Huion VS Wacom

Huion VS Wacom: Which Company MakesThe Best Drawing Tablets?

For a few years now, artists have been arguing about which company offers the best drawing tablets, Wacom or Huion.

It’s widely known that Wacom has been the market leader for decades, but their glory days of no-competition are long gone as Huion grows by the minute and releases extremely competitive graphics tablets for literally a fraction of the price that Wacom charges.

As the matter of quality still causes major discussions across digital art forums, at this point I think it’s hard to argue against the fact that Huion’s devices not only are great, but are getting even better as new tablets are released.


The first thing you should be aware of is that Wacom and Huion are going through different developmental stages and this fact reflects on the products that they release.

Because Wacom is already a well-established company, they do not have to resort to lower prices in order to sell their products. Most people will simply buy Wacom drawing tablets because of the brand, they won’t even bother to compare those tablets to others being sold by other companies such as Huion.

You might be asking yourself:

So what? What do I have to do with that?

Well, since you’re a smart person you will surely come to the conclusion that when a company knows for sure that people will pick their products based on brand, they can charge more (within reason).

This means that Wacom drawing tablets are more expensive partially because they have a strong brand name to back them up.

It’s not possible to state that one brand has better drawing tablets than another solely based on its reputation, it’s absolutely vital that you, as the consumer, compares the devices on a case by case basis.

In some cases Wacom still makes the best devices, particularly the high-end super-professional ones, in others, like budget devices, companies like Huion and XP-PEN are unquestionably bridging the gap.

When price is taken into consideration Huion has already launched more than a few tablets that can be considered better deals than Wacom ones.


Is Wacom Losing Ground?

Wacom losing ground character falling down

As I said before, Wacom has been relying on its brand name to sell products for a very long time.

While this strategy works wonderfully well for a certain period, over the course of years people start questioning why a Wacom tablet costs so much compared to other devices from another brand.

It’s true that we can’t really blame Wacom for trying to make more money based on its past successes. One of the biggest advantages of becoming a household-name is the ability to charge more for products and Wacom has worked really hard to get to where it is today.

That said, you know better than this!

The fact that a company has earned its place at the top doesn’t mean that you should keep buying its products simply because “that’s what everyone else is doing”. You’re smarter than that.


This is exactly why I need you to understand that while companies like Wacom don’t have as many reasons to offer you the best possible price, up-and-coming companies do!

They want to get that top position and one of the few ways to do that is by offering great graphics tablets for a cheaper price than the leader (Wacom) charges.

You must take advantage of the company war that is currently going on. This is your chance to get a better tablet for a lower price.

Huion is selling their drawing tablets for a much lower price than they should and by doing this they’re forcing Wacom to review their business model.

Until these two companies find balance, you, as a consumer, are at an extremely advantageous position.

After Wacom and Huion find a common ground, it’s highly likely that the amazing prices that we’re seeing today will vanish.

Most likely, Wacom’s tablets will become cheaper, but at the same time Huion’s devices will get more expensive leaving us at a leveled marketplace where great deals simply do not exist.


Why is Huion Taking Off?

Huion drawing tablet rocket

Huion, despite experiencing tremendous growth over the past couple of years, is still the underdog. For this reason they will do everything in their power to raise to the top.

As Wacom starts facing severe losses due to Huion’s “invasion” of the market, Huion sees an opportunity to further their victory by taking an even larger slice of the market with their pricing strategy.

While most companies would start raising their prices in order to cash out on their growth period, Huion is actually lowering them and releasing even better drawing tablets because they know that this is a great opportunity to acquire new customers, even if it costs the company some money on the short term.


This is why I strongly advise artists to buy Huion graphics tablets. These devices are not insanely cheap because the executives at Huion are nice, friendly people. These tablets are cheap because the company is willing to take a period of profit loss simply to get you, the buyer, to give their products a shot.

And do you know what’s the best part of all of this?

Huion knows that if they don’t offer drawing tablets that are at the very least as good as the ones sold by Wacom, all the money that they’re spending to get you to try their products will go down the drill.

This is why I strongly advise artists to buy Huion graphics tablets. These devices are not insanely cheap because the executives at Huion are nice, friendly people. These tablets are cheap because the company is willing to take a period of profit loss simply to get you, the buyer, to give their products a shot.

And do you know what’s the best part of all of this?

Huion knows that if they don’t offer drawing tablets that are at the very least as good as the ones sold by Wacom, all the money that they’re spending to get you to try their products will go down the drill.

What I’m trying to say is: right now, it’s in Huion’s best interest to sell you the best drawing tablets for the lowest possible prices.

Be smart! Take advantage of this!


What You Should Be Aware Of Regarding Wacom Drawing Tablets

Now that you already know that a drawing tablet isn’t necessarily the best simply because it was manufactured by Wacom, let’s talk about what you should be careful with when buying a graphics tablet from this company:


1- Software Bundle:

The most popular drawing tablet sold by Wacom is the Wacom Intuos (click here to read more).

One of the reasons why this tablet is so popular is because it comes with a software bundle that includes: Corel Painter Essentials 6, Paint Pro and AfterShot 3.

The thing is, these programs are only available to people that live in the Americas.

If you’re from any other continent, you will not be able to download any of them.


2- Pen Pressure:

Cheaper drawing tablets from Wacom usually don’t come with the best pens (the ones with 8132 levels of pressure sensitivity).

Wacom tends to only sell their best pens with the more expensive graphics tablets. Make sure to check this out before buying anything.


3- Cintiq Series:

Wacom has released some of their best drawing tablets through the Cintiq Series, however, the have also released some of their worst devices within the very same series.

So, here’s an important tip:

If you want to buy a Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet, make sure to read as many reviews as possible on Amazon in order to avoid buying one of the bad ones.


4- Price:

When you buy a Wacom graphics tablet, you’re paying the highest prices on the marketplace.

The only good reason for paying more for a device is the certainty that it will fit your needs better than the cheaper alternatives.

That’s why it’s crucial that, when buying a high-end Wacom drawing tablet, you test it before the purchase. Maybe you can try it at a friend’s house or even at a store, but do not pay a prime for a product you’ve never tried before.


What you should know about Huion drawing tablets

What You Should Know About Huion Drawing Tablets

While it’s true that Huion has been selling some of the best drawing tablets in the world for the past few years, it wasn’t always like this.

Not too long ago Huion sold some not-so-great graphics tablets that left their customers underwhelmed, this is why you need to look out for a couple of things before buying a Huion.


1- Drivers:

The most common complaint I hear from people that bought older Huion tablets is that the drivers tend to be prone to glitches and might stop working out of nowhere.

The only way to fix this is by reinstalling the drivers and while this doesn’t seem to be a big problem, it’s extremely annoying to do this multiple times in a working day.

Here’s a tip: avoid Huion drawing tablets that are more than 5 years old.


2- Customer Service:

Huion has outgrown their customer service capabilities. They’re selling more tablets then they have people to answer clients’ requests.

While I’m completely sure that they will get this under control soon enough, right now their customer support is not as good as the one offered by Wacom and you might have to wait for a long time before they get back to you in case you have any problems with one of their graphics tablets.


3- Excessively Cheap Drawing Tablets:

That’s right! You read that correctly!

Excessive cheap drawing tablets can be a huge problem. Let me try to explain this clearly.

Since most people are used to Wacom tablets (since this is what they’ve been using since they were teenagers), they tend to go for the cheapest possible tablets from Huion in order to get to know the brand better before making an actual investment buying a mid-range device from the company.

The thing is, drawing tablets that cost 20 dollars are not a good way to gauge a company’s quality.

If your first Huion tablet is one of those that costs as much as a burger, you will feel underwhelmed and might get the wrong first impression.

You must understand one thing: 20 dollar graphics tablets might be great for certain things, but they are not what you should get if you need a decent tool to help you during your artistic journey.


4- Packaging

Huion is way behind Wacom when it comes to packaging.

While Wacom’s products some in beautiful boxes that scream “BUY ME” at the customers, Huion’s graphics tablets usually come in dull or generic boxes that have very little appeal.

It’s true that Huion has been getting better at this with each new product release, but they still have a long way to go.

Do not let a dull-looking box fool you. What really matters is the device that is inside the box and, right now, Huion’s tablets are definitely a great option.


What’s The Best Wacom Drawing Tablet?

I’ve already written a full post about this, so you may want to check it out right here: Which Wacom Drawing Tablet to Buy

In case you would like to see the shorter version, keep reading.

Since graphics tablets vary enormously depending on price and function, I had to break this down into three categories:

  1. Beginner
  2. Intermediate
  3. Advanced

Best Wacom Beginner Drawing Tablet

Wacom Intuos

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Wacom Intuos best beginner Wacom drawing tablet

This graphics tablet has been tested time and time again by artists all over the world and it is, without a doubt, the most common purchase among starting artists.

If you live in the Americas (anywhere from the freezing Canadian prairies to the also cold Argentinian mountains) you get to download three different programs for free once you buy a Wacom Intuos.

I have written all about it in this post: Wacom Intuos and its Software Bundle.


Best Wacom Intermediate Drawing Tablet

Wacom Cintiq 16

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Wacom Cintiq 16 graphics tablet

The difference between this device and the Intuos is not negligible. Once you use a Cintiq you immediately know that you’re dealing with a superior device.

The greatest advantage of this one is the fact that it has a screen that you can draw on.

Another thing worth mentioning is that this is one of the few Wacom tablets that I consider not to be overpriced. For the quality of the materials and the overall user-experience, I consider the Cintiq 16 one of the best deals that Wacom has ever offered.

You may read details about this tablet here: Which Wacom Graphics Tablet to Buy.


Best Wacom Advanced Drawing Tablet

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

Although you can’t tell from the picture, this graphics tablet is huge!

Using this for work almost feels like drawing on a table instead of on a tablet.

Needless to say, the price tag is just as large as the drawing area.

This device is only recommended for well-established artists. Unless you’re someone who really needs to draw for a living, getting a Cintiq Pro 24 is definitely overkill.


What’s The Best Huion Drawing Tablet?

I will take a similar approach here and divide the recommendations into categories in order to make it a little bit easier for you to pick a tablet that is actually aligned to your needs.

Check out the drawing tablets according to your experience:

  1. Beginner
  2. Intermediate
  3. Advanced

Best Huion Beginner Drawing Tablet

Huion H610 Pro

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Huion H610 PRO v2 drawing tablet

The Huion H610 Pro is nowhere near as iconic as the Wacom Intuos, but it has a few advantages that certainly make a difference:

  • Larger drawing area than the Wacom Intuos
  • 8 express keys (see them on the left side of the drawing board)
  • It’s around 33% cheaper than an Intuos

If you’re not someone who’s easily swayed by brand names, this Huion tablet is definitely an upgraded version of the Wacom Intuos.


Best Huion Intermediate Drawing Tablet

Huion GT-220

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Huion GT-220 drawing tablet

Among the advantages of this graphics tablets you will find:

  • 21.5 inches screen (great size for drawing)
  • 2 great digital pens
  • 8 replacement pen tips
  • Extremely affordable (Wacom doesn’t even come close)

This is an upgraded version of Huion’s most popular graphics tablet, the KAMVAS GT-191, you should also check that one out. I’ve dedicated a whole article to it right here: What’s Huion’s Most Popular Drawing Tablet?


Best Huion Advanced Drawing Tablet

Huion KAMVAS PRO 22

(Check reviews and price on Amazon)

Huion KAMVAS PRO 22 drawing tablet

Here’s a few important characteristics of this device:

  • Slightly smaller than the Cintiq Pro 24 (only by 2 inches, though)
  • Not a touch-screen device (you may only interact with it by using a digital pen)
  • Has 20 express keys
  • Comes with the best possible pen at 8132 levels of pressure sensitivity
  • Has 10 extra nibs (pen tips)
  • Is particularly affordable if you consider its size

Just like the Wacom Cintiq 24 Pro, this is not a graphics tablet for beginners, it was made for professionals, hobbyists would be wasting their money if they were to get one of these simply for entertainment.

That being said, if you would like to have a whole studio at home, the KAMVAS PRO 22 is one of the greatest tools you can get.


Conclusion

Huion best drawing tablet rocket

Both Wacom and Huion have their weaknesses and strengths.

Although it’s not possible to say that one company is better than the other in every aspect, it’s safe to say that, as of today, Huion has the edge due to the immense price difference between their products and the ones offered by Wacom.

Regardless of this, as long as you pick any tablet from the list above, be it from Huion or Wacom, you’re definitely going to be satisfied with your purchase.

This posts contains only the best from each company and this is not only based on my opinion, but on the opinions of hundreds of buyers all over the globe.

Thanks for reading and let’s keep on creating!

Bruno Santos

Bruno Brasil

Hi! My name is Bruno. I'm a web developer/designer based in Toronto, Canada. I've been working with drawing tablets for over 20 years and I'm among the Top 10 Most Viewed Writers on Quora in the Graphics Tablets category. Do you have any questions? Just leave a comment =)

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. AliceJones

    Thank you for the insightful article, it was very helpful in choosing a tablet to buy.

  2. Stefan Tell

    XP-PEN is a fairly known brand now. They are a growing company thanks to the success they’ve had. A lot of people are opting to buy huion over wacom due to the price and this has grown XP-PEN fairly quickly. Wacom still owns the pro market. Functionality wise you won’t notice a difference. They work just fine.
    I tried their cintiq clones ( XP-PEN Artist Series ) and was quite impressed despite the lack of touch interaction. If you’re considering XP-PEN just make sure you buy their newer products. They are a growing company and the newer products are better developed as the company grows

    1. Bruno Santos

      Stefan,

      I agree with everything that you said. XP-PEN and Huion are catching up to Wacom at an incredibly fast rate and I think it’s just a matter of time before the three companies are in the same level.

      Thanks for commenting =)

  3. Christina Rooney

    Thank you so much for all this info! Buying my 15 year old son a animation tablet for xmas. He goes to a school of the arts and is studying animation. We want to get him something that has a screen but that is middle of the road price wise and we can upgrade eventually. This was super helpful!

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