Key Takeaways
- Easy to set up and great value at under $40
- Compatible with Adobe Photoshop and more
- Customizable Express Keys for a seamless workflow
Wacom’s Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet is a cost-effective choice for digital artists who want to tackle everything from painting to 3D sculpting and sketching. The tablet includes a highly tactile surface, an intuitive pen tip, bundled design software for photo editing and illustration, and custom ExpressKeys that streamline repetitive tasks like selecting brushes and erasing strokes.
In this review, we outline the features, design, and ergonomics to help you decide if it’s right for your next digital art project.
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Recommendation
Wacom Intuos
$52 $70 Save $18
- Great deal for under $40
- Easy setup and intuitive design
- Compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and Clip Studio Paint
- Drawing area is limited
- Bundled software required for full functionality
- Only four customizable express keys
Pricing, Availability and Specifications
Wacom’s Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet can be purchased on Amazon for $39.95.
It’s compatible with Windows 7 and newer, Mac OSX 10.11 and newer, and Android devices using a standard USB Type-A to USB adapter. The Wacom website has all the drivers you need, along with the option to use bundled software like Corel Painter Essentials 6, Corel AfterShot, and Clip Studio Paint. Setup takes less than 10 minutes.
What I Like
Excellent overall performance for the price
The Wacom Intuos mini graphic drawing tablet is a versatile, dependable tool. Start with a simple, intuitive drawing experience. The pen features 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, giving you great control over line thickness and image opacity, helping you create truly compelling artwork. Drawing on this tablet feels natural and nearly identical to drawing on paper.
The tablet is fairly sturdy (if a little hollow), compact and portable, measuring just 7.87 x 6.3 x 0.35 inches and weighing less than 9 ounces. Comfortable rounded edges and four rubber feet keep it securely in place on your desk. Setup is also super easy: connect it to your computer with the included USB cable, install the drivers from Wacom’s website, download the bundled software, and start drawing. The setup documentation is easy to follow, even for those with limited technical knowledge.
“4096 levels of pressure allow the stylus to detect a wide range of pressure, allowing for variety in line thickness, opacity and other attributes.”
We also love that this Wacom tablet seamlessly integrates with Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter Essentials, and Corel AfterShot. Each piece of software has a different purpose: Painter Essentials is great for digital painting and illustration, while AfterShot excels at photo editing and is extremely versatile. Adobe Photoshop is versatile and has handy tools to customize brush settings for extra precision (e.g. changing brush size and opacity for better shading and blending). Plus, there are plenty of online guides and tutorials to help you get started.
One of our favorite features is the customizable ExpressKeys. These keys let you customize your workflow by applying shortcuts to repetitive tasks like undo, redo, delete strokes, switch tools, and more. It’s a great way to maintain continuity and minimize interruptions while drawing or sketching.
Another standout feature is the pen’s pressure sensitivity. 4,096 levels of pressure mean the stylus can detect a wide range of pressure, offering variety in line thickness, opacity, and other attributes. Lighter pressure results in thinner lines, while heavier pressure results in thicker, more opaque lines. Other popular tablets with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity include the Microsoft Surface and Samsung’s discontinued Galaxy Note series.
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What I didn’t like
Small drawing area and bundled software installation
One of the limitations of the Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet is its ergonomics. First, the drawing area is small and rougher than average, so the pen tip wears out quickly. Three replacement tips are included, but they wear out quickly with heavy use. Don’t be surprised if the tip becomes flat after a few months of heavy use.
Second, downloading the drivers and bundled software requires a bit of a learning curve. While the drivers are available online, the bundled software comes as a physical CD copy, and requires some patience and mental agility to navigate. However, once the tablet is fully set up, the tradeoff is worth the effort.
One of the limitations of the Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet is its ergonomics: Firstly, the drawing area is small and rougher than average, which means the pen tip wears out quickly.
In short, if you prefer a larger drawing area, avoid the Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet, but if you value portability and convenience over size, this tablet is a great choice.
The Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet offers a lot for its price. It performs well across a range of pressure levels, providing a satisfying drawing experience. Thin lines and uniform strokes are easy to produce, with minimal wobble.
Additionally, it’s very responsive, with no noticeable lag. However, the tablet’s texture is a bit rough, and the pen tip wears out quicker than average. Thankfully, the tablet comes with three replacement pens, which should last a few months with regular use.
In summary, if you’re a heavy-use artist, you might want to consider more expensive options like the Microsoft Surface Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab, but if you’re on a budget or rely on bundled software, this Wacom tablet is a solid choice.
Recommendation
Wacom Intuos
$52 $70 Save $18
