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The Huion Kamvas Slate 13 is a pill that guarantees rather a lot, notably because it’s constructing on the beforehand launched Kamvas Slate 10. At first look, the Slate 13 is a smooth, fashionable machine positioned as a flexible Android drawing pill that might doubtlessly rival each Wacom and the iPad for on-the-go digital artwork.
There are key variations between the brand new Kamvas Slate 13 and the Slate 10 that transcend easy show measurement. The brand new Slate 13 has a laminated QHD display screen with an improved 99% sRGB; Inside storage is doubled to 256 GB and helps as much as 1 TB micro‑SD enlargement (vs 512 GB on the Slate 10); the brand new MediaTek Helio G99 is quicker than the Unisoc T616 processor. With all of this, you’d be forgiven for pondering Huion had cracked the elusive method: a real all-in-one pill for artists on the transfer.
However after spending 4 weeks with Kamvas Slate 13, drawing, note-taking, and testing its limits, I discovered this pill to be a tool with extra model than substance. It’s a lovely missed alternative, a stable pill and an enchancment on the Slateb 10, however it’s let down by efficiency niggles. Learn on for my full assessment, which exhibits Huion is near one thing particular, however not fairly there but.
For comparability, learn our guides to the most effective drawing tablets and the most effective tablets with a stylus.
Kamvas Slate 13: design and construct
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
Straight out of the field, the Kamvas Slate 13 impresses. The aluminium chassis is inflexible and funky to the contact, the bezels are slim with out being fiddly, and the 12.7-inch show affords a big clean digital canvas; its 4:3 facet ratio makes for a uniquely massive drawing space. This strikes a sensible stability between compact and canvas-like. There’s a satisfying symmetry to its format, with the entrance digicam centred in panorama mode.
What stands out is the display screen. It’s matte laminated glass, not an inexpensive plastic movie, and it resists glare surprisingly properly. It feels premium, extra akin to an e-ink pill or a medium-priced drawing show than a typical Android machine. You’ll instantly discover it’s not slippery, however neither is it textured like paper-style surfaces discovered on some pen shows. It is a center floor: clean, however not treacherously glassy like iPad.
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
On the rear are two cameras held in etched rimmed casings. It doesn’t have a kickstand or built-in legs like a typical drawing pill, however it’s flat sufficient to throw in a bag and light-weight sufficient at 650g to hold round all day. Inserting the cameras on the highest left does imply the Slate 13 cannot sit flat on a desk – however it comes with a fake leather-based case that may act as a stand if wanted.
Buttons are minimal and restricted to an influence button, quantity rocker, and a USB-C port. There’s an SD card slot to improve the inner storage, however no HDMI, and no shortcut keys (although you’ll be able to join a Bluetooth Fast Key distant and keyboard).
Kamvas Slate 13: specs
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
The Kamvas Slate 13 is modestly powered. It makes use of a MediaTek Helio G99 processor. It runs Android 14 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, expandable by way of microSD. The 12.7-inch show has a decision of 2944 x 1840, giving it a pointy 264 PPI, on par with mid-range tablets just like the Lenovo Tab P12 and Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus.
You additionally get the H-Pencil, a Huion stylus that helps tilt, stress, and quick charging by way of magnetic connection. It follows the USI 2.0 customary, which opens up compatibility with different Android styluses. In contrast to rivals like XPPen and Ugee, this model options 4,096 ranges of stress, which is not nice and might clarify the ‘wobble’ and lack of accuracy in tremendous pen marks (see Efficiency).
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
The 8000mAh battery is respectable, and in common use I discovered it lasted all day without having a cost. It fees by way of USB-C, so be warned, this is not an EMR stylus. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 are included, however curiously, there’s no mobile choice, which might’ve been a boon for artists engaged on the go, and one thing you get from conventional pill manufacturers reminiscent of Apple, Samsung, and Lenovo
Cameras are useful at finest: a 13MP rear digicam and an 8MP entrance shooter. Fantastic for fast snaps or video calls, however nothing you’ll wish to use for scanning paintings or pictures.
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)Swipe to scroll horizontallyHuion Kamvas Slate 13 and Slate 10 spe comparabilityRow 0 – Cell 0
Slate 10
Slate 13
Show measurement
10.1″, 16:10 (FHD+, 1920×1200
12.7″, 4:3 (QHD, 2176×1600)
Refresh charge
60Hz
60Hz
Show options
Shiny IPS, 90% sRGB, 260 nits brightness
Matte nano‑etched, 99% sRGB, 350 nits brightness
Processor & Reminiscence
Unisoc T616, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB UFS (expandable to 512 GB)
MediaTek Helio G99, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB onboard (expandable to 1 TB)
OS
Android 12
Android 14
Stylus
HS200 stylus, 4,096 stress ranges, ±60° tilt, ±0.3 mm
HS230 (H‑Pencil), 4096 ranges, ±60° tilt, ±0.3 mm accuracy
Battery
6,000 mAh (~7 h utilization, 3.5 h cost)
10,000 mAh (~14 h utilization, quick 3.3 h cost)
Cameras
Entrance 5 MP, Rear 13 MP; twin audio system/mics
Entrance 8 MP, Rear 13 MP; 4 audio system
Dimensions & weight
243 x 161 x 8.6 mm; 575g
280.6 x 211.8 x 7.5 mm; 682g
Worth
$249 (typically discounted to $229)
$499 (reductions accessible to $459
Kamvas Slate 13: efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
That is the place the Slate 13 stumbles. For common Android duties, reminiscent of internet searching, video, emails, and even gentle gaming, this new pill is snappy sufficient. However push it into artistic workflows, and the cracks seem, which is a disgrace as digital artists are the core goal customers.
The show, for starters, is underwhelming in vivid environments. Whereas it is sharp, the show lacks distinction and brightness, particularly open air, which is the place many will count on to make use of a pill like this (when not doodling on the couch or on the kitchen desk). I discovered the blues muted and muddy. For colour-critical work, for skilled digital artists, I’d say the Slate 13 is just not as dependable as iPad Professional, for instance. Even indoors, you’ll want you had richer tones.
It is also value noting that whereas the show works properly in vivid direct gentle, on account of its lack of gloss end, it does appeal to smudges and smears with ease.
The show, whereas good for drawing, does appeal to smudges. (Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
Utilizing Huion’s H-Pencil is okay; it is a properly weighted and cozy pen to carry, however as with the Kamvas Slate 10, latency and accuracy depart one thing to be desired, particularly when drawing tremendous strains or element. Whereas I discovered there was much less line wobble than with Slate 10, it is nonetheless evident. Gentle strokes generally fail to register, too, which turns into irritating over lengthy intervals of use. Tilt works, however feels inconsistent.
The Slate 13 is appropriate for informal sketching, hobbyist artwork, or creating free artwork types, however when you’re in search of an expert pill for comedian artwork and tremendous illustration, the iPad Professional and Apple Pencil Professional are higher choices (although thrice the fee). I spent some hours on a ’50s comic-style astronaut doodle, and the extra I drew, the extra pissed off I turned, to the purpose I wanted to search out some vector pen brushes that will overrule the lack of accuracy.
This is a little bit video exhibiting the latency challenge, in addition to the pill’s horrible palm rejection (it comes with a drawing glove to forestall this, however it may be a difficulty with cheaper drawing shows.
Multitasking can also be a weak level. With Android 14, cut up display screen is supported, however the processor simply doesn’t deal with heavier apps properly. I used the pill with ArtRage Vitae in addition to Clip Studio Paint, which ran, and initially we had been tremendous, however over time the pill started to wrestle; there was noticeable delay, particularly on massive canvases with plenty of simulation occurring, and on quite a lot of events ArtRage merely gave up and crashed. (For extra apps, learn our information to the most effective Android drawing apps.)
Huion pitches the Slate 13 as a drawing laptop for youngsters, and to an extent, I can see the logic. In the event you’re aged 10-14, it is a stable pill. The difficulty going through Huion is that, a yr in the past, Android tablets made for artists, with tailor-made shows, apps, and styluses, had been uncommon, however now there’s extra competitors, particularly with Wacom’s MovinkPad 11 on the horizon.
Kamvas Slate 13: who’s it for?
(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)
I touched on it above, however Kamvas Slate 13 is not a drawing pill I may advocate for professional artists – the most effective iPad for drawing, like a Professional or Air, is a better option, and if you’d like Android, the Ugee UT3 or XPPen Magic Drawing Pad supply higher styluses and efficiency.
And but, on nearer inspection, it feels just like the Slate 13 additionally misses its goal of being a baby’s first drawing pill, as whereas it isn’t highly effective sufficient for skilled illustrators, neither is it inexpensive sufficient for youngsters or complete freshmen. It sits in an odd center floor, doubtlessly interesting to college students or informal hobbyists who need a bigger show than a Kindle-like however don’t wish to go full iPad Professional.
Kamvas Slate 13: purchase it if
- You need premium construct for much less
- You want a pointy QHD laminated display screen
- Lightness and portability issue
Kamvas Slate 13: do not buy it if
- You want extra energy and reliability
- Precision and accuracy are a should
- Color accuracy is essential to you
Huion Kamvas Slate 13: Worth Comparability
