Inspiring

Answered

Advice on a Graphics Tablet for Photoshop and my Mac.

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
July 24, 2025
4 replies
756 views

I am looking for advice on a graphics tablet for use with Photoshop (and Illustrator).

I purchased a Wacom Cintiq 16 but it had cables that would not connect to my Macbook even though it said it was compatible. I see I could buy a $70 adapter from apple, but when I delved more deeply into the Amazon reviews for the tablet (which were stellar overall) - I found a lot of negative reviews from Mac owners with horror stories, so Im returning it.

What I want out of a tablet:

Be compatible with my Mac

Have cables that will actually connect to my mac - I only have the four USB-C (thunderbolt) ports

Will work with my Adobe Suite programs - specifically Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator

Have a screen on the tablet itself

It doesnt have to be top of the line - but I do want the pen to have decent pressure sensitivity.

For everything I have researched there seems to be quite a lot of negative experiences with Mac users so if anyone out there is using something that they like with Photoshop and Illustrator on a Mac - I would love to hear about it! Im spinning my wheels right now with online research and reviews so I thought I would ask the community.

And yes, I posted this to Apple Discussion Forums as well.

Adobe Creative Suite

Macbook Pro - 16inch 2019

2.4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9

AMD Radeon Pro 550M 8GB

64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

Sonoma 14.61.1

macOS

Correct answer meh67

Thank you (and everyone else) for responding. Conrad_C - you were right to ask about it being an older generation. Even though I bought it a few days ago, I guess they are still selling older generation models on Amazon. This older one simply wouldnt work without the adapter. Thank you for taking the time to try to help. I just got a simple Wacom One and it is working fine!

E

ExUSA

Legend

I'm not sure if Wacom makes a USB-C tablet. You can easily use a USB-C to USB-A adaptor or dock, or use one of their Bluetooth tablets.

I have multiple Wacom tablets for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and they work great.

meh67Author

Inspiring

Thank you for your reply!

This particular model required all the cables to work - the HDMI, the USB-C and the regular old school USB. Apparently even though I just bought the thing on amazon - it was an older iteration of the Wacom Cintiq16 and would only work with ALL THREE of those cables hooked up. I returned it and am getting a tablet that only requires USB-C. Thank you for your response!

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

@meh67 when it comes to hardware like this - I will always go direct from manufacturer or B&H Photo. That way Im guaranteed its not a refurb and fully under warranty. Amazon can be a gamble.

John Waller

Community Expert

I purchased a Wacom Cintiq 16 but it had cables that would not connect to my Macbook even though it said it was compatible.

Can you post a pic of the cables which came with the Cintiq? You should already have exactly what you need.

This Wacom article explains how to connect to USB-C

https://support.wacom.com/hc/en-us/articles/4405476408471-What-is-the-recommended-connection-type-to-connect-Wacom-Cintiq-Pro-16-2021-with-my-computer

meh67Author

Inspiring

John, in ADDITION to the USB-C - the Cintiq 16 which i just bought two days ago also needed these other two cables to be attached to my MacBookPro. An HDMI cable which my mac has no port for, and an older USB port, which my mac has no port for. Wacom confirmed I need an adapter for it to work. Its all good now, I returned it.

Conrad_C

Community Expert

How was the cable not compatible, specifically? What wasn’t working? When I look at the current Wacom Cintiq 16 web page, it says it includes a USB-C to USB-C cable…which exactly matches the USB-C ports on a 2019 MacBook Pro. No adapter of any kind should be needed.

What kind of $70 adapter cable was needed? I can’t think of why that would be necessary.

Was it an older generation of Cintiq 16?

I’ve been using Wacom tablets with my Macs for over 30 years. (Although other brands like Huion and Xencelabs work quite well today too.)

meh67Author

Inspiring

The USB-C to USB-C is only one of the cables that are needed for the Cintiq 16 to work on the mac. I was on Chat with Wacom Customer Support and they confirmed that I also need the "Three in one" cable to be connected (ALL OF THEM) - which has an HDMI and the older USB - so basically THREE cables hooked up to work on the Mac - so they (Wacom) pointed me to the Apple Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - which is $74 with shipping costs.
If you are confused by the wording how its advertised - so was I.
I returned it and Im going to take Kevins advice and get a Wacom ONE. I see on the product video that it ONLY needs a USB-C.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

@meh67 I would recommend a Xencelabs tablet - using one myself and its great. You can also look at a Wacom series tablet - either Intuous (no screen) or a Wacom One (has screen) are cost effective options.

A Wacom Cintiq is overkill with cost.

meh67Author

Inspiring

Can your Xencelabs Tablet connect to a Mac without an adapter? I see in amazon the Xencelabs are quite a bit more than the Wacom Cintiq 16 was if I want it to have a screen on the tablet as well. Those are a bit more $$$ than I was hoping to spend. ($1,899 or $1,249). If they connect easily and work well maybe I will bite the bullet.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

Xence labs are USB-C and don't require adapters.

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