For digital artists and designers, pen displays are the best drawing tools for digital creation.

They will provide you with a more intuitive drawing experience with precise pen input, eliminating any disconnect between your hand-eye coordination.

Are you looking for a display drawing tablet that is capable of fulfilling all your essential drawing requirements but at an affordable price.

Luckily, Every single brand is putting their best foot forward and releasing display drawing tablets at very affordable prices.

Three popular contenders in the budget-friendly realm are the XPPen Artist 12, Gaomon PD1161, and the VEIKK VK1200 V2.

All 3 display tablets offer a similar features and affordability – under $160. But which tablet is better and which device should you pick as your next drawing tablet.

In this article, I will delves into the key aspects of each tablet to help you make an informed decision.

By the end of this comparison, you will have have a clear idea on which tablet you should pick.

Gaomon PD1161 vs XPPen Artist 12 vs Veikk VK1200 V2 Comparison

The Main Display Tablet Features In-Depth Comparison

Here’s a more in-depth analysis of the three tablets, These will help us better understand the pros and cons in each case.

Display Quality

The three tablets all come with a compact 11.6-inch screen size with Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution and 72% NTSC /100% RGB color gamut.

The general display quality is the same  that provides crisp, detailed visuals and accurate colors for your artwork.

The screen surface of three tablets are a pre-installed matte screen protector that has an anti-glare coating which enables them to be used in bright reflective environments.

The anti-glare film also has a slight texture that gives you better control over the stylus.

Because of the IPS screen panel, they all feature a 178-degree viewing angle that maintains the tablet’s color saturation even when viewed from any side.

The difference lies in screen tech:

Both the GAOMON PD1161 and XPPen artist 12 lacks laminated display, increasing the distance between the pen tip and display panel. This results in noticeable parallax that can distort the view.

On the other hand, the Veikk VK1200 V2 has a fully laminated display that reduces parallax to minal. This results in a better quality display and a pen-to-paper-like feel while drawing.

Stylus Pen and Drawing Performance

The pen is the heart of any drawing tablet, and All 3 tablets utilize EMR, battery-free pens that requires no charging or batteries, ensuring it’s always ready when inspiration strikes.

All 3 stylus pens have two programmable buttons on the body offer shortcut options closer to your fingers. However, One unique feature of xppen P06 stylus is that it has an eraser on the top end, which is very handy.

Generally, you will struggle to see any real differences between the Gaomon AP50, XPPen P06 and Veikk P05 stylus pens. They all have the same 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and feels very similar in the hand.

This high level of sensitivity allows for nuanced line variations and detailed shading, making all tablets suitable for a wide range of artistic tasks.

The difference is that both Veikk P05 stylus and gaomon AP50 stylus supports 60-degree tilt function while the XPPen stylus does not.

The ability to support the 60-degree tilt function provides you with access to more brush options for a more effective workflow. This feature can be a difference when it comes to saving time and the production of a lovely shading effect.

However, in terms of drawing performance, the XPPen P06 stylus is slightly more responsive with lower latency and IAF, making it feel more natural and fluid. The Gaomon AP50 and Veikk P05 pen might require a slightly heavier touch for accurate lines.

Connectivity

These 3 tablets are not standalone drawing tablets like an apple ipad and need to be connected to a computer to work.

Pen display monitors doesn’t support wireless connectivity. So, using cables is still necessary for video and pen data transmission.

Right now, the Veikk VK1200 V2 beats the XPPen Artist 12 and Gaomon PD1161 for Convenience of connection.

Both XPPen Artist 12 and Gaomon PD1161 only support connection via 3-in-1 cable: HDMI + 2 USB-A cable.

On the other hand, the Veikk VK1200 V2 not only support 3-in-1 cable connection, but also supports modern single usb-c to usb-c cable connection. This definitely eliminates cable clutter and improves portability.

Express Keys

In terms of customization options, all 3 tablets offer 6 to 8 customizable express keys, allowing users to quickly access their favorite shortcuts and functions.

However, the XPPen Artist 12 also comes with a unique touch bar, which can be configured to scroll or increase brush size.

The express keys on the 3 tablets are situated on the left-hand side of the tablet, but you can work your way and set the tablet to support a left-handed user by rotating the tablet.

Design and Build Quality

Design is a Matter of Preference. In spite of entry-level pricing, All 3 tablets sport sleek and modern designs.

The Gaomon PD1161 features a black and silver color scheme, while the XPPen Artist 12 comes in a more understated black finish.

The 2 tablets have a well-thought-out design and it is made of high-quality plastic that feels strong and also helps with reducing costs. The screen has glass on top in addition to an antiglare, scratch-resistant film.

On the other hand, the Veikk Vk 1200 feels extremely well built than 2 other tablets, which has a metallic body on the back and on the sides – giving it structural rigidity and a large glass panel covering the whole front face.

Compatibility and Drivers

All 3 display tablets are compatible with the popular operating systems Windows and Mac. You can use the major drawing and design software like photoshop on these platforms with them.

All of them comes with free Windows or MacOS driver software that enables customization of pen settings, shortcut buttons, and other features.

All 3 companies provide reliable driver updates to ensure compatibility with the latest software.

Generally speaking, The XPPen tablet Driver is a tiny bit ahead of Gaomon and Veikk as it gives you more functions and better stability.

Price and Value

All 3 tablets offer excellent value for their price, providing a balance of features and performance that is hard to beat.

However, the VEIKK VK1200 V2 typically comes in at a lower price point than the XPPen Artist 12 and Gaomon PD1161.

Because the prices of Gaomon and XPPen are usually obtained after discounts.

If you see no discount when you check, wait a few hours and check again. Don’t worry! This discount is long-term.

Other Budget Options Recommended

If you’re looking for a 12-inch XPPen artist tablet with fully laminated screen, tilt recognition, single usb-c connection, wider color gamut, and willing to pay extra $50, the XPPen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) might be the better choice for you.

If you prefer a 12-inch Gaomon tablet with fully laminated screen, single usb-c connection, wider color gamut, and willing to pay extra $20, the GAOMON PD1220 might be the better option.

Summary

All 3 tablets offers a compelling combination of features, performance, and affordability.

They are suitable for a wide range of artistic tasks, from sketching and drawing to digital painting and illustration.

In this case, there is no particular winner because they both pretty much offer the almost same features except if you value fully laminated screen.

Ultimately, the choice between the Gaomon PD1161, Veikk VK1200 V2 and the XPPen Artist 12 boils down to individual preferences and priorities.

Take the time to consider your workflow, budget, and artistic goals before making your final decision.