XENCELABS Pen Tablet … Still the WACOM KILLER??? 💀

[@trevtog]

Also being left-handed I liked the idea of this bundle. Seeing how you use it I know it will work perfectly for me as well. Thank you for another great video.

[@glyndewis]

Thanks for taking a look 👍🏻

[@jillleonard3212]

Lefties need to stick together. Thanks for talking about it from the left handed perspective. This was helpful.

[@ColdCoffeePhotography]

Are you still using this Glyn? Any issues & would you still recommend it? How are the latest drivers on macs please?

[@lynncrow4718]

I AM ON CLOUD 9!!!! I have had a Wacom for about 5 years and every January I would determine that this would be the year that I used it. It never felt right and I would quickly quit and go back to my mouse. I saw your first video and made the plunge and got the Xencelaps bundle. OOOOO MMMMM GGGGG it is amazing. I am already on my third day using it like a pro without the mouse at all. It is so intuitive. AND I love the quick keys especially for the "right click". I would love to see how you utilize the quick keys in your photo editing more. THANK YOU for your Christmas present to me!

[@glyndewis]

VERY happy to read this Lynn 😃 Something coming very soon re the Quick Keys 👍🏻

[@Zamir321]

hi Glyn. i actually bought the xenxelabs due to your video and i’m so happy with it. My wacom is in the closet and not coming out ever again. cheers mate!

[@peterblyth5500]

Thanks for the update video, Glyn. I have bought the medium bundle and used the affilitate link so I hope you get something, too.

[@glyndewis]

That's very kind of you Peter. Keep me posted how you get on 👍🏻

[@dzyanw]

I've been using Wacom tablets for the longest time, but the drivers have always been a pain. Having to add scripts into the folders just to get it to do things it's supposed to be able to do out of the box should not be necessary. Currently my Wacom Intuos Pro is having an issue where during editing it will randomly just get stuck after a click, as if I'm holding it, even when hovering. This makes working with the pen tool and zooming in and out on a whim a pain in the butt. I will order the Xencelabs in a few weeks, thanks for these videos Glyn!

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome; thanks so much for looking in

[@lauriewahlig2819]

Wow your timing was perfect. I bought an Xencelabs during the sale period but haven't set it up yet. Glad to hear you still like it! YAY

[@glyndewis]

Sure do 😃

[@RDBLOOMFIELDPHOTOGRAPHYLLC]

I went out and got one after you posted the first video - I love it much more than my Wacom tablet was for the same reasons you do! Do you think you can link to screen shots of how you have the keypad settings for Premiere, Lightroom, and Photoshop? Been trying to figure out what to do for Premiere and haven’t found a good workflow yet. Cheers

[@bitkurser]

I've had 3 Wacoms on my "set". Now I have 2 Xencelabs and 1 wacom left. Must say, I do classic photo editing and illustrations (also handdrawn) and the xencelabs is a blast. I was doubtfull about the quickkeys, but must say they got integrated big time!

[@cmptrman]

@glyn: my biggest frustration with Wacom is that I lose all my customizations every time Adobe does a major release of their software. Have you had this thing long enough to know if you'll have a similar issue with this?

[@glyndewis]

Daniel I'm reguarly updating Adobe Apps and nothing is affecting my Xencelabs tablet and settings 👍🏻

[@keyframer.]

Great video - and I agree 100% with everything! Xencelabs is the next king of the mountain - especially with what's coming!!!

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Chris ... and yeah ... bring it on 😃

[@IanSayers]

Shhhhh 😂

[@RobertStreeter]

Xencelabs sent me this bundle to do a deep dive review of it running on Linux and I have to say this is tablet and quick keys is phenomenal. I only looked into them before this as a replacement for my Wacom tablet after watching the first video on this that you did. So thank you for this.

[@taftphotography]

I am in need of a new tablet, so I just bought a XenceLab set up. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks Glyn

[@glyndewis]

That’s great to hear … enjoy 😃

[@frank1crayon]

I bought the Xencelabs tablet right after I saw your video a few months ago replacing my Wacom tablet. On balance, I do like it, spending most of my time with it in LrC and Photoshop. I'm using the Quick Keys more and more, and I keep promising myself to set aside time to learn more about the system's capabilities (I don't need to read no stinkin' instructions LOL). My one complaint, however, is the system occasionally loses knowledge of the application I'm in, and the programmed Quick Keys become useless. That's frustrating.

[@glyndewis]

I’ve not had that Frank but I’ll reach out to them on your behalf 👍🏻

[@errolsmith5634]

This comment has been very helpful!

[@billbowman8747]

I’ve not experienced that either. I’d suggest reaching out to their support team, they’d be happy to help you out. Their customer support is first rate.

[@photo818]

I just purchased this tablet on Black Friday and should arrive soon, my question to you, is the Bluetooth connectivity better than Wacom? This is the reason why I’m changing because of the frustrations with the Wacom not working properly and at times I had to re-download the driver from Wacom and install it😡 now that you used yours for 3 months does it connect flawlessly?

[@glyndewis]

Re the Bluetooth ... 100% YES! Being Peer to Peer (which the Xencelabs is) makes it so much more stable / secure. I see no difference in the responsiveness of the pen on the tablet when I use it wired or wireless 👍🏻

[@photo818]

@@glyndewis great to know! Appreciate your reply sir!!!👍🏼👍🏼

[@abramians1]

Love the Xencelabs pen tablet!!! I have been using it for the past 2 months, and I absolutely love it!

[@glyndewis]

Great to hear

[@PaulVizard]

How things have changed. My first Wacom was the 12x12 that I purchased in the early 90's for $1000. Thanks for the review.

[@DaveClayton]

I had a Wacom and changed to XenceLabs, the QuickKeys did it for me, I have a stream deck but actually use the QK more. The build quality and set up are so good, I use it more than I ever did my my Wacom because it’s so much more easier to use. And great support from EMEA 🙏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@glyndewis]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@Zampano2]

As a photographer I used a classic Wacom Intuos for many many years, and I would still use it to this day, but they don't provide driver updates for newer MacOS anymore. So I bought a Xencelabs Tablet after seeing many good reviews... and I like it... for the most part... What annoys me the most: I can't find an equivalent setting for Wacom's "Grab'n'Drag", where you can move e.g. a webpage instead of scrolling... Sure I can set a button as scrollwheel, but that's not the same as being able to grab any scrollable document and move it just as far as I move my cursor on screen (as if the cursor was "sticking" to the document when you move it)... for me this is an essential setting, I can't believe it's missing... am I just too dumb to find it...? I also have problems with inactive windows not registering clicks when you want to change to them e.g. when I'm in Finder and click on an inactive browser window, the browser should become active, but many times it doesn't... I have to click off and then on the browser again (sometimes several times) and it will register the click eventually, which is annoying... I also miss the wide palm rest on my old Wacom... it's uncomfortable when you want to work in the lower right corner, where my trashcan is located and important folders in the dock... or the notification center top right... you have to move your hand completely off the Xencelabs, whereas on the Wacom you has quite a lot of space to rest your hand, which may not look "cool" but is so much better... Otherwise it's a great tablet...

[@Illevas001]

I believe what you are looking for is the middle mouse button modifier, which I think is the Grab'n'Drag thing you are talking about. You can map the middle mouse button to your quick keys or to one of the pen buttons to get a draggable scroll cursor thing. Hope that helps!

[@Zampano2]

@@Illevas001 Thanks for helping..! I already set one of my pen buttons to middle click, and it works with the help of a Mac app called "Smart scroll", but it doesn't have quite the same "feel" as on a Wacom... but I got accustomed to it...

[@redbeardpro777]

Im still using my bamboo Wacom from 2007, and works great! This Xencelabs looks amazing though thanks for the review

[@glyndewis]

Cheers. Great to hear the bamboo is still working fine 👍🏻

[@Jobensi_vlog]

Left handed team here! Thanks for the great video, I just got the xencelabs bundle on Amazon sale! What software would you recommend for starters?

[@glyndewis]

What is it that you do Ben? Photo Editing , Design ?

[@gemmaburden8653]

I'm so glad I saw your previous video. I was thinking of buying a new tablet to replace the ancient wacom I rarely used because it didnt have enough buttons and I generally got frustrated with it. I know I would have bought another wacom if I hadnt seen your video, and would have had the same frustrations with it. I got a Xencelabs tablet instead and its been great, I love the quick keys, and saved myself quite a bit of money.

[@Zoivod]

Got mine a few weeks ago, my first thought after using it was, Wacom had gotten lazy

[@andyhughes073]

Thanks for this video and the one before, Glyn, it helped a lot. Just brought the small Tablet and Quick Keys and I'm seriously impressed after being a Wacom Intuos user for around 5 years. Cheaper than the Wacom, better build quality, even the accessories such as the tablet sleeve, quick keys case and the pen box are top notch. Fantastic stuff!

[@GrahamGphotoParker]

As a long time user of 2 medium Wacom tablets. 1st one worn out and second getting close to wearing out. I took the plunge and bought a Xencelabs medium bundle. OMG I can't believe how good it is. Borrowing a phrase from a well know computer manufacturer "It just works!" Day 2 now and powering though edits in PS

[@errolsmith5634]

Please share your knowledge of use after Months 2.

[@lauriewahlig2819]

I would love to hear how you are liking it after a couple months. And what you like better than Wacom or vice versa. Thanks so much

[@DR-fy7qy]

Great video. Did not compel one to purchase a particular brand of tablet. Just quoted the statistics and user experience. Thanks to your initial review of this product, I finally placed an order for this tablet bundle a couple of days ago!

[@glyndewis]

Nice 👍🏻

[@alexanderwalter2253]

Thank you Glyn for this excellent review! I‘ve got three Intuos and I had too many issues with the driver and macOS over the years, I can‘t count them. Last week I bought the latest Intuos pro. It‘s working fine but now I regret my decision. If I only knew earlier😢

[@glyndewis]

How's the new purchase working out though Alexander?

[@alexanderwalter2253]

@@glyndewis Until now the Wacom works w/o any problems. But I‘ll definetly get me a Xencelabs for my iMac at home. I love all these fine-tunings: The Bluettoth receiver (do you remeber that Wacom did this also a few years ago?), the lighting, the stand-alone quick keys (Wacom only offers with a Cintiq).

[@StewartWoodArt]

I've still got my Wacom meduium tablet... Works great as a paper weight lol

[@glyndewis]

🤣

[@IanSayers]

@stewart wood I need to sort that for you mate.

[@StewartWoodArt]

@@IanSayers I’m waiting patiently :)

[@elaine9177]

I agree with this video. I kept having issues with my wacom intuos pro making random ghost spikes for example when writing an i shape it would connect the dot and line. Same when I drew = shapes etc. Wacom software ruined it for me. I tried everything to fix it. Driver updates. Old drivers. Reinstalled windows. Tried a different laptop. Tried a new intuos pro...the list goes on and on... After trying Xencelabs once it was 100x better. The only issue I found was that the pen can sometimes have trouble keeping up when drawing the letter i super fast but I don't have issues taking notes or drawing. It's way better than random spikes of lines/glitchy drivers. Plus the Xence keys are great 😃 love it.

[@kelvinlee9735]

Can we have both Wacom and xencelab driver running

[@lookforbeauty1964]

It's all been said (lol !). It is not perfect but I am happy with my Xencelabs tablet Thanks ever so much, Glyn

[@chriswooldridge8471]

Thanks for the great content. I've taken the plunge and upgraded my old Wacom Intuos small. First impressions on using the tablet and pen are very positive. Responsiveness and smoothness of the pen are both excellent. The Quick Key tool looks like it will become very useful but it may take a while before its use becomes second nature. In this regard I wonder if you could share your setup for Photoshop (& Lightroom) as it's always useful to see how experienced users figured out an optimum configuration.

[@rfrederick8226]

They have a great coupon code on the website - March 20 to 27!

[@glyndewis]

Nice one … thanks

[@cuinee]

Do you think by this cost (both are over 300) would maybe be better get an display tablet? I'm looking to see what to buy, so far I've only used screenless tablets

[@aBrotherMark]

I would use it for just writing on a digital whiteboard or on web pages, PDF's, etc. not for artwork. Would it be good for that? Recommend it for that type of use? Let me know thanks!

[@erlinghagendesign]

can I use 1 XENCELABS tablet in combination with a Mac Air and a Win10 PC?

[@elsevillaart]

So the pressure feels like wacom or rushes fastest to 100% ? Nice video by the way.

[@himanshudangwal9838]

since i don't have a bluetooth in my motherboard can i connect it with usb and work like other pen tablets,how big the wire is?

[@glyndewis]

I’ll find out 👍🏻

[@billlindsay4274]

The USB cable with the Xencelabs Pen Tablets are 3 meters long, and I work with mine while it is still plugged in all the time!

[@saraascalon1579]

I'm really enjoying the functions and feel of the Xencelabs tablet, but have had some wacky driver issues that are vexing not only me, but also their development team. Whenever the computer goes to sleep all my settings (tablet and pen) revert to the default. I have to unplug the cable or dongle to be able to restore my preferences. Tech support has no solution at this point. It's just a thing that seems to be happening on some (but not all) Macs.

[@XFACTION111]

That is correct. We currently have an issue with some Macs: when they are woken from sleep occasionally, the screen mapping may be reset. As Sara stated, it is not happening with all Mac’s, and you can easily reset the screen mapping. We understand this is a hassle, and we apologize for that. The upside is that we are in the final stages of releasing a new Mac driver to fix this issue.

[@billlindsay4274]

Sara, I think you will find Xencelabs is pretty quick to respond!

[@saraascalon1579]

@@billlindsay4274 They are indeed. I was helping them try to troubleshoot the problem, but there were no workarounds with the current driver othe than the one I accidentally discovered.

[@IanSayers]

You are in good hands with @mike in this conversation. Hope we can get you fixed and working

[@darrenbarber323]

Hi well mine came yesterday seems great but if I zoom an image then press space bar or quick keys space then navigate the image using pen the image freezes only option is close the image and restart photoshop hope they can fix this or it will be going back

[@glyndewis]

Do you have the latest driver installed? If you do then I would jump back one.

[@MNCasaPro]

Would this tablet work with 3D modeling like Solidworks, Fusion 360, Plasticity, Shapr3D?

[@glyndewis]

I see no reason why it wouldn't

[@RukiXMusic]

I am so happy i found this video before it was too late. I was going to buy the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium and then i instantly changed my mind after watching this video. You explained everything really good and were able to convince me to go with Xencelabs 😁 Thank you!

[@cuinee]

Did you used it already??

[@RukiXMusic]

@@cuinee yes and i can tell you that it's amazing!

[@RyanParreno]

I'm really interested in this but as a beginner I think I need a display tablet. I'm really hoping Xencelabs were successful enough that they will make a display tablet next, maybe even a standalone tablet in the future

[@glyndewis]

All I can / will say is ... watch this space 😉

[@01_zenyobi]

For now, just use a cheap Huion Kamvas/XP Pen Artist display tablet until Xencelabs came along.

[@Illevas001]

You don't necessarily NEED a display tablet just because you're a beginner. It's not an insurmountable learning curve to learn to use one. I actually started with a drawing tablet, convinced myself I needed a display tablet to take my art to the next level, and then later "downgraded" back to drawing tablet. I just found the display so bulky and a pain to setup that I just didn't use it that often. Now I have the Xencelabs tablet, and I'm love the portability and that I can quickly and easily put it away when I'm not using it. Don't disregard it just because it doesn't have a screen (and also any tablet > no tablet).

[@steevewhitehead1416]

Does it run on Linux systems?

[@glyndewis]

Yeah sure does 👍🏻

[@alkrevit4755]

Glyn, I saw your first vid on this product and said to myself cyber monday this year I'm gonna set my wacom intuos pro medium aside and get it. Well, i just saw on Amazon they are offering a $56 coupon on checkout! Alexa tells me that's 45 pds and some change savings for y'all acros the pond. Mine will get to me this monday, thanx.

[@steveh9089]

I got a Wacom this week as a gift for Xmas, but was allowed it now 😊. I thought I would get along with it but I just find that you have to has such a sturdy hand to use it, when my 5 year old grandson visits next I bet he gets to grips with it within mins lol

[@glyndewis]

😃

[@havencat9337]

after this latest WACOM DRIVERS issues on IOS - i got super super angry and was forced to buy a Huion and in the end returned it and switched to Xencelabs! I am not going back to Wacom ever!!! I almost lost a project because of them and their incompetent drivers and people... Sorry for this but i can not describe how angry i am with them

[@cecelia3580]

I so much agree with you. Very Wacom tablette I got hav eso many problems of driver, I waste so much time to talk to their support , for my next choice , now hesitating between Huion and this brand

[@dinamic6210]

I totally get your setup being left handed too. It’s so VERY frustrating that no company ever thinks of the left-hander when it comes to designing products. We constantly have to adapt and alter the way we work …. Drives me mad….. grrrrrr!

[@glyndewis]

100% with you there

[@tested211]

@@glyndewis I'm not left handed but my impression from working with a lot of artists is that the proportion of left handed artists is quite a bit higher than amongst the general population.

[@b991228]

Does Window Ink still do battles with all tablets?

[@glyndewis]

I’ll need to ask a Windows user friend

[@flyLeonardofly]

Hey guys, do you have a suggestion for a drawing app that supports online collaboration? I have tried to use the xencelabs with Microsoft Whiteboard and that was pretty much a lag fest (pretty sure that's not an xencelabs issue). My usecase is simple software architecture brainstorming that would be typically done on a physical whiteboard.

[@FrankNazario]

as far as I understand ... there is a "left hand" option in the Wacom Intuos tablets ... you enable it ... flip the tablet around so the keys are on your right hand. All the indicators will flip too... so yeah ... a kinda lame excuse for the left-hand explanation... and yes I have been using a Wacom Tablet since 2008 which is when I bought my set Wacom Intuos 4 and it still works fantastically... My setup was originally paired with a Macbook pro 17" for many many years and now is with an iMac 27 2017 and it works flawlessly.

[@glyndewis]

Is there also an option for the drivers to work properly …. Left or right handed? 🤣

[@FrankNazario]

@@glyndewis with mine it does flawlessly … lucky draw I guess? But, seriously yes it works.

[@sandwichwriter]

Thanks for this, Glyn. I didn't see it until AFTER I'd already ordered a new 'Black Friday' Wacom from an online retailer (not the one you're thinking, btw). Grr! BUT, said retailer messed up the order and eventually sent me a refund. The Xence Labs set is now winging its way to my door... 🙏🏻

[@richardmendoza4389]

Great update on the "Wacom Killer", the Xence Labs tablet set. Still using mine, still loving it. Every now & then I experience lag, but 1) I'm using Pshop CS6; 2) I really need to update CPU & GPU as well. Heck, I really just need a whole new system. Thanks again for the update!

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Richard 👍🏻

[@kevincleaver6713]

I still prefer the xencelabs to the wacom

[@timz9862]

My iPad Pro killed my Wacom 5 years ago. Never looking back. I don’t use Adobe software, though, so I can see why some people would still want to use tablets.

[@glyndewis]

Loving my iPad Pro

[@janeygadil7161]

sadly they dont ship to ph i really want to try this pen tablet, moment i saw 2 pens, wide surface to draw with, and a controller i really want to buy it T_T i have been buying wacom too often because of wire problems (broken) pen problems then the pens are expensive XD the medium size or large for wacom is pretty expensive lol. but this one is also expensive but it looks so worth it

[@fix0the0spade]

I'm almost a year into owning a Xencleabs Medium and yeah, it's the Wacom killer. Quick Keys went back in the box (I use and prefer a Tourbox), but the tablet itself is better. What gets it for me is the drivers, every Wacom device I've used from Intuos 4 onwards gets occasional 'bogeys' where it suddenly dumps max pressure strokes for no apparent reason. The Intuos 3 doesn't do it, but keeping that working is a ball ache. Different driver versions gets better/worse, but there's always been those little annoying Wacom boogers every so often. The Xencelabs doesn't, I can't remember it doing it once. It's that thing I'd learned to live with and once it was gone I really notice it. . Only thing I'd change is making the tablet 16:10, I just prefer it that way. If Xencelabs ever release a Pen Display in the 16-24 inch range my Credit Card will take an absolute pounding.

[@Kaspaar]

Bought the tablet based on this review, and regretted it instantly. I overlooked it has no touch option. I was so used to using my Wacom as a trackpad for non creative work like browsing, mailing,... Also, the built-in scroll wheel of the Wacom is much more user friendly, you don't have to raise your wrist to use the Xencelabs one. Not a Wacom killer for me.

[@davidjones8070]

Wish I would have found this before settling on my medium pro Wacom. I’m a lefty as well and have adapted to the backwards righty world. Easy guys it’s a joke….it did make me an ambi so I through with my right and when I became an archery instructor I was able to do it right or left handed. My wife makes fun of me and tells me I need to make up my mind. I get it the stress is real.

[@glyndewis]

Damn I wish I’d got the hang of that ambi thing too 😃

[@gilcarag274]

Some people are always mean, especially online. Not sure that would be the same face to face ! 😂

[@glyndewis]

Trust me ... never mean to the face 😉

[@srodigital]

They would be somewhat foolish if they were funny with @glyndewis face to face. Before they tried that game they need to look up what Glyn did in a past life...even Arnold Schwarzenegger would be impressed!

[@miwiarts]

Once and if my Wacom dies, my next tablet is going to be an Xence for sure.

[@glyndewis]

👍

[@timd4524]

My daughter used Wacom for years herself. She got a lot out of Wacom though. Then she just picked up a surface pro and never looked back. Amazing machines.

[@glyndewis]

Nice one 👍🏻

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

The mean guy! 😂😂😂😂

[@glyndewis]

Nah just telling the truth, and not saying what is expected because of £££ It takes a long time to build trust, but it can be lost in a moment!

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

@@glyndewis I mean the image you used when you said some of the comments were mean. 😆😆😆

[@hewpow]

This isn't quite the Wacom killer just yet, still lacking something critical, it lacks a pen with barrel rotation

[@01_zenyobi]

As expected of company who were building tablet with the same method of Wacom's quality and show actual improvement. If only my wallet doesn't suck ass.

[@glyndewis]

👍

[@ZZKJ396]

£329.99 on Amazon now 😬

[@TerryKontopoulos]

I'm not in the which is better or not... But you have a Wrong Price... 330 GBP!...

[@glyndewis]

But I did say ... "at the time of recording this" i.e. yesterday (29th Nov) Actually the Wacom is now £382.54 ... an increase of £64 from £318... Amazon Xenclabs increased by £49 ... so the Wacom is even more expensive with an increase of £15 difference ... and that's just on the tablet 😳 I should have waited a day ... price difference between them both is even more now.

[@8kmemory]

instead looks like you are a Wacom heater.

[@shawnoneill6872]

I do not understand with the Wacom tablet. It would work in my photo shop but a lot of times it does not work in my light room. I wonder why that is it’s just weird I gotta go a week and will not work in my light room.