# XP-Pen Artist 12 3rd (CD121FH) notes ## Overview Good pen display at an excellent price. Will be good for beginners or for a first tablet. Very convenient that the tablet comes with all the cables you need to connect via HDMI and USB-C (assuming your computer supports USB-C) 12" is the smallest I would recommend for a pen tablet. I personally prefer larger sizes (19" to 22") but for many this size should work. Unboxing and testing stream: ## Links * [Teoh on Tech - Review of Artist 12 3rd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkpUTfQGLwc) 2025-12-17 * [Brad Colbow - Review of Artist 12 3rd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlqGM0rjG3g) 2025-11-17 ## Basics ### Product information * Product page: * Name: XP-Pen Artist 12 GEN3 * Actually the name on the box is "XP-Pen Artist 12 3rd" but to be consistent with how I discuss other tablets I am using "GEN3" in the name. * Model number: CD121FH * Launch year: 2025 * User manual: ### What's in the box * Drawing Display x 1 * X4 Smart Chip Stylus x 1 * Pen Nibs x 10 * Nib Replacement Tool x 1 * Full-featured USB-C to USB-C Cable x 1 * 3-in-1 USB-C Cable x 1 * Warranty and Driver Download Card x 1 * Glove x 1 * Cleaning Cloth x 1 * Foldable Stand x 1 ## Specs ### Digitizer specs * digitizer type: EMR * digitizer resolution: 5080 LPI (200 LPmm) * Dimensions: 264.0 x 149.0 mm * Digonal: 11.9 in * Number of pressure levels: 16K * Tilt: YES * Tilt range: +/- 60 deg * Report rate: UNKNOWN * Accuracy: * Center ±0.2 mm * Corner: UNKNOWN ### Display specs * Display panel: IPS * Native resolution: 1920x1080 * Aspect ratio: 16x9 * Surface: etched glass * XP-Pen says "AG + AF" * Lamination: YES * Brightness: 260 nit * Response time: UNKNOWN * Refresh rate: 60Hz * Viewing angle: 170° * Color bit depth: 8bpp * Color gamut: * 99% sRGB * 97% Adobe RGB * 97% Display P3 ### Device specs * Size: 327.2 x 189.1 x 12.0 mm * Weight: 719 g * Ports: * Full-featured USB-C x 1 * 3-in-1 USB-C x 1 * Both USB-C ports are recessed ## Pen ### Included pen X4 Smart Chip Stylus [XP-Pen X4 pen notes](/drawtab/catalog/pens/xppen-pens/xppen-x4pen-notes.md) ### Compatible pens * X4 Smart Chip Stylus * P-Pen does not list other pens as compatible - however these pens work * X3 Pro * X3 Pro Slim * X3 roller works (but roller cannot be configured) ## Display ### Brightness TBD ### Dead Pixels NONE ### AG Sparkle LOW (GOOD) Only noticable when eyes are very close to screen ## Drawing experience ### Static tracking accuracy GOOD. ### Corner and edge accuracy TYPICAL - Slight deviation (\~2mm) at corners and edges ### Tilt compensation Overall GOOD But pointer deviates slightly to the left (\~1mm) as the pen tilts to the left. ### Diagonal wobble * Slightly diagonal wobble visible in strokes at all tested speeds. With the most at the slowest speed and declining as the stroke speed increased. * Most users will likely not notice any wobble. * If it does show up smoothing will remove it. In Krita, weighted stabilization with a distance value of 200 removed it. ### Artifacts at low pressure MINIMAL (GOOD) ### Pressure banding GOOD - no banding observed ### Pressure scan rate GOOD. No missed strokes ### Parallax Good (LOW) ### Pointer lag Slightly more than I would expect for a pen display. ### Surface texture Tested with the default plastic nib of the X4 pen. Typical for pen displays - slight texture. Pen didn't feel slippery on the glass. Similar feel to Wacom Movink 13 - just very slightly less ### Connections and cabling TBD ## Other inputs ### Buttons * 8 buttons on the left side * They can be pressed from the left and from the top * It is NOT hard to press the buttons when the tablet is resting on a desk ### Rollers * 2 rollers on the left side * The rollers provide tactile feedback as you roll them and have a "click" sound * The rollers were could easily be used even when the tablet is resting on a desk ## Ergonomics ### VESA Does not support VESA mounting ### Stand Does comes with a folding stand ### Touch No touch support. ### Legs No legs ### Fans None ### Noise * No fan noise * The rollers have "click" when rolling. It is not loud, but louder than I expected. ## Heat At 100% brightness for an hour - seems overall room temperature with some light heat increasing toward the ports on the right --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.sevenpens.com/drawtab/catalog/drawtabs/xppen/xppen-cd121fh-notes.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.