Wacom manufactures the best drawing tablets with screen in the market. The best Wacom pen displays belong to the Cintiq range that includes the regular Cintiqs (Cintiq 16 and Cintiq 22) and the Cintiq Pro lineup (incl. Cintiq Pro 17, 22, 24, 27 and 32). Due to the variety of Wacom tablets available, it can be daunting to sort out the best Wacom Cintiq for you. To help you find the best Wacom tablet for your needs and budget, I’ve put together this guide with all the details you need to make your decision!
Wacom’s Cintiq pen displays allow you to draw directly on a screen with a digital stylus. This is the most natural way of creating digital art that you can expect from a graphics tablet – it’s very much like drawing with a real pen on paper.
A Wacom Cintiq is generally considered the best choice for that purpose.
The Japanese company is known as the ‘gold standard’ among drawing tablet manufacturers. Wacom tablets are sturdy build quality that deliver top performance and last for a very long time.
That’s why so many artists, designers, illustrators, etc. around the world – from professionals to hobbyists – swear by Wacom’s devices… including myself, by the way. I started my digital art career with a Wacom Bamboo many years ago, and since then I’ve been only using Wacom tablets. (ᴖᴥᴖ)
What’s the best Wacom tablet with screen?
Wacom offers a wide range of tablets, including tablets with screen and without screen. Wacom tablets without screen are the Intuos Pro, the regular Intuos, and also Wacom’s latest drawing tablet for beginners, the One by Wacom.
→ Best Wacom Tablet For Beginners
All in all, Wacom’s products cater to artists with different creative needs, skill levels and budgets.
In this post, we're going to take a look at the following Cintiqs and Cintiq Pros in particular to help you figure out which Wacom Cintiq display tablet is best for you:
Is a Wacom Cintiq worth it?
Wacom Cintiq is synonymous with the best drawing tablets with screen available in the market. The Cintiq tablets allow you to draw directly on the display, which is the most natural way of digital editing.
Regular drawing tablets require you to look at a computer monitor, while moving the pen across the tablet’s surface. This may take some time getting used to because you need to train proper hand-eye-coordination.
If you’re planning to work a lot with Photoshop or other digital art software, you may prefer to draw directly onscreen, which brings you the closest to traditional art as a digital tablet possibly can.
→ Best Wacom Tablet To Use With Photoshop
While a tablet with built-in screen is generally more expensive than a regular graphics tablet, there are also options among Wacom’s Cintiq range that are affordable to beginners and artists on a budget.
Is a Wacom Cintiq good for beginners?
While a Wacom Cintiq is usually more pricey than a regular drawing tablet without screen, some display tablets are still pretty affordable – also for budding artists and relative newbies.
Even if you just got started with digital art, you can find great drawing tablets with screen in Wacom’s lower price segment.
The Wacom One, for example, is Wacom’s new entry-level pen display that was launched at the beginning of 2020. While the Wacom One is not a Cintiq, it still comes with amazing specs that satisfy the needs of many beginning artists.
The Wacom One’s price is relatively beginner-friendly, too. You can purchase the device for under US$400, making it the most affordable screen tablet Wacom has ever offered, so far.
Which Wacom Cintiq is best?
There are various Wacom Cintiq tablets available. The regular Cintiq lineup includes:
- Cintiq 16,
- Cintiq 22.
Wacom’s Cintiq pro range features the following products:
- Cintiq Pro 16
- Cintiq Pro 17
- Cintiq Pro 22
- Cintiq Pro 24
- Cintiq Pro 27
- Cintiq Pro 32
→ What Is The Difference Between Cintiq And Cintiq Pro?
The most affordable screen tablet from Wacom’s Cintiq line is the Cintiq 16, retailing for around $650. Decent drawing space and pro-level specs make the Wacom Cintiq 16 a good choice not only for beginners but also for skilled artists on a budget.
The larger Cintiq 22 is considerably pricier due to its larger display as are the Cintiq Pro models, which come with advanced specs and features.
To decide which of Wacom Cintiqs is best for you, there are always a number of things to look out for:
• Screen size
The first thing you want to pay attention to is the size of the screen. Because your digital drawing experience should feel as natural as possible, you want to make sure that the screen size caters to your specific creative needs.
Do you like to draw with long brush strokes or do you do more photo editing where you rather focus on details? These factors determine how big your screen needs to be.
For extensive drawings, you would go for a 22-inch screen diagonal and larger. For photo editing and more detail work, a 13-inch or 16-inch screen may be sufficient.
• Screen resolution and performance
Other things to consider are screen resolution and performance – the higher the better.
Most regular Cintiqs come with 2K resolution (1920 x 1080 px), while most of the high-end models of the Cintiq pro line have 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 px).
Then there’s screen brightness, color gamut, and color depth. The brightness of the lower-end devices starts at around 200 cd/m2, going up to 400 nits with the top-tier Cintiq Pros. All current Wacom pen displays usually come with a depth of 16.7 million colors as standard, but there are differences in the color spectrum.
The best drawing tablets with screen are able to reproduce up to 99% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. Mid-range tablets have color gamuts between 70 and 80% of Adobe RGB, while the most affordable Cintiqs have about 70% of NTSC.
Color gamut is something you will hardly notice in practice – only when you hold a device with a lower color gamut next to a high-end monitor. But if you’re planning to work in the professional printing industry, then you need to look out for a high color spectrum.
• Pressure sensitivity
The reason why digital drawing feels as natural as it does nowadays is due to the pressure sensitivity of the pen. Pressure sensitivity is measured in levels and indicates how closely the stylus emulates the characteristics of real-life media. The more levels, the better.
If you’re a beginner, then 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on the lower end are probably perfectly fine. If you’re working on a professional level, however, you may want to have better pen responsiveness.
All recent Cintiq tablets feature the best pressure sensitivity levels currently available. Both the regular Cintiq and the Cintiq Pro line come with the Wacom Pro Pen 2 that supports 8,192 levels of pressure and 60 degrees of tilt recognition.
The latest Cintiq Pro 17, 22 and 27 include the Pro Pen 3, which mainly differs to its predecessor in terms of customization options. Contrary to Wacom’s 2nd generation stylus, the Pro Pen 3 comes with accessories that allow you to adjust it in weight, thickness, and center of gravity.
• Size and weight
Other factors to take into account include size and weight of the tablet, especially if you intend to travel with it. Most screen tablets are not particularly portable. Some random carrying around is surely possible, but if you want a device for traveling, you should rather take a look at the non-screen tablets, like the Wacom Intuos Pro Small or the Intuos Small.
You can learn more about those two tablets in the in-depth reviews below:
Best Wacom Cintiq Tablets
1. Wacom Cintiq Pro 32
The best Wacom Cintiq for professionals who want ample drawing space.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 32 Key Specs
- Screen: 31.5 in, 3840 x 2160 px, 4K Ultra HD
- Color gamut & brightness: 98% Adobe RGB, 310 cd/m2
- Active area: 27.4 x 15.4 in (697 x 392 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition, 5080 lpi
- Buttons & Touch: No hotkeys, Multi-touch functionality
- Size: 33.6 x 19.9 x 2.1 in (854 x 506 x 53 mm)
- Weight: 28.66 lb (13 kg)
If you’re a professional artist, then it’s worth investing into the best Wacom Cintiq in the market. The Wacom Cintiq Pro 32 is an absolute premium device – and it’s huge. The screen diagonal of 31.5 inch gives you a lot of real estate to work on, plus you will get 4K resolution, 98% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, 310 cd/m2 of screen brightness, and the highest levels of pen sensitivity.
In short: you will get the best of everything!
Understandably, all these high-end features come at a price, but you can be sure to get superb value for your money, being able to create better work and earn more money with your art in the long run.
2. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
The best medium-size Wacom Cintiq for pro-level creators.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Key Specs
- Screen: 23.6 in, 3840 x 2160 px, 4K: Ultra HD
- Color gamut & brightness: 99% Adobe RGB, 350 cd/m2
- Active area: 20.55 x 11.57 in (522 x 294 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition
- Buttons & Touch: ExpressKey Remote, Touch Ring, Radial Menu, onscreen keyboard
- Size: 26.65 x 15.5 x 1.9 in (677 x 394 x 47 mm)
- Weight: 15.43 lbs (7 kg)
If you’re a professional artist but want to save some space on your desk and some money in your wallet, then the slightly smaller 24-inch pen display is the best Wacom Cintiq for you.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 has the same specs as its larger sibling, including the same 4K resolution and multi-touch functionality, only its screen diagonal of 23.6 inch is a bit smaller. And with around 16 pounds (7.2 kg), it’s also a bit lighter than the 19 lbs (13 kg) of the Pro 32.
3. Wacom Cintiq Pro 16
The best small Wacom Cintiq for pro-level editing needs.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 Key Specs
- Screen: 15.6 in, 3840 x 2160 px, IPS UHD
- Color gamut & brightness: 94% Adobe RGB, 250 cd/m2
- Active area: 13.6 x 7.5 in (345 x 194 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition, 5080 lpi
- Buttons & Touch: No hotkeys, Multi-touch functionality
- Size: 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 in (410 x 265 x 17.5 mm)
- Weight: 3.3 lb (1.5 kg)
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 is a medium-size screen tablet, with almost the same pro-level features as the larger Cintiqs. The Pro 16 features 4K resolution, 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and 94% of Adobe RGB – but in a more compact and affordable package. Weighing slightly more than 3 pounds, it’s also way easier to carry around.
Just like all Cintiq Pros, the display of the Cintiq Pro 16 is also bonded, meaning there’s virtually no parallax – the little gap between the pen and the cursor that you can see on less expensive tablets. If a working area of 15.6 inch across is enough for you, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 is the best tablet that you can currently find in the market.
4. Wacom Cintiq Pro 17
A slightly more compact tablet of the Wacom Cintiq Pro lineup with outstanding performance.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 17 Key Specs
- Screen: 17 in, 3840 x 2160 px, IPS FHD
- Color gamut & brightness: 88% Adobe RGB, 400 cd/m2
- Active area: 15.0 x 8.5 in (382 x 215 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition, 5080 lpi
- Buttons & Touch: 8 ExpressKeys on back, multi-touch functionality
- Size: 10.0 x 16.7 x 0.8 in (253 x 424 x 21 mm)
- Weight: 4.9 lb (2.2 kg)
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 17 is a high-end creative pen and touch display for professional artists. As a member of Wacom’s professional series, it comes with excellent specs, including 4K UHD resolution, 88% Adobe RGB, and 400 cd/m2 of screen brightness. Everything else is absolutely pro-grade, too.
The new Wacom Pro Pen 3 delivers top-tier sensitivity features, plus additional customization options that the previous Pro Pen 2 is lacking, such as adjustable weight, thickness and center of balance via the included accessories.
If you’re looking for a professional-grade drawing tablet with a bit less screen space than the Pro 24 — and a more budget-friendly price tag — the Pro 17 is probably your ideal match.
5. Wacom Cintiq 22
The largest and least expensive Wacom Cintiq for prosumers.
Wacom Cintiq 22 Key Specs
- Screen: 21.5 in, 1920 x 1080 px, Full HD IPS
- Color gamut & brightness: 72% NTSC, 96% sRGB, 210 cd/m2
- Active area: 18.7 x 10.5 in (476 x 268 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition, 5080 lpi resolution
- Buttons & Touch: No
- Size: 22.4 x 14.1 x 1.6 in (570 x 359 x 40 mm)
- Weight: 12.4 lb (5.6 kg)
The Cintiq 22 is the cheapest and largest pen display in Wacom’s regular Cintiq range. It comes with the same pen technology as the Pros, giving you the same staggering 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity.
The 21.5-inch screen is Full HD and gives you ample freedom for long, sweeping pen strokes. While the display is not as powerful as the Cintiq Pros, it’s still well-designed with an anti-glare coating that cuts down on reflections and creates the nice pen-on-paper feel that every digital artist desires.
5. Wacom Cintiq 16
The cheapest and best Wacom Cintiq for all artists who want to work directly on a screen.
Wacom Cintiq 16 Key Specs
- Screen: 15.6 in, 1920 x 1080 px, Full HD IPS
- Color gamut & brightness: 72% NTSC, 96% sRGB, 210 cd/m2
- Active area: 13.6 x 7.6 in (344 x 194 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 levels tilt recognition, 5080 lpi resolution
- Buttons & Touch: No
- Size: 16.6 x 11.2 x 1 in (422 x 285 x 24.5 mm)
- Weight: 4.2 lb (1.9 kg)
The Cintiq 16 is the best Wacom Cintiq for all artists on a budget who still want pro-level specs. With HD resolution and a top-grade 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Cintiq 16 provides an excellent drawing experience at a price tag below US$700.
The 15.6-inch pen display has the same specs as the larger Cintiq 22, it’s just more compact and portable. Despite not being a touchscreen, the Cintiq 16 beats many similarly priced tablets with its pro-grade pen technology and display performance.
6. Wacom Cintiq Pro 22
A happy medium of size from Wacom's professional Cintiq range with advanced pen technology.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 22 Key Specs
- Screen: 22 in, 3840 x 2160 px, IPS
- Color gamut & brightness: 95% Adobe RGB, 300 cd/m2
- Active area: 18.7 x 10.5 in (476 x 268 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 degrees tilt recognition, 5080 lpi resolution
- Buttons & Touch: 8 ExpressKey on back, multi-touch functionality
- Size: 12.3 x 20.3 x 1.2 in (312 x 517 x 30 mm)
- Weight: 11 lb (5 kg)
If you’re keen to work with one of the new professional Wacom Cintiqs that offers sufficient space and a smooth and responsive drawing experience, the Cintiq Pro 22 is a great choice for you.
The Cintiq Pro 22 combines a large, high-resolution display with the advanced features of Wacom’s new Pro Pen 3. The 21.5-inch Ultra HD 4K touchscreen supports 1.07 billion colors, guaranteeing sharp and detailed visuals.
Just like its smaller sibling, the Pro 22 has 8 ExpressKeys on the back, providing quick access to frequently used functions. It also supports multi-touch, meaning you can zoom, pan, and rotate your work with ease. With the additional Wacom VESA Mount Stand you can adapt the screen to match your working style and preferred posture.
7. Wacom Cintiq Pro 27
One of Wacom's latest innovations in the Cintiq Pro lineup with Pro Pen 3 technology.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 Key Specs
- Screen: 26.9 in, 3840 x 2160 px, IPS
- Color gamut & brightness: 99% Adobe RGG, 400 cd/m2
- Active area: 23.5 x 13.2 in (596 x 335 mm)
- Pen technology: 8,192 pressure levels, ±60 degrees tilt recognition, 5080 lpi resolution
- Buttons & Touch: 8 ExpressKey on back, multi-touch functionality
- Size: 14.9 x 25.1 x 1.2 in (379 x 638 x 31 mm)
- Weight: 15.9 lb (7.2 kg) without stand
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is the latest addition to the Cintiq Pro series. It was highly anticipated, as Wacom promised to address many of the concerns that users raised about earlier models. And the Cintiq Pro does deliver.
Color gamut and screen brightness have been considerably improved compared to its predecessors. The working area is big enough for pro-level image and video edits. The screen is edge-to-edge tempered glass with an anti-glare film to keep your creative work hassle-free from distracting reflections.
However, with a price tag of around $4,000, the Cintiq Pro 27 is a significant investment. Keep in mind that a stand is not included. If you don’t already have a stand at home, you’ll have to purchase one additionally, such as the Flex Arm mounting adapter for around $150.
My name is Angie and I’m a self-taught digital artist. On this blog, I am sharing my knowledge and discussing the best software and hardware for different artistic needs. My desire is to offer options for all creative stages and budgets so that everyone can follow their dream and create art!
