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The Huion Kamvas Slate 13 is a pill that guarantees so much, notably because it’s constructing on the beforehand launched Kamvas Slate 10. At first look, the Slate 13 is a smooth, trendy system 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 with an improved 99% sRGB; Inner 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 components: 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 stupendous missed alternative, a strong pill and an enchancment on the Slateb 10, but it surely’s let down by efficiency niggles. Learn on for my full assessment, which reveals Huion is near one thing particular, however not fairly there but.For comparability, learn our guides to the perfect drawing tablets and the perfect 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 giant drawing space. This strikes a wise 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. 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 regular Android system. 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 regular drawing pill, but it surely’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 – but it surely 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 possibly can 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 high-quality pen marks (see Efficiency).(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)The 8000mAh battery is respectable, and in common use I discovered it lasted all day while not having a cost. It prices 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 possibility, which might’ve been a boon for artists engaged on the go, and one thing you get from conventional pill manufacturers akin to Apple, Samsung, and LenovoCameras are purposeful at greatest: a 13MP rear digicam and an 8MP entrance shooter. Positive for fast snaps or video calls, however nothing you’ll need to use for scanning art work or images.(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)Swipe to scroll horizontallyHuion Kamvas Slate 13 and Slate 10 spe comparisonRow 0 – Cell 0 Slate 10Slate 13Display size10.1″, 16:10 (FHD+, 1920×120012.7″, 4:3 (QHD, 2176×1600)Refresh rate60Hz60HzDisplay featuresGlossy IPS, 90% sRGB, 260 nits brightnessMatte nano‑etched, 99% sRGB, 350 nits brightnessProcessor & MemoryUnisoc T616, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB UFS (expandable to 512 GB) MediaTek Helio G99, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB onboard (expandable to 1 TB)OSAndroid 12Android 14StylusHS200 stylus, 4,096 stress ranges, ±60° tilt, ±0.3 mm HS230 (H‑Pencil), 4096 ranges, ±60° tilt, ±0.3 mm accuracyBattery6,000 mAh (~7 h utilization, 3.5 h cost)10,000 mAh (~14 h utilization, quick 3.3 h cost)CamerasFront 5 MP, Rear 13 MP; twin audio system/micsFront 8 MP, Rear 13 MP; 4 speakersDimensions & weight243 x 161 x 8.6 mm; 575g280.6 x 211.8 x 7.5 mm; 682gPrice$249 (usually discounted to $229)$499 (reductions obtainable to $459Kamvas Slate 13: efficiency(Picture credit score: Future / Huion)That is the place the Slate 13 stumbles. For normal Android duties, akin to net shopping, 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 shiny 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 might say the Slate 13 shouldn’t be 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 shiny direct gentle, as a result of its lack of gloss end, it does entice smudges and smears with ease.The show, whereas good for drawing, does entice 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 go away one thing to be desired, particularly when drawing high-quality strains or element. Whereas I discovered there was much less line wobble than with Slate 10, it is nonetheless evident. Mild 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 unfastened artwork types, however for those who’re in search of an expert pill for comedian artwork and high-quality illustration, the iPad Professional and Apple Pencil Professional are higher choices (although thrice the associated fee). I spent some hours on a ’50s comic-style astronaut doodle, and the extra I drew, the extra annoyed I grew to become, to the purpose I wanted to search out some vector pen brushes that will overrule the lack of accuracy.Here is slightly video exhibiting the latency concern, in addition to the pill’s horrible palm rejection (it comes with a drawing glove to forestall this, however it may be a problem with cheaper drawing shows.Multitasking can also be a weak level. With Android 14, cut up display 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 high-quality, however over time the pill started to wrestle; there was noticeable delay, particularly on giant canvases with numerous simulation taking place, and on various events ArtRage merely gave up and crashed. (For extra apps, learn our information to the perfect Android drawing apps.)Huion pitches the Slate 13 as a drawing laptop for kids, and to an extent, I can see the logic. Should you’re aged 10-14, this can be a strong pill. The difficulty dealing with Huion is that, a 12 months 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 might advocate for professional artists – the perfect 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 toddler’s first drawing pill, as whereas it is not highly effective sufficient for skilled illustrators, neither is it inexpensive sufficient for kids or complete newbies. 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 need to go full iPad Professional.Kamvas Slate 13: purchase it ifYou need premium construct for lessYou want a pointy QHD laminated screenLightness and portability factorKamvas Slate 13: do not buy it ifYou want extra energy and reliabilityPrecision and accuracy are a mustColour accuracy is vital to youHuion Kamvas Slate 13: Worth Comparability