XP-Pen G430S
Score: 71/100
Wacom Intuos Small Black
Score: 72/100Rankings
The Wacom Intuos Small is an entry-level graphics tablet featuring a compact 6.0 × 3.7 in active area and a battery-free pen with 4096 pressure levels. Its modest size and lack of tilt support limit advanced drawing workflows. Ideal for beginners and students seeking an affordable, portable solution.
The XP-Pen G430S is an ultra-thin, portable tablet with a battery-free stylus and high report rate, aimed at beginners and osu! gamers. Its lack of tilt, shortcut keys and the cramped active area limit its usefulness for more demanding art tasks. Best for users who need a cheap, lightweight drawing surface for casual use.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
102 mm | 152 mmbest | |
76 mm | 95 mmbest | |
8,192best | 4,096 | |
| ↓ lower better | 250 g | 230 gbest |
266 Hzbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 2 mmbest | 2.54 mm |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
— | 4best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Connectivity Interface | Wired USB | USB-A, Bluetooth |
Display(2) | ||
Active Area Width (mm) | 102 mm | 152 mm |
Active Area Height (mm) | 76 mm | 95 mm |
General(1) | ||
Compatible Operating Systems | Windows 7/8/10, macOS 10.10+, Linux (Ubuntu 19.04/20.04), Chromebook | Windows, macOS 10.10+, ChromeOS, Android 6.0+ |
Pen & Controls(1) | ||
Pressure Sensitivity Levels | 8192 | 4096 |
Accessories(1) | ||
Included Accessories Count | 5 | 4 |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 250 g | 230 g |
Thickness (mm) | 2 mm | 2.54 mm |
Overall Dimensions | 35 x 123 x 220 | 199.9 x 160 x 2.54 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers highlight the G430S's ultra-compact A7 size, solid build and high report rate as ideal for osu! rhythm gaming and casual drawing. They commend its 8192 pressure levels and broad software compatibility, but note the absence of tilt, customizable buttons and modern ergonomic features, labeling the design as dated compared with newer tablets.
Everyday users appreciate the tablet's low price, lightweight portability and battery-free pen, reporting smooth performance when proper drivers are used. Common complaints revolve around the slippery, wide stylus, the cramped active area and occasional driver instability, especially with certain osu! versions.
Professional reviewers consider the Intuos Small a solid starter tablet, praising its realistic pen feel, bundled software, and space-saving design, while noting the trade-off of a modest active area and missing advanced features like tilt and multi-touch.
Everyday users appreciate the tablet's lightweight build, quick setup, accurate battery-free pen and the included creative software, often calling it 'super slim and compact'. Common frustrations revolve around the limited drawing surface on high-resolution or dual monitors, hand-eye coordination learning curve, and occasional ExpressKey delays.
“super slim and compact”
“Small active area limits precision on large/dual monitors, requiring constant panning”
