While I’m no artist, I'm back with another review of a device designed for drawing and sketching. This time, I wanted to turn it into a smart board.

Last year, I tried one of the Huion tablets designed for artists and graphic designers. It didn't take me long to realize I’m none of those things, so I decided to use it for entirely different reasons.

This time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with the company’s recently released Huion Kamvas 22 3rd-generation display.

Since I haven’t improved much as an artist since my Huion Kamvas Slate 13 tablet review, I was curious if I could turn it into a second screen and a somewhat smart board.

First impressions: setting up the display

When unboxing the Huion Kamvas 22 3rd-generation display, I received a 21.5-inch screen with a digital pen (including a pen holder with additional nibs) and several cables for connecting other devices.

While I was happy about the big screen, I noticed that the device takes up some space on the table, as it includes an adjustable stand that lets you lower or raise it to your preference.

I’m not a big fan of cables, since they make everything look messy and tangled, but the display doesn’t work without them, since it’s not a standalone tablet but an additional display device.

But I have to say that things do look quite clean and fun at the back once set up, thanks to ambient lighting that can be adjusted and a cover that partially hides the cables.

To use the display, I needed to connect it to another device.

It was also necessary to download a suitable driver to make the pen work, as well as make other adjustments to the display, since it's only a display and not a standalone device.

I was surprised to find I couldn’t use my Kamvas Slate 13 tablet with the display. At first, I thought maybe something was wrong with the cables, since I was able to connect both my MacBook Airs and my iPhone.

However, I soon learned that the Kamvas Slate 13 tablet doesn’t generate its own video signal and lacks an internal operating system or graphics processor, so it cannot be a source device for another display.

How to use the 3rd-generation Huion Kamvas 22 display?

I don’t know if it's the line of work I’m in, or what, but I often find myself needing at least two screens when working, researching, or planning something.

Especially when I’m organizing a trip or a hike, I turn into a wannabe tour operator with multiple search tabs, maps, and an Excel sheet open.

So I was curious how well the display would serve this purpose, knowing I will hardly use it for drawing or sketching.

This is where the screen size and its adjustability really came in handy, especially when looking at maps or other detailed information without zooming in too much and still being able to see the whole view.

Of course, you might think that I don’t need a $600 device solely for that reason, and you’d be absolutely right.

What makes it different from any other additional screen is its display. While at first I wanted it to be brighter (it comes with 250 nits), especially compared to a laptop screen, after using it for picture editing, I learned that it displays colors more naturally and doesn’t strain my eyes as much as a “regular” screen.

That is because the Kamvas 22 3rd-generation display comes with Canvas Glass 2.0, which reduces glare and sparkle and minimizes reflections.

While I imagined I could use the display as something similar to a smart board, that wasn’t entirely the case, since the display doesn’t include a touchscreen.

But one of its important add-ons, especially for artists and designers, is a pen.

I had some hiccups when trying to make it work and ended up not using it much. While the pen itself is comfortable to use, I noticed it would’ve been convenient to include a light to indicate when it's on.

Is the Huion Kamvas 22 display worth keeping?

The 3rd-generation Kamvas 22 display is my third Huion product, after the Kamvas Slate tablet and the Huion smart notebook.

While I wish it worked as a standalone device, mainly because I wanted to avoid all the connecting and the wires, it worked as a great second screen because of its size and adjustability.

I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t work with my Kamvas tablet, as it would’ve been more convenient to use. I would also imagine that having two devices of the same brand, originally designed for the same purpose, would make the work for designers even smoother.

When it comes to display specifications, I wish it had higher brightness. On the other hand, the screen protected my eyes with its anti-glare and anti-sparkle features, so I would keep using it for things like photo editing or any work that requires long hours spent looking at a screen.

Pros and cons of Huion Kamvas 22 (3rd gen)

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