Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: Two-minute review
Weighing in at 7,2 kg (15,8 lbs) and featuring a 26,9-inch UHD display, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 pen display makes an immediate impression right out of the box. Designed specifically for use in professional environments, Wacom's largest pen display looks more like a computer screen than a traditional graphics tablet.
This doesn't seem to be accidental, as it offers a number of features and attributes more typically found on PC gaming monitors, such as refresh rates of up to 120Hz and a 10ms response time. While this helps the Cintiq Pro 27 function effectively as a monitor for use beyond graphic design, it in no way sacrifices its interactive display functionality.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: Specifications
Dimensions: 379 x 638 x 31mm (support 100 x 100mm)
Active drawing area: 335 x 596 mm
Weight: 15,9 pounds (7,2 kg)
Connections: USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A
Operating system requirements: Win 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later
Bit depth: 30 bits
Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB
Pen Pressure Levels: 8192
- Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 at BHPhoto for €3499 (opens in a new tab)
In our time with the Cintiq Pro 27, we found that it helped us speed up our workflow while eliminating any problems with excessive desktop clutter by taking its place as a pen display and PC monitor in one.
This kind of versatility comes at a steep price though, as the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 will set you back $3499 / £3499 / AU$5499. much smaller than the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 ($1,599 / £1,399 / AU$2,399) and therefore represents a sizeable investment for those planning to add it to their workstation.
That said, there are plenty of differences between the Pro 27 and Pro 16 models beyond screen size, such as the Pro 27's higher refresh rates (up to 120Hz vs. 60Hz), greater color gamut (30-bit versus 8-bit). ) and the versatility it offers to also serve as a computer screen.
This versatility helps the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 a lot from a value perspective, and creative professionals with money to spare will get a very impressive and powerful pen display capable of elevating design potentials.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: Design
For those used to more traditional interactive displays, the size and weight of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 will take some getting used to. That's not to say that the display itself is too bulky or that it might upset the delicate balance of your desktop because it looks like a computer monitor.
That said, it's primarily a pen display, and the ease of adjusting it in terms of tilt or extension makes creating with it a breeze. A mechanism on the back of the tablet allows its angles to be adjusted and locked into place, limiting any issues with screen scrolling halfway through use.
Tablet installation is a simple plug-and-play process, and optional accessories like a pen holder easily attach to the sides of the display. There are a series of mounting holes around the outside of the display, which are designed to customize your workspace through the ability to mount devices like cameras, microphones, or lights.
However, due to its size, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 can be uncomfortable to sit near for longer periods. This is an issue to be aware of, as creating and drawing with any pen display will almost always require you to sit as close to your screen as possible.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: Performance
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 works right out of the box with preloaded finger gestures and the included Wacom Pro Pen 3, which will be familiar and intuitive to anyone used to working with other tablets, such as an iPad.
Naturally, as a multi-touch screen, the Cintiq Pro 27 is very responsive when using the stylus or fingers to work on designs. Sometimes using these sensitivity levels can be really frustrating: if you're drawing with the pen while multi-touch is enabled, for example, it's not uncommon to start a pen stroke and then have it evaporate because you accidentally touched the screen. with the finger.
Fortunately, turning multitouch mode on and off is simple with the press of a button on the back of the screen. There are a number of other useful buttons on the back too, as the screen offers hotkeys that you can assign shortcuts to based on your anticipated needs.
The Wacom Pro Pen 3 also comes with a variety of customization options, including adjustable weight and accessories to adjust grip thickness, pen button settings, and 10 replacement nibs (five standard, five felt) and a tool. to remove the tip. Using the stylus with the Cintiq Pro 27 is also a breeze thanks to the tempered glass screen design, which has a slight roughness to provide some friction and ensure the stylus doesn't move or slip.
The Wacom Pro Pen 3's pressure sensitivity is well above 8192 levels, which is ideal for anyone hoping to work with finer details in their design. Of course, some software you might use will have different level limits, so it's not necessarily guaranteed that you'll always work at maximum pen sensitivity.
During our time with the Cintiq Pro 27, we worked primarily with three software programs: Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop, and the 3D modeling program Blender, and the screen made working with each of these programs comfortable and enjoyable, while also it helped make the workflow feel more seamless. and faster than usual.
However, we found that not all gestures on the Cintiq Pro 27 would translate in all programs. This isn't necessarily a problem that can be attributed to the screen itself, but it is something to keep in mind when preparing for use.
The Cintiq Pro 27 has a 30-bit color gamut, with 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB, as well as HDR Gamma support. As with other Wacom Cintiq models, parallax on the Pro 27 is generally minimal no matter what angle you're working at.
We also spent some time testing the display as a monitor, since it can work as a single monitor, including testing for gaming. Surprisingly, we didn't have any problems with any tasks, and even when using it for gaming, the Cintiq Pro 27 didn't suffer from any obvious screen tearing or lag issues.
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Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: price comparison
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