Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: this graphics tablet is scaring me

After getting into digital art around two years ago, I’d always dreamt of using a high-end tablet with aspirations of becoming the next online Picasso. My first tablet was the Wacom One and after I ran it into the ground I got an iPad with Procreate. But nothing ever seemed as grand as the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27. When I finally got the opportunity to try out this hulking beast of a tablet, I found myself frustrated, in awe, and a little bit scared.

As someone that draws as a hobby, I definitely don’t need a massive graphics tablet, but I did think I would be blown away by the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27. Instead, I was mildly annoyed by it. In saying that, I do think the target audience for this product will appreciate it in all its $5,499 glory.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 first impressions

The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is massive. Its impressive size is only matched by its hefty weight. Getting this monster out of the box was only the beginning, and it was quite a workout… Setup was a bit of a headache due to the sheer amount of stuff that the Cintiq Pro 27 comes with. I found that pulling out and sorting through cables, instruction manuals and the pen all at once was quite overwhelming after hauling the tablet through my apartment. Luckily the stand had already been attached to mine, so that was one less thing to worry about.

Bear in mind, a stand is required to use the behemoth drawing tablet but doesn’t actually come included. An official stand costs an additional $799, which is massively steep considering you’re already paying several thousand dollars for the tablet in the first place. Fortunately, you can use cheaper third-party VESA 100 mounts, although it doesn’t negate the fact you need to purchase an additional accessory to use your $5,000 device.

Once you’ve placed the tablet on your desired surface, the next task is to figure out how to hook it up to your computer. Keep in mind that you’ll need a lot of space for it. Then when you’ve worked out which cable goes where, it’s mostly a matter of plug-and-play. The only other required part of the setup is to make sure you have the Wacom software installed so you can play around with the tablet and pen settings. The software also has an easy setup and if you already have it installed from another device, you can skip this step.

Specifications

Display size	26.9” (68.3cm)
Active area	596 x 335 mm (23.5 x 13.2 in)
Resolution	Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)
Weight	7.2kg (stand not included)
Aspect ratio	16:9
Colour performance	1.07 billion colors (10 bit), 99 % Adobe® RGB (CIE1931)(typ), 98 % DCI-P3, HDR PQ / HLG Gamma support, PantoneTM Validated, Pantone SkinToneTM Validated
Colour	Black
Dimensions	638 x 379 x 31 mm (25.1 x 14.9 x 1.2 in)
OS requirements	Windows® 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later; USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode or DisplayPort or HDMI and USB-A; internet access to download driver
Price (RRP)	$5,499
Official website	Wacom Australia

Performance

Not only is the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 huge, but it’s also a beast in terms of performance. It essentially has two jobs and it does both well. Firstly, it’s a graphics tablet. In terms of screen sensitivity and response time, both are great. I used the tablet to draw in Clip Studio Paint and create models in Daz 3D and everything went smoothly. Having a large surface to work on is also a big plus and you spend less time overall adjusting your canvas to create your work. 

As for the back of the tablet, the ExpressKeys are great to increase workflow. Being able to configure each key to a specific action is fantastic because it also avoids accidental pen button presses and having to stop your work to play around with settings. 

When it comes to the Cintiq Pro 27’s ability as a monitor, it does a great job here too. It has a large screen that looks crisp and can be maneuvered into different positions easily. This means you can go from drawing on a completely horizontal surface to watching a video like you would with a regular monitor in less than 10 seconds.

But while the Cintiq Pro 27 is great at being a graphics tablet and a monitor in terms of performance, its main issues stem from design, setup and usability.

The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 takes up a lot of space. If you don’t have room for another monitor, you won’t have room for this tablet. This isn’t a tablet you can take with you everywhere, but instead a permanent element of your workspace. While it’s big, it’s also heavy and bulky. You need to put it in a space that allows for easy access to the back of the device thanks to its ExpressKeys and slightly frustrating setup. In addition, if you plan on adjusting its height, tilt and position regularly, you’ll need to have enough space around it so it doesn’t bump into walls, other monitors, or even the surface it’s sitting on.

After using the tablet for an extended period of time, I found it to be uncomfortable to use. I was either forced to stand up if I wanted it to be a horizontal flat drawing surface, or sit with my arm in an awkward position if I wanted to sit down and draw. As the screen is so big, it also strained my eyes after prolonged use, and I ended up wishing I had my Wacom One just for comfort’s sake.

Would I buy the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27?

Honestly? No. At $5,499, I don’t think the tablet is worth it. Yes, it’s big and impressive and does its job well, but I found it just wasn’t quite suited to myself or my environment. That, and needing to pay extra for a stand necessary for the device to function is a bit rich. As a casual digital artist, I prefer Wacom’s smaller tablets, or even an iPad Pro with Procreate.

I imagine that if I were a professional who needed a large graphics tablet for my day job, this would be a fantastic addition to my office. But that would be the only kind of person to use this device. I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners, casual artists or someone that doesn’t have a lot of space for it. The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 was designed for professionals who can claim this as a work expense.

The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is a fantastic graphics tablet and desk monitor for professional creatives. It’s huge and certainly makes an impression. But if you’re new to the world of digital art, are creating casually or think it’s too expensive, it’s better to steer clear of this monster of a graphics tablet.

Keep in mind that you’ll need a dedicated space for it and it’s quite costly. But if you are a professional creative that ends up adding it to your workstation, it’ll be a worthwhile investment that can help push your workflow to insane heights.