For those on the go, the XP-Pen’s Deco Mini 7W helps you get to work and implement your creativity in almost every scenario. With its compact size and wireless connectivity available at a budget price, there’s no need to worry about budget or workspace. If you aren’t after a full-featured at-home set-up and want accessibility foremost, the Deco Mini7W is worth your consideration.
- Up to 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels
- Battery-free stylus supports up to 60 degrees of tilt
- 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity
- 8 customizable shortcut keys
- Brand: XP-Pen
- Active Area: 7″ x 4.37″
- Multi-Touch Support: Not touch sensitive
- Pressure Sensitivity Levels: 8192
- Connection: USB
- Good range of pressure sensitivity levels
- Wireless receiver
- Compact size
- Wide array of system and software support
- Screenless
- Small active work area won’t appeal to all
XP-Pen Deco Mini 7 Wireless
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The XP-Pen Deco Mini7W (or Deco Mini 7 Wireless) doesn’t challenge your definition of a drawing tablet with a pen. Instead, it takes what’s most desirable, cuts the excess, and delivers it all in a travel-friendly package.
Regardless of your skill level with graphic tablets, the Deco Mini7W focuses on accessibility while integrating its use across different software, platforms, and uses.
XP-Pen Deco Mini7W Design and Specifications
After peeling off the initial plastic, you’ll notice the Deco Mini7W keeps things minimalistic. With a black matte finish that utilizes white for contrast, eight lightly raised shortcut key buttons, and four directionals to symbolize the drawing area, it provides an easy functional read. At the base of the tablet are four rubber feet to keep it in place.
XP-Pen’s Deco Mini7 measures out at 10.24 x 6.38 x 0.36 inches while providing an active work area of 7 x 4.37 inches. Thanks to its small footprint, it’s very easy to stash the drawing tablet in a bag, backpack, or large pocket of your choice. With it also weighing just under a pound, you’ll hardly notice it’s there.
If you’re a fan of the XP-Pen Deco 01 v2, sadly the light-up drawing area with adjustable brightness didn’t make the cut. However, even in more dim lighting, this wasn’t much of a factor.
As one might guess by the name, the major selling point of the Deco Mini 7W is its 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity via a USB wireless receiver. For charging or for a wired connection, a USB to USB-C cable is included, but the 1000 mAh battery with its ≥ 10 hours of operation and two-hour charge time keeps this to a minimum. This means more time spent working with the Deco Mini7W wherever you want.
Included alongside the graphic tablet is the P05D battery-free stylus. This stylus supports up to 60 degrees of tilt and up to 8,192 pressure sensitivity levels. For those planning to extensively use the stylus, ten extra nibs are included with a pen clipper tool to remove any worn down nib as necessary.
Checking Your Compatibility and Connectivity
As for the Deco Mini 7W’s compatibility, XP-Pen has done a good job making sure it works on just about everything with the right connector. On top of the USB to USB-C cable and wireless receiver, XP-Pen has also included a USB to USB-C adapter and USB to Micro-USB adapter. Before plugging in, however, it’s advisable to update your drivers for Windows and macOS.
However, even with all the right prep work, there are some nuances to keep in mind regarding your platform of choice. On Windows, you’ll want to disable Windows Ink by unchecking its box under the PenTablet app. Should you need to use Windows Ink, it’s easy to re-enable, but you can otherwise quickly mitigate any cursor issues that result from it being active.
On macOS, XP-Pen needs certain access permissions to function fully. Overall, this was the most complex set-up process; XP-Pen outright alerts you of what’s needed when you go to download the driver. Thankfully, there’s an included PDF with the driver and an official YouTube video for anyone needing some extra help getting everything smoothed out.
In the case of Android, XP-Pen notes that some devices aren’t supported. My Samsung Galaxy S7 isn’t considered a fully supported device, but I was able to draw and use assorted drawing apps despite this note. Most of these are Samsung-based devices, so it’s helpful to check XP-Pen’s FAQ before considering a purchase.
If you’re using a Chromebook, the deco Mini7W does support ChromeOS; you need to make sure you have it updated to the appropriate version as noted by XP-Pen. For now, that means you need to update to Chrome OS 88.0.4324.109 or above.
Getting Started With the XP-Pen Deco Mini7W
Once you’ve figured out what platform you’re going to be using, it boils down to a question of what software to use and your operational preferences.
When it comes to software, XP-Pen makes sure their graphic tablets works across an expansive array of popular applications like Photoshop, SAI, ZBrush, Maya, Clip Studio, and many more. However, if you’re just starting out or want to try something new, XP-Pen does offer free software depending on what you purchase from them.
With the Deco Mini7W, I was given the option to choose either ArtRage and OpenCanvas for digital art. For those interested in e-learning or digital whiteboards, a three-month individual plan subscription was also offered for Explain Everything. Activating the software requires an XP-Pen account, entering your tablet’s serial number, and following the instructions to redeem your activation code.
Once you have your software of choice, you’ll want to poke around in PenTablet to set your work area, pen settings, and express keys.
For your work area, you can set your screen area or tablet area to either the full coverage or your preferred range. For those that prefer to draw on their tablet in a certain position, you’re able to adjust its rotation settings between 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.
For both the P05D stylus and the Deco Mini7W’s shortcut keys, you can change from the suggested defaults to either mouse controls, quick application launches, or custom keyboard inputs. These pen and key settings can also be set to work only for certain programs, so you don’t have to change them between projects.
Prior to use, you can also manually adjust the pressure sensitivity of your pen under pen settings. While it ranges between soft and hard, the differences didn’t feel too noticeable. In the interest of keeping it most balanced for my hand during testing, I opted to stay with the defaults.
Ways to Utilize the Deco Mini 7W
How can you use this drawing tablet?
While digital drawing comes to mind usually, graphic tablets fulfill numerous niche purposes whether it’s remote learning, workplace note-taking, digital signatures, or even gaming. All of these capitalize on the precision of the Deco Mini7W and feel even better without the wired requirement.
Digital Art with the Deco Mini 7W
When looking at a drawing tablet, there are a few baseline criteria to consider. I want good pen detection when drawing, little latency, and a good range of pressure detection. Whether wireless or wired, the Deco Mini7W did give me this.
In terms of experience, I found the XP-Pen Deco Mini7W to be more effective when used more traditionally with a desktop or laptop. The mobile software offerings had limited support for the shortcut keys; I highly valued the customization that came with the PenTablet app. If you prefer drawing on mobile, it’s not too bad to have to implement a touch-based setting command.
Regardless of what you choose to use as your screen, drawing with the XP-Pen felt comfortable and easy to use.
E-Learning and Work with the Deco Mini 7W
For those that don’t traditionally use a drawing tablet, the increase of popularity for these devices for remote working and e-learning is worth noting. To test the Deco Mini7W’s effectiveness here, I decided to approach it as if I were preparing some slides for my students.
As Explain Everything serves as an online whiteboard, it was very easy to open up a template and just start using the stylus to write, highlight, and otherwise emphasize information for video recording. Specifying custom shortcuts for Explain Everything wasn’t hard; I just bound them to my browser of choice for the time of recording.
For those remotely working, writing out notes by hand was similarly easy across different software. While not a necessity, it was refreshing to be able to jot down notes without a long wire against my desk. When you consider the XP-Pen retails for around $60, it isn’t the most expensive option either when it comes to a more comfy workflow.
Relax with the Deco Mini7W
Gaming with unique peripherals isn’t a new practice, but it’s always an intriguing one. To test the precision of the tablet, I decided to try out osu! with XP-Pen. While I’m certainly not the fastest in response time, the Deco Mini7W and stylus allowed for precise inputs while playing the rhythm game.
While I wouldn’t recommend it for every game, it’s a pleasant distraction if you want to take a break and try something unique.
Repairability or Replacement for XP-Pen’s Deco Mini7W
If something does happen with your Deco Mini 7W, there are a few options to consider. For those concerned about the tablet itself, XP-Pen doesn’t currently sell any protective film for the Deco Mini7W. However, the Deco Mini 7W is pretty small, so it’s not hard to keep it protected in transit.
If you happen to lose or get through the ten included nibs, XP-Pen offers 100 of their nibs for around ten dollars. If something happens to your stylus, the P05D can also be replaced for about sixteen dollars.
For any initial problems, XP-Pen offers a twelve-month warranty from the time of purchase. If you purchase directly from their e-store, they instead offer an extended eighteen-month warranty.
Should You Buy the XP-Pen Deco Mini7W?
The XP Pen’s Deco Mini 7W offers the opportunity to easily work whenever inspiration strikes. It’s compact, affordable, and gives the option to go wire-free. As far as drawing tablets go, it’s perfect for travel.
If you’re simply after the best drawing tablet, it doesn’t have all the premium features. However, if you’re looking for an inexpensive tablet to get you started, it’s one worthy of your attention.