When comparing Microsoft Surface 3 vs Wacom Cintiq 13HD, the Slant community recommends Wacom Cintiq 13HD for most people. In the question“What are the best graphics tablets?” Wacom Cintiq 13HD is ranked 1st while Microsoft Surface 3 is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Wacom Cintiq 13HD is:
The Cintiq 13HD's 16.7m color screen is capable of rendering vivid life-like images. This combines with an excellent resolution of 1920 x 1080 to make it a tool more than capable of handling the delicate and precise needs of illustrative work.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Full Windows software
Unlike the Surface RT and Surface 2, the Surface 3 runs full Windows 10 software. With the optional keyboard accessory, this tablet can function as a full laptop (keep in mind it has fairly low end specs)
Pro Optional keyboard accessory
The keyboard ($130) doubles as a screen protector when not in use, and magnetically attaches to the bottom of the Surface. It's thin, so key travel is shallow, but it's a very capable keyboard. It features 5 levels of backlight, as well as a (rather small, but very high quality) trackpad. It connects directly to the Surface, so there'd no need to charge the keyboard and you don't need to worry about bluetooth.
Pro Kickstand
The Surface 3 has a kickstand on the back of the tablet so that it can hold itself upright. It has 3 positions - one upright (almost vertical), one at almost a 45 degree angle, and one fairly close to flat (this one is useful for drawing or typing if you don't have the keyboard).
Pro Optional Pen accessory
The Surface 3 (when coupled with the $50 pen) can register 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, and also has Palm Block technology. It makes for a good experience when drawing diagrams, sketching or even just doodling. Clicking the button on top of the pen opens OneNote - Microsoft's note taking application.
Pro Portable
At just 267x187x8.7mm (10.5x7.4x3.4") and weighing 622g (1.37lbs), this is a portable machine. Some other tablets are a bit thinner and lighter, but the kickstand really helps you comfortably use it anywhere (you could set it up in the kitchen for a recipe instead of laying it down flat, or rest it on your chest while laying down in bed instead of holding it up).
Pro Great graphics for illustrations and artwork
The Cintiq 13HD's 16.7m color screen is capable of rendering vivid life-like images. This combines with an excellent resolution of 1920 x 1080 to make it a tool more than capable of handling the delicate and precise needs of illustrative work.
Pro Suitable for precision work
This device's screen has 2048 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity. The device comes with a tilt stand that snaps on to the back and gives you three different angles to work with. This makes precision work, on the smallest details, easy. The Cintiq 13HD is easy to use and intuitive. Its pen feels comfortable and using it is fluid. The 10 different nibs provided allow for a greater range of brush settings, along with colored rings to be able to customize your pen and differentiate it from everyone at work.
Pro Customizable shortcut keys
The Cintiq 13HD has the EasyKey feature located on the side of the tablet. It is a 9 key remote that can be customizable to whatever shortcuts you need so that working is made a lot faster.
Pro Adjustable stand for comfortable use
The Cintiq 13HD's adjustable stand makes it easy to find the best angle for working. Both the inclination angle and height are alterable, so users can position the device in the most comfortable way possible.
Pro Supports connection to a wide variety of different platforms
It's prepared to connect to all the standard primary platforms and to most computers. It's equipped with USB 2.0 and HDMI ports. It also supports DVI, VGA, and DisplayPort, if additional adapters are purchased.
Its cable divides into three separate slots; a charger, a USB port and a HDMI. This makes it easier to work with as you do not have to bother about the various wires dangling from your device.
Pro Draw and erase as you go, before transferring to computer
The Cintiq 13HD has screen feedback is built in. That makes it an even more pleasurable experience because you can actually see everything you draw and erase it if you aren't too pleased with it before transferring it to your computer files.
Cons
Con Small app store
The Surface 3 is almost better as a laptop than tablet because it has so few touch-enabled apps. It uses the Windows Store to access its games, so it has the same collection available as desktops and laptops.
Con Fragile
The screen is very susceptible to being damaged. Here's where its generally beneficial light weight can be a downside. It requires as much protection/care as a tablet does -- it is not as sturdy as a laptop. The back cover will scratch fairly easily if dragged along a table as well.
Con Very slow to charge
The Surface 3 uses micro USB to charge which is nice because cables are plentiful, but charging from empty to full takes about 6 hours.
Con Can't be used on the go
The Wacom Cintiq 13HD is essentially an input screen. It will not work without connecting it to a computer and some sort of power source. This makes it really hard to use on the go and so other graphic tablets may be preferred.
Con Power cable is problematic and limits portability
Since the Cintiq 13HD is a display, not a true tablet, it does not come with an internal battery. During use, it needs to be hooked up to a power source, which is a portability limitation.
Your hand, additionally, ends up resting on the cable when drawing on that side of the screen. This may cause damage to the pins and will be a problem in the long run. Perhaps if they moved the port to the side with the EasyKeys or maybe widened the edge it would be less of a worry.
Con Stand can only be adjusted to fixed angles
This device's stand angle adjustment is not continuous, meaning users can only adjust it to fixed angles. This limits positioning and users may find this annoying: it's impossible to give it just a slight tweak of a few degrees to make it more comfortable.
Con Too few EasyKeys
Some users may find that the amount of EasyKeys is low, and that it would be useful to have some more, to avoid frequent keyboard reaching. However, this can easily be fixed by using multiple key functions.
Con Rubber stand is of low quality
The rubber stand provided feels cheap. It ends up snapping on with a very deceitful snap, as if something inside it broke, and tends to slip off on the greater angle. For the price this device costs, Wacom could've included something that was more sturdy and with better quality rubber.
Con Lagging issues on macOS
The Cintiq 13HD has a bit of a problem working on macOS. It begins lagging and, because of this, the experience isn't as fluid as it is on Windows.