As an alternative to the top dog Wacom, Huion has caused quite a stir in recent years; after all, the Chinese manufacturer’s portfolio includes a number of high-quality drawing displays and tablets. After we recently took a look at the compact Inspiroy 2 (our test), things are now getting much bigger. In the Huion Kamvas 22 test, we tried out the 22-inch drawing monitor.
Technical data
| The product | Huion Kamvas 22 |
| Dimensions | 546 mm x 323 mm x 26.5 mm |
| Weight | 3.9 kg (including stand) |
| Working area | 476.64 mm x 268, 11 mm |
| Stand angle | adjustable between 20° and 80° |
| Connections | 2x USB Type-C, 1x USB Type-A |
| Buttons | 5 buttons |
| Resolution | 1.920 x 1,080 pixels |
| Screen refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Color space | 120 percent sRGB |
| Brightness | 220 cd/m² |
| Compatibility | Windows (from version 7), macOS (from version 10.12), ChromeOS (from version 88), Android (from version 6.0), Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS) |
| Pen | PW517; battery-free; 8,192 levels; /- 60° tilt detection |
| Price | € 399.04 * |
Huion Kamvas 22 test: scope of delivery, design and workmanship
- All accessories included in the scope of delivery
- High-quality, simple design
- Workmanship is not entirely convincing
Like the Kamvas Pro 13 (our test), the Huion Kamvas 22 has a black surface, with the difference that the back is also black. The matte display of the character monitor is well made, but there are a couple of unclean spots on the edge that connects the front with the back, which are a bit annoying.
The front is logically dominated by the spacious work area, while the manufacturer’s logo is centered at the bottom edge. At the top right, on the other hand, the functions of the controls are printed, which in turn take the form of five dedicated buttons on the top.
On the right-hand side, we find three ports: one USB-A and two USB-C, which are responsible for the connection. There are also a few minor scratches around the ports here – right out of the box, without us having connected a cable yet.
The front and rear are connected with a total of seven Phillips screws. At the rear, the stand needs to be mounted first. Allen keys and the four necessary screws are included in the scope of delivery.
Keyword scope of delivery: The manufacturer includes a number of accessories with the Huion Kamvas 22. In addition to the stand and character monitor itself, these include a power supply unit with power cable, a glove, a microfiber cloth for cleaning, a quick start guide, a USB-C to USB-C cable and a 3-in-1 cable (USB-C to power, HDMI and USB-C).
The box also contains the pen required for drawing in the form of the battery-free PW517 in black, as well as a practical holder with pen tips inside. So nothing is left to be desired here.
Assembly and setup
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Practical, adjustable stand
- Many stiff cables interfere with comfort
Before we can get started with the Huion Kamvas 22, we first need to assemble the stand. This is pleasantly quick and easy thanks to the screws and tools provided. The stand has a rubberized underside, which should provide a secure hold on all surfaces.
The angle of the character display can then be adjusted using a metal handle. Angles between 20 degrees and 80 degrees are possible. In our test, however, the range between 20 degrees and 30 degrees seemed a little fragile and wobbly when we applied a little pressure with the pen. A more robust stand would have been desirable here.
Once the assembly is complete, it’s time to set it up. All you have to do is connect the Kamvas 22 to the power supply and PC or notebook. This is possible either via USB-C or using the 3-in-1 cable.
Unfortunately, the latter is always required, as this is where the power cable is connected. This sometimes results in quite a tangle of cables. In addition, I was unable to get the display to work via HDMI during the test under Windows 11. Playback was only possible when connected via USB-C.
However, once we had overcome this hurdle, the image reproduction was flawless. And, if desired, even on macOS, Linux or Android in addition to Windows.
Display
- Full HD display with 60 Hz
- Very good color space coverage and viewing angle stability
- Huge work surface
The Huion Kamvas 22 comes with a 21.5-inch, matte and anti-glare IPS panel that achieves a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The maximum refresh rate is 60 Hz and the response time is 14 milliseconds, which is why the character display is only suitable for gaming to a limited extent.
The high color space coverage of 120% of the sRGB color space is very pleasing, which is of course excellent for color-critical work. The viewing angle stability is also impressive, as is typical for IPS. Even from an acute angle of up to 178 degrees, the display is easy to see. The contrast ratio of 1,000:1, on the other hand, is merely standard.
In my opinion, the picture was slightly lacking in sharpness and brightness the first time I used it, but this can easily be remedied with a few tweaks in the menu. With a peak brightness of 220 cd/m², the Huion Kamvas 22 is of course no match for high-quality displays, but thanks to the anti-reflective and matt surface, content is also very easy to read in direct sunlight.
Due to its sheer size, the Kamvas 22 naturally offers a huge working area of 476.64 mm x 268.11 mm and plenty of space for drawings, notes and much more. The pen recognition works flawlessly and very precisely. The pen is recognized accurately just one centimeter above the display and our movements are implemented precisely, which is extremely pleasing.
Practical test of the Huion Kamvas 22
- Impeccable drawing and writing experience
- Wide range of compatibility
- Very precise pen
In practice, the Huion Kamvas 22 performs reliably. The compatibility with apps and programs is wide-ranging. A whole range of graphics, drawing, design and image editing programs are supported, so that every requirement is met.
The writing and drawing experience is very pleasant thanks to the matte, paper-like surface, while the precise pen recognition allows even the finest details to be realized with ease. There is nothing technically wrong with this drawing display.
The only thing that bothered me were the many cables leading to and from the device. If you also use a mouse, keyboard and other peripherals, it can get quite cluttered on the (writing) desk. Especially as the required cables are quite short and stiff, which means that cable clutter is inevitable. There is undoubtedly a need for optimization here, either in the form of fewer cables or a wireless operating mode.
But enough criticism. Working with the Huion Kamvas 22 is excellent. The pen and display are immediately and reliably recognized and after installing the drivers and accompanying software, you can get started and have fun straight away.
So much fun, in fact, that as an absolute beginner in the field of creative drawing, I have found joy in putting a few (qualitatively extremely manageable) doodles on digital paper.
I also put the pen in my son’s hand for the test, who also got to grips with it straight away and really enjoyed it. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
Huion Kamvas 22 test: Conclusion
The Huion Kamvas 22 character display scores with an excellent price-performance ratio. For an absolutely fair price, you get a reliable, huge and technically convincing display that also cuts a fine figure as a portable monitor.
It offers a wide range of operating system compatibility and includes absolutely everything you need to use it. Thanks to the reliable and precise pen, making drawings, pictures and notes on the display is absolutely flawless. The color reproduction and viewing angle stability are particularly pleasing.
What I don’t like so much, however, is the stiff tangle of cables required for use. There are also slight points deductions for the build quality, which is not entirely convincing. But I think you can absolutely live with that considering the price.
Especially when you consider that similar solutions from competitors such as Wacom cost two to three times as much as the Huion Kamvas 22, this is absolutely fine. So if you want to enter the world of drawing displays and are not afraid of a lot of cables, you can buy one here without hesitation.
Huion Kamvas 22
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Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis
89/100
The huge and colorful display, flawless and precise operation and a more than fair price make the Huion Kamvas 22 a convincing character display. Only the workmanship and tangled cables are a bit of a problem.
