A graphics tablet for professionals with touch functionality for macOS: XPPen Artist Pro 27 Gen 2 tested
A crisp 4K display, accurate colour gamuts and, at last, touch support for the Mac: the XPPen Artist Pro 27 Gen 2 has everything it takes to shake up the professional market. Yet I’m struggling with one frustrating shortcoming.
After giving my biceps a workout setting up the Artist Pro 27 – it weighs just under seven kilograms – the rest is a piece of cake. Just plug it in and start drawing. I do need to set aside a bit more time for the finer details, though. For example, the pens need to be calibrated and personalised first.
Huge display and 120 Hertz
The Artist Pro 27 Gen 2 graphics tablet from XPPen is huge (68 × 42 × 4 centimetres) – and, at 7 kilograms, extremely heavy. This benefits the usable drawing area. It’s quick to set up thanks to the stand that’s already screwed on. This allows me to adjust the tablet’s angle in stages.
Once this massive device is set up, I have a 27-inch LCD display at my disposal. The resolution is an impressive 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K). With a 120-hertz refresh rate, I get a smooth experience, and thanks to 350 nits of brightness, I can still work well even in bright rooms – this giant device isn’t meant for use on the go.
XPPen delivers the tablet with very accurate colour gamut coverage:
- 99% Adobe RGB
- 99% sRGB
- 97% DCI P3
The tablet features anti-glare, etched glass. It is said to be 30 per cent more light-transmissive than its predecessor. This gives me a bright, clear image whilst still retaining the matt, paper-like surface for better grip when drawing. Thanks to the anti-fingerprint coating, I can use the touch function without worry – which now also works on macOS systems.
Plenty of ports and accessories
XPPen includes more than just the essentials with the Artist Pro 27 Gen 2. My highlight is the two pens. Alongside the classic X3 Pro stylus with its thick grip, I also get a slim stylus. Both feature the latest specifications: over 16,000 pressure levels, an end that acts as an eraser, and programmable buttons. The pen case also includes replacement tips: four soft felt ones and four made of hard plastic.
The Artist Pro 27 is also well-equipped with ports:
- a USB-C port
- an HDMI port
- a DP port
- a 3.5 mm headphone jack
- a DC port
Easy setup and get started
Setup is straightforward. [Install drivers](https://www. XPPen.de/download/artist-pro-27-gen-2.html), connect the USB-C cable from the tablet to my MacBook Air (M4) and plug the power cable into the socket – done. The Artist Pro 27 is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, ChromeOS and Linux. The touch function only works on Linux under Ubuntu.
The touch function is included in the current driver; with the recently tested Huion Kamvas Pro 24 I had to download two drivers separately, which led to difficulties in activating them.
I can then adjust various settings in the XPPen software for the display and the two pens. These work straight away without needing to connect them separately. I can also switch back and forth between them without any problems.
Drawing is less fluid
The drawing itself feels very comfortable on the matt glass and with both pens. However, the cursor lags behind even with slow movements. This doesn’t bother me when sketching, but I need a bit more patience for more precise work or colouring. It shouldn’t be like that, though. But despite support from XPPen, we haven’t managed to eliminate the lag so far. The Macbook Air (M4) I’m using for this has more than enough power. Here you can see how the cursor behaves for me:
I’m also disappointed by the tilt detection. It’s far too sensitive, and even the slightest tilt of the pen results in lines that are much too wide. I’ve therefore disabled it completely in the settings. As the pressure sensitivity is very finely tuned and customisable, I can compensate for this to some extent. Still, it’s a shame.
The touch function works quickly and smoothly with my MacBook Air. I find it incredibly handy, as it means I don’t have to keep switching tools with the pen to zoom in or rotate the canvas. To prevent me from accidentally moving something at the edge with the palm of my hand, I can specify where the touch function is active. Thanks to a floating menu from XPPen, I can also access shortcuts and gestures. I use this, for example, to undo steps or copy elements.
In a nutshell
Strong with a decisive weakness
With the Artist Pro 27 Gen 2, XP-Pen gives me everything I need for a professional work of art. The new matte display has a pleasant surface and is bright enough even in rooms flooded with light.
Thanks to the 27-inch screen and the high 4K resolution, I have plenty of space for my projects and always have a good overview. The fact that XP-Pen now also offers the touch function for MacOS is a clear advantage for me as a Macbook user. It works perfectly and responds quickly.
However, the most important aspect for me, drawing, is where the weaknesses become apparent. The cursor always lags behind, even with slow movements, and the tilt detection intervenes too much. According to XP-Pen, this shouldn't happen, but I can't change it. Only the pressure level recognition works well and can be customised to your own needs.
The current sales price on the XP-Pen website is just under 2000 euros. For the size and display quality, that would be absolutely fine, but I wouldn't accept the sluggish line guidance and poor tilt recognition at such a price. If this is just a software problem, XP-Pen could get behind it again. Until then, I recommend that you go for a predecessor (Gen 1), which I didn't have this problem with. A good alternative would be the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 Gen 3. This responds very quickly and pleasantly, but has software weaknesses when programming the shortcut keyboard and with the touch function for MacOS.
We currently only have the smaller 22-inch version in our range. However, the rest remains the same.
Pro
- Large, matt display
- Many customisation options
- 4K resolution
- Touch function also for MacOS
Contra
- carrier cursor
- Tilt adjustment too sensitive (can be deactivated)
Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away.
