The 2024 version of the Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is a refresh of the previous generation – Artist 15.6 Pro, which was released around 2019 or so.
XPPen (aka XP-Pen or XP Pen) took a lot of the feedback from users and used it to improve upon the device.
Should you pay the extra $40 for Upgraded Artist 15.6 Pro V2, or is the older Artist 15.6 Pro good enough?
The differences between them can be a bit blurry. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, or you don’t keep up to date with XPPen products, you might miss out on some pretty important features.
In this article, I talk about both display tablets differences – including the display quality, stylus pen, connection, compatibility and more.
XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro V2 vs Artist 15.6 Pro Side-by-Side Comparison
| Artist 15.6 Pro V2 | Artist 15.6 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.4″ / 340.99 x 191.81 mm | 15.6″ / 344.16 x 193.59 mm |
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Color Gamut | 96%Adobe RGB / 96% DCI-P3 | 85% Adobe RGB / 88% NTSC |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000∶1 | 1000∶1 |
| Brightness | 250 cd/㎡ | 250 cd/㎡ |
| Viewing Angle | 178° | 178° |
| Screen Panel | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Full Lamination | Yes | Yes |
| Drawing Surface | Textured anti-glare film | Textured anti-glare film |
| Pen Pressure | 16384 Levels | 8192 Levels |
| Tilt Recognition Support | Yes | Yes |
| Initial Activation Force | 3 grams | 12 grams |
| Stylus model | X3 Pro | PA2 |
| Pen Tech | X3 Smart Chip + EMR / Battery-free | EMR / Battery-free |
| Digital Eraser | Yes | No |
| Express Keys | 1 red roller wheel + 8 buttons | 1 red roller wheel + 8 buttons |
| Connectivity | Single USB-C Cable or 3-in-1 cable | 3-in-1 cable |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Chrome OS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2019 |
| Price | $399.99 | $359.99 |
More Accurate Color
Both XPPen Artist 15.6 pro and Upgraded Artist 15.6 Pro V2 have the almost same 16-inch screen size and 1080p resolution, Pre-installed anti-glare matte screen protector, fully-laminated scren. what makes them different is the color gamut.
The Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is slightly more color accurate than its predecessor at 96% of Adobe RGB and 96% Display P3, while Artist 15.6 pro only supports 88% NTSC and 85% Adobe RGB.
So newer Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is the best choice if you want a More color Accurate screen. wider color range will make colors pop more and you’ll get a more saturated vibrant image.
More Advanced Stylus
The most notable differences between the two are the stylus pen.
Due to the newer X3 Smart Chip pen tech, The Artist 15.6 Pro V2 has a much better drawing experience – much more precise and sensitive.
The X3 Smart Chip accurately recognizes the pen’s electromagnetic signals by turning them into digital signals for precise transmission. It is more stable than traditional analog signals (PA2 stylus uses), 10-fold increase in sensitivity, and has stronger anti-electromagnetic interference ability.
The X3 Pro stylus come with doubled pressure sensitivity levels of 16,384, improving upon the previous model of 8,192 levels. This allows you high precision and control as you create strokes with your pen.
Compared to the PA2 stylus’ 12g IAF of Artist 15.6 Pro, The X3 Pro stylus has a mere 3g needed for the activation force. Basically, that means even if you lightly drag the nib across your canvas exerting almost no pressure at all, marks will still show up, like they would with a proper pencil.
Finally, The X3 Pro stylus has one exclusive feature that are not available on the PA2 stylus of Artist 15.6 Pro: an eraser on the other end of the pen. So you can turn the pen over and use the other end like a virtual eraser.
Display Connection
The Artist 15.6 Pro V2 tablet can be connected via either a 3 in 1 cable (HDMI and 2 USB-A) or a single USB-C cable to computers that support graphics over USB-C.
That Single USB-C Cable Connection is a really great feature that not only reduces cable clutter, but also makes carrying the tablet around a lot easier.
Unfortunately, the older Artist 15.6 Pro only supports 3 in 1 cable connection.
Compatibility
Both of them supports Chrome OS, Linux, Windows and MacOS devices.
However, The Artist 15.6 Pro V2 also supports Android devices. This is a great feature for artists who use smartphones and tablets to draw on the go.
The older Artist 15.6 Pro does not work with Android devices at all.
Conclusion
Due to the wider color gamut, more advanced X3 stylus, and Single-USB-C Connection, the Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is the clear winner in my opinion. It is worth the $40 extra money compared to the older Artist 15.6 Pro.
If you are beginner, student, or hobbyist, the Artist 15.6 Pro V2 is a great entry level Display Tablet considering its FHD 1080p resolution and you get the precision X3 Stylus with low IAF and 16K levels of sensitivity.
To be honest, 1080p looks nice on a smaller screen; but 2.5K QHD on this display is phenomenal ! So 1080p will get the average user by without much trouble, as for the professional artist who’s producing high production material, it’s essential to have your images seen in crystal clarity.
If you need higher clarity, The 15.4-inch XPPen Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) is 2.5 k QHD (2560×1600 pixels), and you can still enjoy the excellent drawing experience of X3 Pro Stylus.
Explore More: 10 Best XPPen Drawing Tablets of 2025
