XP-Pen Artist 12 GEN3 (CD121FH) notes
Overview
Good pen display at an excellent price.
Will be good for beginners or for a first tablet.
Very nice that the tablet comes with all the cables you need to connect via HDMI and USB-C (assuming your computer supports USB-C)
I am currently evaluating this tablet .
Unboxing and testing video: https://youtube.com/live/teEGX7G-gYs?feature=share
Basics
Product information
Product page: https://www.xp-pen.com/product/artist-12-3rd.html
Name: XP-Pen Artist 12 GEN3
Actually the name on the box is "XP-Pen Artist 12 3rd" but to be consistent with how I discuss other tablets I am using "GEN3" in the name.
Model number: CD121FH
Launch year: 2025
What's in the box
Drawing Display x 1
X4 Smart Chip Stylus x 1
Pen Nibs x 10
Nib Replacement Tool x 1
Full-featured USB-C to USB-C Cable x 1
3-in-1 USB-C Cable x 1
Warranty and Driver Download Card x 1
Glove x 1
Cleaning Cloth x 1
Foldable Stand x 1
Specs
Digitizer specs
digitizer type: EMR
digitizer resolution: 5080 LPI (200 LPmm)
Dimensions: 264.0 x 149.0 mm
Digonal: 11.9 in
Number of pressure levels: 16K
Tilt: YES
Tilt range: +/- 60 deg
Report rate: UNKNOWN
Accuracy:
Center ±0.2 mm
Corner: UNKNOWN
Display specs
Display panel: IPS
Native resolution: 1920x1080
Aspect ratio: 16x9
Surface: etched glass
XP-Pen says "AG + AF"
Lamination: YES
Brightness: 260 nit
Response time: UNKNOWN
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Viewing angle: 170°
Color bit depth: 8bpp
Color gamut:
99% sRGB
97% Adobe RGB
97% Display P3
Device specs
Size: 327.2 x 189.1 x 12.0 mm
Weight: 719 g
Ports:
Full-featured USB-C x 1
3-in-1 USB-C x 1
Both USB-C ports are recessed
Pen
Included pen
X4 Smart Chip Stylus my notes on this pen
Compatible pens
X4 Smart Chip Stylus
P-Pen does not list other pens as compatible - however these pens work
X3 Pro
X3 Pro Slim
X3 roller works (but roller cannot be configured)
Display
Brightness
TBD
Dead Pixels
NONE
AG Sparkle
LOW (GOOD)
Only noticable when eyes are very close to screen
Drawing experience
Static tracking accuracy
GOOD.
Corner and edge accuracy
TYPICAL - Slight deviation (~2mm) at corners and edges
Tilt compensation
Overall GOOD
But pointer deviates slightly to the left (~1mm) as the pen tilts to the left.
Diagonal wobble
Slightly diagonal wobble visible in strokes at all tested speeds. With the most at the slowest speed and declining as the stroke speed increased.
Most users will likely not notice any wobble.
If it does show up smoothing will remove it. In Krita, weighted stabilization with a distance value of 200 removed it.
Artifacts at low pressure
MINIMAL (GOOD)
Pressure banding
GOOD - no banding observed
Pressure scan rate
GOOD. No missed strokes
Parallax
Good (LOW)
Pointer lag
Slightly more than I would expect for a pen display.
Surface texture
Tested with the default plastic nib of the X4 pen.
Typical for pen displays - slight texture. Pen didn't feel slippery on the glass.
Similar feel to Wacom Movink 13 - just very slightly less
Connections and cabling
TBD
Other inputs
Buttons
8 buttons on the left side
They can be pressed from the left and from the top
It is NOT hard to press the buttons when the tablet is resting on a desk
Rollers
2 rollers on the left side
The rollers provide tactile feedback as you roll them and have a "click" sound
The rollers were could easily be used even when the tablet is resting on a desk
Ergonomics
VESA
Does not support VESA mounting
Stand
Does comes with a folding stand
Touch
No touch support.
Legs
No legs
Fans
None
Noise
No fan noise
The rollers have "click" when rolling. It is not loud, but louder than I expected.
Heat
At 100% brightness for an hour - seems overall room temperature with some light heat increasing toward the ports on the right
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