Xencelabs Pen Tablet bundle a game-changer
The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle is far from the first tablet I’ve used as a photographer. But I found it the easiest to set up and use, with a responsive and intuitive system for anyone using a side tablet for computer work.
I’ve been using a tablet for years to speed up my editing and overall workflow, and after just a few days of using the Xencelabs Pen Tablet, it was apparent my workflow was even smoother and more efficient. In addition to photographers, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle is an excellent tool for any visual artist, including graphic artists, creative content workers and designers.
The tablet bundle includes a set of quick keys, a wireless dongle (and a USB adapter for USB-C), 2 USB to USB-C cords, two pens in a hard carrying case, a glove, and a soft sleeve to hold it all. The tablet measures 12.61by-9.16-by-0.3 inches, weighs 1.57 pounds and has a customizable active working area up to 10.33by-5.8 inches.
I plugged the wireless dongle into my Mac, downloaded the driver, and everything worked. The software allowed me to customize the quick keys and the “feel” of the pens. I am also used to a smaller tablet, which allowed me to define the active area of this tablet to a specific location, so I didn’t have to move the pen any farther than I am used to.
The quick keys are easily customized for your right or left hand, either horizontally or vertically. The quick keys allowed me to work two-handed, making editing super fast.
The pen tablet includes three programmable buttons, a curved palm rest, a 16:9 aspect ratio (which maps to most industrystandard monitors out of the box), LED Active Area Indicators with eight color options, and three dimmable levels that change with each application. The active area has an ultrafine matte-texture surface that is nonslip. This texture gives the included pens a surface that recreates the feel of pen on paper. You can use it plugged in via USB-C or wirelessly with the included dongle. When fully charged (2.5 hours charging time), the tablet can last up to 16 hours of wireless use.
The Quick Keys accessory is a programmable shortcut remote featuring an OLED display designed to increase user productivity. It can be used with or without the Xencelabs Pen Tablet to increase production within your applications. With the OLED display, functions are visible at a glance. The downloadable driver allows users to customize 40 shortcut keys per application and four dial options, giving a total of 44 programmable Quick Keys per application. The quick keys can be plugged in via USB or used wirelessly and boast up to 50 hours of continuous use when fully charged (USB). They can be used with or without the tablet.
The bundle comes with two pens. One is a traditional tablet pen with three buttons, and the other is a thin pen that has a smaller profile barrel and only two buttons. The buttons and erasers on both pens are programmable. A USB-A to USB-C adapter, USB cables, and a glove are also included.
Overall, I loved using this pen tablet because it was easy to set up and customize. The carrying case for the pens and dongle is very nice, and the fabric sleeve for all the pieces in the bundle is a nice touch for portability. I charged the tablet the first day I took it out of the box and have not had to charge it again, and it worked flawlessly after downloading and installing the driver. The ability to customize every button, the active area of the tablet, and the feel of the pens is a game-changer.
The tablet is compatible with macOS, Windows and Linux operating systems and comes in black or special edition nebula white.
Cost: $359.99 www.xencelabs.com