wacom cintiq pro 13 vs 16

Let Me Help You Pick The Right Cintiq Model

Picking the right Cintiq model can be a bit tricky. While having a certain budget may filter out some of the older models for you, you could be still end up with few models to pick from. For that reason, I made this comparison of various Cintiq models, which I tried to showcase all the differences between the different models, and in each category that's important to artists.

In a nutshell, if you want a portable model to carry with you, then Cintiq 13HD & Cintiq Pro 13 are your best bets. You can also carry Cintiq Pro 16 with you with some efforts too (I did it myself when I had one).

The larger models, like Cintiq Pro 24, Cintiq 22HD, Cintiq 24HD & Cintiq 27QHD, gives you more drawing space, especially if you don't want to zoom in & out at all (it's not wrong to want to do that), or if you want to draw with your arm instead of your wrist. If you bought one of these models and turned out to be larger than you need, it may not hurt your ability to create art, but you may find yourself drawing at a small part of the screen most of the time (usually at the middle).

All the models demonstrated here come in different resolutions, they range from HD resolution (1920X1080) to QHD(2560×1440) to 4K(3840X2160). Some artists prefer higher resolution to draw with, but that can make the icons smaller in some programs.

Bear in mind that getting higher resolutions than 1080P out of your Cintiq may require you to use certain ports, and sometimes purchase certain adapters, depending on the Cintiq model. For example, Cintiq 27QHD only display the QHD resolution when connected using Displayport, if you connected it using HDMI port, you only get 1080P resolution. Cintiq Pro 16 also displays 4K when connected with USB-C with alternate mode, you can get 4K from mini-Displayport using a certain cable. I talk about that in more details in the list of this comparison.

For Cintiq Pro 24, you will need to have HDMI 2.0 on your computer. USB-C port also supports 4K resolution. Connecting Cintiq Pro 24 to Displayport, or to mini-Displayport using the included DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter is another way to get 4K out of it. I wonder why Wacom requires HDMI 2.0 for getting 4K resolution, as HDMI 1.4 supports that resolution.

Certain Cintiq models have different issues, like the cable problems in Cintiq 13HD, or the possible dead pixels in Cintiq Pro 24. It's better knowing about these issues beforehand, as you are going to spend a small fortune on your device.

You can find all the available Cintiq models in the following Amazon links:-

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Quickly go to:-

About This Cintiq Models Comparison
Screen Resolution
Drawing Aspects
Screen Size
Parallax
Supported Display Ports
Expresskeys & Shortcuts
External Ports
VESA Mount & Ergotron Arm
Touch Feature
Creative PC Module (Cintiq Pro 24 & Cintiq Pro 32 Only)
Other Issues
- Cintiq 13HD Cable Issues
- Cintiq 22HD Grainy Screen
- Heavy Cintiq 24HD
- Fans Noise For Cintiq Pro 24
Possible Dead Pixel With Citniq Pro 24
Comparison Table
A Final Word On This Mega Cintiq Comparison
See Also:-

About This Cintiq Models Comparison

Cintiq-Pro-24-Review-Featured

Just like the case with all my comparisons, I won't pass judgment here. Instead of that, I will give you information about each Cintiq model to help you make your decision. If there's anything missing you're looking for in this comparison, contact me & I will try to add it here.

I have included some of the older Cintiq models, mainly because they are better in certain situations. The prices of these models have also dropped after the introduction of the newer models, making them a good solution for those looking for an affordable Cintiq. Sometimes some of these older models are available in eBay for a good price too.

I am aware that some of you want to use this guide to compare two certain models you have in mind, so I made the comparison so that you can only read the parts that interest you. I even made all the Cintiq model names bold to help you only read the parts related to each model too. In addition to that, I included a large comparison tablet at the end of the comparison for that reason too.

I am aware that Cintiq Pro 32 is not out yet, but I included it in the comparison to have a place for me to update this review later on. For the time being, I will mention everything I know about it so far.

If you're only interested in a certain model, kindly find a dedicated review for it in the following links:-

Cintiq 13HD Review
Cintiq 22HD review
Cintiq 24HD review
Cintiq 27QHD review
Cintiq Pro 13 review
Cintiq Pro 16 review
Cintiq Pro 24 review

Screen Resolution

Getting-4K-Resolution-From-Cintiq-Pro-USB-C-DisplayPort

Neither Cintiq 22HD, Cintiq 24HD, Cintiq 13HD nor Cintiq Pro 13 support 4K, as you can infer from the name of some of these models, they support HD resolution (1920×1080), a resolution also known as 1080p, the lowest resolution you can find in this comparison. Some artist prefer to draw in higher resolution, while some others won't care much, as 1080 is good enough for a lot of things. Especially giving how resolution won't get icons to appear very small like in the case of 4K (some applications like Photoshop has the option to scale things up for that reason).

The following Cintiq models support 1080p, and nothing more than that:-

Cintiq 13HD
Cintiq 22HD
Cintiq 24HD
Cintiq Pro 13

Cintiq 27QHD comes in the middle of all that, with a QHD resolution(2560 X 1440), if you care about high resolution but don't want 4K, this is a good resolution to get. Cintiq 27QHD also have other advantages, as you will see later.

The rest of the Cintiq Pro models all support up to 4K resolution(3840X2160). The main issue with 4K is that you have to use the right cable & ports to actually get it. Back when I had a Cintiq Pro 16, I was only able to get 4K resolution when I used the USB-C port in my Acer Switch 5 tablet. I had to order Accell Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort 1.2 Cable with Locking Latch cable, which directly links your computer DisplayPort to your the Wacom Link's mini DisplayPort port. You can find the cable in the following Amazon links:-
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Here are the Cintiq models that support 4K:-

Cintiq Pro 16
Cintiq Pro 24
Cintiq Pro 32

You can see the approximate difference between the different screen sizes discussed here:-

Cintiq-Mega-Comparison-Different-Screen-Sizes

Drawing Aspects

When it comes to pressure sensitivity, the Cintiq models in this comparison come in two groups. The first group supports 2048 levels of pressure, while the other support 4 times that amount, or 8192 levels.

The Cintiq models that supports 2048 levels are:-

Cintiq 13HD
Cintiq 22HD
Cintiq 24HD
Cintiq 27QHD

The Cintiq models that supports 8192 levels are:-

Cintiq Pro 13
Cintiq Pro 16
Cintiq Pro 24
Cintiq Pro 32

I dare say that for the Cintiq models in this comparison, if the model name has Pro in it, then it supports 8192 levels of pressure. Otherwise, it supports 2048 levels.

To be quite honest with you, pressure is not a reason to get any of the newer 4 models. As you are unlikely going to benefit that much from the additional pressure. I have always said in this blog how pressure is a marketing ploy for the most part. It's the other aspects of this comparison that should matter to you, like the screen size, resolution, supported colors, Expresskeys (if you use them), supported display ports & more. Parallax is one more area that can make a difference too.

Screen Size

The various Cintiq models we have here provide with multiple sizes to draw from, from a sketchbook-sized drawing area to a large canvas. It's easy to see that Wacom kept making larger Cintiq models over time. It's a bit hard to recommend a specific screen size to everyone, as the best size for you depends mainly on your preferences. The larger Cintiqs makes it easier to draw without having to zoom in. Nothing is wrong with zooming in, but it's more convenient not having to do that. The larger Cintiqs makes it easier to draw using your arms, as opposed to the smaller Cintiqs, where you will have to draw with your wrist instead. Needless to say, the smaller Cintiqs are easier to carry around with you in a laptop bag or something (The Cintiq Pro 16 is somewhat portable, but it was a bit of a pain for me to carry back when I had it).

Here are the approximate screen sizes for the various Cintiq models:-

Cintiq 13HD:- 13.3 inches
Cintiq 22HD:- 21.5 inches
Cintiq 24HD:- 24.1 inches
Cintiq 27QHD:- 27 Inches
Cintiq Pro 13:- 13.3 Inches
Cintiq Pro 16:- 15.6 Inches
Cintiq Pro 24:- 23.6 Inches
Cintiq Pro 32:- ~32 Inches

Parallax

Generally speaking, artists noted that Parallax kept improving with each iteration in Cintiqs. If you don't know about Parallax, it's a slight misalign between the cursor and the pen tip. It can make it annoying to draw, but you could get used to it after you use your Cintiq for a while. You may have to recalibrate the pen every time you change your posture, or the parallax could get worse. It's worth noting that Calibrating the pen in a certain way can make parallax less obvious. The lack of parallax in competitive digitizers, like the one in iPad Pro, make some people go to these devices.

Some artists who used both Cintiq Pro 13 & Cintiq 13HD say there has been no difference. If you're fine with the other issues of Cintiq 13HD, then you could have a decent affordable Cintiq. As I just said, even with some parallax in your Citniq, you will be able to get used to it.

Supported Display Ports

Cintiq-Pro-Connect-To-HDMI-Mini-DisplayPort-DisplayPort

Cintiq 13HD, and its touch counterpart, requires HDMI port, making it compatible with all modern computers. Even if your computer has a displayport or mini DisplayPort, you can easily convert it to HDMI with an adapter.

Cintiq 22HD only supports DVI-I port, but if you want, you can convert it to HDMI using the following adapter:-

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Cintiq 24HD supports older display ports as well, like VGA & DVI. Making them suitable to use with older computers, even newer computers can support them with the right adapters.

Out of the box, Cintiq Pro 13 & 16 supports only two ports, USB-C with alternate mode, as well as mini-DisplayPort using the included Wacom link. You can connect it to Displayport using a cheap adapter too. This is a big bummer if you have a computer with HDMI port only, specially giving how many of the other Cintiq models supported that port easily, either directly or using a cheap adapter. I have wrote a guide on how to connect Cintiq Pro to different computers here if you plan to get this model.

On the other hand Cintiq Pro 24 did much better than the smaller Cintiq Pro models. As it supports HDMI 2.0 port, DisplayPort (DP) port, as well as USB-C to connect it to your computer. Since DisplayPort can be converted to mini Display Port easily, that makes it 4 support ports so far. In additional to that, you can get 4 USB 3.0 (only if you used USB-C), which can be useful in many ways.

The support of HDMI in Cintiq Pro 24 is a sign that Wacom has listened to our complains of the lack of HDMI in the smaller Cintiq Pro models.

I am not sure what ports Cintiq 32 will support, but I imagine it to be very similar to Cintiq Pro 24.

You can find all the available Cintiq models in the following Amazon links:-

#CommissionsEarned

Expresskeys & Shortcuts

Expresskey Touch Ring Wacom Cintiq Expresskeys

The older Cintiq models have Expresskeys on the top of them, this is an advantage for these models if you care about that. This may not be a reason to go for the older models on its own, but it's totally worth mentioning here. If you're the kind of artists that uses the keyboard for shortcuts, then this won't really matter much for you (I alternate between the two, depending on what I am working on, but I mostly use Keyboard shortcuts).

Cintiq 13HD has 4 Expresskeys, and one rocker button (The same goes for the touch version of it). While Cintiq 22HD has a whopping 16 express keys, 8 on each side, as well as two touch stripes at the back of it.

The Cintiq 24HD follows the same trend, and it has 5 Expresskeys & one touch ring on each side.

The issue with having two sets of Expresskeys on each side is that it's hard to use them all, you mostly have no choice draw with one hand and use half the Expresskeys with your other hand. I guess that's why Wacom stopped having the keys like that in the models that followed.

Starting from Cintiq 27QHD, there's no longer Expresskeys on the Cintiq itself. It's the first Cintiq model to be like that. If you want Expresskeys, you need to use the Expresskey remote, or just use the keyboard.

Cintiq Pro 13 & 16 not only lack Expresskeys, but you don't get the Expresskey Remote with it. You need to buy it separately if you want any sort of hotkeys. For Cintiq 24 Pro, the Expresskey Remote comes with it out of the box.

If you're curious about it, the Expresskey Remote has 17 customizable keys, as well as a touch ring, here's how it looks like:-

Expresskey-Remote

Having the Expresskeys come with the Cintiq Pro 24 makes it a much better deal than Cintiq Pro 16. Not only you get the remote, but also won't need any sort of adapter to connect it to HDMI port. The cost of getting all these in addition to Cintiq Pro 16 makes the overall cost close to getting the Cintiq Pro 24, which offers larger drawing area.

From the pictures, Cintiq Pro 32 also have no express, but I expect it to come with the Expresskey remote as well.

External Ports

Some of the models has external ports to connect your devices and all. Cintiq Pro 13 & 16 has 3 USB-C ports, while you need to use 2 of these for power and to connect it to your computer, you will be left out with one USB-C port for all your other needs. There's also headphone jack, as well as SDXC card reader on the side of it.

Cintiq 27QHD has 5 USB.0 ports, while There are 4 USB 3.0 ports on Cintiq Pro 24, to benefit from them, you need to connect it to your computer using USB-C. Even with that, you may not get the full USB 3.0 speed, especially if you ran it on 4K resolution.

VESA Mount & Ergotron Arm

The support of a VESA mount, and subsequently Ergotron arm. Varies heavily based on the model. Some models are ready to support it out of the box, while some others are ready for it out of the box.

Cintiq 13HD doesn't support any mount, some artists mounted it with brackets, the same goes for Cintiq Pro 13 & 16.

Cintiq 24HD is too heavy to be mounted easily using most mounts, so it's advisable to never get that model in case you want to mount it to an arm.

Cintiq 22HD is easy to mount, as it supports VESA MIS-D standard. So no effort of any kind is needed to mount it.

Cintiq 27QHD is also easy to mount, but you will need to get a good arm that can withstand its weight, I recommend the following arm for that purpose, which you can get from the following Amazon links:-

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ERGOTRON LX Sit-Stand Desk Mount LCD Arm on Amazon

Adaptiq-VESA-Mount-Adapter-For_Wacom-Cintiq-Pro-24-Inch-DTK-2420-DTH-2420-3

On the other hand, Cintiq Pro 24 supports a weird hole pattern, which is only compatible with Wacom's own Ergo stand. Fortunately, you can get the following adapter from the following Amazon link, which totally solves this issue for many people:-

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I have written a guide on how to mount Cintiq Pro 24 to Ergotron arm (or any device that supports VESA mount).

It's likely that Cintiq Pro 32 will support a similar hole pattern like Cintiq Pro 24. For the reason, I hope the adapters for the Cintiq Pro 24 to work with it.

I expect the Cintiq Pro 32 to have similar issue, but at least we have a solution for it now. Also, there are rumors that Wacom is working on its own arm that are compatible with their own Cintiqs.

Touch Feature

Cintiq13HD Touch Productivity f

Some Cintiq models support touch out of the box, while some others have a separate touch model. Cintiq 13HD, Cintiq 22HD, Cintiq 24HD & Cintiq 27QHD all have a touch counterpart. Cinitq Pro 13 & 16 have touch out of the box, while the newer Cintiq Pro 24 has touch & non-touch models too.

While the touch feature is great in theory, it's not necessarily as smooth as the iPad Pro, and the difference in price between the non-touch models & the touch one makes me hesitant to recommend you to get it, especially if this is your first Cintiq ever. If you decided to get some of the newer models (Cintiq Pro 13 & 16), then getting touch or not something you need to worry about. Getting touch is more affordable in Cintiq Pro 13 & 16, since there's no touch model that's much more expensive.

Creative PC Module (Cintiq Pro 24 & Cintiq Pro 32 Only)

Wacom-Cintiq-Pro-Creative-Engine

Cintiq Pro 24 & 32 came with something none of the other Cintiq models ever did, which is the support for Creative PC Module. This optional model can convert your Cintiq into an All-In-One computer. This is a nice feature for those who want to have an all-in-one computer with a Wacom Cintiq in it.

The PC Engine is interchangeable, you can remove it from one Cintiq Pro 24 & into another Cintiq Pro 24, or to a Cintiq Pro 32, and then continue working in the same PC environment, I expect that Wacom will release compatible PC Engines with more horsepower in the future. While that's nice and all, you can actually do the exact same thing with a laptop & any Cintiq model though, including the other models mentioned in this comparison, as long as the laptop supports the display port required by the respective Citniq model.

It's worth noting that the PC Engine is a bit flexible when it comes to upgrades, since you can upgrade the ram & the SSD when the need arise to, that's a bit better than the Surface Studio, which you can't upgrade the ram at all.

The idea of a PC Module like that is very neat, the main issue with it is the price. The module is a bit too expensive compared to building a computer with the same specifications or getting an equivalent laptop to it. In the case you got a laptop, you get a laptop with a screen, keyboard & battery. You could take that laptop with you to do some work on the go. I have written a very detailed post discussing whether it's worth to get the Creative Engine or not, and where I compare it to two imaginary PC builds.

In nutshell, the module overpriced for the specifications it provides. I only recommend it in case you don't care about the cost at all, or in the situations where having all-in-one computer & no cable clutter is very important to you. All-In-One computers tend to cost more than regular computers overall, generally speaking.

The PC Engine is something I really wish we could have for the MobileStudio Pro, as not being able to upgrade it makes it get obsolete faster than most laptops, and so having more flexibility there can allow us to keep the digitizer for much longer.

Other Issues

Some of the issues for certain Cintiq models don't' fit into any of the categories above, but they're totally worth mentioning. These issues may be a deal-breaker for you, especially giving the high price you're going to pay for these models.

Cintiq 13HD Cable Issues

Cintiq 13HD has silly cable that disconnects easily. Since it's a small model that's tempting to place on your lap while drawing, possibly while sitting on couch. This can be very annoying. The cable can be damaged easily too. This probably won't be an issue if you play to place it on your desk and rarely move it.

Cintiq 22HD Grainy Screen

Cintiq 22HD has grainy screen, it's not a defect in the screen or something, but it's as if some sort of screen protector was stuck to it. This is something you need to prepare yourself with. Some artists got used to it, while some others returned their Cintiq 22HD for that reason.

Heavy Cintiq 24HD

As mentioned earlier, Cintiq 24HD is the heaviest Cintiq model ever, so that won't just affect your ability to mount it to an arm, but shipping cost too. You may need to replace your desk in case it cannot withstand the weight of that mighty Cintiq.

Fans Noise For Cintiq Pro 24

While the Cintiq Pro 24 is a nice & large pen display. It has one issue that may annoy you as hell, which is the fans noise. Even at 50% brightness, the noise may be very annoying. Setting brightness to 100% can be even worse. If you're the kind of artists that have headphones on while working, this may not be a huge of an issue for you.

Possible Dead Pixel With Citniq Pro 24

Many users of Cintiq Pro 24 complained about having a dead pixel in their unit. I honestly hope they fix that issue soon. It's worth noting that dead pixels is something that appeared on other Cintiq models too.

Comparison Table

Kindly find a comparison table of all the Wacom models discussed here.

	Cintiq 13HD	Cintiq 22HD	Cintiq 24HD	Cintiq 27QHD	Cintiq Pro 13	Cintiq Pro 16	Cintiq Pro 24	Cintiq Pro 32
Model Number	DTK1300	DTK-2200	DTK-2400	DTK2700	DTH1320K0	DTH1620K0	DTK-2420	???
Screen Resolution	1920X1080	1920X1080	1920X1080	2560×1440	1920X1080	3840X2160	3840X2160	3840X2160
Screen Aspect Ratio	16:9	16:10		16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9
Colors	16.7 million	16.7 million	16.7 Million	1.07 billion (Requires DisplayPort and video card supporting 10 bit color)	16.7 Million	16.7 Million	1.07 billion colors (10 bits color)	???
Color Gamut	75% Adobe RGB	72% Adobe RGB	92% Adobe RGB	97% Adobe RGB	87% Adobe RGB	94% Adobe RGB (CIE1976)	99% Adobe RGB	???
Pressure	2048 levels	2048 levels	2048 levels	2048 levels	8192 levels	8192 levels	8192 levels	8192 levels
Expresskeys	4 + Rocker Button	16 (8 on each side)	10 Expresskeys + 2 touch rings	Comes with the express key remote	None, you need to buy the Expresskey remote seperately	None, you need to buy the Expresskey remote seperately	Comes with the express key remote	Comes with the express key remote
Screen Size	13.3 inches	21.5 inches	24.1 inches	27 Inches	13.3 Inches	15.6 Inches	23.6 Inches	~32 Inches
Ergotron Arm Mount	With Brackets	Very difficult	Yes, but difficult	Yes	Possible with brackets	Possible with brackets	Possible With Custom Adapter	Likely possible With Custom Adapter
Release Year (Approximate)	2013	2012	2012	2015	2017	2017	2018	2018
Tilt Range	40 Degrees	40 Degrees	40 Degrees	40 Degrees	64 Degrees	40 Degrees	64 Degrees	???
Tilt Recognition	±60 levels	±60 levels	±60 levels	±60 levels	±60 levels	±60 levels	±60 levels	???
Ports	–	–	DVI-I Dual Link and DisplayPort	5 USB 3.0 Ports	Has USB-C Ports	3 USB-C Ports	4 x USB3 ports* 1 x USB C port 1 x HDMI2.0 port 1 x DP port 2 USB-A Ports (one for ExpressKey Remote dongle) *When connected to host computer over USB-C (including Cintiq Pro Engine), Cintiq Pro USB 3.0 ports run at USB 2.0 speeds to accommodate 4K video bandwidth over USB-C	???
Windows	Windows® 7, 8, & 10	Windows®XP SP3 Windows®Vista SP2 Windows 7 (32/64 bits) Windows 8 Windows 10	Windows®XP SP2 Windows®Vista SP1 Windows 7 (32/64 bits) Windows 8 Windows 10	Windows®7 (32/64 bits) Windows 8 Windows 10	Windows® 7 or later	Windows® 7 or later	Windows® 7 or later (latest service pack/build)	???
Max OS X	Mac OS X®, 10.10, 10.11, & 10.12	Mac OS X, v 10.5.8 or later	MacOS X 10.5.8 or later	Mac OS X 10.8 and above	Mac: OS X 10.10 or later	Mac: OS X 10.10 or later	Mac: OS X 10.11 or later (latest update)	???
Weight (estimated)	1.2 kg	28.6 kg with stand (63.8 lbs.)	55.1 lbs. with stand (25.1 kg)	19.8 lbs. without stand (9 kg) 55.1 lbs. with stand (25.1 kg)	1.1 kg (2.43 lbs) without optional stand	1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) without optional stand	7 kg (15.43 lbs) without optional stand	???
Buy Now	#CommissionsEarned	#CommissionsEarned		#CommissionsEarned	#CommissionsEarned	#CommissionsEarned	#CommissionsEarned

A Final Word On This Mega Cintiq Comparison

Picking the right Cinitq model can be a bit tricky, especially if money is not the issue. For that reason, I hope by explaining everything I know about these different Cintiq models, I managed to help you pick the right Cintiq model for you. If you have any more questions, you can post it in the comments below & I will try to answer it for you.

I hope you liked my comparison, and see you again in another post. ^^

You can find all the available Cintiq models in the following Amazon links:-

#CommissionsEarned