XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K: one-minute review
The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is a well-performing 24-inch drawing display that offers a natural drawing experience and comes with some great accessories for a surprisingly reasonable price. The most notable of the accessories include the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, pre-mounted ACS02 Stand, ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, and much more.
With 4K resolution and the capability of displaying 16.7 million colors, I could see my photos in more detail than ever before. It was easy to transition between color spaces depending on my task by using the XPPen Pen Tablet driver. The typical color gamut ratio of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is impressive, covering 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. Further color calibration is achievable using the free XPPen Color Master program and a colorimeter, should you want complete control over the output.
My drawing experience felt satisfyingly natural and free of complications over the hours I tested the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, to the point where it could prove a worthy rival to many of the best drawing tablets. Some key features that made this drawing display such a pleasure to work with include the practically-bordered 526 x 296mm working area, the optimally textured anti-glare etched and anti-fingerprint coated glass surface, and the 60-degree tilt range of the styli. I didn’t encounter any lag or jitter, and although there was a tiny bit of parallax, despite the fully laminated screen, a quick calibration in the settings put this right in moments.
I only encountered minor niggles when testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, the worst of which being some brushes requiring much more pressure for the stroke to be visible, though this could be rectified in the relevant design software’s settings. This small misgiving is more than forgivable though, considering the quality, accessories, and performance you get for the low $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 price tag. If you’ve been eyeing up a Wacom but can’t bring yourself to make such a large investment, the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is the perfect solution, delivering stunning results for a reasonable price.
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: price and availability
- Announced: October 22, 2024
- List price $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99
The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 series, which includes the 4K model I’ve been testing, and a slightly cheaper 165Hz model, was announced on October 22nd, 2024, and is available now on the XPPen website in the US and Australia. I’m sorry to say that we Brits may need to wait a little longer for the 4K model, as at the time of writing delivery isn't expected until mid-June 2025, although there's a handful left in stock at Amazon UK. The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K retails at $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 but at present, the price has been discounted to $1,065.99 / £1,139.05 / AU$1,557.99 in a Valentine's Day sale.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, as a purchase doesn’t just get you a large-format drawing display, but also the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, plus a sturdy dual styli case, an ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, all the cables you could ask for, and more.
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: specs
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: design
- Sturdy metal stand included
- Convenient stylus storage
- Three multifunctional buttons on top of display
The overall aesthetic of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is clean and understated. The working area has been kept practical, with a generously sized border giving me plenty of space for my hand and wrist. The only buttons on the unit itself are three multifunctional ones on the top right that serve as both brightness adjusters and signal changers.
XPPen helpfully includes all the required cables, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-C cables, plus different regional power cables. While this is undeniably convenient, it feels a little excessive, and some of those cables will likely prove redundant for many purchasers. In the name of sustainability, there’s a little more control over the accessories received when purchasing the Wacom One, although one gets a bit of a shock from the new total price once the pen and cable costs have been factored in.
Once the power and USB-C cables were in place there was a plastic cable cover that helped neaten up the cables and keep the dust at bay, though it took a fair bit of persuasion to clip onto the back of the display. The pen clips on the top of the display worked well, although the holder for the slim was made of a rubber-like material that attracted lint the moment I took it out of the plastic. I was pleased with the premium-feeling stylus case and appreciated that I could stand a stylus in there, as the top of the display was a bit of a reach for me. If there was the option to mount a pen clip on the side too, that would have been ideal.
A very much appreciated accessory that’s included as standard is the ACS02 Stand. It felt and proved very sturdy, which I should hope considering how heavy it is. It was easy to adjust using the central trigger, with an achievable angle range of 16 to 72 degrees. The included glove, on the other hand, isn’t exactly premium, but it did its job well; helping my hand to glide across the surface of the display, removing the chance of any mischief being caused by my palm or rogue fingers.
- Design score: 4.5 / 5
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: performance
- Vivid colors and impressive detail
- Precise performance with no lag or jitter
- Easy and assignable pressure and shortcut customization
The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K came to life and happily presented an extension of my desktop, no setting tweaks required. I very much appreciated this straightforward start, due to other displays I've tested that proved a nightmare by refusing to connect and/or sustain a connection. The UX of the XPPen Tablet driver was easy to navigate, and different settings were easy to find and change. I was also grateful how straightforward it was to change the stylus shortcut keys and adjust the pen pressure, and that I could assign different settings to specific applications.
The fully laminated display did a good job of reducing the parallax, but as there was still some present to a degree, I completed the calibration sequence in the settings, which knocked it on the head.
I found the display’s anti-glare etched glass surface delightful to sketch on – it had the right kind of texture to feel like I was drawing on paper. I didn’t find either stylus catching at any point, which was nice to experience from a drawing display. The display is stated to be anti-glare and I’m inclined to agree – even with a bright daylight bulb in my desk lamp, I didn’t encounter any problems with reflections on the screen.
I also (very reluctantly) put my fingers on the screen in a few areas to test the anti-fingerprint coating and no pesky prints were left behind. However, after picking up the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I could definitely see where my hands had been on the black border. But I’m still satisfied that it didn't pick up any marks while I was working on it, plus the XPPen cleaning cloth removed both fingerprints and dust.
The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K can reportedly display 1.07 billion colors and has a typical color gamut ratio of 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. For those who want an advanced level of control over the screen’s output, the free XPPen ColorMaster software compatible with this model gives freedom to calibrate in real-time, to ensure the display is producing the most accurate results. The software has been developed with color calibration aficionados Calman and uses their color accuracy engine, but it’s worth noting that a colorimeter is required for complete color calibration.
Colors looked oversaturated in the first instance when looking at some of my photographs (many of which, yes, featured alpacas, if you're asking). This was due to the default color space being set to Adobe RGB, which, predictably, was the best choice for when I was doing graphic design or drawing, but a quick switch to sRGB in the driver settings made my photographs a little less psychedelic.
The brightness of the display was adequate. I did find myself increasing it to the max level soon after I began testing it, as the desktop was noticeably dimmer than my MacBook screen. However, when I opened a new (startlingly white) document to draw on, I quickly regretted that decision. The quality of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K’s display was impressive; it delivered great clarity and vibrancy, bringing fond memories back to life while also enhancing the detail in my photos, like the one above of Ernesto the alpaca.
Although drawing slates like the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad are great for the price, I far preferred working with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K – as one would hope, considering the vast difference in cost. I spent several hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K to get an accurate idea of how well it handled different speeds, motions, and levels of detail. I began by drawing test lines with different brushes, including some very fast strokes, and there was no lag or jitter in sight. At times I used some very texture-heavy brushes in large sizes, the kind that used to fatally offend my previous MacBook, and still, I didn’t encounter any issues with lag. The result of every movement I made was precise, and my stylus strokes felt superbly smooth and natural during the hours I spent sketching, drawing, and writing.
- Performance score: 5 / 5
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: stylus
- Two pens, each with customizable buttons
- Ergonomic, comfortable design
- 8K pressure sensitivity with programmable curves
The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K comes with the X3 Pro Smart Chip and the X3 Pro Slim styli, both of which boast 16,388 pressure levels. While this is twice as much pressure as the styli included with the well-rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16, we're unlikely to be capable of utilizing anything above the 8K industry standard, so a pressure sensitivity of 16,388 isn’t quite as impressive as it may sound.
One issue I encountered was that strokes from certain brushes, such as pencils, didn’t always show up on the canvas, so I found myself needing to put more pressure down than felt necessary. This can be worked around by changing the pressure in the design software’s settings, but it was a little frustrating switching between brushes to find the stylus had seemingly run out of lead.
Both styli felt lightweight, with the Slim stylus weighing 10g, and the Smart Chip weighing 16g, but they were still heavy enough that it felt like working with hollow plastic. The styli can support a satisfying 60-degree tilt. This gave me more control over my line variation and allowed me to write and draw the way I would with a pen.
There are customizable buttons on both the styli, and they support pen ID recognition, which proved helpful while I was switching between them both during testing,. However, the X3 Pro Slim stylus quickly proved to be my favorite of the two provided, as I loved how it felt like a traditional pen in my hand. To be clear, the X3 Pro Smart Chip stylus is also great, especially as the standard nibs can be swapped out for felt nibs, four of which are included, along with a further ten standard nibs. The X3 Pro Slim stylus has fourteen replacements too, so I can’t see myself needing to purchase replacements any time soon.
The ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote was a great addition to my drawing sessions, for the most part. It sits flat on the desk, and because it’s compact, I could fit it between myself and the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, providing easy access to the customizable keys. There’s also a dial for actions such as zooming in and out and adjusting brush sizes, but I found it inefficient as I couldn’t make adjustments in small increments. The jump between each click of the dial seemed unreasonably large, so it offered imprecise control. Aside from that element, though, I was very fond of the ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, due to the simple connection process, satisfying scissor switches, and impressive 300-hour battery life.
- Stylus Score: 4 / 5
Should I buy the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K?
Buy it if…
You want a well-performing drawing display without the premium price tag
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect such a fabulous performance from a large format 4K drawing display at such a low price, so I was left a little gobsmacked with how satisfying and natural the drawing experience felt. With similar models from competitors listed for an extra thousand, this drawing display is undoubtedly value for money.
You want a lot of drawing room
There’s a vast amount of drawing room on offer with this drawing display, more than I’ve ever gotten to play with before, and now I’m not sure I can ever go back. Plus, the adjustable stand means that you can make the most of the space in a way that’s most comfortable for you.
Don’t buy it if…
Space is limited
This drawing display and its metal stand are a goliath in size and weight. I’m fortunate to have a wider-than-average desk, but even so, it proved to be a tad obstructive. It could also prove a bit too much of a chonk to relocate regularly, so a designated space would be ideal.
You want something that can be relocated with ease
It’s quite unlikely one would purchase a 24-inch drawing display with a mind to commute with it, but even if it’s a case of moving it on and off a desk, it could prove a little exhausting. A better option would be the aforementioned Xencelabs Pen Display 16, which is not only lighter but comes with a handy carry case, too.
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: also consider
Xencelabs Pen Display 24
The (current) top spot holder in our pick of the best drawing tablets, Xencelabs 24-inch pen display received a glowing five-star rating when we tested it thanks to its fantastic performance, build quality, and accessories. It’s a well-balanced pen display that is perfect for professionals and aspiring digital artists, proving an accessible asset thanks to its affordable price.
Xencelabs Pen Display 16
If you need a tablet that won’t be a space invader and can plausibly carry about, the 4.5-star rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16 would make a great choice. Like XPPen, Xencelabs provides everything needed to get started, along with a convenient carry case. Easy to use with a stunning display and highly customizable controls, this is the perfect alternative if you don’t have the space to spare.
XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: how I tested
- I spent many hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K over one week
- I used it for photo editing and drawing using Affinity software
- I tested for parallax, lag, and jittering, and created some graphic script using various brushes for linework and texture.
During my week testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I tested the ease of setup and usability. I did some photo editing on Affinity Photo, and did lots of experimenting with different settings and tools on Affinity Designer, using my favorites to draw some lettering and add texture. I also tested how the Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K handled other tasks such as locating and previewing files in Finder and opening different file types.
I performed line tests to check for jitter and lag and tested the tilt angle and pressure sensitivity to get a feel for how responsive and realistic the drawing experience was. I also compared the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K and its accessories against previous pen displays I’ve tested, as well as its specs against equivalent products on the market.
In terms of experience, I've used many a drawing tablet over the years, right back to when they were teeny-tiny pads with flimsy plastic pens. I've also had a couple of decades of experience with Affinity (formerly known as Serif), Creative Cloud software, and plenty of programs in between.
- First reviewed: February 2025
- Read more about how we test
