After spending 3 weeks with my XPPen Deco 01 V3 tablet, I feel ready to write about my experiences using it.
I got a small taste of XPPen’s Graphics Tablets initially when I purchased a XPPen Star 05 Wireless Tablet about 4 years ago. Last year I spilled coffee on my desk and lost my Star 05 Tablet to coffee as a result.
I was upset about it because Star 05 aren’t even made anymore, it was my first tablet and I was comfortably happy with it and so I was nervous about buying something I was unfamiliar with again.
After researching heavily, I finally decided on buying the XPPen Deco 01 V3 Tablet for its impressive features and great value for money.
Unboxing
It was quickly delivered and I opened the packaging to find the tablet and accessories contained in a sturdy flip top box. On inspection I found that the box was quite substantial and really secure.
On inspection I was pleasantly surprised at the contents in the box:
Deco 01 V3 Tablet, Passive Pen Stylus, Pen Stand, 8 Replacement pen Nibs, USB-C to USB-A Cable ( Approximately 1.5m in length), USB-A to USB-C Adapter, Quick Guide, and an Anti-fouling Drawing Glove.
One thing I really liked was the inclusion of the tablet glove in this set. For those on the tight budget it is one less item to buy amounts another tick in the box for XPPen.
For those who have never used a graphics tablet glove they are a fantastic asset to have as they keep your hand gliding smoothly with the pen, particularly when your hands has sweat in hot weather.
Design and Build Quality
The Deco 01 V3 tablet has a nice feel, fairly light and felt strong enough to take the usual knocks and bangs when being moved about….
It is ultra thin at a mere 8mm. The thin design is not only eye-catching, but it makes the device easy to travel with. It can slip into a laptop case for on-the-go use.
In Addition, I was pleased to find that the reverse of the Deco 01 V3 has rubber padded feet in each corner with a neoprene feel to them – slightly tactile for grip the desk surface.
The Deco 01 V3 i got has a classy matte black finish, looks really cool. If you are tired of black, One advantage of this model is you can choose from other 2 colors – pink and green – to express your personal style and easy identification.
Large Active Area
The Deco 01 V3 is 13.8 by 8.5 inches in overall size with a generous 10 x 6 inch usable drawing space, which provides ample room for creativity.
If you are interested in using your tablet for detailed Photoshop tasks or drawing illustrations, this size should work well.
The active work surface has 4 white right angled markers on each corner indicating where the usable surface is and can be dimmed or brightened depending on your preference for the work environment.
These ‘landing lights’ are a nice feature as it allows you to see exactly where the active area is when drawing in lower lighting and even in pitch dark conditions.
Stylus Pen
The Deco 01 V3 ablet comes with an ergonomic pen with rubber grip that’s comfortable to hold for long periods of time, feels premium, and it also comes with a very sturdy pen holder, which most companies tend to skimp on.
The stylus has 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is fantastic for creating line width variations by changing the pressure on the pen. As technology advances the drawing experience gets much closer to the real thing.
The tilt function support is another outstanding feature, offering smooth transitions between lines and strokes. It allows me to add shading to my artwork effortlessly.
Additionally, the P05D battery-free stylus eliminates the need for charging and ensures that the tablet is always ready for use.
8 Express Keys
There are 8 customizable express keys on the left side of tablet which are right at your fingertips without being obtrusive.
The express keys are lined up in two groups of four on one side, and can reversible in the driver depending on left or right hand use of the tablet.
This is far enough from the active area but near enough for instant use. The keys are also large enough and separated from each other to make them easy to use.
These 8 buttons can be programmed differently per application. I really love these hotkeys, which streamline my workflow, making it easier to create.
Installation
Installation was straight-forward: First, simply plug one end of the USB-C cable to the tablet and attach the other USB-A end to the computer.
If you have a modern ultra-thin laptop with only USB-C port, the USB-A to Type C adapter can come in handy
Then, download the driver from XPPen’s site and install it. Don’t worry! The driver is extremely easy to install. But remember to remove all other tablet drivers you have on your computer before installing it.
Once you’ve installed the driver, it should create a desktop shortcut for you to easily access the tablet settings.
Using the software to set up the buttons for the stylus and tablet is a breeze. It has 3 tabs, one for the work area, one for stylus settings, and one for the buttons.
I won’t introduce them one by one here, If you feel lost at any given point, XPPen’s website offers plenty of videos dedicated to aiding and educating you on how to use the tablet and its features.
If the installer doesn’t prompt you to restart your computer after it finishes, I wholeheartedly suggesting restarting your computer anyways to allow Windows to properly update the files necessary for the driver to run smoothly.
Compatibility
XPPen Deco 01 V3 is compatible with multiple systems, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Chrome OS and Android, so I can easily connect it to my android smartphone for on-the-go creativity.
But I found this to be the worst way in which to use it. You are required to use the tablet and the app in portrait mode making it hard to use if you are used to using your Android device in landscape. It’s also likely that the footprint of the device that you will be using it on is smaller than the graphics tablet itself.
If you have a linux, Windows or MacOS computer, I recommend you to get it. For android, you can consider their 12.2-inch XPPen Drawing Pad Standalone drawing tablet that runs on Android 12.
Drawing Experience
Drawing with the Deco 01 V3 is a true pleasure. I’m very happy with my purchase.
Drawing, sketching, and illustrating felt fluid and natural, as if I was working with traditional media. The pressure sensitivity is on point, allowing for precise control and a wide range of artistic expressions.
The large working area is really comfortable for drawing. I have to move my whole arm and that ended a cramping issue I had with the smaller ones.
The surface of the tablet has a fairly rough texture which grip your pen nib a fair bit. It makes me really feel like drawing on paper with almost perfect travel and traction.
Using the pen has dramatically increased my productivity particularly in Adobe Illustrator, it’s a breeze to use compared to a mouse for vector work.
It’s also very capable in Photoshop and works as a mouse replacement for photo editing and digital painting. The pen works flawlessly.
However, there are some notable drawbacks. The most challenging part is coordinating between the tablet and the screen. It’s quite difficult to keep track of where the pen is, which makes precise control a struggle. This issue detracts from the overall usability, especially for detailed work or for those new to drawing tablets.
Additionally, If you’re looking for a professional tablet with more functionality such as wireless/bluetooth connectivity, multi-touch or dial, you may want to consider another model, like XPPen Deco Pro (Gen 2).
Conclusion
The XPPen Deco 01 V3 Tablet is a great tool for digital writing, image editing, illustrations and general photographic work, including touching up images.
The features this tablet offers are identical to the Wacom One Entry-level tablets, but its price is much lower – $59.99.
This tablet is a great value for an artist on a budget since it offers more than you’ll need.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, the Deco 01 V3 offers a perfect blend of performance and simplicity.
It has made my artistic endeavors more enjoyable and efficient, and I’m confident it will do the same for you. Highly recommended!
