I’ve been wanting a Wacom tablet for years but the price on them has always put me off. I love to draw, but pencil and paper just isn’t cutting it for me anymore.
I wanted to get my art directly onto the computer and be able to play with it in Krita (and scanning artwork in every single time is a chore).
With the XPPen Deco 640 I finally decided to jump in and go for it. For beginners, it’s cheap. At only $36.99 it definitely has the more appealing price on the market.
What’s In The Box?
Here’s what you will get when you buy the Deco 640:
Deco 640 pen tablet, stylus pen, 10 replacement Pen Nibs, and a nib removal tool, USB-C to USB-A Cable cable, USB to USB-C Adapter, Quick start guide.
Design and Build Quality
This may be XPPen’s entry-level device, but it still benefits from XPPen’s solid quality and unique design.
XPPen has come on leaps and bounds in recent years when it comes to producing quality devices, and the Deco 640 is no exception.
The device itself is sturdy, lightweight and very portable, making it an excellent choice for those at the start of their creative career.
It’s a clean slate with a sleek and appealing look. Nothing to fancy, but, eye catching enough to certainly make you feel like a winner.
Connectivity
XPPen Deco 640 isn’t choosy when it comes to operating systems. So, you can link up to Mac or Windows PC, and certain Android tablets or smartphones.
The type-c cable port is at the top left of the tablet.I connect the Deco 640 tablet to my laptop through the included USB-C to USB-A cable.
If you have a modern laptop with USB-C Port, the included USB-A to Type-C adapter will come in handy.
There isn’t a wireless option of the Deco 640, so if you want a bit more flexibility, you can condiser the XPPen Deco MW Bluetooth Wireless tablet.
Install the Driver
The first thing I did after unboxing it was go to the XPPen website and download the latest software and drivers for the Deco 640.
Easy to understand setup!! Once the drivers are downloaded, it is pretty self-explanatory!
I installed both of the available downloads from the site and then proceeded to restart the computer. Everything went smoothly and then I plugged in the tablet. It registered and off I went.
Active area
With the tablet’s active area measuring 6 x 4 inches and overall small size. But it is enough for casual/non-professional use.
Be aware that not all of the gray surface is usable, about 75% of the total area. It is clearly marked by lines on the edges of the working rectangle.
At first, when I opened the box, I thought that the tablet was too small. However, when I started to use it, I realized that the small size is what I need.
I have a 15.6-inch Lenovo laptop and the tablet matches my laptop size. I feel that’s a good combination.
If you have a 27″ screen, using XPPen Deco 01 V3 with 10 x 6.25 inches active area would make more sense on those huge screens.
Otherwise It definitely does become a challenge at times getting the perfect detail on a small drawing surface.
Portability
Plus it is easy to carry around wherever you want. unplugging it and slipping it into you laptop case along with your laptop.
Even with hard drives, a mouse, and smartphone, it’s thin enough to barely make a bulge in your luggage and light enough to be virtually unnoticeable.
Stylus Pen
The pen is made of a simple matte plastic, with 2 side buttons, not feels premium, but it is battery-free so I can work all day long without having to worry about running out of juice. very awesome!
With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, ≥220RPS and 60° tilt support, the pen offers responsive and precise control.
The pen gives me the real feeling of using a pencil on paper. I don’t need too much pressure on it. It is very sensitive and fit perfectly in my hand.
Hotkeys
With eight touch-sensitive shortcut keys, this device makes drawing easy.
Other small tablets like older Star G640, and Deco Fun features none at all, so the Deco 640 with eight was an awesome change of pace.
During testing, these buttons worked flawlessly and were easy to customize, really improving workflow efficiency.
Drawing Experience
This Deco 640 tablet allows me to make some decent drawings on Krita. Drawing with it is simple easy and lots of fun.
I like having the ‘paper-like feel’ drawing surface, which is fairly rough and you will have to change the pen pressure settings so your pen nib doesn’t wear out too fast, but the pen pressure is really smooth and accurate.
My jaw dropped when I saw how much my lines looked as if I had just drawn them with a real pencil. If this is your first drawing tablet then prepared to be amazed.
Using a tablet with pen doesn’t enhance your drawing skills, but it is definitely much better than drawing with a mouse – more natural and intuitive. I also tried using it for playing OSU and it worked well, no latency at all!
There’s a learning curve though. As an artist I’m used to looking down at the paper as I draw or paint, I like to be able to see exactly where my hands are.
So it takes some getting used to with having to look at your monitor instead. It’s almost drawing blind in a way as you can’t tell where your hand is at.
However, your on-screen brush/paint cursors follow the movements of your hand exactly, so you always know where to put your lines. It’s just take a bit of getting used too, but after a few days of it you’ll be just fine.
I didn’t notice any latency with this pen tablet; I tried using it for both drawing and OSU and it worked well for both!
Conclusion
Overall, XPPen Deco 640 is a very solid drawing tablet that offers great value for its price.
With its compact size and USB-C connectivity, it’s the ideal travel companion for your laptop or phone.
It also truly wowed me with the impressive range of sensitivity levels and quality drawing experience.
I had very minimal issues with this device, making it a great choice for anyone looking to get into digital art without breaking the bank.
