Wireless XPPen ACK05 Shortcut Remote: Complete Review!

The Wireless XPPen ACK05 Shortcut Remote is a very small, light, and portable device. A perfect complement while drawing so you can optimize your workflow!

This Shortcut Remote comes with 10 keys that can be customized into any action, and it allows you to program 4 different sets of shortcuts.

That means you get 40 shortcuts in one very small device!

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need about the ACK05 Shortcut Remote to understand if this is your next drawing accessory.

Review unit sent by XP Pen.

XP Pen ACK05 Remote At A Glance

Unboxing The ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote

XPPen’s Wireless Shortcut Remote comes in a small yet charming box. Its design is simple and straight to the point.

Inside, you’ll find the Shortcut Remote securely placed, all the accessories needed, and more.

Here’s everything you can find within the box:

• 1 ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote;
• 1 USB-A to USB-C Cable (L-shaped);
• 1 Wireless Dongle;
• 1 Shortcut Sticker Sheet;
• 1 Quick Start Guide;

As you can see, the contents are very simple but practical.

The wireless dongle is helpful since some devices don’t integrate Bluetooth into the hardware.

This way, you’re sure you can connect the Shortcut Remote via Bluetooth! 

The sticker sheet is also very useful, so you can customize your device and easily remember which shortcut is which.

XPPen’s Shortcut Remote is a handy tool for drawing that comes with everything you need to connect it and use it comfortably!

Design And Build Quality

The ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote is very small and light, making it extremely portable.

Even if you intend to use it in a single place, its size, and design won’t occupy much space on your desk.

Speaking of design, it’s minimal yet sleek and professional. The buttons are all very responsive and smooth to the touch.

According to XPPen’s official page, the keycaps and dial have a coating layer resistant to sweat and stains, so they maintain their shine and feel over the years.

Only time will tell how long that’ll last, but so far, so good!

The rotating dial is very comfortable to use and responsive. The central button inside the dial feels harder to press than everything else.

Although not a huge turndown, it’s slightly disappointing since it’s a button you’d frequently use while drawing.

XPPen’s Wireless Shortcut Remote is very compact, portable, and intuitive.

Everything about it feels quite sturdy and made out of high-quality materials.

Specifications And Compatibility

As mentioned, the ACK05 is very small and lightweight.

Specifically, this Shortcut Remote is 127.55 x 70.49 x 10mm (≈ 5 x 2.77 x 0.39 inches) and weighs only 75 g!

Its design allows you to use it in any direction, so you can pick the one you’re the most comfortable with.

This wireless remote has 10 shortcut buttons plus a rotating dial. However, through XPPen’s driver software, you can customize up to 4 different sets of shortcuts.

That means there are 40 shortcuts and actions in one small device!

As for the connection, you can connect XPPen’s Wireless Remote through cable or Bluetooth 5.0.

It’s very easy and quick to pair this device to your computer. Even if your computer does not have Bluetooth integrated into the hardware, you can use the dongle that comes with your new Wireless Shortcut Remote!

When low on battery, the USB-A to USB-C cable can recharge the device, while connected to the computer. This way, you can still use it while charging.

Speaking of battery, the Wireless Shortcut Remote has a built-in 1000mAh battery that lasts up to 300 hours. On standby, the battery can last up to 10 months!

As for compatibility, the ACK05 is compatible with any XPPen drawing tablet but also with other brands! Just download the separate driver version, which is available on XPPen’s Download page.

It can also be used for more than drawing. XPPen’s Wireless Shortcut Remote is very versatile, and you can use it for other tasks such as video editing and graphic design.

If you’re unsure drawing tablet size to get, click here.

The device is compatible with most drawing software such as Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, Krita, GIMP, and SAI, as well as AutoHotKey, Blender e Autocad.

Here’s what I recommend using for Drawing Software.

Finally, this Shortcut Remote works with multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Sadly, the ACK05 does not work on portable devices like Android or ChormeOS.

Nevertheless, you can do more with this Shortcut Remote than draw. A very helpful tool to optimize your workflow!

Driver Installation And Using Shortcuts

So you can fully customize your new Shortcut Remote, you must download XPPen’s Drivers, available on their Downloads page.

This is a very intuitive and quick process: download and install the drivers, and the Remote is ready to use.

As mentioned, the ACK05 Shortcut Remote has 10 customizable shortcuts. You can set these to any action you prefer.

Not only that, but you can also customize 4 different sets of shortcuts and change through them as you work.

You can use the stickers to identify each button easily. The only downside is that if you change between different sets, the shortcuts might not match the stickers, depending on how you set it up.

If you intend to use this Shortcut Remote with several devices, you can save and apply your settings to different devices without repeatedly programming it.

Furthermore, XPPen’s Shortcut Remote already has some shortcuts set for you. So you can test it out right away.

The shortcuts chosen are standard, such as Undo, Save, Space, etc. If you’re unsure how to organize your remote, you can experiment with these and then customize it however you want.

As said before, the ACK05 is quite versatile.

You can use it with different software, not just drawing. So you can customize it accordingly.

There are 40 shortcuts, so you don’t need a keyboard as you draw or work on other tasks!

Pros And Cons Of The XPPen ACK05

So, what did I like and what didn’t I like about the XP Pen ACK05? Let’s go over the pros and cons.

Conclusion: Who’s This Wireless Shortcut Remote For?

XPPen’s Wireless Shortcut Remote is for any creative that works extensively on their computer.

Be it for drawing, video editing, graphic design, you name it. You can set each button to any action that is useful for you!

Not only that but this small device is compatible with several software, not just for drawing. The same goes for the drawing tablet: it’s compatible with any XPPen tablet and other brands’.

If you work on a desk, like to save space, and a keyboard is often too bulky, then the ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote is an excellent option!

You get 40 customizable shortcuts so that you won’t need a keyboard. It’s also very small and portable so that you can take it anywhere.

This Wireless Shortcut Remote costs about $49.99. Although a bit pricier if you’re on a budget, it’s a very good value for the number of shortcuts and customizations available. 

I recommend you check out the XP Pen Artist 22 Plus Pen Display (Review) where I used this Remote!

For other Artist’s Tools and Resources click here.

And as always: Keep on drawing!