Gaomon M106K Professional Tablet: A Budget-Friendly Drawing Tablet for Creatives
If you’re a digital artist or graphic designer looking for a reliable drawing tablet without breaking the bank, the Gaomon M106K Professional Tablet is worth considering. This budget-friendly tablet offers a range of features that rival more expensive options, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals in the creative field. In this review, we’ll explore the features, design, and performance of the Gaomon M106K to help you determine whether it’s the right tablet for you.
Unboxing the Gaomon M106K
The unboxing experience for the Gaomon M106K is straightforward. Inside the box, you’ll find:
- Gaomon M106K tablet
- GAOMON pen (P01 stylus)
- USB cable
- Pen holder with extra nibs
- Quick start guide
- Drawing glove
- Driver CD (also available for download from the Gaomon website)
The tablet is well-packaged, and you’ll have everything you need to start drawing right out of the box, including extra nibs for the pen, which is a nice bonus for longevity.
Design and Build Quality
The Gaomon M106K features a 10 x 6.25-inch drawing area, which is generous for its price range. The tablet’s large active drawing area gives users plenty of room to work, whether they’re sketching or creating detailed digital art.
- Build Quality: The tablet’s body is made of durable plastic. While it’s not the most premium-feeling tablet on the market, it is lightweight and sturdy, making it easy to handle during long drawing sessions. The matte finish ensures that fingerprints and smudges are less visible, giving it a cleaner look.
- Buttons and Controls: The M106K comes equipped with 12 customizable express keys and a touch ring that allows you to quickly access your favorite shortcuts or zoom in and out of your work. These features enhance workflow efficiency, saving time on repetitive tasks.
- Pen Holder: The pen holder is designed to hold the stylus pen securely while also storing extra nibs, making it practical for users who want a neat and organized workspace.
The M106K strikes a good balance between size, build quality, and functionality, making it ideal for artists who need a large drawing surface without a bulky device.
Stylus Performance
The Gaomon M106K comes with the P01 stylus, a pressure-sensitive pen designed to mimic the feel of traditional drawing tools. Here’s what you can expect:
- Pressure Sensitivity: The pen features 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, allowing for a more natural and precise drawing experience. The stylus responds well to light and heavy pressure, making it ideal for artists who want to create detailed work or subtle shading.
- Tilt Sensitivity: It also supports tilt functionality, meaning you can tilt the pen to change the brush angle, just like you would with a traditional pencil or brush. This adds more control and flexibility for digital artwork.
- No Battery Required: The P01 stylus is battery-free, so you never have to worry about charging it. This makes it more convenient, especially for long drawing sessions.
- Nib Durability: The pen comes with extra nibs in the package, and replacing them is simple. The nibs are durable and can withstand extended use, ensuring longevity for your pen.
Overall, the stylus provides a responsive and comfortable drawing experience, making it a great tool for both beginners and more experienced artists.
Performance and Compatibility
When it comes to performance, the Gaomon M106K delivers impressive results for its price point:
- Resolution: The tablet boasts a 5080 LPI (lines per inch) resolution, which is suitable for most digital art applications. It ensures that your strokes are accurately represented on screen, allowing for fine details and smooth lines.
- Report Rate: The Gaomon M106K has a 233 RPS (reports per second) report rate, meaning the tablet can register pen strokes quickly and accurately. This is crucial for artists who require precise control over their brushstrokes.
- Response Time: The tablet’s response time is quick, minimizing any noticeable lag while drawing, even during intricate and fast-paced work.
- Customizable Shortcuts: The 12 customizable express keys and touch ring provide quick access to tools like undo, zoom, and brush settings, improving workflow and efficiency.
- Compatibility: The Gaomon M106K works with a variety of popular design software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Krita, Paint Tool SAI, GIMP, and more. It is compatible with Windows (7/8/10/11) and macOS (10.12 or above), ensuring a wide range of usability for different devices.
The tablet offers strong performance for digital artists, providing an accurate and responsive drawing experience while maintaining compatibility with many popular software applications.
Software and Drivers
The Gaomon M106K comes with driver software that can be easily downloaded from Gaomon’s official website or installed from the included CD. The drivers are straightforward to install, and the software offers several customization options:
- Customizable Express Keys: You can map the 12 express keys to specific commands or shortcuts within your drawing software, allowing for easy access to the tools you use most.
- Pressure Sensitivity Adjustment: The software also allows you to fine-tune the pressure sensitivity of the pen, so you can personalize your drawing experience based on your preferences.
- Compatibility with Different Software: As mentioned earlier, the M106K is compatible with a wide range of software, which is a significant advantage for creative professionals and hobbyists alike.
Drawing Experience
The Gaomon M106K offers a smooth and enjoyable drawing experience thanks to its large drawing area, responsive stylus, and customizable features. The pressure sensitivity and tilt functionality make it ideal for users who need precision, while the tablet’s performance ensures that strokes are registered accurately without noticeable lag.
The 12 express keys and touch ring are highly useful, providing quick access to tools and improving your overall workflow. Whether you’re sketching, painting, or editing photos, the M106K gives you the flexibility to work at your own pace.
Final Thoughts: Is the Gaomon M106K Worth It?
The Gaomon M106K Professional Tablet is an excellent option for anyone looking for a high-quality drawing tablet at an affordable price. It offers a large drawing area, high pressure sensitivity, and customizable shortcuts, which are all features commonly found in higher-end models. The P01 stylus is also responsive and reliable, ensuring a comfortable drawing experience.
Pros:
- Large drawing area (10 x 6.25 inches)
- 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity for precise control
- 12 customizable express keys and touch ring for quick access to tools
- Battery-free pen with tilt functionality
- Compatible with popular software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Krita
- Affordable price point for the features provided
Cons:
- Plastic build may feel less premium
- TFT display (if you opt for a display tablet, this is a non-issue)
- Limited advanced features compared to higher-end drawing tablets
Final Verdict: The Gaomon M106K is a great choice for digital artists, whether you’re a beginner or a professional on a budget. It offers excellent value for the price, delivering performance and features typically found in more expensive drawing tablets. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly drawing tablet with a large active area, responsive pen, and easy-to-use controls, the Gaomon M106K is a solid option to consider.