Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Review: A Compact Masterpiece of Digital Art

Using a Xencelabs 16 pen display

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Xencelabs 16 pen display

4.5/5 Buy at Xencelabs

Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is a great Wacom alternative for digital artists who want to level up their craft on the Mac.

In 2024, artists will work in more spaces and modes than ever before. From home offices to schools, shared workspaces, libraries and coffee shops, the need for the pen display industry is simple: portability.

In recent years, companies like Apple and Wacom have worked to fill this need with offerings like the Apple Pencil and Wacom Cintiq Pro 16.

As with any industry, There will be newcomers who approach the matter from a new angle. Use clarity by listening to your audience first rather than relying on gimmicks or shortcuts.

Xencelabs is a company taking big steps forward with its incredible Pen Display 24. Its new Pen Display 16 is a viable option for artists on the go or those who need a dedicated pen display that's cheaper than special. desktop display.

Xencelabs pen display 16 reviews – Two options

As of this writing, I'm using a 2022 Mac Studio with an Apple M1 Max chip, 32GB unified memory, and a 512GB SSD. This Mac Studio is my everyday machine and handles all my projects without issue.

This doesn't mean you need the power of a Mac Studio for the Xencelabs Pen Display 16. I just came out of an Intel Mac mini and it performed well too.

Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Box

With the release of the Pen Display 16, Xencelabs offers customers two purchasing options – — Includes Pen Display 16 and Pen Display 16 Essentials.

The Pen Display 16 comes with a lot of features, including the Pen Display 16 and a variety of accessories. The kit includes a mobile easel, two pens, multiple cable options, a hub driver, Xencelabs Quick Keys, a carrying case, a pencil case, extra nibs, and a painting glove.

The kit includes everything associated with the Pen Display 16. It is designed for customers who are either mobile or require HDMI and alternative data connection options in the workplace.

Some Xencelabs Pen Display 16 accessories in the box

Pen Display 16 Essentials simplifies the overall package. The package includes a 16 pen display, two pens, a pen case, one USB-C to USB-C cable, a carrying case, and a drawing glove.

This option is less expensive and is intended for customers who do not plan to move frequently with the Pen Display 16. All the missing items in this option compared to the Pen Display 16 kit can be purchased similarly to the card from the Xencelabs online store.

Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Review — Specifications

Dimensions (W x H x D): 16.25 x 10.25 x 0.47 inches.
Active area size: 13.5 x 7 .75 inches.
Display resolution: 4K OLED.
Weight: 2.67 lbs.
Displayable colors (maximum): 1.07 billion colors.
Color Gamut Coverage: Five factory calibrated color spaces: Adobe RGB (98%), P3-DCS (98%), sRGB (99%), Rec 2020 and Rec 709.
Knobs: 3- Button Pen v2 + Eraser/Fine Pen v2 + Eraser
Pen technology: EMR
Pen pressure levels: 8192 levels (fine-tuned pressure curve)
Pen tilt angle: 60 degrees.
Pen resolution: 5080 lpi.
Pen type: pressure sensitive, cordless, battery free.
Shortcut key dimensions (W x H x D): 6.2 x 2.46 x 0.47 inches.
Shortcut key weight: 142g
Shortcut key display: 3.12-inch OLED display; Clearly displays the key functions.
Shortcut key directions: 4 directions (0 degrees/90 degrees/180 degrees/360 degrees); text characters can be read horizontally or vertically.
Battery life of shortcut keys: 25-53 hours (charging time 1.5 hours).
Control using quick keys: Custom buttons: 8 in a set. There can be 5 sets, giving a total of 40 shortcut keys. Quad-mode switch

In terms of ports, the Pen Display 16 offers one USB-C port on the top of the tablet. To use HDMI or external power and data options, you will also need a Xencelabs hub driver to route cables and options to suit your specific needs.

Xencelabs pen display 16 Reviews – Build Quality

Upon unboxing the Pen Display 16, I was completely taken aback by how lightweight this device is. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but the display is lightweight and durable.

If you read the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 review, you'll realize that what I was praising is that the Xencelabs hardware doesn't feel cheap or second-rate. The same can be said about Pen Display 16.

The edge-to-edge glass is beautiful and the device is thin. It also seems like it could be quite durable.

Side view of the Xencelabs 16 pen display

Even though it has not been tested, it appears that it could be bumped or dropped onto a table or carpet , and it doesn’t immediately feel like I ruined it.

Again, consistent design and application with an emphasis on quality.

Review of Xencelabs Pen Display 16 — Setup

Let me say it right at the top — Never in my life have I had an easier experience setting up a new peripheral.

I've unpacked, installed and configured a lot of hardware in my 20+ year career and this is by far the easiest way. This includes setting up the pen display 24.

For my Mac Studio and workspace, I unpacked the pen display, mobile easel, pencil case, pens, and included USB-C cable. After placing the display on the easel, connecting the USB-C cable, and turning it on, everything was in place, visible, and ready to go.

The Xencelabs proprietary driver was already installed for my 24 pen display. If it was not installed, the installation instructions contain links and QR codes that will take you to the instructions and drivers you will need for Windows. MacOS or Linux.

Driver interface for the Xencelabs 16 pen display Driver interface for the Xencelabs 16 pen display

Using the driver, I was able to calibrate everything for the pen button, the display itself, the pen pressure , color profiles, etc.

The whole process from unboxing to operation took a few minutes and you will have to adjust to find your own comfort zone. But the driver makes it simple and intuitive.

I would like to use the same pen for the 24 pen display and 16 pen display at the same time. Especially in those moments when I can use the Pen Display 16 as a second screen.

This is a small and very specific request, but, as is the case with the hardware, there are separate handles for each type of device.

Xencelabs Pen review Display 16 — When in use

First of all, there is no fan noise. This is very important for users as it helps maintain a pleasant working environment.

One of the main themes for Xencelabs and this new display is the 4K OLED screen. Emphasis is placed on vibrant colors and more realistic and/or accurate rendering of lines and patterns on screen.

Xencelabs expressed these theses. The screen is gorgeous, bright, clear, and the edge-to-edge anti-glare surface is very easy on the eyes.

By simulating a public workspace in my office by turning on all the lights, the Pen Display 16 still works, and works very, very well.

There was very little glare during testing, and if you place this display in an ideal space with indirect lighting, it will perform excellent. The colors and quality of detail are stunning for a 16-inch tablet.

Xencelabs offers two battery-free EMR pens with a 16 pen display — A more massive model with 3 buttons and a thin model in the style of Apple Pencil. If you've used Wacom or Xencelabs products, you're familiar with these types of pens.

The pens included with the Xencelabs 16 pen display

Both pens are fully customizable using the Xencelabs driver. It's also great that both handles are available for use.

I prefer a chunky stylus based on my own comfort and muscle memory, but I know many artists who appreciate the natural feel of something close to a pencil in shape and weight.

A smaller handle may be helpful for people who have carpal tunnel or other physical issues with grip strength. The size, weight and responsiveness of the Pen Display 16 stylus can be a game changer.

Both handles provide 8192 different pressure levels with a resolution of 5080 lpi. They can be used tilted 60 degrees in any direction, just like the 24 pen display.

Consistency is key, and for years Wacom was the only company that got it right. It's good to see that Xencelabs maintains its quality standards and the use of these pens highlights that.

Xencelabs pen display 16 reviews – Shortcuts

The Pen Display 16 also includes a Xencelabs keyboard shortcut controller. I covered this peripheral in my Pen Display 24 review, but it's worth mentioning the highlights here as well.

The Quick Keys Controller is a great tool that can increase the speed and flexibility of your overall workflow with a 16-key pen display.

Xencelabs Pen Display Controller with 16-key shortcuts

The Shortcut Controller has eight customizable buttons to which you can assign and organize sets of shortcuts, commands and parameters. Support is available from a wide range of software partners, including Adobe, Foundry and many more.

The wheel on the Quick Key controller provides additional settings and allows you to switch between saved configurations depending on the software you are using.

If you're new to your preferred software or just not the kind of person who remembers key commands, you'll find a keyboard shortcut controller very useful. This can save you time and prevent you from having to highlight/drop/select menus hundreds of times a day.

This time savings alone is worth the cost for some.

However, unlike the 24 pen display, this shortcut controller does not attach to the 16 pen display. This would be impractical due to size, but you will need to place the shortcut controller nearby to do this. its best use.

Xencelabs pen display 16 reviews – Mobile Easel

The Pen Display 16 includes a Xencelabs mobile easel. This is a durable and lightweight stand for the 16 pen display that allows you to rotate it from 18 to 32 degrees, allowing for a wide range of motion and allowing you to maintain your posture.

The mobile easel is powerful and nice to have, but it's still not ideal for tall people. They will have to raise the easel and pen display even higher or lower themselves to a lower seat.

A standing desk can help with this, but it's not an option for everyone.

Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Mobile Easel

In its press literature, Xencelabs states that the multi-angle tabletop easel uses a standard VESA mount and quick release will be released in the summer of 2024.

The idea of additional options and a VESA mount for the Ergotron arm sounds really cool and I'm looking forward to seeing what Xencelabs has to offer.

Xencelabs Pen review Display 16 — Experience

After spending a few days with the Pen Display 16 and creating illustrations with it from start to finish, I can report that it was a great experience.

After testing a variety of display tablets aimed at the “mobile” lifestyle, from the iPad to Wacom offerings, it's safe to say that the Pro Display 16 is overall better suited to my usage and standards.

The tablet is bright, quiet and incredibly responsive. The only slight mistake was going from a 24 pen display to a 16 pen display in terms of muscle memory.

I'm a “shoulder illustrator”, meaning I have a range of motion in my arm when I draw, and it took about an hour to get used to the smaller footprint. Once I did this everything went smoothly.

Still, the 4K OLED display is great. However, the native resolution and size of menus, toolbars, and UI meant I had to adjust font sizes to suit my old eyes.

This is a small change, but other people with progressive lenses or readers may want to keep this in mind.

To test the Pen Display 16, I recently created a custom piece that I knew would be vibrant and interesting when completed.

Commission drawing drawn on Xencelabs Pen Display 16

The process was great, and as an additional test I worked on implementing the use of the Quick Key Controller too. I can say that while it's not my standard, it has given me ideas on how it can be used in other applications I use besides Photoshop.

Ultimately, it appears that Xencelabs has taken the same approach as always. Namely, look at the industry and focus on the aspects that it can improve or simply do better than everyone else.

For someone who has been a Wacom fan for decades and thought the era of quality display tablets was over, I'm truly relieved to see Xencelabs thriving.

Having a tablet like this with a display for mobile work, meetings and simple, occasional changes of venue is simply amazing. It's good for artists and good for the industry.

Xencelabs Pen Review Display 16 — Price and Value

With all that said, it always comes down to profit. It's easily worth any investment.

Xencelabs offers the Pen Display 16 Kit at a suggested retail price of $1,249 and the Essentials Pen Display at a suggested retail price of $999.

None of these options are inexpensive, but you get excellent value for money. The Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 retails for a suggested retail price of $1,599 on the Wacom online store, and while it's a good display tablet, I think the Pro Display 16 is better overall.

Pen Display 16 is not a random purchase. Hobbyist artists are still advised to experiment with working on the iPad for a while before taking the plunge and investing.

However, if you like the idea of having a dedicated pen display that works, this is the best option. You'll save some money even with the Pen Display 16 Bundle compared to the Wacom, and you'll have a better pen display.

Such equipment requires an investment of time and money. You need a pen display that not only meets these needs, but goes well beyond them.

Xencelabs continues to show the world the power of hardware, sound features and pricing. They continue to be the breath of fresh air this industry needs.