Wacom One 12' Pen Display Review

The new Wacom One is a fun pen display to draw with a needed screen upgrade but it lacks some of the features of its predecessor at the same price point.

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[rolfathan]

I'm glad the market drove them to finally offer some budget items. But truth is, the reason I left wacom wasn't just the price, price was just a great bonus. For me, it was that wacom drivers had just stopped working on me, from time to time, for a DECADE. Different builds, different versions of windows. It drove me absolutely insane. I switched to one of the cheaper ones, and sure, the software had some quirks, but it really WORKED. It didn't leave me spending hours reinstalling, uninstalling, searching forums, getting the same answers, and having none of them work.

[SheeplessNW]

The 2019 version of this is easy to find pre-owned on ebay, and I expect the same will happen with this one. It's easy to see why. Someone learning digital art buys one new, and then one of two things happens: either they struggle with drawing for a while and then rage-quit, or they do well and decide they need something less cramped. Either way, they put the One up for sale "lightly used", and you get a bargain.

[nichi]

OMG PEN AND CABLE AND STAND SOLD SEPARATELY PUT A BOMB

[Kogami]

I can understand having options of not including pen or cables to the more professional oriented Cintiq Pro 27 (even if I don't agree with it, for that matter) since professionals have likely owned multiple tablets prior to switching it to a 27 inch but its absurd doing it to an entry-level model, wow.

[GrantSR]

The à la carte edition only exists so they can market it as a $400 screen drawing tablet to "draw" people in. Wacom has gone full "car dealership."

[sloppynyuszi]

I don’t see why someone on a budget or young would get this over a tab s6 lite. For drawing it performs great, and if you on a budget I bet a decent pic that runs the art apps isn’t on the cards. It’s an inch smaller screen, but you have pinch and zoom, which makes it a lot better. If you do want to hook it up to a pc you can with a $10 app. It uses the same pen tech. And it costs the same.

[Hynotama]

Your art has improved a lot in recent years.

[victorizk]

Good review, as always! It's a shame that Wacom pretends to be the Apple of tablets... but without the quality enough to be the Apple of tablets in low prices. At the same time they're selling some products with that high amount prices for BEGINERS other companies offers the same for less, so it means it is possible to make those tablets more accessible for everyone, just they want money for the money... So sad, Wacom!

BTW, Brad, Have you reviewed the Ugee U 1600 tablet? It seems a good tablet, and cheap, and I'd like to know your opinion about it. ^^

[SoftwareManiacLSM]

Mine comes today. I need a real Wacom pen display in space saving size to go with MacBook Air 13. Love it!

[lazyleafcomics]

I have had the 2019 wacom one and there are some things I'd like to say from the experience. In my country, the wacom one, huions and xp-pens of similar specs do not have a significant price different. It might be 50-60 dollars at max. Yes there is no laminated display on the 2019 version and that is probably the only thing I miss. It has a great pen, feet to prop it up to a comfortable angle, is built quite solid compared to the huion's and xppen (Yes I have used the other pen displays as well) and has lasted me quite a while without any problems. It also has a bigger 13.3. inch screen. I have never had driver issues or malfunctions. I have even travelled with it quite a bit. It is a shame that wacom removed some of the features like the feet and put a smaller display. I'd say, if you do not mind the laminated display you could probably get a good deal on the 2019 version. Also, even the 2023 version is not a bad tablet by any means (I really love the one cable connection. Lovely while travelling). If you are someone who is a working artist and needs a reliable pen display which would last you for years to come, I'd close my eyes and pick a wacom.

[mgphyothant]

The previous Wacom One goes for $300 with everything you need to start drawing. It also has 13 inches screen. This one is charging $450 to get the whole package and it is even smaller than before. The resolution also is not changing either. Is this still a beginner drawing tablet? The price is closer to 15 inches Cintque.

[NightFoxZero]

So I used to primarily design usign non display tablets (Started with an Intuos Pro back in 2014) and then for the past few years have been drawing on iPads. I have some XP Pen tablets but after like a year the pens stopped working properly and I did confirm it was a widespread pen issue and software really does prefer Wacom so I looked around and found the Wacom one 13" for $180 refurbed (Fantastic price!). I used it for about an hour and the inital activation force problem is starting to really be a dealbreaker for me. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal but it really is. Also no buttons on the tablet at $300 is rough. Luckily I have a Huion KD-100 which helps tremendously but without it I'd be struggling super hard to make this tablet work. Might return it and try a Kamvas 13

[Pachupp]

its a versatile device. If you hit windows+P you can turn off screen and use it in intuos style M+ size. Its light, small, easy to carry, can be hooked to phone. This definitly has potential.

[stickgarrote]

That plastic anti-reflective screen protector is going to turn really messy in max 2 years time and then you have to peel it off, which is not trivial and also voids your warranty. I wish wacom would use weaker glue and admit that these need to be replaced periodically.

[thefloorhasgone]

Expensive by the time you add the pen, stand and cable...

[TsubasaGeass]

The new xppen 14 is a better offer than this around the same price, I say this as a wacom one 2019 user looking to upgrade.

[skubidubi-nd]

is it possible for this tablet to work on windows xp?

[franciscodetonne]

Wacom is really falling as now, while XP-Pen, Huion and Xencelab are making pen displays of almost the same quality for more affordable prices. They still make arguably the best stylus though.

PS. I'm pretty sure I'd save more just buying a Galaxy Tab S... Same pen, you can bring it with you away from the computer you need, and you can do many other things on it. Krita is on Android now and it's the same as PC version, so I'm set.
Also, using my fingers directly on the screen for commands is easier for me than using shortcut buttons on the side.

[sampayne]

Hey Brad! Are we getting a separate review for the 13 touch model, or is it too similar to this model for you to do a review?

Thanks for all your work, love your stuff!

[YuiAsaFuru]

I have 13qt pro touch from 2014. The few things I see that change is presser on the pen and the cables. As well as the screen. Tho the price isn’t bad for $350-$400