Graphic design is big business and it’s likely most companies either have a designer in-house or the work is provided by a design house or freelance designer. Graphic design has now gone completely digital and has made the work more efficient but using a standard PC or Mac can provide problems for the designer to create artistic designs by using just a mouse and keyboard.
A solution to this problem is using an art tablet which comes with a stylus allowing create the feeling of working like the old days of paper and pen but bringing this up to date for the 21st century. In this review, we have been lucky to have been sent the Huion Kamvas 24 Plus and the Huion mini KeyDial KD100 which we will be taking a closer look at both.
First impressions
The Huion Kamvas 24 Plus is a large tablet designed with a large working surface. The fully laminated screen allows for responsive brush strokes and shows the colours on the screen to be bright and easy to be seen. The Kamvas 24 Plus also comes with a built-in stand that can be used if you want the screen at an angle as we have done in the review.
The Kamvas 24 Plus currently retails for £899 with a Keydial mini costing £74.99 but if you visit the Huion website they currently have a sale in which you can get the Keydial mini for £54.99.
The key features of the Kamvas 24 Plus include:
- 23.8-inch screen
- 2.5k resolution
- Full lamination
- 178-degree viewing angle
- 140% sRGB colour gamut
- 16.7M(8bit) display colors
- QLED technology
Unboxing
The Kamvas 24 plus comes in a rather large box but everything is packed neatly allowing you clearly understand what each item is. Inside the box you get the following:
- New 23.8″ Screen with 2.5K QHD Resolution, QLED, and PenTech 3.0
- Adjustable Stand ST100A
- 3-in-1 Cable
- Power Adapter
- AC Cable
- Battery-Free Pen PW517
- Pen Holder PH05A
- Pen Nib x 10
- Pen Nib Clip
- Cleaning Cloth
- Quick Start Guide
Design
The Kamvas 24 plus measures 23.8 inches wide by 14 inches tall and has a wide frame with a black front ring and a charcoal grey back. Considering the size of the tablet it’s something more of a stationary tablet so considering where you place it is vital. I would say the home office is the perfect place.
The sides of this device are curved and the bezel on the front is very narrow. Placing your wrist on the bezel won’t feel uncomfortable. Also on the build of the Kamvas 24 plus is a black border around the display which makes the colours appear more true with less interference from the backlight.
On the side of the tablet at the top right edge is where you will find the ports needed for connection. In that section, you will find a USB-A at the top with 2x USB-C ports just underneath.
On the rear of the device, there is also a built-in stand that is made using aluminium and has a protective rubber coating.
There is also a catch on the mounting point that allows you to adjust the angle of the stand from an angle of 20 degrees to a max of 80 degrees. You can also remove the stand completely if you wish. In addition to the tablet, you are also provided with a stylus which is black and fat at the base for a comfortable grip with a plastic nib that you will notice is very gentle on the screen.
Display
The Huion Kamvas 24 Plus has a 23.8-inch screen that offers a super sharp resolution of 2,560 x 1440 pixels and this gives you a 2.5k resolution for the size which should suit most users. When you consider the brightness you get a max brightness of 220 nits which should be good for most working conditions but you will struggle in direct sunlight. There is also a 1,200:1 contrast ratio which is more noticeable when working with darker colours as they are going to be easier to notice.
The display of the tablet uses QLED technology which provides a sharper image and better clarity and using the QLED technology helps reduce eye strain.
There is more the Kamvas 24 Pro provides the user with a 140% sRGB colour gamut that equates to 16.7 million colours which is more than you can even see which will mean you will have any colour you are looking for. This tablet also comes with an IPS display which provides the user with an angle of 89 degrees on either side without any impact on the display.
Interface & Controls
The bonus of having a fully laminated screen means you will not have a gap between the glass and touch-sensitive surface underneath. This allows the user to make very fine adjustments to your design.
In terms of controls, you will notice on the stylus there are 2x small buttons that can be programmable so you could use the buttons to adjust the size of the marker this is done through the driver interface.
You will also notice the screen has a variety of pressure sensitivities the header you press the bolder the line. The screen is also sensitive to the tilt of the stylus up to 60 degrees this allows you to tilt just like a real pencil and provides a very natural feel.
The Stylus Pen is battery-free so no need to charge and the pen comes with an anti-friction silicon grip to keep it in your hand at all times.
Compatibility
The Kamvas 24Plus can also be used as a display for another device, for example, your work laptop and it’s compatible with Mac OS, Android, Windows and Linux systems you just need to make sure you install the corresponding driver which is free to download.
Connectivity
Connecting the Kamvas 24 Pro can be connected to your device via the HDMI output using the provided 3 in 1 cable so on end into the USB-C port on the tablet and then the HDMI part of the 3 in 1 cable into your computer’s HDMI port. Then connect the USB-A to one of the computer USB Ports to provide a data connection.
If your device does not have an HDMI port it could support the USB-C option. In this case, connect the USB-C cable from the bottom of the Kamvas 24 Pro to the appropriate one on your device. Then connect the 3 in 1 cable to the top port and connect the USB-C end to a power supply.
Set up
Setting up any device can be a little daunting with the help of my sister-in-law who is a graphic designer. She said setting up was very easy and the quick starter guide was very useful in the set-up. Here is how we set this up:
Step 1: Assemble the stand to the back of the screen. We found the stand provided a good range of angles 20 to 80 degrees and more importantly it felt sturdy.
Step 2: Connect the tablet to your laptop using the USB-A and USB-C ports.
Step 3: You need to go onto the Huion website and download the driver here is a useful link to that page. Simply enter the model in the search bar and then download the driver you need and you will notice they are available on Windows, MacOS & Linux. We also found the fact the more detailed user guide is online really helpful in setting up. Here is a link to the User Guide.
The online user guide is really helpful and it provides you with the following:
- How to install the driver and interface- VERY IMPORTANT! – Give the guide a quick read before trying to download the driver!
- How to set up the pen display and digital pen settings including setting up shortcuts using the pen.
- Digital Pen Basic Operations
- Troubleshooting
Step 4: When the pen display is connected you can check the colour of the indicator light and that will show you the status below a small guide:
| Status Indication | Colour of the Indicator Light |
| The power is on, but there is no video signal input. | Red |
| The power is on, and there is video signal input. | Green |
| Sleeping | Red |
Performance
In order to really test this device I put it in the hands of my sister-in-law who is a graphic designer by trade and has been using the Kamvas 24 plus for about a month now her view, was it provided her with a nice space to work on and the reduced frame size provided her very useful additional space.
She was also impressed that you could plug the Kamvas 24 plus directly into the main power supply which means you did not need to charge the device beforehand. She also mentioned the fact you can adjust the stand allows you to work on it in a few different ways. The Anti-glare also helps the user when working on the tablet at a different angle and also provided you with the best level of brightness which as a result provided a clear definition when designing your next project. We also found the screen and pen were very reactive and using the pen on the screen felt so natural.
Something to consider the Kamvas 24 Plus is an additional screen to your laptop so you need to also consider how good your laptop is before use. On the Huion website, it clearly states the Kamvas 24 plus is not a standalone product it has to be connected to one’s computer or laptop to fully work. You can only use the Kamvas 24 plus as a duplication of your screen otherwise the provided stylus pen will not work.
Huion Mini Keydial KD100
In addition, the Kamvas 24 plus Huion offers a number of accessories you can purchase in addition such as a dual monitor arm and the Mini Keydial KD 100 which we are focusing on. The Mini Keydial KD100 normally costs £74.99 but on the Huion website if purchased at the same time as the Kamvas 24 plus.
The Mini Keydial KD 100 is a keyboard shortcut remote with 18 keys and a dial. The keydial is quite light but the plastic build makes it feel a little cheap. Although when using it we felt it was fairly solid. The chiclet keys have short travel and provide good feedback while using a scissor-switch mechanism. The dial is smooth and turns with audible clicks and the button in the middle lets the dial switch functions for example start with brush size and then switch to scroll & Zoom.
The Mini keydial KD100 also allows the user to set shortcuts in a clockwise or anti-clockwise movement allowing you to set it up to your preference.
The Mini keydial is only compatible with windows or Mac it is not suitable for users who simply use tablets. We used it along with our laptop and it provided access to more keyboard shortcuts.
Battery life the Mini Keydial will offer the user up to 100 hours of battery life so to break that down if you work 8 hours a day you will get just under 2 weeks of use (12 days).
Our Experience with the Mini Keydial
My sister-in-law also put the Mini Keydial through its paces and to start with this was her first time using such a device. When she first took this out of the packaging the quick starter guide advised me to plug it into the USB port in her laptop but that slot was being taken up by the Kamvas itself. What we found that worked was if you plug it into the USB port on the side of the Kamvas and it works just as well.
We were pleased to know it’s basically plug-and-play as soon as you have plugged it in and paired it to Bluetooth the keypad will light up to indicate it’s been paired.
When setting up the keypad you can click on each button and set up a shortcut key. Some are already preset but you can also change them if you wish. You will see a list of shortcuts you can use or you can simply add to the keyboard. There is also an indication if your mini pad needs charging.
You can also switch between the pen and mini keypad with ease:
We were pleased with how seamlessly they work together on the screen and the keypad has grips on the back so you can actually position the keypad on the screen. In the picture below you can see how we set everything up.
Verdict
The Huion Kamvas 24 Plus is an excellent offering for graphic designers looking for a well-designed tablet ideal for those looking to bring out that creative side its also useful for artists as well as graphic designers.
We were impressed that considering what else is on the market this is the more budget-friendly option but it holds its own compared to other well-known brands. You will also be pleased with how easy it is to set up and there is a real seamless working between the screen, stylus pen and keypad.
We were very pleased with the fully laminated surface and massive colour gamut. The use of OLED technology is also a massive bonus as the display really looks good and the huge display really provides that extra room when working. You can zoom in and perform fine detailed work with ease.
The Kamvus 24 Plus and Mini keypad remove any awkward controls you might have had previously allowing you to create projects in the same tactile way you are already used to but faster than before.
Product Rating
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Display: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Controls: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Compatibility: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Setup: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Performance: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars – 4.5 -star rating
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I have that same model. the color is super crips and the texture of the screen is great. Very good response time and the little key dial is SO NICE to use! I’d definitely recommend it.
You will get more or less the same experience as the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24, at about half the price.
Huion more value for money, great for artists. 100% recommended.
https://pctechtest.com/best-huion-drawing-tablets