - they remain the prerogative of a small number of advanced professional-class models.

- DVI. Digital input for connecting a video signal from a computer. Found exclusively in graphic displays (see "Type"). Note that DVI outputs are often provided in desktop PCs, but are practically not found in laptops; on the other hand, a tablet with such an input can be connected to a laptop HDMI video output using a simple adapter.

- VGA. Aka 15-pin D-Sub. Another video interface found in graphic displays. It uses an analog signal format and is poorly compatible with resolutions higher than 1280x1024, which is why it is considered ob...solete and is usually provided in modern graphic displays as a “backup” option, in addition to the digital DVI described above.

The number of horizontal and vertical pixels from which an image is formed on the graphic display screen (see “Type”). Higher resolution results in sharper, more detailed images for precise graphics work. However, high resolution affects the cost of the graphics display.

As for specific resolutions, models with Full HD screens predominate in wide use. Less common are models with 2K or even 4K displays.

The contrast of the screen set in the graphic display (see "Type").

This setting describes the brightness ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen is capable of reproducing. The larger the first number, the higher the contrast and the better the image as a whole. However note that the contrast ratio of modern graphic displays usually ranges from 400:1 to 3000:1 — this is generally noticeably lower than that of computer monitors, especially professional ones. So the final control of the result is still best done on the monitor. On the other hand, if you are going to work professionally with graphics on a tablet display, it makes sense to look for a model with high contrast.