The $649.95 Cintiq 16, which Wacom refers to as a "creative pen display," lets an artist draw, navigate menus, and click buttons on its 15.6-inch screen using the included Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus. It's an interactive monitor, attaching to a computer rather than running its own resident programs as would a tablet. The Cintiq 16 lacks some screen features and connectivity choices found on the Cintiq Pro 16—not to mention its gesture-based touch control—but it comes in at a price that's far more suitable for art students, amateur designers, and professionals on tight budgets. Sweet Cintiq 16: Where It Fits In In Wacom's lineup, the Cintiq 16 and other Cintiq displays lie between the company's Wacom Intuos tablets—with which the artist draws with a stylus on a pad or surface and sees the results on a computer's monitor—and the Cintiq Pro line. The Cintiq Pro 16 ($1,499.95) has full multi-touch capabilities for gesture-based finger control, a higher resolution, more connection choices,...
The Wacom Cintiq 16 is an interactive pen monitor that lets artists draw and perform actions onscreen. It's moderately priced, and is a good choice for art students and pros on tight budgets.
Acts as a second monitor that lets you draw and edit onscreen; Generous 15.6-inch panel; Comfortable, easy-to-use stylus doesn't require charging
No multi-touch (finger) support; Needs to connect to two computer ports; Low resolution and limited color gamut for a device geared to artists; Gangly, hydra-headed adapter cable