The UGEE UE16 is an affordable drawing monitor that packs some noteworthy features.
If you’re not familiar with UGEE, they’ve been a key player in the digital art world since 1998, producing high-quality, innovative drawing tablets and pen displays.
The Hanvon Ugee Group has even owned XP-PEN as a holding subsidiary since 2019. So, it’s safe to say UGEE as a drawing tablet manufacturer should definitely know their stuff.
The UGEE UE16 offers a drawing display bigger than 13-inches, with good features only seen in more expensive pen displays.
Read on to find out more.
Table of Contents
Build and Display
Contrary to its naming scheme, in terms of the display size, the UGEE UE16 is a 15.4-inch drawing tablet with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The screen itself is also fully-laminated which is very nice for better drawing accuracy.
When in actual use, the Full HD resolution looks sharp-enough. It may not actually be a 16-inch panel nor is it the sharpest out there, but the color reproduction and 1000:1 contrast ratio out of the box is impressive.
We get color coverage support of 99.8% for the sRGB color gamut, 91.6% for NTSC, 93.9% for Adobe RGB, and 98.6% for DCI-P3.
Weighing in at around 1.3kg, the UE16 is pretty easy to lug around. But we do not recommend bringing this with you to a coffee shop unless you don’t mind funny looks from passerby’s.
Even though the screen itself only measures 15.4-inches diagonally, the footprint itself is a little bit lengthier because users will be getting 10 mappable shortcut keys built into the display.
Found on the left side of the monitor is a power button, and brightness rocker. Situated on the right are to USB Type-C ports for connecting it to a computer.
The shortcut keys and multi-function dial are found on the left of the display, but left-handed users may just horizontally flip the display output within Windows’ Display settings for better ergonomics.
The UE16 features 10 shortcut keys including the scroll wheel and its function button. Only 8 of them are actually customizable, which is done through the UGEE software available here.
Setting up the UE16 was a breeze.
All we needed was the included USB-C to C cable. We made sure to plug it into the correct port on the monitor, because there is a separate USB-C port for another cable to take note of.
After making sure it’s connected to the correct port, I just plugged the other end to a Type-C thunderbolt port on my laptop. –And that’s all she wrote.
The UGEE UE16 is compatible with Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions. It works seamlessly with popular art applications like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel Painter, making it versatile for different types of creative work.
UGEE U-Pencil and Accessories
The UE16 comes with a U-Pencil stylus offering 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity, 60° of tilt recognition, and it’s battery free. (Just like the X3 Pro smart stylus from XPPen.)
Overall, the U-Pencil feels great to use, responding well to both light and heavy strokes.
I find that it can give me a lot of control when in-use without any digital ink blotting or wobble with the pen. So no major issues in terms of linearity OR pressure sensitivity.
If you’re used to a stylus with more heft to its feel, the U-Pen can take a little getting used to at first due to how slim it is. But if you like Apple Pencil or alike widths, the U-Pencil’s form factor should fit in nicely.
The pen features 2 shortcut buttons, and a pressure sensitive eraser at the end.
Yes it’s always easy to hit an undo shortcut, or maybe even just switch to the program’s eraser tool. We still think having a pressure-sensitive eraser at the other end of the pen is nifty.
In the box users will be getting 20 replacement nibs along with a nib extractor, some paperwork (warranty and quick-start guide), an adjustable stand, and a cleaning cloth.
Additionally, it also comes with a USB-C to A cable, and a 3-in-1 cable for those who don’t have access to Thunderbolt.
So sorry guys, no drawing glove in this one but in hindsight, I don’t really think we need it.
Price
The UGEE UE16 is priced at PHP 11,800, making it a very affordable option for its feature set.
But it’s currently available for PHP 11,700 and even gets a bundle offer that includes the missing Drawing Glove for PHP 10,164 through this link.
Of course this amazing price, also comes with some cons.
Which is mainly the UE16’s build. The drawing display’s drawing area feels alright, but it’s chassis, particularly where the shortcut buttons are situated can feel a little flimsy.
–Even creaking when gripping the side they’re on.
The adjustable stand that comes in the box also feels a little cheap, but it’s nice to have it nonetheless. And lastly, the U-Pencil’s build doesn’t deem it unusable, and its weight and overall feel is actually really good.
But if you’ve come from slightly more expensive models, or even certain less expensive non-display pen tablets, the build of the U-pencil does seem like the best.
But considering how affordable the whole package is, we actually don’t mind too much.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the UGEE UE16 is a fantastic choice for beginner to intermediate artists looking for an affordable yet powerful drawing tablet.
Its Full HD resolution may deter more professional artists, but this drawing display isn’t targeted at them in the first place.
It features a fully-laminated color-accurate screen paired with a responsive U-Pencil, which make it a solid tool for digital art, whether users will be digitally painting, drawing, or editing photos.
While it lacks in build quality, it makes up for it by delivering excellent functionality and features for its price point. In our opinion, it’s a pretty solid budget-option aimed at budding digital illustrators, or college art students.
So, if you’re considering a new drawing tablet and don’t want to spend a fortune, the UGEE UE16 is definitely worth checking out.
What we LIKED:
- Fully Laminated Display
- 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity (U-Pencil)
- Color gamut support
- Contrast ratio
What we Liked LESS:
- Overall build quality.
- Flimsy stand.
- Lack of included drawing glove.
UGEE UE16 15.4-inch Drawing Monitor specs:
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Full-Laminated
Anti-Glare
Active Area: 15.4 inch (341.0 x 191.8 mm)
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Brightness: 220 nits
Color Gamut: 99.8% sRGB | 91.6% NTSC | 93.9% Adobe RGB | 98.6% DCI-P3
Color Space Switch: Supported
Stylus: U-Pencil
Pressure Levels: 16,384
Tilt Recognition: ±60°
Reading Height: 10 mm
Eraser: Pressure-Sensitive
437.6 x 259.2 x 13 mm (dimensions)
Floating Shortcut Keys: Yes (16 customized keys)
Physical Shortcut Keys: 10 pcs
Ports: USB-C x2 (the all-in-one USB-C port and the 3-in-1 USB-C port)
Compatibility: Windows 7 or later, MacOS 10.12 or later, Android 9.0 or later (USB3.1 DP1.2), Chrome OS 88 or later, HarmonyOS 2 or later, Linux
