Wacom Express Key Remote for Cintiq & Intuos Pro (ACK411050)

First, let me clear up some things. Much of the internet believes that the Express Key Remote from Wacom only works while connected to an Intuos or Cintiq product. This is untrue, I have neither connected to my Fujitsu T902 laptop and all I needed to do was install the latest Cintiq drivers. These haven't caused any driver conflicts with my current Wacom divers for the integrated screen digitizer. It also functions on my Wife's old Lenovo. The Express Key Remote (EK Remote in device manager) is a sleek piece of cold machined gunmetal. This frame is backed with a rubber pad to protect whatever surface it is on, faced with a multitude of buttons that have any number of functions available and a touch ring that can be mapped to just about any scrub-able function you can imagine (volume, scrolling, zoom, video scrubbing, etc.). The weight is substantial and at no point have I felt like this product had been made cheaply, nor is it apparent that any single feature was left out to "cut costs". Battery life is stellar and it's ability to power manage itself is amazing. I never feel like I'm having to wake it up, but it does go to sleep relatively often (in about 10-20 mins of non-use). I've gotten to about 130 hours without needing to charge, the real kicker is that I'm using it all the time. music editing, logo design, photo and video editing, browsing the web, finding errors in this review! I have yet to charge it! Mapping the buttons is a simple enough task for anyone with any experience mapping keys. It is also not a difficult task to look up a video on mapping Wacom Express Keys, the process is the same weather attached to a digitizer or standalone in this remote. The real challenge is figuring out what you want each button to be and how you want them laid-out, a lot harder than you may think. You can call up programs, and have specific layout for every program. You can keep it as simple as a single keypress, or get as complicated as running complex scripts. It really is quite daunting. My only gripe is that there is no way to switch the buttons. By this I mean that in the software, if I decide that I don't like where I've set a custom keystroke or script, I can't just move it. I have to remap that function to a different key then go to the one I already made and remap that one as well. Not a huge deal but it is a minor annoyance that could easily be rectified in an update. As for price, I feel like $100 is a great price point, the Wacom Express Key Remote is built like a tank and as more functions than you'll ever need. It's wireless, has insane battery life and is backed by a reputable company who has never offended me with their warranty policies. Overall it's a five star product at a fair value. If you are in the market for a similar item do yourself a favor and pick this up.

Nothing grates my parmesan more than trying to draw and having a massive keyboard between me and the tablet/screen when drawing. It's clunky and cumbersome and forces you to make space compromises. I got a Huion Kamvas pro 22 (2019) and got one of these remotes and it has been a godsend after some reconfiguration of the keys on the remote. Now I can move the ergotron arm mounted screen nice and close and use it like a mini drafting table while my left arm curls under the monitor and just keeps to the remote, feeling around for the right keys easily thanks to its layout and indicator nubs. My right hand is free to draw with no issues. Sure the tablet has buttons on the sides, but that means I have to break flow to hotkey. Not with this little thing! I can zoom, change brush size, quicksave, change my music playing, quickswap brushes, undo/redo, createm new layers, and so on all with one hand never having to move while the other keeps to the pen. YES you can use this with non-wacom products. YES you -might- potentially have driver conflicts, but they are relatively easy to sort out if you do. (Mine had no issues) NO wacom precision mode/cintiqe features built into the remote will not work with other tablets so please make sure to change those macros off the remote soon as you install otherwise you will have to re-start the process to continue using the remote because the responses will cease functioning until you do. Battery life is great, but it could be a bit better. The auto-turnoff after a few minutes of idleness is a nice feature. The bottom of the remote is made with a smooth but friction textured rubber, allowing it to do a basic stick to some angles of any screen. It also has magnets in it if you feel like making a mounting spot for it. Three indicator lights at the top help indicate what control set you are currently in...adding a ton of combinations for macros. Usb micro charging port. Has a tiny usb dongle receiver. The packaging is so professional and quality you feel like you are opening a treasure. The manual is half the weight of the box haha. Solid metal body, feels pure quality and good in the hand. it's a little wider than expected when you get it, but ideal anyhow. There is also a hud feature to show you what the hotkeys are currently macroed to and for when you switch modes. Probably one of my favorite digital art accessories to this day. It will stay in my drawing arsenal for years to come. Cintiq or not, you should buy one!

Once you get it programmed, it is very helpful. You don't have to go to the keypad or click on the tool bar. After a while the keypad becomes second nature.

The wacom express key remote feels really well made, and has some good weight to it. The keys are easy to program and all in all it works fairly well. It DOES NOT support bluetooth though. (It might be my fault that I just assumed it did) Unless you're also using a wacom tablet, it requires that you use a small dongle to connect to your computer. It comes with no way to store this dongle when not in use, so I already know its a matter of time before I lose it, and the remote becomes useless. Works well in the meantime, though.

Express Key Remote control is working perfectly and i am fully satisfied on it's functionality and usability. But unit seems to be stored somewhere at least for couple of years - irreplaceable Li-Ion battery almost cannot be charged. Did this triple times to be sure, but still getting yellow LCD on and grey "charge battery..." window on the computer screen (which can not be turned off via software, even if You use remote control connected to USB - this is WACOM flaw (or stupidity). If i where in USA, i would send it back for replace, but unfortunately i am overseas. Any idea wher to get appropriate battery and how to replace battery would be highly appreciated. ====== Yet unit can not be charged more than 76%, after couple months of use fall in love with the key remote especially in the Photoshop. The only minor disadvantage - it is unpairing from computer once in a few days of 8 hour use. Should be almost touch the USB piece to pair again. I it normal? Any ideas?

So far, so good. Works with my Lenovo ThinkPad yoga x1. Downloaded Wacom cintiq driver and it connects with the laptop. I wish more shortcuts may be assign on the express key so I could eliminate completely the need for keyboard. 1 month later update. The express key is a very good and helpful tool. However, I have bad experience with Wacom support services. They just ignore your requests. So, basically when you buy Wacom products you are on your own. Wacom drivers disappear from the computer, and it took me a while to figure out how to make wacom tablet and Wacom pen to work. After closing laptop you open it again and it says "Wacom driver is not found". It's a very common problem with unreliable Wacom drivers. I sent multiple requests to Wacom technical support with the question how to fix the problem, but never was contacted. Not even once. Eventually, I figured it out. But the problem was driving me insane and I spent many of my valuable hours trying to make things work. Shame...

Love this! Exactly what I was looking for. I use this on my Surface Book 2 and on my desktop with a Huion GT 191 which does not have build in express keys. I can put this remote in crazy locations on my desk as I stretch out or lounge while I paint in Photoshop and it has more than enough express keys for my needs, no more keyboard for me! Its kind of expensive, but more than worth it to me. Easy to set up once I figured out which driver I actually needed. My favorite part is the touch ring. Its makes it super easy to quickly change the brush size, although sometimes its a little too sensitize when I'm trying to get a specific size. So far the battery life has been excellent and its well made, the materials feel nice and not cheap at all. I'm glad I took the leap and bought this little baby.

Was a bit unsure at first but after using it for a bit I love it. Just had to figure out how I really used it and assign its buttons accordingly. Now I feel like my workflow is more efficient with it. It’s smaller than my phone and super comfortable and light in my hand while using it, barely feels like it’s there sometimes. Buttons respond great and not overly sensitive/hard to push. It’s sturdier than I initially thought it would be. My only wish is that it was Bluetooth compatible.