Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) Review: Better Than Ever

Huion is dialing things up a notch with the latest Kamvas 13.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to try out the previous version of the Huion Kamvas 13, and I was really impressed with the overall quality of the product and how well it performed, especially considering its price.

Now that they’ve launched the third generation of their 13-inch pen display tablet, Huion reached out to see if I wanted to give the new model a try. I was super curious to see how it stacks up against the old one and other similar tablets out there, and in this article, I’ll share my experience with the new Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) to help you figure out if it’s something you’d want to check out too.

What’s in the box?

Inside the box, you’ll find the tablet, a battery-free pen, a pen holder with 10 spare nibs, a 3-in-1 cable, a USB-A extension cable, a drawing glove, a cleaning cloth and some user guides. My package also included a foldable stand, which is an optional item you can get for an extra $20.

Specs

When it comes to specs, the new Kamvas 13 has some similarities with the previous model, but there are some really nice improvements here too. The drawing area is still the same size, but the tablet itself is slightly smaller and lighter. It now has even more shortcut buttons than its predecessor, including 5 customizable keys and 2 precision dials with toggle buttons.

The pen also got a decent upgrade, with double the pressure levels and increased accuracy.

Here’s a full breakdown of the specs for both the Gen 3 tablet and the new PW600L pen:

Tablet Specs

Panel Size:	13.3 inches
Resolution:	1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Pixel density:	166 PPI
Brightness:	200 nits
Contrast ratio:	1000:1
Response time:	25ms
Color gamut:	120% sRGB
Surface finish:	2nd Gen Anti-glare Etched Glass (full lamination)
Active drawing area:	11.5 x 6.5in / 293.8 x 165.2mm
Dimensions:	14.2 x 7.9 x 0.46in / 361.21 x 202.77 x 11.7mm
Weight:	1.90lb / 865g
Shortcut buttons:	5 programmable press keys, 2 dial controllers, 2 function-switch buttons
Connectivity:	USB-C (HDMI Signal), Full-featured USB-C (DP Signal)
Compatibility:	Windows, macOS, Linux & Android

Pen Specs

Technology:	Pentech 4.0
Pressure levels:	16384 levels
Resolution:	5080 LPI
Accuracy:	±0.3mm (Center) ±2mm (Corner)
Sensing height:	10mm
Pen tilt range:	±60°

Design and Build Quality

The third generation of the Huion Kamvas 13 is available in two colors, “Cosmo Black” and “Sakura Pink.” I got the black version for this review, which is very sleek and blends in nicely with my monochrome desk setup.

The shortcut buttons, including 5 configurable keys and 2 dials, are all grouped together on the left, next to the drawing area and directly below the power button. If you’re left-handed you can of course rotate the tablet and have the shortcut buttons positioned on the right side.

The dials stick out a bit, which is a clever design decision that makes them super easy to use (I’ll dive into that later) and the shortcut keys are very quiet with a short travel. Personally, I would’ve liked these keys to have a more satisfying click when you hit them, but they certainly get the job done. Plus, the fact that they’re so quiet means you won’t annoy anyone around you while you’re using the tablet.

On the side of the device you’ll find two USB-C ports. One is meant for the 3-in-1 cable that lets you connect the tablet to your computer, while the other can be paired with a single full-featured USB-C cable for an even cleaner setup. This USB-C to USB-C cable isn’t included in the box, so if you enjoy a clutter-free workspace, you’ll need to grab that separately.

You can also plug in a power supply to one of those ports in case your computer is unable to deliver enough power to the device.

The 3-in-1 cable that comes in the box has a USB-C connector for the tablet, and on the other end there’s one HDMI and two USB-A plugs.

Flipping the device around, you’ll find a small Kamvas logo along with some rubber pads that help keep the tablet steady while drawing. Since the Kamvas 13 doesn’t have foldable legs, I’d recommend picking it up with the optional stand if you want to adjust the drawing angle for a more comfortable experience.

When it comes to materials, the tablet is entirely made of plastic, which makes perfect sense given its competitive price point. It would be great to see something more premium like an aluminum shell, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really make any difference when it comes to the drawing experience.

What does make a difference is the glass on the new display. The old Kamvas 13 came with a textured anti-glare film applied to the screen, but now that texture is etched directly onto the glass, something that was previously only available in the Pro version. This matte finish helps cut down on reflections with the added benefit of delivering a nice paper feel when you’re drawing.

Overall, the build quality of the new model is quite impressive, which is something we’ve now come to expect from Huion.

Performance and User Experience

Getting started with the new Huion Kamvas 13 is very easy. Just connect the 3-in-1 cable that comes with the device (or use the optional USB-C cable) and download the HuionTablet app from their website. This is the same app I talked about in my review of the Inspiroy Dial 2, which lets you customize all the shortcut buttons on both the tablet and stylus, and fine tune other settings like pressure sensitivity.

This tablet features a Full HD resolution (1080p) and everything looks sharp and clear on its 13-inch screen. When I first opened up the package, I was actually surprised to find a display calibration report sheet inside. It turns out the tablet now comes color calibrated from the factory, and I have to say that it does look great right out of the box.

As mentioned in my review of the old model, the display isn’t super bright at 200nits, but that’s not a deal breaker for me as I don’t intend to use it outside anyway.

The shortcut buttons on the front of the tablet are extremely useful. You can customize the five main keys to perform your most commonly used actions, including things like undo and redo, creating a new layer or selecting a specific tool.

But what I really love about this new version is the addition of two precision dials in that shortcut area. You can use these to zoom in and out, change brush sizes or rotate the canvas with ease. There’s also a toggle button in the center of each dial that lets you switch between different functions on the fly.

As I mentioned before, these wheels stick out just a bit from the edge of the tablet. While I was drawing, my left hand was always around the shortcut keys and I noticed that my index finger would naturally rest on the side of the tablet, so the top dial was always right at my fingertips. The bottom one was also easy to reach with my thumb. These wheels feel really nice to use too. They have a satisfying click when you turn them, kinda like the classic combination locks you’d see on old safes.

PW600L Pen

The new PW600L pen is fantastic. It feels great in the hand and looks like something you would expect to see bundled with a more expensive, high-end tablet. It now has double the pressure sensitivity compared to the last version, so the performance you get out of it is amazing.

The pen comes with two standard shortcut buttons plus an additional one that opens up a quick menu on-screen, giving you easy access to six customizable functions.

There isn’t a lot more to say about this pen except that it’s definitely a step up from the PW517 I tried out before. There was nothing particularly wrong with the old one, but this one just feels more precise and well balanced.

At this point you might be feeling like this review is a bit biased, but honestly, it’s really hard to find anything wrong with the new Kamvas 13. Even though it’s considered an entry-level budget tablet, it punches well above its weight.

Considering all the features and accessories included, the Kamvas 13 is extremely well priced. It usually goes for $249 on Huion’s website, but right now there’s a Black Friday sale where you can get an extra 10% off until December 2nd. There’s also a good chance it will be part of Amazon‘s Black Friday sales, so make sure to keep an eye out for that.

Pros & Cons

Let’s sum things up with a look at the positives and negatives of the Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3).

Pros

• Affordable price point
• Excellent drawing performance
• Great selection of shortcuts and customization options
• Great color accuracy and minimal parallax
• Comes with a range of useful accessories
• Compact and lightweight design

Cons

• The display is not the brightest, which might not suit all lighting conditions
• The USB-C cable for a single-cable setup is not included

Verdict

Now in its third iteration, the Huion Kamvas 13 is a brilliant pen display tablet that keeps getting better. Huion really knocked it out of the park with this latest version, delivering even more value for your money.

It’s a tablet that’s easy to recommend not just for beginners, thanks to its affordable price and great features, but also for professional artists who will enjoy its portability, the incredible amount of customization options, and the precision of the PW600L pen.

If you’re looking for your first pen display tablet or something more compact to take with you wherever you go, the new Kamvas 13 should definitely be on your radar. It’s currently on sale for Black Friday, so it’s the perfect opportunity to check it out.

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