XP-Pen Star G430
Score: 52/100
Wacom Intuos Small
Score: 55/100Rankings
The Wacom Intuos Small (CTL4100) is an entry-level, battery-free pen tablet offering 4096 pressure levels, a compact active area and a solid software bundle. It excels in portability and Chromebook compatibility but lacks Bluetooth, tilt support and a larger drawing surface.
The XP-Pen G430S is a tiny, high-responsiveness tablet ideal for osu! gamers and beginners who value portability, but its limited drawing surface and lack of extra features restrict professional use.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
8,192 levelsbest | 4,096 levels | |
7,742 mm² | 14,323 mm²best | |
266 Hzbest | — | |
— | 2 countbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 249 grams | 229.63 gramsbest |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Compatibility(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows 7/8/10/11, macOS 10.8+ (10.10+), Linux | Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android |
Display(1) | ||
Active Drawing Area (mm²) | 7742 mm² | 14323 mm² |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Connectivity Interface | Micro USB | USB-A |
Pen & Stylus(2) | ||
Pressure Sensitivity Levels (levels) | 8192 levels | 4096 levels |
Pen Technology | Passive | Wacom Pen 4K (battery‑free, EMR) |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (grams) | 249 grams | 229.63 grams |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers describe the G430S as a surprisingly capable entry-level tablet, highlighting its solid build, high pressure sensitivity and fast 266 RPS report rate that rival more expensive models, while noting the limited active area and absence of express keys as drawbacks for power users.
Everyday users praise the tablet for its immediate plug-and-play functionality, smooth and precise drawing experience, and portability, though they complain about the small drawing surface and fragile micro-USB cable.
Professional reviewers praise its solid build, accurate EMR pen and bundled software, noting the lack of tilt support and modest active area as trade-offs for its price point.
Users appreciate the ease of setup, natural pen feel and software value, while reporting driver glitches, short USB cable and nib wear as common complaints.
“Works perfectly out of the box”
“Smooth and precise”
“Great for travel”
