Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2: A Worthwhile Graphics Tablet
When it comes to graphic tablets, there are a few top players in the market. They all offer quality features, with one or two makes being the most recommended choices. Wacom usually hits the top of the list, but Huion also offers very similar functionality at a cheaper price point. The model we will be looking at here is the Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2, which has a large working area and seemingly all the features you will need as a graphic artist.
In this regard, let’s dig in and see what the tablet has to offer and how it measures up to the competition.
Design
When you’re diving into a pro-level graphics tablet, no matter the make or model, it has to tick a lot of boxes. Luckily, the Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 does just this with its basic specifications. That’s an 11 x 6.875-inch working area, an 8192 pen pressure, express keys, wireless connection, and a comfortable usable pen.
Open up the package and there is everything you need, including the tablet, pen and stand, tablet, cable, charging cable, wireless receiver, pen nib replacements and user manual. The tablet itself has a rather cool spot design around, the drawing area and the overall size is just big enough to fit into a larger laptop bag.
There are also a bunch of express keys on the left of the tablet, which you can assigne to any use you want and have a good quality feel. A lock switch is available for switching off the express keys.
There’s also an off switch on the side of the tablet for switching the wireless mode on and off. This automatically switches off after 15 minutes. Wireless mode is also nice, but it’s always advisable to hardwire your tablet to a computer for the best connection.
The included pen feels very comfortable, lightweight, and has a charging hole at one end for plugging into the charging cable. To turn on the pen, you simply apply full pressure to the pen and it will stay active for five minutes and can automatically turn off after five minutes if not used.
The pen nib also has some give, which is counter to a Wacom tablet, but actually feels very intuitive. The pen stand is also very useful as it also stores the replacement nibs, is a pen nib remover, and stores the wireless receiver.
Setup is a really easy process. A simple install of the drivers and the tablet is ready to go. You can leave the setup as is, but you also have the option to assign the express keys, pen buttons and pen pressure on the working area. This can also be assigned to different profiles.
There are lots of choices and variations, like a noticeable difference when you change the pen pressure. As for the working area, you can assign this to the full-screen, part of the screen or if you have a few monitors, all of them at once or just one at a time.
Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 in Use
Straight out of the box, the Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 feels very responsive. The surface of the tablet is very smooth and gives you initial confidence that you’re not going to be wearing out a nib every five minutes. I tested out the tablet with Lightroom and Photoshop with both programs working seamlessly without any configuration.
Assigning how much working space you need on the tablet makes a big difference. The larger the working area, the bigger the sweeps of the pen you will need. This will be down to your own personal preferences and how large or small an area you need for performing edits. I have a two-monitor setup and set the full tablet area for both screens. You can obviously set the whole of the tablet to just work on one screen if you want a larger working area on the tablet.
The express keys are very useful, having a high-quality feel. They can be assigned to any functions you like once you get used to pressing these instead of multiple shortcuts on the keyboard. Thus, your workflow definitely speeds up. Even if you only use one or two, they become a very helpful addition.
Wirelessly, the tablet works extremely well. No lag or interference was experienced and the tablet is good for 40 hours of use before it needs recharging.
In total, there’s plenty of working area which should please anyone, from the graphic artist to the photo retoucher. The unit itself is large enough to rest on your lap if that’s the way you want to go. A very pleasing experience all round.
How Does It Compare?
If you’re not completely sold on anything but a Wacom, then you’ll have to pay a lot more for the same working area. The Wacom Intuos3 has a 6 x 11 inch work area, highly configurable, a very comfortable pen and more functionality. Things like a Touch Strip are included and the basic build quality is just that touch higher than other units. You also generally get more functions in a Wacom tablet compared to the rest.
Arguably, Wacom provides the most features and the best build quality out there, but they also cost the most compared to other units. However, if you only need the basics of functionality, which are still quite impressive, then the Huion is a very good choice at a more cost-effective price.
Conclusion
If you’re even half familiar with graphics tablets, then it’s easy to make a beeline to what is seen as the standard — a Wacom tablet. However, the Huion is a very usable tablet, with plenty of features and you’ll never feel wanting for something else. The pen and working surface are a pleasure to use and you can work in the most detailed fashion you like.
If you want to cover all the basics from a graphics tablet at a reasonable price, then the Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 should definitely be shortlisted.
THE REVIEW
SCORE: 9
The Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 is a very capable graphics tablet, which covers all the bases. It may not be as fully featured as a Wacom, but it definitely packs in everything you need for the money.
Pros
- Express keys
- Work area
- Price
Cons
- Have to charge the pen
- No multitouch
Huion Inspiroy WH1409 V2 DEALS
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Originally published at https://lumoid.com on October 21, 2019.
