The Kamvas 13 (Gen 13) is Huion’s newest model for medium display tablets. But is it much better than the previous model?
The New PenTech 4.0, smaller size, and rotation dials are just a few of the Kamvas 13 Gen 13’s interesting new features!
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Kamvas 13 (Gen 13) so you can decide whether it’s a worthy upgrade.
Table Of Contents
Quick Overview Of The Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3)
Let’s quickly go over the Kamvas 13 Gen 3 and the absolute basics that you need to know.
An Amazing Display Tablet at a GREAT Price!
One of the most complete procreate brush packs you can find online.
- Very Durable and Efficient Design
- New PenTech 4.0 stylus
- Comfortable and Easy To Use!
- Smaller And Lighter Than The Previous Model
- No Power Charger is included
Now that we got that out of the way…
Let’s go into the review, enjoy!
What’s Included With The Kamvas 13 Gen 3
Like all others, the Huion Kamvas 13 Gen 3 comes very organized. Every item is accommodated and safely packed to arrive safely into your hands.
Inside the box, you’ll find:
- 1 x Kamvas 13 (Gen 3)
- 1 x Battery-free Pen PW600L (PenTech 4.0)
- 10 x Pen Nibs
- 1 x Pen Holder
- 1 x Pen Nib Clip
- 1 x 3-in-1 Cable
- 1 x USB Extension Cable
- 1 x Artist Glove
- 1 x Cleaning Cloth
- 1 x Quick Start Guide
- 1 x Foldable Stand ST300 (Optional)
Although it is a complete package, a power adapter is missing.
At this point, everyone probably has more than one power adapter at home, I feel this should always be included when buying a display drawing tablet.
The foldable stand is optional but highly recommended if you don’t have one. It only adds $20 to your purchase, and you’ll need a stand when drawing on a display drawing tablet!
The cables are ready to use and quite long, so you have more flexibility when setting up your new tablet on your desk. The USB extension cable is handy if you need extra cable length!
Despite the absence of a power adapter (which has become a common occurrence, much to my displeasure), this is a complete package with most of the accessories needed to start drawing digitally.
Design and Portability
The Kamvas 13 Gen 3 has a very charming and clean design. It’s a thin tablet with a few press keys plus two rotational dials that give it extra fun functionality.
Everything is compact so that you can use your tablet comfortably without obstacles. One example is that the cable entry is situated so that you can use your tablet in any orientation without the cables in the way.
This is especially important for left-handed artists who always need to turn their tablets the opposite way!
Although the Kamvas 13 is a medium-sized tablet, its size and weight make it very portable! This Gen 3 tablet is 8% smaller than other versions.
More specifically:
- Size: 361.21 x 202.77 x 11.7mm (≈ 14.2 x 7.98 x 0.46 inches); (for comparison, the previous model of the Kamvas 13 measures 366.5 x 217.4 x 11.8 mm)
- Weight: 865g
So far, I’ve been quite happy with the quality and durability of Huion products.
This tablet goes one step further by adding more functionality and portability to be more ergonomic for right- and left-handed users while maintaining its quality!
Looking for portable drawing options? Check out drawing tablets for laptops.
The Kamvas 13 Gen 3 comes in two colors: Sakura Pink and Cosmos Black. This way, you can add a fun factor to your tablet if that’s your fancy.
Display Quality
The Kamvas 13 Gen 3 display is very comfortable to draw and look at!
As the name states, it has an FHD 13.3-inch screen with a 1920×1080 resolution and an active area of
293.8 x 165.2mm (≈ 11.5 x 6.5 inches).
Although you can find tablets with better resolution by now, including the Kamvas 13 2.5K, price-wise, you will feel a difference. Despite the lower resolution, the Kamvas 13 Gen 3 quality is superior.
This is not only for the added buttons/functionality but also because this is the only tablet around this size and price with the new PenTech 4.0 stylus (this pen is currently only included in Kamvas Pro 19 and 27).
I will discuss the stylus in more detail below, but for this detail alone, the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 is worth your money!
Returning to the screen, the fully laminated display with anti-glare and anti-sparkle features is another pleasant feature. The tablet’s screen is already protected by nano-etched canvas glass, allowing you to draw comfortably without unwanted reflections.
Color-wise, it covers 99% sRGB, 99% Rec.709, and 90% Adobe RGB. Color is essential for artists; nowadays, display tablets continue to perfect their color quality.
The box even included a factory calibration report, which is a nice touch.
Finally, the screen is an IPS 60Hz LCD type with 200 nits of brightness that you can change through Huion’s official driver software!
Pen Performance and Technology
The jewel of the crown of the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 is its stylus. It comes with Huion’s most recent pen model, with Pentech 4.0 technology.
As previously mentioned, this pen is only included in Kamvas Pro19 and 27. These are very high-end, professional drawing tablets and cost between $879.00 and $1799.00.
Meanwhile, the Kamvas 13 Gen 3 is available for $224.00 (or $242 with a foldable stand). So, it’s an excellent deal for the pen only, especially if you’re looking for a display portable drawing tablet!
For everything more portable, check out my article on Travel Sketching here.
This pen stylus has 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity, ±60° tilt support, and 2g initial activation force. It’s incredibly responsive and accurate.
While setting the tablet up, there was no need for extra calibration since everything was already so accurate!
And if you want to improve at your digital drawing skills, try to do some of these digital drawing exercises!
For me, the most exciting details are more related to the pen’s quality of design and functionality, such as:
- Three Customizable Side Buttons: if you’re familiar with drawing tablets and their stylus, you know that most have one or two shortcut buttons. The PenTech 4.0 adds another button to the pen, allowing for even more shortcuts on your pen so that drawing can be even more efficient!
- The Dust-Resistant Silicone Grip: this has been my biggest pet peeve with every stylus. The silicone grip, although comfortable, gets dusty fast. When you take the pen from its plastic bag, it will get dirty with dust almost immediately, and it’s impossible to clean. This is especially true if you have animals at home! Now, is keeping your pen clean from dust vital? No, but it’s a nice little touch and surprise to an already fantastic stylus!
Finally, it’s a battery-free pen, and you can use it with other nib styles, such as felt nibs, which are sold separately.
I often enjoy using felt nibs and was slightly disappointed not to see a few included in the box since it has been done before!
However, it’s important to note that the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 has a new, beautiful pen holder. Inside it, you’ll find ten replaceable nibs and a tool to remove and apply them to your pen!
All in all, the new pen technology from Huion is a delightful surprise and very comfortable to use.
Canvas Glass and Texture
As mentioned above, the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 comes with a nano-etched canvas glass that provides a paper-like texture for a more natural feel while drawing.
This glass is also anti-glare and anti-sparkles, so any light in your workspace won’t interfere while drawing!
Furthermore, it protects your screen while you draw so that you won’t see scratches or distracting smudges on your screen too soon.
The included artist glove will be conducive to keeping the screen clean.
Of course, with time and use, it might get a bit dusty and spotty. But that’s easily fixed by using the cleaning cloth, which is also included, and it’s as good as new!
In short, the canvas glass will ensure that your screen will maintain its quality for a long time.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The Kamvas 13 Gen 13 comes with a 3-in-1 cable for connecting your tablet to your computer. You’ll also need a power adapter to power up your display drawing tablet.
Alternatively, you can connect a USB-C to USB-C cable (which can be bought separately) to your PC, laptop, or Android device!
This second option can be easier to use since you only need one cable, especially if you’re considering using your tablet on the move.
Furthermore, the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android (USB 3.1 + DP 1.2), and Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS).
As for drawing software, you can use most software available, such as Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita.
Finally, you can use the Kamvas 13 as a pen display tablet or, if you prefer/need to, in pen tablet mode, which keeps the screen turned off while still allowing you to draw.
Productivity Features
One of the main features of the new Kamvas 13 is its shortcut keys.
There are five press keys on the side of your tablet that you can use to set any shortcut you need. In addition, you also get two dials with multiple functions that are very easy to use and rotate.
These dials have a small protrusion from the tablet, making them easy to reach and use without becoming an obstacle!
The five press keys, the three buttons on your pen, and the dual dial allow for several customizable shortcuts for enhanced workflow.
My only complaint about the press keys is that even though they’re all relatively silent, it also makes them a bit harder to press. It’s not a huge issue, but it’s worth knowing!
Huion’s driver software allows you to customize shortcuts, pressure sensitivity, and working area settings to make your experience as comfortable and efficient as possible!
As mentioned before, the Kamvas 13 Gen 13 design is designed with left-handed artists in mind.
It’s made so you can draw with your tablet in any orientation, without obstacles, and with easy access to all the press keys and dials!
Pros And Cons Of The Kamvas 13 Gen 3
We reviewed everything you need to know about the Kamvas 13 Gen 3, so let’s go over all its pros and cons.
PROS
- Size and Weight: Compared to the previous model, the Gen 3 is considerably smaller and lighter, making it very portable if you prefer to draw on-the-go.
- Build Quality: This is a very durable and efficient design, from the etched glass that protects your screen from scratches and unwanted glares to the dust-resistant silicone grip of the pen.
- PenTech 4.0: The new pen technology is fantastic and comfortable to use. Drawing is entirely accurate, and the three buttons add even more shortcut options to make working more efficient!
- Functionality and Comfort: the tablet’s design allows easy use and customization. Not only the press keys and dials, but you can also orient your table in any way and still be able to draw and use every function with no obstacles!
CONS
- No Power Adapter Included: I understand that removing a few items allows for a lower price. Still, if your display tablet needs a power adapter to work, it should be included in the package!
- Press Keys a Bit Harder To Press: Although more silent than previous models, the press keys become slightly more challenging to press and use. This is something that you’d get used to and not a deal breaker, but I feel it can be important to note for some!
Conclusion
Overall, the Kamvas 13 Gen 3 vastly improved from the previous model.
The PenTech 4.0 is its most significant feature and improvement! Especially since this pen is not yet available on other more affordable Huion tablets.
Furthermore, adding dials along with the press keys and the three buttons of the pen allows for a wider variety of shortcuts so you can work and draw more efficiently!
The price is slightly above the previous model ($224.00 for the Kamvas 13 Gen 3 instead of $203.00 for the Kamvas 13).
So it’s worth the extra money.
I own both tablets and often use the Kamvas 13 to work and create all my drawing courses. From now on, I can confidently say that I will replace it with Gen 3!
P.S.: On Black Friday (Nov.21th-Dec.2nd), Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) will have a 10% discount. Links below!
Huion Store: Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) Pen Display
Huion Amazon: https://amzn.to/3STB8v6
Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!
Enjoy your stay and as always:
Keep on drawing!
