With the sudden flux of the artistic stylus hitting the market for tablets. It’s been interesting to see how they all compare. Wacom has the most recent addition with its Intous Creative Stylus.
Now it seems like a good time to visit the stylus that in my opinion started it all: Ten 1 Design’s Pogo Connect. While I’ve had experience with previous models Ten 1 shipped me the latest model with exchange tips, promising not only a unique way to do your artwork but a more realistic feel.
So how does the latest Pogo Connect hold up? Are the nibs the ultimate answer for the mobile artist?
Design
Let’s revisit the Pen for an updated look at the design. The Pogo Connect is a rather large pen, about the size of a Sharpee. It has a aluminum outer shell with a button near the tip of the device. On the button there is a small light that signals when the device is connected.
The pen is powered by a single AAA Battery, and uses Bluetooth to connect to your tablet. The tip of the pen (a.k.a the Nib) is removable, and uses a magnet to stay connected. The standard nib is rather large, roughly the size of a small fingertip. It’s rubber and you don’t have to press to hard for it to read.
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R1 Tip A much smaller nib then the standard version, it also connects with the Pogo Connect via a Magnet. It’s easy enough to remove and add onto the Pen itself. Each package comes with two nibs. Great in case you accidentally lose one. (More on that later ) |
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Brush PackMuch like the R1 Tip Pack, there are two separate brushes. This time they are in two different styles. One is a more lightweight brush, giving you the more airy approach to painting. It’s very light and easy enough to work with as the other nib is a thicker brush.Painting is a little more straight forward. I actually enjoyed working with this one a little more. |
Feel
I felt pretty comfortable coming back to the Pogo Connect. Already being familiar with the device there was no transition coming back. That being said after sometime of use I began noticing just how large the device felt. While I didn’t seem to effect the artwork it was still a concern.
As for additional nibs, they were rather hit or miss. The R1 Tip, despite being much smaller, was a little difficult to use. A lot of pressure needed to be maintained to use it. Sadly this was the nib I was most looking forward to using – the standard nib always felt a little large.
But the Brush Tips were a bit of a surprise. While I do enjoy painting, the mess and cleanup is a bit of a concern. But using the Brush Tips actually felt like you were painting. The lighter version was really fun to just play using the different paint styles within ProCreate.
I actually enjoyed the harder Brush nib best. It felt sturdy enough that you knew were your brush was, while still maintaining an overall brush feel nice for painting.
Overall 8.0
While I still enjoy working with the Pogo Connect, I do feel that it’s lacing in some areas. It’s certainly great for doing any sketching or quick on the fly stuff. Though with the additional nibs, it really made me aware of the lack of mobility, a must for this pen. A good future addition might be an included carrying case purchased alongside the nibs.
The Pogo Connect is certainly a great entry device for an artist on the go, with a cheaper price tag then its competitors.