Huion is a well-known brand in the budget graphics tablet market, but what many artists don’t realize is that the company also offers mid-range tablets that have many of the same features you’d find on more expensive models.
The Huion WH1409 is an easy-to-use tablet that offers a large working area, wired and wireless options, and the ability to customize a dozen express keys.
Features and Specs
- 8192 levels of pen pressure
- 233 PPS
- 5080 LPI
- 10mm sensitive height
- 13.8” x 8.6” working area
- 12 customizable express keys
- Wired and wireless modes
- Includes 8 additional pen nibs
- 4 LED indicators to show working status
- Compatible with: Mac OS 10.11 or later and Windows 7/8/8.1/10
- Uses a micro USB cable
- Dimensions: 17.95” x 10.47” x 0.63”
- Weight: 5 lbs.
Our Huion WH1409 Review
The WH1409 boasts a sleek design with a huge working surface and an ergonomically-designed stylus. With more space to work and plenty of customizable keys, this Huion tablet can help streamline your workflow.
Unboxing the Tablet
The WH1409 comes with everything you need to start drawing right away. Along with the tablet and stylus, you’ll also receive:
- Micro USB cable
- USB wireless receiver
- Charger for the stylus
- Pen holder
- Extra nibs
Huion also includes drivers for this tablet, but they may or may not work for you. This is a fairly common problem with this gadgets, but fortunately, the solution is simple: download the latest driver from Huion’s website.
Once the drivers are installed, you’re ready to start drawing with the WH1409.
The Tablet and Stylus
The one thing that really sets this model apart is its size. The WH1409 has a huge drawing area of 13.8” x 8.6.” In comparison, most drawing tablets have a working area that’s 10” x 6.25.” Many models have even smaller working areas.
Related: best drawing tablets for beginners
But of course, a large drawing surface also means that the tablet itself is bigger and heavier than normal. Many tablets have dimensions of about 11” x 7” and a weight of around 1 lb. The WH1409, on the other hand, has dimensions of 17.95” x 10.47” x 0.63” and a weight of 5 lbs.
At the top left corner of the tablet, you’ll notice that there’s a special control panel. This panel has a switch at the top that allows you to turn the wireless function on or off. This is another unique feature of this tablet, and one that most artists will welcome with open arms. Having the ability to choose between wired and wireless function allows you to work virtually anywhere you please and adapt to your environment.
Wireless functionality gives you more freedom and eliminates messy cords. The wireless connection can transmit a signal at a distance of up to 10 meters.
Underneath the wireless switch, there are four LED indicator lights which include:
- Low battery indicator
- Pen/express keys indicator
- Wired mode indicator
- Wireless mode indicator
At a glance, you’ll know whether the battery is low, which mode you’re in and whether the pen/express keys are working properly.
Beneath the control panel, you’ll find 12 express keys which can be customized to your liking. These keys come pre-programmed with functions, such as zoom in, zoom out, delete, undo, add layer, increase brush size and decrease brush size (among others). However, you can also customize these functions and change them as needed to suit your work flow and style.
To the right of the controls and buttons, you’ll find the large drawing surface.
The tablet itself is sleek and offers a minimalistic design. There aren’t too many buttons or symbols to distract you from drawing, yet everything is easily accessible so it won’t interrupt your work flow.
As for the stylus, you’ll find that it’s very similar to other Huion pens. You’ll need to recharge it regularly, but that’s only a minor inconvenience. The pen also has two easy-access buttons that can be customized to your liking.
Performance
The large drawing area is certainly a bonus. You’ll have plenty of room to work without having to constantly reposition your hand.
The buttons are easy to reach while you’re working for a streamlined flow. The LED indicators can be distracting at times, but they serve a useful purpose. It’s nice to know that your battery is getting low so that you can charge it before you get sucked into a drawing session.
The stylus isn’t the best on the market, but it gets the job done. It offers 8192 levels of pressure, which is pretty standard in the industry. With 5080 LPI and 233 PPS, this tablet offers better performance compared to other budget tablets.
You might experience some lag and sensitivity issues from time to time, but this is common with Huion tablets.
You shouldn’t experience any system compatibility issues either. The WH1409 works with all modern versions of Windows and Mac OS. It’s also compatible with most graphic software programs.
The WH1409 is an excellent one, especially considering its price point and features. The large drawing surface is a nice change of pace, and the ability to switch between wired and wireless connection is a welcomed feature. Yes, the stylus will miss strokes from time to time, but this is quite common. It’s a minor inconvenience that’s easily overlooked.
Overall, we were hard-pressed to find any major flaws with this model. Whether you’re a budding young artist or have decades of experience, the Huion WH1409 offers excellent performance and an easy-to-use design that will please just about everyone.
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