The Wacom One 14: Affordable Enough to Tempt Casual Artists

I’ve had a long, complicated history with Wacom. Back in the day, their tablets were the gold standard for digital art, and I used them often to explore sketches and creative ideas. But when the iPad came along with its pen, things changed. Suddenly, drawing became more portable, more intuitive, and most importantly, more affordable for a casual artist like me.

That’s the thing: I always admired Wacom’s professional tablets, but the price points were intimidating. As much as I wanted one, I could never justify the investment for the level of art I was doing. That’s why the new Wacom One 14 feels like a bit of a turning point. For the first time in a while, Wacom has put out something that seems designed with people like me in mind who are serious about creativity, but not full-time professionals.

The features are impressive for the price. The 14-inch full HD IPS display comes with anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings, so you don’t spend half your time tilting the screen to dodge reflections. It uses direct bonding to cut down on parallax, making the drawing feel closer to pen on paper. At just 750 grams, it’s light and portable, but still gives you plenty of canvas to work with.

The included battery-free pen is customizable and, even better, supports popular third-party pens, so you’re not locked in. With a response time of 16ms, every stroke appears instantly—no lag, no hesitation, just fluid drawing. Wacom also bundles in creative apps and keeps setup painless with a simple USB-C connection that works across PC, Mac, and Chromebook.

But what I really love is how flexible the pen feels in use. One second, it’s a pencil for rough sketching. Next, it’s a paintbrush for bold colors. With just a click, it becomes an undo button, right-click, or whatever shortcut you rely on. It feels natural, seamless, and tailored to the way you work.

Now, I do have to mention one annoyance. Wacom is selling a foldable stand for $99, and honestly, that feels like a rip-off. For nearly a quarter of the tablet’s cost, I’d expect more than a glorified prop. It’s one of those moments where you remember why Wacom sometimes gets criticized for nickel-and-diming customers.

Still, even with that gripe, I can’t deny that the Wacom One 14 is tempting. It feels like the right balance of quality, portability, and price, perfect for casual artists like me who still want professional-level tools without the professional-level bill. For the first time in years, I’m thinking about stepping back into the Wacom world.

Final Verdict

✅ Who It’s For:

• Casual artists who want to level up from drawing on paper or an iPad without overspending
• Beginners looking for a reliable, no-fuss drawing tablet that feels natural and responsive
• Creatives who need a lightweight, portable pen display for sketching, illustration, or photo work

❌ Who Should Skip It:

• Full-time professionals who need 4K resolution, wide color gamut, and advanced features
• Budget-conscious buyers who will find the $99 stand add-on (and other extras) frustrating
• Artists are already comfortable and invested in the iPad ecosystem

The Wacom One 14 isn’t perfect, but it strikes a sweet spot between performance and price that might just win back casual creators like me who drifted toward tablets and iPads. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to rediscover Wacom, this could be it.