Wacom Cintiq 16 (2025) (DTK-168)

Overview

Wacom released three new Cintiq 2025 models in mid 2025. One of them is the Wacom Cintiq 16 (2025) (DTK-168).

This is a EXCELLENT tablet with an excellent drawing experience and very good display. It does miss some "Cintiq Pro" features but has the same great drawing experience as it relates to pressure, tilt, etc.

Basics

Device weight

Slightly heavier than other pen displays at this size

  • Wacom Cintiq 16 (2025): 1.5kg

  • Xencelabs Pen Display 16: 1.3 kg

  • Huion Kamvas 16 gen 3: 1.2kg

  • Wacom Movink 13: 0.420kg

Display specs

  • Display panel tech: IPS

  • Native resolution: 2560 x 1600

  • Aspect ratio: 16:10

  • Anti-glare treatment: AG glass

  • Laminated: YES - Wacom uses the term "bonded"

  • Response time: 12ms

Color

  • Color gamut (Wacom specified)

    • DCI-P3 99% (CIE1931) (typ)

    • sRGB 100% (CIE1931) (typ)

  • I was satisfied with color.

  • This is not a "wide-gamut" display

  • It colors are pleasing and a big improvement over older Cintiq (non Pro) models that had washed-out colors.

Antiglare sparkle

  • RATING: GOOD. Very low. .

  • Comparisons:

    • Similar to Wacom Cintiq Pro 22

    • Similar to Huion Kamvas Pro 19

    • Similar to Wacom Cintiq 24 (2025)

Pixel sharpness

  • Rating: GOOD

  • Pixels were clear and well-delineated

  • In comparison

    • Pixels looks sharper than Huion Kamvas Pro 19 which has a slight softness that many people notice and some do not like

    • How does it compare to a 4K at the same size? I would have a hard time telling this apart from 4K

Connections and cabling

Included cables

  • USB-C cable #1 su7pports power, data, and video (5Gbps and 60W)

  • USB-C cable #2 power only

Ports

  • USB-C for power

  • USB-C for power, video, data

  • mini-HDMI

    • it does NOT come with a mini-HDMI adapter.

Connection options

  • TBD add screenshots from Wacom doc

Connecting with a single USB-C cable

  • YES. This is supported. But your computer will need a USB-C port that must meet the requirements for power, data, and video signal.

  • Cabling notes

    • The included USB-C cable will work for this purpose.

      The included cable is 5Gbps and 60W

    • I also tested with a CableMatters Thunderbolt 3 cable.

  • Brightness when connected with a single USB-C cable

    • Was able to achieve 100% brightness in my scenarios

  • Connection scenario 1 (worked)

    • Tablet –> CableMatters TB3 -> CalDigit TS4 dock -> M1 MAX Mac Studio

  • Connection scenario2 (worked)

    • Tablet -> CableMatters TB3 -> M3 MacBook Pro

    • M3 Macbook Pro was not attached to power and was able to power the tablet

  • Notes

    • When using a single USB-C connection, if you attach a power cable the tablet will turn itelf off and then back

    • Can be a little tricky to put the cable in because of that 'thing' on the back

      • Some people consider using an USB-C L-type adapter

Surface texture

  • Surfce texture is very typical for a pen display.

  • Pen does not feel slipper on the surface when drawing

  • Cintiq 16 (2025) has the same amount of surface texture as Cintiq 24 (2025)

  • Cintiq 16 (2025) has a bit more than Kamvas 13 GEN3

  • Cintiq 16 (2025) has about the same as Movnk 13 (but has a different sensation)

  • Cintiq 16 (2025) has a bit more than Xencelabs Pen Display 16

  • Cintiq 16 (2025) has somewhat less than the Cintiq Pro 22

Touch

This tablet does not support touch.

On-Screen Display Menu (OSD)

  • Button above the power button on the right side of the tablet

  • Because there is no touch support, to use OSD must use then pen

  • Will have to pick language the first time to open the USD, before you can use OSD

PWM Flicker

  • No PWM flicker detected at any brightness level

  • Comparisons:

    • Movink 13 has obvious PWM flicker

  • NOTE: Link to flicker testing methodology

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