If you’re on a drawing tablet hunt and you don’t know where to start, I’m here to help!
In this article, we will be looking at two special brands:
- the Gaomon, and
- the XP-Pen.
We will be comparing their products and figuring out which is best for your needs.
What about Gaomon and XP-Pen?
Gaomon is a Chinese tech company founded in 2011.
XP-PEN, on the other hand, is a Japanese company founded in 2005.
Both brands produce:
- Drawing tablets without display – a.k.a. pen tablets
- Drawing tablets with display – a.k.a. pen displays
Don’t know what a pen tablet or a pen display is? I’ve got you covered in this article where I clearly differentiate between the two.
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Comparing Small Pen Displays – Gaomon Vs XP-Pen
If you are looking for a budget-friendly but decent pen display, look no further because I have two options for you.
- The XP Pen Artist 12, and the
- Gaomon PD1161
XP-Pen Artist 12
Equipped with 6 shortcut keys and a touch bar, the Artist 12 is ideal for online teaching, drawing, and photo editing.
Check out the XP-pen on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- Has a lag-free pen that comes with a digital eraser. Almost like an actual pencil
- Easy to carry around for on-the-go creativity
- With a 3-in-1 cable, it’s way more convenient to connect and start using it right away
- Comes with a free collapsible tablet stand which is really generous of XP Pen
Cons:
- Has fewer shortcut keys than the PD1161.
- Doesn’t offer a 60° tilt function like the PD1161 but does give a 45° tilt function.Why is tilt important? Tilt helps you to change the thickness of a brushstroke by changing the angle at which the pen touches the tablet. This feature is crucial for digital painters.
Gaomon PD1161
With an 11.6-inch monitor (maybe that’s why it has 116 in its name) and full HD resolution, the PD1161 makes work a playground.
Check out the Gaomon on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- Has 8 programmable shortcut keys for an easy workflow and effectiveness
- The AP50 pen comes with a 60° tilt function which is more than Artist 12’s 45°
- Easy to carry around at home or on-the-go
Cons:
- Has a few complaints about pen lag
- Doesn’t come with a stand for the tablet
- It’s powered through a wall socket which is an inconvenience
Winner: XP-Pen Artist 12!
My preference would have to be the XP Pen Artist 12.
Why?
It is easier to plug in via the USB and has fewer pen lag issues. However, if you value more shortcut keys or a higher degree of tilt function, the PD1161 is it.
Comparing Medium Pen Tablets – Gaomon Vs XP-Pen
Introducing our next fighters:
- Gaomon’s M106K Pro, and
- XP-Pen’s Star 06!!
Here we have two medium-sized pen tablets with a similar working area of 10 by 6 inches and a battery-free stylus with 8192 pressure levels. So they’re already neck to neck here.
Gaomon M106K Pro
It works well on Windows and Mac OS and is a worthy opponent to the Star 06.
Check out the Gaomon on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- It has a lot of buttons. I’m talking 12 shortcut keys to the side and an extra 16 soft keys to the top.
- It works well with Android devices unlike the Star 06.
- Has 60° brush tilt function. I’m beginning to think Gaomon has a thing for 60°.
Cons:
- Has a few complaints on driver installations
XP-Pen Star 06
It comes with 6 programmable shortcut keys and a roller key.
Check out the XP-pen on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- It’s a wireless pen tablet!
- It’s left-hand friendly. All you have to do is flip it the other way.
- Has a roller key that you can assign to zoom in or zoom out or scroll up and down
Cons:
- It’s not compatible with an Android device. Bye-bye to drawing with your Android phone.
- The pen doesn’t have a tilt function at all
- Has 6 shortcut keys which are fewer than the Gaomon but hey, it’s got a roller key.
Winner: Gaomon M106K Pro
My recommendation would have to be Gaomon M106K Pro.
Why?
It has abundant shortcut keys and this makes work seamlessly fast. More so, for people that don’t always carry a laptop, having a device that works with your phone is a plus.
The XP Pen Star 06 is likewise amazing. If you don’t care about shortcut keys or using an Android device, it’s a definite buy!
Comparing Small Pen Tablets – Gaomon Vs XP-Pen
For Osu gamers, beginning digital artists, and photo editors, the Gaomon S620 and XP Pen Star G640 are small pen tablets that come to play.
XP-Pen Star G640
XP Pen’s second smallest tablet after the G430 is slick, lightweight, and a perfect walkabout tablet.
Check out the XP-pen on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- Comes with 20 extra pen nibs
- It’s really thin with a 2mm thickness
- Has been recommended as the best tablet for Osu
- Comes with a battery-free pen
Cons:
- Has no shortcut buttons. At all.
Gaomon S620
Check out the Gaomon on Amazon by clicking here.
Pros:
- Has 4 programmable shortcut keys
- Also great for Osu gamers
- Slightly bigger than G640
- Also comes with a battery-free pen
Cons:
- Not as thin as the G640 but still slick
Winner: Tie
In this case, there is no particular winner because they both pretty much offer the same features except if you value shortcut keys.
However, I’d recommend the G640 for Osu game players because of its ultra thinness.
The Round-Up
If XP Pen and Gaomon were in a real smackdown, XP Pen stands a slightly higher chance of winning a WWE belt but that doesn’t mean Gaomon didn’t give a good beating.
But like I always say, this all boils down to you and your preferences. So I would like for you to participate in a small exercise. Get a sheet of paper and a pen and write down your top priorities on a drawing tablet. Go through the XP Pen and Gaomon tablet options and pick out that tablet that ticks most boxes.
Though if XP Pen or Gaomon just don’t cut it, you can always consider the Huion. I’ve done previous articles, one comparing the Gaomon and Huion tablets and another comparing XP Pen and Huion. Feel free to check them out.
If you have no idea what you want, I have an article that tells you EXACTLY what to look for in a drawing tablet. Even if you are familiar with many drawing tablet brands like Wacom, Huion, XP Pen, Veikk, Ugee, Gaomon, or even the most recent brand called Xencelabs. You’re going to have a sure idea of what you want in your dream drawing tablet.
With that being said, happy creating.
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