I remember the feeling vividly. Hunched over a small, 13-inch screen, constantly panning and zooming, my digital canvas felt more like a porthole than a window into my imagination. Every large, sweeping brushstroke was an exercise in frustration, a battle against the physical bezels of my old device. My neck ached, my workflow was a stuttering mess of keyboard shortcuts and on-screen menus, and I knew a change was needed. For any serious digital artist, illustrator, or 3D modeller, the workspace is sacred. A cramped or unresponsive canvas doesn’t just slow you down; it actively stifles creativity, turning an act of passion into a technical chore. This search for a larger, more intuitive, and professional-grade workspace, without necessarily paying the premium for the long-time market leader, is what leads many of us to explore powerful contenders like the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor.
- 【2K QHD Screen】 Artist 24 Pro is a 23.8 inch graphic screen, huge drawing surface to let your creative ideas run. With 2K QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution and 90% Adobe RGB color gamut, gives you...
- 【Optimal Connection】Apart from the normal USB connection, the Artist 24 Pro also supports USB-C to USB-C connection, allowing you to connect your iMac, Mac Book Pro or Windows computer without...
What to Consider Before Buying a Graphic Tablet Pen Display
A graphic tablet with a screen, or a pen display, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for bridging the gap between traditional and digital art. It eliminates the hand-eye coordination disconnect of traditional non-screen tablets, allowing you to draw directly on the image you’re creating. This fundamentally changes the creative process, making it more intuitive, faster, and more akin to working on paper or canvas. The main benefits are a vastly improved workflow, greater precision for detailed work, and a more immersive creative experience that can unlock new levels of productivity and artistic expression for illustrators, designers, and animators.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of a smaller or screenless tablet. This includes professional illustrators, 3D artists, graphic designers, and serious hobbyists who are ready to invest in their craft to gain a significant productivity boost. It is a commitment, both in desk space and budget. However, it might not be suitable for those who are absolute beginners and unsure if digital art is a long-term passion, or for artists who require extreme portability. For those users, smaller, more affordable screenless tablets or even standalone drawing tablets like the iPad might be a more sensible starting point.
Before investing in a large pen display, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A 24-inch monitor is a significant piece of hardware. The XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor measures 63.2 x 37 cm. You must ensure you have a deep, sturdy desk that can not only support its 10kg weight but also give you enough room to work comfortably, especially when the integrated stand is angled back.
- Display Performance & Colour Accuracy: For professional work, screen quality is paramount. Look beyond just resolution (2K QHD is excellent) and examine the colour gamut. This model boasts 90% Adobe RGB, which is very good for most creative work, though professionals in print may require even higher accuracy. Also consider parallax—the gap between the pen tip and the cursor—which should be minimal for a natural drawing feel.
- Build Quality & Durability: This is a tool you’ll be using for hours every day. The build quality, the sturdiness of the stand, and the materials used are critical for longevity. The Artist24 Pro is known for its robust, if heavy, construction. A solid, adjustable stand is non-negotiable for finding an ergonomic drawing angle.
- Ease of Use & Workflow Integration: How easily does the tablet integrate into your existing setup? Consider connectivity (USB-C is a huge plus for modern setups), driver stability, and customizable controls. The presence of 20 shortcut keys and 2 radial dials on the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor is a massive workflow advantage that can significantly reduce your reliance on a keyboard.
Choosing the right pen display is about matching the device’s capabilities to your specific artistic needs and workspace realities.
While the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 【Widely Application】UGEE M708 graphic drawing tablet, features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork...
- 【PASSIVE and ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PEN】-- It is a battery-free stylus which adopts the most advanced passive technology, no battery and no charging required. This environment-friendly pen, allows...
- One by Wacom Medium: Graphics tablet with an active area of 8.5 x 5.3 inch (21,6 x 13,5 cm) – Perfect digital drawing pad with a variety of possibilities: whether digital sketching, photo-editing,...
Unboxing a Behemoth: First Impressions of the Artist24 Pro
The arrival of the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor is an event. The box is substantial, and upon opening it, you’re greeted with a well-packaged and protected piece of serious kit. Lifting it from its foam enclosure, the first thing I noticed was its sheer weight and density. At 10kg, this is not a device you’ll be casually moving around; it’s a centerpiece for a dedicated creative workstation. This heft, as one user review aptly noted, makes it feel incredibly “STURDY.” While this might rule out using a flimsy monitor arm for some, it instills a sense of confidence in its durability. The initial setup was straightforward, far simpler than some of the multi-cable nightmares of older tablets. The inclusion of a USB-C to USB-C cable is a modern convenience I truly appreciate, allowing for a single-cable connection for video, data, and power with compatible laptops. The pre-installed, highly adjustable stand is a highlight, feeling robust and offering a wide range of angles without any wobble. For those considering an upgrade, the leap from a 16-inch or even a 22-inch tablet is immediately and breathtakingly apparent; the screen real estate feels almost infinite. It offers a premium feel that belies its competitive price point, which you can check for yourself and see the latest offers.
Advantages
- Massive 23.8-inch 2K QHD drawing canvas provides ample space for any project.
- Exceptional workflow enhancement with 20 customizable shortcut keys and 2 mechanical dials.
- Excellent value for money compared to premium-priced competitors like Wacom.
- Sturdy, integrated stand and modern USB-C connectivity.
Drawbacks
- Pre-applied screen protector can make small text slightly fuzzy.
- Some user reports of quality control issues like dead pixels or screen jitter.
Performance Under Pressure: A Deep Dive into the Artist24 Pro’s Capabilities
After the initial setup, the real test begins. A pen display’s worth is measured in the heat of a creative project—during hours of meticulous line art, complex 3D sculpting, and subtle colour blending. This is where the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor truly steps into the ring, and for the most part, it delivers a knockout performance that challenges the long-reigning champions of the industry.
The Expansive 2K QHD Canvas: A Universe of Pixels
The first thing that strikes you when you power on the display is the sheer scale of the digital canvas. Moving from a smaller tablet to this 23.8-inch expanse is a revelation. The 2K QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution is the sweet spot for a screen this size, providing crisp, clear lines and allowing you to work on high-resolution illustrations without constant zooming. We found the pixel density to be more than adequate for fine detail work in applications like Adobe Photoshop and Blender. The 90% Adobe RGB colour gamut is a significant feature, rendering vibrant and rich colours. While we noted, as did one user in a production environment, that the “color fidelity is not 100% accurate” out of the box, a quick session with a calibration tool brought it to a professionally acceptable level for web and digital work. For print-focused professionals who demand perfect colour matching, a dedicated reference monitor might still be necessary, but for the vast majority of artists, the colour performance is fantastic.
One of the most discussed aspects is the pre-applied screen protector. It provides a matte, paper-like texture that adds a pleasant friction to the drawing process, preventing the slippery “drawing on glass” feeling. However, this texture has a side effect: it can introduce a slight “fuzziness” or grain, particularly noticeable on small text or very fine lines. One user review described this perfectly, noting it “makes smaller text/details a little fuzzy.” In our testing, this was something we adapted to quickly, and the improved drawing feel was a worthwhile trade-off. It also functions as an anti-glare screen, which, combined with the incredibly versatile stand, makes it easy to eliminate reflections from room lighting simply by adjusting the angle.
Drawing Experience & Pen Performance: The PA2 Stylus in Action
The heart of any drawing monitor is the stylus, and XP-Pen’s battery-free PA2 pen is a superb performer. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the transition from a whisper-thin line to a bold, heavy stroke is smooth and intuitive. The pressure curve felt natural right out of the box, requiring minimal tweaking in the driver settings. The pen is lightweight, comfortable to hold for long sessions, and the inclusion of two of them in the box, along with a clever pen holder that stores eight replacement nibs, is a thoughtful touch. The 60 degrees of tilt support is another pro-level feature that we found works flawlessly in compatible software like Photoshop, allowing for natural shading and calligraphic brush effects.
Parallax, the physical gap between the glass surface and the LCD panel beneath, is minimal on this device. The cursor tracks tightly under the pen nib, which is crucial for precision and contributes to that satisfying, direct connection with your artwork. While our experience was overwhelmingly positive, it’s important to acknowledge that some users have reported issues. We found a few isolated reports of cursor lag or jittery lines, with one user describing an issue where the cursor would freeze and then draw a straight line to catch up. These appear to be potential quality control inconsistencies or driver conflicts rather than a universal flaw, as our test unit performed without a hitch. Should you encounter such an issue, it’s a clear reason to make use of the warranty, but based on our experience and the bulk of user feedback, the drawing performance is a major strength of the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor.
Workflow Unleashed: Mastering the Dual Dials and 20 Shortcut Keys
This is where the Artist24 Pro truly distinguishes itself from the competition and becomes an absolute workflow beast. The symmetrical design, featuring 10 shortcut keys and a mechanical red dial on each side, is a masterstroke for both left- and right-handed artists. Programming these keys through the XP-Pen driver software is simple, and having 20 physical buttons at your fingertips transforms the creative process. We mapped our most-used commands—undo, redo, brush tools, eraser, save, transform—and found we barely had to touch our keyboard during an entire illustration session. This is an efficiency gain that cannot be overstated.
The twin red dials are the stars of the show. As one long-term user enthusiastically shared, they are perfect for “the Zoom and the increase of the brush size.” The tactile, mechanical click as you turn them feels satisfying and precise. We set the left dial to zoom/rotate canvas and the right dial to brush size/hardness. This setup becomes second nature within minutes, allowing you to fluidly resize your brush and navigate your canvas without ever breaking your creative flow. For 3D animators and modellers, this level of control is a game-changer. One user, who previously owned a Wacom 22, explicitly stated the “customizable buttons are very friendly for 3D animators” and that the “price and size of the screen makes it best deal.” It’s this combination of a massive screen and unparalleled physical controls that elevates the Artist24 Pro into a true professional productivity tool.
What Other Users Are Saying
After our own extensive testing, we delved into the broader user experience to see how our findings aligned. The consensus is overwhelmingly positive, with many users hailing the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor as a phenomenal value proposition. One artist, who bought theirs three years ago, reported having “0 quejas” (zero complaints) and called it a “belleza” (a beauty), praising the durable stand and the practicality of the shortcut dials. Another user, upgrading from a Wacom 16″, was thrilled, stating the “display is incredible” and that for a hobby artist, there is “barely a difference” from more expensive brands, which speaks volumes about the quality on offer here.
However, no product is perfect, and it’s crucial to present a balanced view. The most common criticisms revolve around quality control. We saw a few disappointing reports of units arriving with a “dead pixel at the bottom” or developing “static lines” on the screen. Another user detailed a more serious issue of “image retention across the screen,” which support identified as a potential failing digitizer, requiring a return. While these issues seem to be in the minority, they are significant when they occur. They underscore the importance of purchasing from a reputable source with a solid return policy so you can thoroughly test your unit upon arrival. For the vast majority, though, the experience is excellent, with one professional in the 3D industry confirming it’s been “working great in a commercial production application” and even provided an update four years later stating it’s “still going strong. No issues at all! Highly recommended.”
How Does the Artist24 Pro Compare to the Alternatives?
The XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor is a professional-grade pen display, but the world of digital art tools is vast. Depending on your needs for portability, budget, and functionality, other options might be a better fit. Here’s how it stacks up against three distinct alternatives.
1. HUION Smart Notebook 8192 Pressure Levels
- Intelligent and Delicate A5 Notebook : HUION Note is great combination notebook and e-reader. You can expect an all-in-one A5 notebook with writing synchronization, offline storage, document...
- 2nd Gen HUION Scribo Pen : PenTech 3.0 technology provides more stable stroke and curve performance to the 2nd gen HUION Scribo pen. Besides, the pen is equipped with plastic nibs and standard...
The HUION Note is in a completely different category. It isn’t a display; it’s a smart notebook that digitizes what you write or draw on real paper. It’s for the artist or student who loves the tactile feel of pen on paper but wants a digital backup or the ability to refine sketches later. Its key strengths are extreme portability and bridging the analog-digital divide. If your primary need is note-taking, brainstorming, or capturing initial sketches on the go, the HUION Note is a clever and elegant solution. It is not, however, a substitute for a pen display like the Artist24 Pro, which is a dedicated, powerful tool for creating finished digital artwork from start to finish directly on a screen.
2. Simbans PicassoTab A12 Drawing Tablet
- COMPLETE DRAWING LEARNING PACKAGE: The A12 is more than just a tablet – it’s a full-featured digital art learning solution. It includes the tablet, a precision stylus, essential accessories, and...
- PORTABLE AND DRAW ANYWHERE: Designed to be lightweight and compact, the A12 offers unmatched portability, allowing you to take it anywhere and create whenever inspiration strikes. Whether you're at...
The PicassoTab A12 is a standalone drawing tablet, meaning it has its own operating system (Android) and doesn’t need to be connected to a computer. This makes it a great all-in-one solution for beginners, younger artists, or anyone who wants a portable digital sketchbook without the complexity of a PC setup. It’s significantly more affordable and portable than the Artist24 Pro. However, it cannot run full desktop creative software like Adobe Photoshop or Blender. The PicassoTab is perfect for someone exploring digital art or who prioritizes portability and simplicity, while the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro is for the serious artist who needs the power of a dedicated computer and professional-grade software on a large, responsive canvas.
3. VEIKK VK1200 11.6″ Drawing Tablet
- Graphics Tablet with FHD Screen: 1920 × 1080 IPS display, with full laminated technology, VEIKK VK1200 graphics tablet ensures the accuracy of the cursor position and practically parallax, clear...
- 2 Battery-free Pens: Offer you 2 battery-free pens with 8192 levels pressure sensitivity, 60 degree tilt function, no need to charge. Pen holder and 28 replaceble nibs provided.
The VEIKK VK1200 is the closest direct competitor in function, but not in scale. It is also a pen display that connects to a computer, but at 11.6 inches, it is vastly smaller and more portable than the 24-inch Artist24 Pro. It’s an excellent option for artists with limited desk space or a tighter budget who still want the direct drawing experience of a pen display. It offers a great colour gamut (120% sRGB) and the same 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. An artist might choose the VEIKK for its portability and lower cost, making it a great entry-level pen display or a travel companion. The Artist24 Pro is the choice for a permanent studio setup where maximum canvas size and workflow efficiency are the top priorities.
Our Final Verdict: Is the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro Right for You?
After weeks of intensive use, putting the XP-Pen Artist24 Pro 23.8″ 2K QHD Drawing Monitor through its paces with everything from fine-lined character art to complex 3D texturing, our conclusion is clear: this is an outstanding piece of equipment that offers incredible value. It delivers a truly professional-grade experience on a massive, high-resolution canvas, with workflow enhancements like the dual dials and 20 shortcut keys that genuinely speed up the creative process. It stands toe-to-toe with competitors that cost significantly more, making it an accessible upgrade for serious hobbyists and a viable workhorse for seasoned professionals.
It is not without its potential pitfalls; the possibility of a QC issue like a dead pixel means you should buy with confidence in your retailer’s return policy, and the screen’s slight texture may not be for everyone. But these are minor caveats on an otherwise stellar product. If you have the desk space and are looking to banish the frustration of a cramped digital workspace forever, we can wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a transformative tool that empowers you to think bigger and create more freely. If you’re ready to make a serious investment in your digital art career or passion, you can explore the full specifications and secure your own XP-Pen Artist24 Pro today.
Last update on 2025-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API