XPPen Artist 22 Plus Pen Display Review

The XPPen Artist 22 Plus is a large drawing tablet, aimed at digital artists and designers seeking a more immersive creative experience. As an affordable alternative to some higher-end competitors, this 21.5-inch pen display offers a generous workspace for those looking to upgrade from smaller tablets. In this review, we’ll examine the key features, performance, and overall value of the XPPen Artist 22 Plus to help you determine if it’s the right tool for your needs.

Disclosure: XPPen sent the Artist 22 Plus (MD220FH) for the purpose of this review. It retails for about $422.99 USD as of this writing.

Technical Specifications

At the Artist 22 Plus’ core is a generous 21.5-inch IPS panel in a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) rated with a 100% sRGB coverage. The display comes with the standard X3 Pro stylus that offers 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and ±60 degrees of tilt recognition.

Display
Panel Size	21.5 inches
Screen Technology	IPS
Surface Treatment	Anti-glare
Resolution	1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Pixel Density	102.46 PPI
Refresh Rate	60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate	N/A
Brightness	250 cd/m²
Contrast ‎Ratio	1000:1
Response Time‎	14 ms
Color Coverage	130% sRGB, 103% Adobe RGB
Color Depth	8-bit
Connectivity
Display Options‎	HDMI, DisplayPort (Type-C)
USB	USB 3.2 (Type-C)
Audio‎	3.5 mm (Out)
Pen
Pressure Sensitivity	16,384
Retraction Distance	0.6 mm
Tilt	60°
Type	Active
Dimensions
Length	547 mm
Width	364.67 mm
Height	33.4 mm
Weight	5.5 kg

Packaging and Accessories

The Artist 22 Plus’s packaging is comparable in size to that of 27-inch monitors. When ordered through an online store, it is likely to arrive in an additional box, which was the case with my unit as I typically receive samples in retail.

Scope of delivery are as follows:

• XPPen Artist 22 Plus Pen Display
• X3 Pro Smart Chip Stylus
• Nib Removal Tool
• 10x Pen Nib
• Pen Clip
• HDMI Cable
• USB-C to USB-C Cable
• USB-A to USB-C Cable
• Power Adapter
• Power Cable
• Drawing Glove
• Cleaning Cloth
• Customer Service Card
• Quick Guide
• Warranty Card

Plenty of stuff has been bundled with the Artist 22 Plus to get you started.

Design, Build and Connectivity

The XPPen Artist 22 Plus features a sleek 25.8-inch frame, offering a simple yet modern looking design. Unlike the smaller models like the Artist 12 offering a variety of color options, the 22 incher is only available exclusively in a Black colorway.

The back of the Artist 22 Plus features an integrated stand made out of metal and is connected via a plastic VESA mount. I do not find this combination an issue, as the mounting option is robust enough – especially with the rollers and the number of adjustments in place.

The Artist 22 Plus comes with the X3 Pro Stylus, along with a set of nibs and a mounting kit. This is an active pen, but does not require battery for operation. I wish the mounting was magnetic though, along with configurable display buttons instead of the brightness and power buttons alone.

As for power, XPPen used a 36 W power brick for the Artist 22 Plus. Connectivity options on the other hand comprises of a USB Type-C port able to deliver DisplayPort signal, an HDMI port, and a 3.5 mm jack for headphone out. Using HDMI with the display requires three cables, so if you have a Type-C port on your system, that would be best to minimize cable clutter. On that note, the display also comes with a cover to tidy things up.

Ergonomics

The XPPen Artist 22 Plus is equipped with a 21.5-inch display panel operating at a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, resulting in a decent pixel density of 102.46 PPI. Being an IPS panel, it offers a wide range of viewing angles which is extremely beneficial to its VESA mounted stand’s wide tilting range.

Parallax is almost non-existent, even better compared to the smaller Artist models that I have tested. On that note, the film is also excellent, offering good resistance to the stylus while also providing a good deal of glare protection. What I immediately noticed is how easy it is to use, most likely due to its size and the curvature when you are holding the display at an angle. The X3 Pro Stylus, while a bit bulkier compared to the X3, is also surprisingly good to hold compared to the latter.

Software

Similar to many pen displays, the Artist 22 Plus lacks a built-in OSD. However, you can modify certain settings through the downloadable XPPen software, which is essential to maximize the pen display’s capabilities.

Upon installation, you will encounter a straightforward interface featuring three menus. The first two are the most crucial, featuring the Work area and Display submenus. The former is best left as is but if you need to limit the pen’s active area, then this is where you should go.

Display settings is where the usual OSD options are located. The Artist 22 Plus comes with presets here for industry standard color spaces along with Kelvin or color temperature based presets.

The software allows fine tune adjustments to the X3 Pro stylus, offering pressure curves, presets, and even custom shortcut keys.

OSD Presets

The Artist 22 Plus comes with 8 presets via its software and we ended up with User as our profile of choice.

Spyder5 ELITE | OSD Settings
Settings	Brightness (cd/m²)	Black Level (%)	Contrast (:)	White Point (K)
sRGB	210.3	0.30	710:1	7800
Adobe RGB	210.0	0.30	710:1	7800
DCI-P3	210.4	0.30	710:1	7800
User	217.1	0.30	730:1	6400
5000K	152.6	0.30	520:1	5300
6500K	167.9	0.30	570:1	7900
7500K	144.4	0.30	490:1	9500
9500K	132.3	0.28	470:1	12400

OSD settings are as follows:

• Preset = User
• Brightness = 41 (120 cd/m²)
• Contrast = 52
• Color Temperature = R50, G48, B45
• Gamma = N/A
• Color Space = N/A

Shoot me an email if you need the ICC or ICM profile for this particular pen display.

Gamut

The color space coverage of the Artist 22 Plus is excellent across the tested range.

Spyder5 ELITE | Gamut, Percent (%)
Color Space	sRGB	AdobeRGB	DCI-P3	NTSC
Measured	100	95	98	93

Tone Response

Gamma level is 2.3, which is in-between the two standards. It is safe to assume the panel is leaning on the cinematic side of the gamma curves.

Spyder5 ELITE | Tone Response, Gamma (γ)
Target	1.8	2.0	2.2	2.4	2.6
Measured	N/A	N/A	2.3	N/A	N/A

Brightness and Contrast

The Artist 22 Plus offers a peak brightness of 256.8 cd/m², falling within or rather over the margin of its rated specifications. Contrast however is a different story, but many vendors do not exactly explain how they measure their typical contrast ratio so I’d say this is a pass.

Spyder5 ELITE | Brightness and Contrast (SDR)
Settings	Brightness (cd/m²)	Black Level (%)	Contrast (:)	White Point (K)
0%	5.2	0.00	5160:1	6200
25%	40.6	0.13	320:1	6300
50%	138.4	0.20	680:1	6400
75%	204.0	0.28	740:1	7400
100%	256.8	0.32	810:1	7500

Screen Uniformity

The Artist 22 Plus offers decent color uniformity for its class, achieving an average Delta-E of 2.56.

Spyder5 ELITE | Color Uniformity, Delta-E (ΔE)
1.2	0.0	1.8
1.7	1.3	3.4
4.0	4.3	5.4

On the other hand, luminance hotspots could be improved. If this were a professional-level display for color grading, it would not be acceptable.

Spyder5 ELITE | Luminance Uniformity, Percent (%)
7	8	10
5	0	7
4	2	6

Color Accuracy

The color accuracy of the Artist 22 Plus is excellent, resulting at an average of 0.77 ΔE – for both the 12 and 48 color testing patches.

Spyder5 ELITE | Color Accuracy, Delta-E (ΔE)
Patch ID	sRGB	Measured
1E	249, 242, 238	0.37
2E	202, 198, 195	0.91
3E	161, 154, 157	0.82
4E	122, 118, 116	0.90
5E	80, 80, 78	0.81
6E	43, 41, 43	1.68
1F	0, 127, 159	0.21
2F	192, 75, 145	0.39
3F	245, 205, 0	0.31
4F	186, 26, 51	1.21
5F	57, 146, 64	0.60
6F	25, 55, 135	1.06
	Minimum	0.21
	Maximum	1.68
	Average	0.77

Response Time

The Artist 22 Plus comes with a lackluster response time. It is however acceptable for its class or use case. If this is a gaming monitor, I’d be fuming with rage.

OSRTT | Perceived Response Time, Millisecond (ms)
	0	51	102	153	204	255
0		23	33.8	30.8	26.5	22.4
51	14.2		23.9	27.1	23.7	21.0
102	20.9	16.6		21.5	21.4	19.9
153	24.4	23	19.5		16.5	18
204	27.2	28.4	28.5	18		13.4
255	23.9	30.8	32.3	28.4	17.8

On the other hand, RGB overshoot is practically perfect or rather non-existent. You’d normally see overshoot anyway for panels with fast response times.

OSRTT | RGB Overshoot, Error
	0	51	102	153	204	255
0		0	0	0	0	0
51	0		0	0	0	0
102	0	0		0	0	0
153	0	0	0		0	0
204	0	0	0	0		0
255	0	0	0	0	0

Input Lag

The Artist 22 Plus averages only at 20.5 ms which is around the range of your usual 60 Hz panels. That said, display input lag is excellent for a pen display considering the sample size I have.

The X3 Pro stylus’ input lag has been tested as well with excellent results, averaging with an input lag of 13.45 ms.

Polling Rate

The X3 Pro’s polling rate averages around 5 ms which is in line with its specified report rate of 200 Hz.

Actuation Force

The actuation force needed to press the left and right buttons of the X3 Pro is approximately 74-76 cN. The pen activates at 3.53 cN via its default pressure settings.

Power

At 120 cd/m², power consumption was measured at approximately 10.95 W. At maximum brightness, the Artist 22 Plus outputs about 18.18 W which is still well below its power brick’s capacity.

Final Thoughts

The XPPen Artist 22 Plus stands as an attractive option for digital artists and designers in search of a large-format drawing tablet that doesn’t break the bank. The 21.5-inch IPS display offers a generous workspace that can significantly enhance the creative process, allowing for more immersive and detailed work.

The Artist 22 Plus impresses with its excellent color accuracy and gamut coverage, boasting 100% sRGB and 95% Adobe RGB coverage. This level of color fidelity is crucial for professionals who require precise color representation in their work. The tablet’s build quality and ergonomics are noteworthy, featuring a robust stand with multiple adjustment options that cater to various working styles and preferences.

The included X3 Pro stylus is a highlight, offering 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and performing admirably in terms of input lag. This responsiveness, along with a relatively low parallax, contributes to a natural drawing experience that closely mimics traditional media.

Connectivity options are also praiseworthy, with the inclusion of USB-C with DisplayPort capability providing versatility in setting it up. With its low power, I just wish it could also be powered via USB Type-C as a third option.

However, the Artist 22 Plus is not without its limitations. The tablet’s response time is relatively slow, though this is less critical for its intended use in creative applications rather than fast-paced content. Screen uniformity could also be improved, especially in terms of luminance distribution across the display.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the XPPen Artist 22 Plus manages to strike an impressive balance between performance and affordability. It delivers professional-grade color accuracy and a high-quality stylus experience at a price point that makes it accessible to a wider range of creatives.

In closing, the Artist 22 Plus provides excellent value for its sub $500 USD price range. It should satisfy the needs of many creative professionals and enthusiasts who are looking to upgrade their digital art setup without overspending. The device ultimately represents a compelling choice in the competitive market of drawing tablets, offering a spacious canvas for digital creativity at a reasonable cost.