Huion Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13 Review – What’s the Difference?

with 4 Comments

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There are many similarities between the Huion Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13, but also a few key differences that you might not expect.

Although the Kamvas Pro 13 is the more expensive model, it was released over a year before the Kamvas 13, meaning that the latter actually uses newer technology, despite the cheaper price.

Have a look at the comparison table and Huion Kamvas 13 review below to learn more, or read the comparison article covering every drawing tablet for Photoshop.


Huion Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13 Review

Quick Comparison – Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13

My Top Pick

The Cheapest Quality Graphics Tablet

huion kamvas 13 review
  • Single cable USB-C to USB-C connection possible (or use 3-in-1)
  • Uses latest PW517 pen for better precision through reduced friction and bounce
  • Has 8 programmable buttons
  • Supports Android / Windows / Mac
  • Cheaper price
  • No touch bar
  • Anti-glare film rather than anti-glare glass
  • Plastic backing, rather than aluminum
With a fully laminated screen to reduce parallax, a single cable USB-C to USB-C connection and the latest PW517 pen for improved accuracy, the Huion Kamvas 13 is my pick out of this and the Pro 13 model.
You get a 13.3 inch screen in an 11.8 mm thin tablet that weighs just over 2 pounds, making it suitable both for desktop use and for being carried around with a laptop.
Ultimately, this comes down to value for money, and the low price of the Kamvas 13 along with all of its quality features makes this a winner.

Anti-Glare Glass Might Justify the Higher Price for Some

huion kamvas pro 13 review
  • Anti-glare glass which is more scratch-resistant and feels better to draw on
  • Has a touch bar
  • High build quality, with an aluminum back
  • Only 4 programmable buttons
  • Must use 3-in-1 cable connection & wall socket for power
  • Uses older PW507 stylus, which is less accurate
  • No Android support
The Huion Kamvas Pro 13 beats the standard Kamvas 13 model in terms of build quality, including a aluminum back, and very high quality anti-glare glass.
If you are intending to use the graphics tablet every day, then then AG glass means that you will probably get a longer lasting tablet as it does not scratch as easily as the Kamvas 13, and does not get air bubbles trapped under the AG glass layer.
If you are looking for something harder wearing that can survive knocks, scratches and long-term use, then the Kamvas Pro 13 might be better for you.

Although the Kamvas models are excellent ‘budget’ mid-range models, there are better choices of drawing tablets with screens that you can read about in the linked article.


Key Differences Between the Huion Kamvas 13 and Kamvas Pro 13

There are several key differences between the Kamvas 13 and the Pro 13, but mostly, they are very similar tablets. You can quickly check the differences in the table below, with fuller descriptions below this.

Differences between the Huion Kamvas 13 and Kamvas Pro 13
Huion Kamvas 13
huion kamvas 13 review
Huion Kamvas Pro 13
huion kamvas pro 13 review
Buttons
  • 8 programmable buttons
  • No touch bar
  • Touch bar
  • Only 4 programmable buttons
Single-Cable Connection
  • Single cable USB-C connection possible, or use 3-in-1 cable
  • Only 3-in-1 cable connection available
Power
  • Can be powered through wall socket or USB-C
  • Can only be powered through a wall socket
Anti-Glare Glass
  • No anti-glare glass, only anti-glare film
  • High quality anti-glare glass fitted
Stylus
  • Newer PW517 stylus – more accurate
  • Older PW507 stylus – less accurate
Android Support
  • Supports Android
  • Does not support Android
Build Quality
  • Plastic back scratches easily
  • Aluminum back that stands up to abuse

What are the Differences?

  • Buttons.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 has a Touch Bar & 4 programmable buttons.
    • The Kamvas 13 has no touch bar & 8 programmable buttons. Personally, I prefer more buttons, but whether you like a touch bar is dependent on personal preference.
  • Single-Cable Connection.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 uses a 3-in-1 cable – HDMI, USB & Power. This means you have a lot of cables on your desk.
    • The Kamvas 13 can use the same 3-in-1 cable, or can use a single USB-C to USB-C connection, which is a much simpler, easier connection method.
  • Power.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 must be connected to a wall socket for power, meaning it’s less well-suited for travelling or carrying around with you.
    • The Kamvas 13 can be entirely powered via the USB-C cable from your computer or laptop, making it ideal for laptop use.
  • Anti-Glare Glass.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 has anti-glare glass, which is a more premium product, and far less likely to get scratched. This is preferable for drawing.
    • The Kamvas 13 has only anti-glare film, which can get bubbles of air trapped beneath and scratches more easily, but this can easily be replaced.
  • Stylus: PW507 vs PW517
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 uses the older PW507 stylus. This has longer nibs and is less accurate, particularly on the edges of the tablet and requires you to press harder for the ‘click’ to be recognized.
    • The Kamvas 13 uses the newer PW517 stylus. This has lowered the sensor distance from 6mm to 3.5mm and also lowers the idling distance from 0.8mm to 0.3mm. Therefore, your cursor better follows the pen and gives greater accuracy when drawing.
  • Android Support.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 does not support Android, only Windows / Mac.
    • The Kamvas 13 supports Android and Windows / Mac.
  • Build Quality.
    • The Kamvas Pro 13 uses aluminum alloy for the back of the device, which is stronger and longer lasting.
    • The Kamvas 13 uses polyethylene, which is more susceptible to scratches.

Both Drawing Tablets Share:

  • Panel Size of 13.3 Inches. Display screen and active area size is the same on both. If you are interested in a larger tablet, then read the article to compare the Kamvas Pro 16 vs Pro 13 or the Kamvas Pro 16 vs XP Pen 15.6 Pro.
  • Full HD (1920 x 1080) Display with an IPS panel.
  • Fully Laminated Screens to Reduce Parallax.
  • Same Brightness, Viewing Angle and Response Rate.
  • 120% of the sRGB Color Gamut.
  • 8192 Levels of Pen Pressure Sensitivity. And 5080 Lines per Inch (LPI) resolution.
  • Same +/- 60 Degrees of Pen Tilt Detection.
  • Pen Sensing Height of 10mm. And accuracy of +/- 0.5mm in the center and +/- 3mm in the corners.
  • Can Use the ST300 Stand.
  • Weight is Very Nearly the Same. The Kamvas Pro 13 is 2 lbs (910g) while the Kamvas 13 is 2.16 lbs (980g).
Compare the Huion Kamvas 13 vs Pro 13 drawing tablets

Huion Kamvas 13 or the Kamvas Pro 13?

Both the Huion Kamvas 13 and Pro 13 deliver a better overall experience than you would expect for the price. Drawing performance is solid, with both pressure and tilt sensitivity working as advertised and no lag.

But there are potential issues with drivers, particularly with screen switching on Windows which is not quite as intuitive as with using a Wacom product. Huion have always lagged behind Wacom in terms of software, and these products are no exception.

In my opinion, the Huion Kamvas 13 takes the overall winner’s spot, as the one cable connection is particularly useful when on the go with a laptop, and the 8 programmable buttons make Photoshop and Canva use that much easier.

The new PW517 pen is also excellent, with accurate drawing possible even in the corners of the screen, and is slightly better than the PW507 corner accuracy of the Kamvas Pro 13.

But the Kamvas Pro 13 does have anti-glare glass. This is a good, quality feature and shouldn’t be overlooked if you know that you don’t take care of your devices, and means the drawing tablet should last longer without scratching under normal conditions.

For me, the higher price tag doesn’t offer value for money, and for most, I suspect the Kamvas 13 would be the best Huion tablet.

You can also compare Huion and XP Pen drawing tablets, and look at all of the best drawing tablets with screens if you want to see how other manufacturers compare.

My Top Pick

The Cheapest Quality Graphics Tablet

huion kamvas 13 review
  • Single cable USB-C to USB-C connection possible (or use 3-in-1)
  • Uses latest PW517 pen for better precision through reduced friction and bounce
  • Has 8 programmable buttons
  • Supports Android / Windows / Mac
  • Cheaper price
  • No touch bar
  • Anti-glare film rather than anti-glare glass
  • Plastic backing, rather than aluminum

Anti-Glare Glass Might Justify the Higher Price for Some

huion kamvas pro 13 review
  • Anti-glare glass which is more scratch-resistant and feels better to draw on
  • Has a touch bar
  • High build quality, with an aluminum back
  • Only 4 programmable buttons
  • Must use 3-in-1 cable connection & wall socket for power
  • Uses older PW507 stylus, which is less accurate
  • No Android support

Read More

Compare XP Pen and Huion drawing tablets

Compare the Kamvas Pro 13 vs 16

Compare Gaomon vs Huion drawing tablets

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4 Responses

  1. Alayna Danner
    | Reply

    Hi .
    I currently looking for a relatively cheap graphic tablet to upgrade from my Wacom Intuos small and find this Huion Kamvas 13 and XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro a potential buy. I’ve read through your review of Kamvas 13 seeing the tablet comes with a HDMI connector adapter. Does XP-Pen Artist come with this kind of adapter? Since I am a Mac user and buying a new adapter is an expensive issue.
    Regardless of the price, which one is better in the term of portability?
    Looking forward to your response, thank you!

    • Tim Daniels
      | Reply

      Hi Alayna
      The XP Pen Artist 13.3 Pro does come with the same HDMI connector as the Huion (it’s called a 3-in-1 USB cable by the manufacturers and there is a diagram of how it works on XP Pen’s site).
      Note that the Kamvas 13 (not Pro) is the only one of the two that can work with a single USBC cable, which means fewer wires to carry around. Otherwise, they are pretty much identical in terms of portability.

      Also, XP Pen currently have a short-lived sale on if you buy directly from them –> Click here

      • Mike
        | Reply

        Hi Tim, the huion kamvas 13 pro you compare here. Is it the same as the huion kamvas 13 pro (2.5k)?
        This is because I’m seeing various different names being used interchangeably.
        A. Huion kamvas 13 pro
        B. Huion kamvas 13
        C. Huion kamvas 13 pro (2.5k).
        Looking forward to your response. Thanks

        • Tim Daniels
          | Reply

          Hi Mike,
          This article looks at B. Huion Kamvas 13 vs A. Huion Kamvas 13 Pro, and doesn’t yet mention C. Huion Kamvas 13 Pro (2.5K).
          These are three separate models of Kamvas 13, with the order being B, A, C in terms of features and price.

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