When it comes to drawing tablets, you’re not exactly wanting for choice. There are lots of different products that suit the needs of all kinds of artists, from novices, to illustrators, to graphic designers, to animators. The Huion Kamvas Studio 22, however, is unique in a few ways, the most important being that it’s more than just a drawing tablet; it’s a full fledged PC as well.
If you’ve got used to the workflow that involves a desktop computer, then transitioning to the Huion Kamvas Studio 22 (click to check price on amazon) is going to be seamless. It’s portable and offers the same capabilities as a fairly powerful computer. Perhaps even more! This tablet computer/drawing table makes you more productive, more efficient, and makes your professional life a whole lot easier.
In this article, we are going to review Studio 22, looking at what makes it special when compared to the competition. We’ll also take a cursory glance at the competition and see how it stacks up.
Product Overview
If you’re the type to always be on the go, then you’re going to appreciate the multipurpose nature of the Studio 22. Apart from its compact design and portability, it has a high performance screen similar to the Kamvas series pen display you might have already got used to.
On the computing front, this tablet is a powerful juggernaut, all on its own. It uses the 6C/6T processor, which is lightning fast and based on the Intel core i5-8400 processor. It also comes with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, depending on which option you buy. All that RAM is utilized in making it possible to run many tasks on the device at the same time without a noticeable slowdown in speed.
Portability at an affordable price …that doesn't compromise on quality, and much like the above Wacom Studio Pro, is aimed at those requiring portable performance.
Specifications
Dimensions: 22 x 10.5 x 0.7 inches | Display Area (Active Area): 21.5 x 10.5 inches | Item Weight: 3.3 pounds | Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) | RGB Gamma Ray: 2.2 | Response Time (Report Rate): 14ms | Connectivity Type: HDMI, DVI, VGA, Power, USB | Supported Software: Windows and Mac operating systems | Battery Power: AC Power | Multi-Touch: Yes | Pen Pressure Level: 8192 | Express Keys | Yes (20) including dual touch pad | Customizable Express Keys: Yes (10 of original 20) | Resolution: 5080 LPI (Lines Per Inch) | Viewing Angle: 178 degrees | Display Colors: 16.7 million
The Studio 22 also comes with next level lamination technology that makes it feel like you’re drawing on paper. The 21.5 inch 1080p full HD IPS display is crystal clear and a joy to work with. Not only that, but it also comes with anti-glare glass that has been etched onto its surface.
On the storage front, this tablet comes with dual channel storage. There’s a 1TB HDD and either a 120GB or 240GB SSD, depending on which option you go for. The SSD is many times faster than the HDD, and is used as the main storage for the OS, leading to near-instant boot times.
The Studio 22 has 120% sRGB, offering more than 16 million colors with wide-gamut color representation and some of the most stunning visuals you have ever seen on a tablet.
Are you left handed? Right handed? It doesn’t matter. This tablet is convenient for both as it has a dual touch bar with 20 programmable keys. They are placed symmetrically on both sides of the panel. That’s 20 keys you can program to do whatever you need to make your workflow faster and easier.
The pen is battery free and comes with the device. Dubbed the PW500, it offers 8192 levels of pressure and has tilt recognition tech. It has virtually no lag.
Do you like gaming? You’ll appreciate the 10 different harnesses that the Studio 22 comes with to support your gaming. Understandably playing a game on the tablet or running many different programs at the same time tends to lead to overheating in the system. However, the Studio 22 is prepared for this with its special cooling system that stops the processor from overheating. This makes performance more stable and allows you to enjoy the tablet.
The tablet also comes with the ST100, its adjustable stand. It is attached to the rear of the tablet and can be adjusted to any angle between 20 degrees and 80 degrees, making it pretty flexible and versatile. It also makes it easier to have the PC experience as you stand the tablet up like a monitor.
Speaking of the PC experience, the Studio 22 comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard, which you can connect to the device via a wireless USB receiver. The receiver has a range of up to 10 meters so the signal is very strong. The keyboard has a scissor switch feature built into it which makes for high typing precision.
Who should buy it?
The Huion Kamvas Studio 22 is a powerhouse, and so it’s really hard to pin down any specific ideal use case. This juggernaut has been built for all of them. From the powerful hardware, to the high quality display, to the numerous express keys, to the versatile software, this tablet is meant for a varied range of uses. In fact, apart from the fact that it’s built by a company that manufactures drawing tablets and comes with a stylus, there’s really nothing that doesn’t put it on the same level as traditional tablet PCs that weren’t originally built for drawing. It’s that good!
So what kind of person would such a device appeal to? We would say the person who wants it all. If you are an artist and need a drawing tablet but don’t have to connect it to a desktop computer anytime you want to do something halfway decent, this device is for you. You can take it with you wherever you go and it can do anything your desktop can, sometimes even better than your desktop. It’s like carrying your computer and taking it with your wherever you go.
If you’re in a different profession, this little tablet PC could also be a boon. It’s great for architects, engineers, animators, and even businessmen looking for something to run their spreadsheets and write reports with. It will also prove a great purchase if you’re looking for something to support your gaming hobbies as it packs quite a punch. Many of the games you play on your desktop will work just fine here.
Pros
- Great build quality
- Pen is battery free
- It’s an all round computer
- Works well with Zbrush, Photoshop, and all other major art software
- Great viewing angles
Cons
- Has a bit of parallax, although bearable
- The custom hot keys are mirrored on the two sides, so you can technically only set the ones on one side
- Some software experiences pressure jumps, though this can probably be fixed with a driver update
Features and Benefits
Build quality
We found the build quality to be perfect. The monitor has a clean and sleek look, with a frosted texture and matte black color. The frosted texture is definitely a good idea as that means it doesn’t retain fingerprints. It also doesn’t stick to the touch.
Something that has to be pointed out is that, while there are 20 express keys, only 10 of them are actually programmable. You can customize the slider and buttons on the left side in the settings app of the tablet. From there the buttons and slider on the right side will simply mirror the functionality on the left side.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. For us, we think it’s logical since one hand typically holds the stylus, leaving only one free to press the hotkeys. On the other hand, one can feel short-changed to see 20 express keys but only be able to program 10 of them. That said, we also often find that 10 express keys are more than enough to map my favorite shortcuts to. They’re also well within reach so the ergonomics works out fine.
The sliding bars in particular are great for more analog functions, such as zooming or increasing the size of the brush.
The adjustable stand is very useful, and very sturdy. It’s the same kind of stand as the ones used with other Huion tablets, and many other alternative brands to the Cintiq. It locks well into place, is flexible, and is made of strong plastic and looks like it will last quite a while.
On the right side of the tablet are ports for HDMI, DVI, VGA, AC, and USB. We like the placing on the side, rather than the bottom like in other tablets. When they’re on the bottom, they tend to get in the way when you set your tablet in its lowest angle, or when you stand it.
Screen/Resolution
The Huion Canvas Studio 22 comes with a 21.5 inch IPS full HD screen display. The color gamut is labeled as 120% sRGB. However, it is labeled differently and actually corresponds to the past model, which would be 100% sRGB. Huion has always delivered incredible screens, with stunning visuals, and this one does not disappoint. This one, in particular, is as good as any full fledged monitor out there.
The glass is etched onto the touch screen and is an anti-glare glass. You don’t have to worry about your eyes getting damaged from all the glare anymore. If you found that with your previous tablets you needed to buy a matte screen protector to improve texture and reduce glare on your drawing tablet, the good news is that you don’t have to do that with this tablet. It comes as part of the package.
This new screen feels just like paper to draw on. We found the feeling very satisfying as we slid the pen over the surface. It’s definitely much smoother and less like the iPad’s screen. We would actually put it on the same level as the Cintiq 24hd.
Pen/Stylus and pressure sensitivity
The stylus has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, which has become quite a ubiquitous feature among new models of drawing tablets for all manufacturers. The biggest highlight for us when it comes to this pen, however, is the fact that it’s battery free.
A battery free stylus is a great thing in a world where many tablet monitors don’t have this feature. You now no longer have to worry about constantly charging your pen, and can continue to draw and paint for many hours, so long as the tablet itself is powered. This definitely makes working with the pen more practical.
The initial activation force of the stylus is very low, with virtually negligible jitter. It’s almost as good as on Wacom devices.
The pen has 2 customizable express keys, which you can program to perform a variety of functions. They make a satisfying clicking sound when you press them, and the pen comes with a silicone grip for comfortable use.
You can hover this pen up to 12mm from the surface, and it will still sense the screen. The parallax is also at a minimum, and can be even further improved in the settings.
This pen also features tilt support. This wasn’t actually advertised when Huion first teased at its new Studio 22 tablet. That said, it is excellent and works just as well as on Wacom.
The tablet also comes with a pen holder with 10 extra nibs, and a metal nib clip to make the process easier. The pen holder has a donut shape, which allows it to hold the pen both vertically and horizontally. It also has excellent grip on the bottom so it stays in place.
Price and performance
This tablet retails for about $900. Considering all the features that come with it, and the price of comparable Cintiq and other tablet monitors, it is a great bargain. However is far from being a solution to a cheap drawing tablet.
Does the Huion Kamvas need a computer?
No it doesn’t. You can connect it to a computer if you want, but it is a full fledged computer on its own. You can use it without having to plug it into a computer.
Huion Kamvas Studio 22 alternatives
Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 16
This competitor costs a whopping $3500. and features a core i7-8559U processor, and an Nvidia Quadro P1000 GPU. The stylus has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 96% sRGB. The biggest downside here is price, as the features aren’t much better than the Studio 22, so the price doesn’t feel justified.
HP Zbook X2-G4
The HP Zbook comes with a core i7-8650U processor, 32 GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It costs $3600 and features an Nvidia Quadro M620. It’s actually a laptop, even though it features a stylus, so you should be able to use it for just about anything. The stylus has 4092 levels of pressure sensitivity and the biggest downside, apart from that, is the rather steep price.
Apple iPad Pro
The iPad Pro has a 12.9 inch screen, so it’s smaller than the Studio 22 right out the gate. That said, it has a cool trackpad that makes it feel like working with a laptop, It can also easily be connected to a wireless keyboard. The problem with the iPad is the screen that hasn’t quite been optimized for use with styluses. It’s just too smooth! It is, however, the closest tablet in price to the Studio 22 at just $1000 for the 128GB base model.
Conclusion
And with that we come to the end of our review of the Huion Kamvas Studio 22 tablet PC. As you can see, this tablet packs a large punch, and does it at a very friendly price, especially when compared to the competition. If you’re looking for a versatile drawing tablet that has been built for the job and also happens to be a computer, then it’s hard to do better than this. Until next time, happy drawing!
