7P: Wacom Intuos Pro 2025 (PTK-x70)
Last updated
Last updated
This is an EXCELLENT tablet, but may not be the right one for you if:
You do not like the new ExpressKeys placement
The lack of multi-touch support
You are already happy with an Intuos Pro 2017 model
If you would rather watch:
But do check this document for any updates since the original video was published.
No improvement to drawing performance
ExpressKeys and dials moved to the top
Multitouch support dropped
Bezels are significantly smaller
Comes with Pro Pen 3 instead of Pro Pen 2
Size & weight
16x9 aspect ratio
Larger native active area
Big increase in active area when using Force Proportions on 16:9 monitors
Pen compatibility
Pro Pen 3 is very customizable
Wireless connectivity
Your first pro tablet? → YES
Want the best? → YES
Upgrade from 2017 edition? → MAYBE
Need multitouch support? → NO
Complex topic. Will address in May 2025.
From 2009 to 2025, there have been 4 editions of profesional pen tablets from Wacom and all have maintain a consistent layout with expresskeys on the left. Therefore the new layout of this tablet was quite surprising for many of us.
It's always helpful to be clear on the model numbers so that you don't buy the wrong version of the tablet.
Although not everyone shares this opinion, I find it a very beautiful and professional-looking tablet.
One of the interesting design touches, is a slight texture on the non-drawing surface os the tablet.
Nothing too surprising, you get the tablet, pen, pen stands, and nibs.
This is a little bit of a disappointment. Some other brands are starting to include 2 pens with some of their professional models.
For example, as of April 2025, here is a partial list of tablets that come with two pens
Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium
Huion Kamvas Pro 19
Huion Kamvas Pro 27
XP-Pen Artist Pro 19 GEN2
Pressure levels - 8192
Digitizer resolution - 5080 LPI (200 LPmm)
Tilt - Yes
Tilt range - ± 60°
Report rate - Unknown – will investigate
Although the included Pro Pen 3 does not support barrel rotation. You can use the Wacom Art Pen (KP-701E) that does support rotation with the tablet.
Summary: The drawing performance is excellent and keeps the same quality as the previous Intuis Pro 2017 edition.
EVALUATION: Very good. Low amount of diagonal wobble. Similar to Intuos Pro 2017 edition.
EVALUATION: VERY GOOD
Even as I tilted the pen at different angles, the pointer did not deflect much from the tip of the pen.
EVALUATION: VERY GOOD (VERY LOW)
As expected, the pointer trailed the physical tip of the only by a little bit. It was about the same as the pointer lag of the Intuos Pro 2017 model. In general, Wacom has excellent, low pointer lag in their pen tablets.
EVALUATION: TYPICAL. When using large brushes and drawing at very light pressure you may notice a lot of instability in the pressure. This is normal for Wacom Intuos Pro (and many other tablets and pens). You can use pressure curves and pressure smoothing to minimize these issues if you encounter them.
Keep in mind this is a very extreme test. Normally you should not notice these issues.
These were the pressure curves and pressure smoothign amounts (in Krita) that controlled that behavior.
Unlike the previous Intuos Pro 2017 (PTK-x60) series, the Intuos Pro 2025 (PTK-x70) series does NOT support multitouch.
The PTK-x70 series tablers comes with pairs of ExpressKey rings and dials.
Though do be aware that the number of ExpressKeys and dials depends on which size tablet in the PTK-x70 series you get.
It is possible to accidentally hit he ExpressKeys and dials depending on how the tablet is configured on your keyboard.
Tablet next to keyboard - no accidental presses
Tablet underneath the keyboard - no accidental presses while drawing, but accidental presses did happen when reaching for keys toward the top of the keyboard.
Accidental presses were not possible in the way draw - I use a tourbox device. So my keyboard is not near the tablet at all. So accidental presses did not happen for me.
Ultimately, I disabled all the ExpressKeys and dials - I simply did not need them.
I did accidentally hit the ExpressKeys when I meant to hit the dial and vice versa. They are very similar in size, shape, and close together. Often I reached and touched the wrong one. Over time I may have been to train my brain a bit better.
Another topic that comes up with the expresskeys is how the hand that uses the expresskey is placed on the tablet.
With the Intuos Pro 2017, the non-drawing hand can stay near or on the ExpressKeys without covering the active area.
However with the Intuos Pro 2025, the non-drawing hand will cover some part of the active area. Some people find that this interferes with their experience since they have to move the non-drtawing hand out of the way much more often.
Be aware that the dials only support Rotation. They do not support pressing the dial as a third action. This is not a problem, but I am just used to being able to do that with the TourBox dials so I wanted to mention it.
The dials feel nice to rotate. Rotating produces soft click feeling and small sound.
The dials do not rotate too easily nor do they require too much force to rotate.
It is not obvious in pictures but the ExpressKey rings have 5 buttons. The fifth button in the middle is used to switch what the other 4 buttons do.
Physically the new devices are smaller than their 2017 counterparts. but their active areas have grown in size. So, you have more room than every for drawing despite the sizes of the devices shrinking.
The 2017 models had unusal aspect ratios, while the new devices all have 16x9 (or incredibly close to it) aspect ratios. This has a nice consequence. If you use a 16x9 monitor you have to turn on Force Porportions to draw normally with the 2017 models. But FP is not needed and has no effect on the new models with a 16x9 monitor. Because a mismatch in aspect ratios between the pen tablet's active area and the monitor causes Force Proportions to stop using some amount of active area ... when you take this into account the new tablets in practice give you much more active area than the 2017 models.
LARGE
PTH-860
430 x 287 mm
1234.1 cm2
PTK-870
377 x 253 mm 953.81 cm2
MEDIUM
PTH-660
338 x 219 mm 740.22 cm2
PTK-670
291 x 206 mm 599.46 cm2
SMALL
PTH-460
269 x 170 mm 457.3 cm2
PTK-470
215 x 163 mm 350.45 cm2
LARGE
PTH-860
311 x 216 mm 671.76 cm2
PTK-870
349 x 195 mm 680.55 cm2
MEDIUM
PTH-660
224 x 148 mm 331.52 cm2
PTK-670
264 x 148 mm 390.72 cm2
SMALL
PTH_460
160 x 100 mm 160.0 cm2
PTK-470
187 x 105 mm 196.35 cm2
LARGE
PTH-860
311 x 174.94 mm 544.06 cm2
PTK-870
349 x 195 mm 680.55 cm2
MEDIUM
PTH-660
224 x 126.0 mm 282.24 cm2
PTK-670
264 x 148 mm 390.72 cm2
SMALL
PTH-460
160 x 90.0 mm 144.0 cm2
PTK-470
187 x 105 mm 196.35 cm2
LARGE
PTH-860
TBD
PTK-870
16:9 (1.79)
MEDIUM
PTH-660
TBD
PTK-860
16:9 (1.784)
SMALL
PTH-460 TBD
PTK-460
16:9 (1.781)
Also note that the new Intuos Pro 2025 large is physically very close in size to the Intuos Pro 2017 medium. This may make the 2025 large model a bit easier to place on the desktop for those of you interested in a large pen tablet.
With the device sizes shrinking but the active area increasing, the bezels have really changed size.
3 Bezels have significantly shrunk
TOP bezel which has grown a bit to hold the ExpressKeys and dials
All numbers here are approximate
TOP
30
40
+10mm
+33.3%
RIGHT
60
10
-50mm
-83.3%
BOTTOM
35
10
-25mm
-71.2%
LEFT
60
10
-50mm
-83.3%
Numbers don't capture the the difference. Here's a photo with purple tape over the right bezel of both tablets.
Bezels provide a place for your hand to rest as you draw. This is a fact I don't think I appreciated until I drew more with the Intuos Pro 2025 medium.
When drawing with the Intuos Pro 2017 medium, as the pen reaches the edge of the active area the hand can stay on the bezel almost the entire time. Only sometimes does the hand need to touch the desk - and even then the hand is still mostly resting on the tablet.
When drawing with the Intuos Pro 2025 medium, even when the pen is some distance from the edge of the active area the hand will make contact and partially rest on the desk. By the time the pen reaches the edge of the active area, the entire hand will be resting on the desk.
There is a slight bump at the edge of the tablet. In photos, it is hard to tell any difference in photos with the Intuos Pro 2025 medium and the Intuos Pro 2017 medium.
But you can feel the difference. The diagram below exaggerates the feeling, but with the 2025 medium you can definitely feel the edge of the tablet more. While not painful and it does not "dig into" the hand, I do notice it and other users might be disturbed by it.
Answer: IT DEPENDS
It was OK for ME.
Tablet is very thin - hand did not “fall off a cliff”
Hand will transition from tablet to the desk
Edge did not “dig into” hand – but definitely more noticeable
I can now understand why people like wider bezels-
However, ...
As of the May 2025, I’m still adapting to it
For some people this could be an issue
In the future: ...
I will try to test out smaller bezels with any other tablet
The tablet is slightly thinner than the previous 2017 edition and has a slight wedge shape where thinner at the bottom and thicker at the top.
The thickness and wedge shape are very similar to the Wacom Movink 13.
40% weight reduction across all models
The 2025 LARGE model weighs less than the 2017 MEDIUM model
The 2025 MEDIUM model weighs less than the 2017 SMALL model
Large
1300g
660g
-49.23%
Medium
700g
411g
-41.286%
Small
450g
240g
-40.67%
Does it slide around on the desk as you draw? NO. While drawing, it will NOT slide . Moves only if you deliberately force it to move. Requires less force to move than the PTH-660
Summary: Great texture feeling across all nib types.
Compared to Intuos Pro 2017 (PTH-660)
Has slightly less texture
Feels “softer” through the pen
Exhibits less texture erosion (in my initial two week testing)
Nib wear due to texture:
Over time, I would EXPECT nibs to wear down less
Only time will tell
Noise due to texture
Significantly muted / Much harder to hear
Not “scratchy”
The tablet supports both wired and wireless connection.
The port is located on the right side, close to the top.
These tablets support both wired and wireless connection.
USB-C Port location: top right
Multiple wireless connections: TBD
The tablet comes with USB-A → USB-C cable
Should be able to use any USB-C cable that supports data
I tested with these three cables (all worked):
Included USB-A → USB-C cable
Intuos Pro 2017 cable
Monoprice USB 2.0 USB-A → USB-C cable
The included USB cable no longer has an L-shaped connecter like the cable that came with the 2017 Intuos Pro.
Summary
Physical switch on top controls which whether to use wired or one of two wireless connections
Can pair with two devices wireless. Switching between devices accomplished through the physical switch. This makes it convenient to when moving between computers since all you have to do is change the switch position and you do not have to re-pair the device each time.
Wireless testing
Wirelss worked
I was easily able to switch between two paired devices usinfg the switch
In my subjective evaluation the wireless connection has a little bit more pointer lag than the wired connection. If may not bother many people but if you want/need the lowst pointer lag, you should use wired connections.
Wacom sells texture sheets in case you scratch up the drawing surface and want to restore it to its original pristine state. The texture sheets are available in 3 sizes (Large, Medium, Small) and only one texture (Standard).
There are two driver configuration UIs available for Wacom tablets: Wacom Center and Wacom Tablet properties. For the Intuos Pro 2025, most features are available in both apps, but some are available only in Wacom Center.
Available in BOTH
Tablet orientation
Pen vs Mouse mode
Screen area (full, portion, & specific monitors)
Tablet area (full, portion, force proportions)
Windows Ink
Tip feel (a.k.a. "the pressure curve")
Pen Button actions
Available only in Wacom Center for Intuos Pro 2025
ExpressKey actions
Dial actions
Overall for PTK-670 with Pro Pen 3
Wired: 300Hz
Wireless: 260Hz
Overall for PTK-670 with Pro Pen 2
Wired: 260Hz
Wired: 230Hz
PTK-670 Pro Pen 3 Wired
OpenTabletDriver
300Hz
OTD tablet debugger, skill-test.net
PTK-670 Pro Pen 3 Wired
Wacom driver
300Hz
skill-test.net
PTK-670 Pro Pen 2 Wired
OpenTabletDriver
200Hz
OTD tablet debugger, skill-test.net
PTK-670 Pro Pen 2 Wired
Wacom driver
200Hz
skill-test.net
PTK-670 Pro Pen 3 Wireless
Wacom driver
260Hz
skill-test.net
PTK-670 Pro Pen 2 Wireless
Wacom driver
230Hz
skill-test.net
Reference:
Wacom Pro Pen 3 (ACP-500)
TESTED
NO
YES
SPECIFIC pens using “Wacom UD EMR”
TESTED
NO
YES
Wacom Pro Pen 2 (KP-504E)
TESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Pro Pen Slim (KP-301E)
UNTESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Pro Pen 3D (KP-505)
UNTESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Grip Pen (KP-501E)
TESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Pro Pen (KP-503E)
TESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Art Pen (KP-701E)
TESTED
YES
YES
Wacom Airbrush Pen (KP-400E)
UNTESTED
?
?
Wacom 4K pen (LP-1100K)
TESTED
NO
NO
Wacom 2K pen (LP-190)
TESTED
NO
NO
Wacom lists these pens as compatible with Intuos Pro 2025
Hi-uni DIGITAL for Wacom (CP20206BZ)
STAEDTLER, Noris digital
STAEDTLER Noris digital jumbo
LAMY safari twin pen all black EMR Digital Writing
LAMY AL-star black EMR Digital Writing
Dr. Grip Digital for Wacom (CP202A01A/CP202A02A)
THIRDWAVE Mitsubishi 9800 digitizer pen
Galaxy S22 Ultra S pen
Kaweco AL SPORT Connect EMR Black
I also tested these UD EMR pens and can confirm they work
Wacom CP-913 (comes with Wacom One 2019)
Wacom CP-923 (comes with Wacom One 2023)
Samsung S Pen (that comes with Samsung Galaxy Tab)
Samsung S Pen creator edition
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra S pen
Compatibility
Not all UD EMR pens are compatible. But many are. Before you buy any UD EMR confirm compatiblity first.
Drawing performance
UD EMR pens have noticeably higher IAF
UD EMR pens have much lower max pressure
Some UD EMR pens have only 1 button
Stroke quality is just OK
Cost benefits
UD EMR pens cost ~$30 USD
$130 USD for Pro Pen 3
$80 USD for Pro Pen 2
Recommendation
Consider UD EMR pens as a backup pens
Skill-test.net page:
