Wacom MobileStudio Pro Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Darren Higgins/Wacom

I never reviewed the Wacom Cintiq Companion, the company’s pressure-sensitive Windows tablet that doubles as a second computer display, because it seemed too clunky and underpowered for the price when it launched three years ago. Now, thanks to the popularity of more pen-friendly operating systems and applications plus vastly improved tablet hardware, it seems like a much better time for a product like the Cintiq Companion. Wacom has really upped its game for the rebranding and expansion of its line of tablets for creatives, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro — also a much better name — though they’re still pretty expensive.

Expected to ship by the end of November, the MobileStudio will have six configurations, four 13.3-inch and two 15.6-inch models. All run Windows 10 and use a new stylus, the Pro Pen 2, which has improved precision, less lag and 8,192 levels of sensitivity. (I think– the company says “4x” the previous model. Even 4,096 would be great, though.) Wacom’s MobileStudio Pro tablets look more like their desktop Intuos equivalents than competitors like the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, with the same controls.

The MobileStudio 13 models have IPS (in-plane switching), 2.5K displays with gamuts rated at 96 percent of Adobe RGB. Prices vary with storage capacity: $1,500 for a 64GB SSD, $1,800 for 128GB, $2,000 for 256GB and $2,500 for 512GB. (I don’t have any UK or AU pricing, but directly converted those are about £1,180, £1,415, £1,570, £1,965 and AU$1,970, AU$2,360, AU$2,625, AU$3,280.)

The MobileStudio 16 models use a 4K (UHD resolution) display rated at 94 percent Adobe RGB. The cheaper $2,400 model incorporates an Nvidia Quadro M600M processor with 2GB of video RAM and a 256GB SSD, while the $3,000 model has an Nvidia Quadro M1000M with 4GB of video RAM and a 512GB SSD. (Directly converted, £1,885, £2,360 and AU$3,150, AU$3,935. ) The MobileStudio 16 and the most expensive MobileStudio 13 models include an Intel RealSense 3D camera.

Obviously, there are still ton of details and specifications we need to know before really understanding what Wacom’s got here — I mean, how much does that 15.6-inch model weigh? I do know that you’ll still be able to use the old $50 (£45 and AU$50) Bluetooth-connecting Cintiq Companion keyboard, so you’ll be able to get your non-artsy work done, too.