Huion Kamvas Studio 16 Review: Better As a Drawing Slate Than a Tablet

Combining Huion’s drawing slate skills with a compact computer similar to the Surface Pro, the Huion Kamvas Studio 16 seems to be an excellent tablet for sketching and taking notes. Unfortunately, it isn’t any of those things due to the Windows 11 Ink experience’s bugs, poor performance, high weight, and absence of a keyboard cover.

Studio 16 of Kamvas by Huion Version 16.0.6 of Kamvas Studio

Attempts to recreate the Surface Pro with subpar technology and Windows 11’s problematic pen interface have resulted in a disastrous disaster. The sketching features are where it really shines, but beyond that, it’s completely confusing. It’s cumbersome to transport because of its weight and the absence of a keyboard cover. For personal usage exclusively, a drawing tablet linked to a more powerful home PC would be the way to go—and you can always upgrade later on.

An iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil is the way to go for those who primarily want to draw or jot down notes while on the run.

• Brand
• Region of Huion
• 15.7 centimetres
• Support for Multiple Touch Points
• The Levels of Pressure Sensitivity
• 9,092 More Inputs
• Not one, but two USB-C ports
• Yes, it does tilt.
• The Benefits
• A sensitive pen and fluid strokes make for a pleasant drawing experience.
• Downsides (
• Problems with Windows 11’s UI while using a pen
• Fairly hefty
• Not included: a casing for the keyboard
• Poor performance and app launch delays
• Amazon, $1699

Buy it for $1599 at Huion gear: Stylish and Comfortable, but Missing Ports
It is an incredibly attractive piece of hardware, made almost completely from a single billet of aluminium alloy. At 3.75 pounds (about 1.7 kg), it is rather heavy. Just like the Surface Pro, this tablet has a single pull-out stand that spans its whole width. It’s located on the back. It’s rigid and will stay erect at almost any angle you give it.

Studio 16 Overview

Huion Kamvas Studio 16 – Rear Stand and Volume RockerBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
The tablet’s dimensions are 384 x 234 x 12 mm, and its sharp edges and lack of tapering on the bottom make it difficult to pick up from a flat position. You probably won’t want to put this portable device to much use.

Studio 16 by Huion Kamvas – lying flat, not picking upBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
To facilitate more natural and flatter sketching positions, a dedicated desk stand is provided. You can hold the tablet in place with the rubber grips, but that’s about it in terms of secure attachment.

studio 16 by huion kamvas – includes bonus materialsBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
On the top of the Kamvas Studio, you’ll find a fan grill and, to the right, a power button and an LED. In contrast to Apple products, the power button—which also serves as a fingerprint sensor—has a somewhat loose feel, typical of low-end smartphones. I don’t like how it sticks out too much and how it sways somewhat. Even if it’s a little thing, it may be an indication of poor manufacturing tolerances and a major pain when you have to use this button often.

Studio 16 by Huion Kamvas – avant-garde fan grillBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
The bottoms of both the left and right sides include dual speaker grills; the right side additionally has a volume button and a 3.5mm stereo headphone connector. The two 2W speakers work for interface noises, but when it comes to viewing media, they sound like they went on a little vacation.

Studio 16 Details

Studio 16 by Huion Kamvas – logo for the back standBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
On the left side, you’ll find two USB-C connections for additional connecting options. A hub or dock will be necessary for the majority of users since one port is allocated for power input (which requires around 42W while charging). This leaves you with only one port available for accessories. The few available connection choices are completed by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Studio 16 – side ports by Huion KamvasBy James Bruce of MakeUseOf
A separate tube houses the passive “PenTech 3+” stylus and extra nibs; the Kamvas does not have any space for it to remain connected or slide into it.

Pen and Nib Storage Media

pen and nib storage – Huion Kamvas Studio 16By James Bruce of MakeUseOf
Being somewhat thicker than a pencil without having any particular grip, the stylus is quite comfortable. A right click and other assignable operations are provided via a rocker button, and it is single-ended.

Very optimistically, Huion states that the battery should last about 6 hours. It is possible to do that by running at the lowest brightness level and without doing anything. Expect more like three or four hours on maximum brightness (which you’ll have to do) while doing anything hard.

Display: Decent, but Not Outstanding

The screen resolution is natively 2560 x 1440p, and its dimensions are 15.8 inches by 16:9. Neither of these things is large enough to fill a whole A4 sheet. An anti-glare matte covering is great for a drawing tablet, but it may sometimes distort the sharpness of some features. The tablet is surrounded by thick 3/4-inch black bezels.