Model names vs model numbers

Overview

When purchasing or discussing drawing tablets you should never rely on the name alone. You should always make sure which model number you're talking about.

  • The naming of drawing tablets is simply too confusing.

  • The names can be confusingly similar.

  • The same name might be used for different versions in different years

  • The names meaning might have changed over the years.

All these issues can cause people to purchase the wrong tablet or purchase the wrong accessories for the tablet.

The same name used for multiple tablets

Example: Wacom One

Currently this describes 5 different tablets of different kinds and manufacturer in different years and of different levels of quality.

  • Wacom One GEN1 (DTC-133) - a pen display released in 2019

  • Wacom One 12 GEN2 (DTC-121) - a pen display released in 2023 (I don't recommend this tablet)

  • Wacom One 13 touch GEN2 (DTH-134) - a pen display released in 2023 (I don't recommend this tablet)

  • Wacom One S GEN2 (CTC-4110WL) - a pen tablet released in 2023 (I HIGHLY don't recommend this tablet)

  • Wacom One M GEN2 (CTC-6110WL) - a pen tablet released in 2023 (I HIGHLY don't recommend this tablet)

Names that are too similar

Example: Wacom One and One by Wacom

  • Wacom One - any one of 5 higher-end consumer tablets (3 pen displays and 2 pen tablets)

  • One by Wacom - two low-end consumer tablets. Don't let "low-end" fool you. These are excellent tablets.

Example: XP-Pen Artist 16 Pro and XP-Pen Artist Pro 16

These tablets names differ by where the word "Pro" is in their name. One has it in the middle and one has it a the end.

Names reused for different releases

Example: Wacom Intuos Pro

If you see an "Intuos Pro Medium" you have to verify whether it is a PTH-660 or PTH-850. The same goes for the small and large sizes.

Between the PTH-x60 and PTH-x651 there are differnces in

  • What kind of USB port the have

  • Which pen they come with

  • Which pens they are compatible with

Name
Model ID
Year

Intuos Pro Large

PTH-860

2017

Intuos Pro Large

PTH-851

2013

Intuos Pro Medium

PTH-660

2017

Intuos Pro Medium

PTH-651

2013

Intuos Pro Small

PTH-460

2019

Intuos Pro Small

PTH-451

2013

The similar names used across different brands

Example: Huion and XP-Pen

  • Huion Kamvas 22 Plus (GS2202)

  • XP-Pen Artist 22 Plus (MD220FH)

Meanings of names have changed over the years

Example: Wacom Intuos

Originally:

  • "Intuos" designated Wacom's professional line of pen tablets.

  • "Baboo" identified their consumer line

But Wacom at some point switched to:

  • "Intuos Pro" designated their professional line

  • "Intuos" identified their consumer line

PRO does not mean better

You will occasionally see a products marketed as:

  • Foobar tablet

  • Foobar tablet PRO

It is tempting to believe that the PRO version must be better.

This is sometimes NOT the case.

Sometimes PRO versions were released some years before the non-PRO versions and the technology of the non-PRO versions has surpassed that of the PRO models.

Tablets without model numbers

If you can't find the model number for a tablet, I don't suggest you get it.

  • If the manufacturer doesn't have a model number listed this typically indicates a very old and discontinued model

  • Not having a model number will make it more difficult for you get help from others. because, they may not be sure which tablet you are referring to.

Pro Tip: Use BOTH the model name and model number when talking about tables

Of course, model numbers are sometimes hard to read, mysterious, and people may not be familiar with them.

So, I suggest if you need to discuss a tablet use "Model name (Model number)" when talking about them. This keeps the reference to the tablet easy to use, and still makes it easy for people who are familiar with the model numbers to know which tablet you are talking about.

For example:

  • Wacom Intuos Pro Large (PTH-860)

  • Huion Kamvas Pro 19 (GT1902)

  • XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 GEN2 (MD160QH)

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