Best Drawing Stylus in 2025? XPPen X4 Smart Chip Stylus Explained

When it comes to digital art, the pen you use can make or break your creative flow. XPPen’s latest X4 Smart Chip Stylus brings a new standard to digital drawing with its upgraded sensitivity, precision, and stability—making it one of the best stylus for drawing tablets in 2025.

Why keep upgrading the chip?

We believe that the ideal creative experience is to let the pen follow your heart - flowing naturally like water.

That’s the mission behind the X4 Smart Chip Stylus: breaking down creative barriers and letting ideas flow freely.

For our product team, the chip is the soul of a digital pen.

More than the outer design, the chip determines how smooth and precise every stroke feels.“Smoother and more accurate feedback directly affects inspiration and efficiency. That’s why we keep pushing chip innovation.” — Product Manager

To achieve this, our engineers spent over 18 months testing more than 100 prototypes, refining every detail until the activation force dropped from 3g to just 2g — capturing even the lightest touch instantly.

XPPen X4 Smart Chip Improvements at a glance

Improvement 1: More accurate and responsive

Powered by the X4 Smart Chip, this stylus offers major improvements over previous generations:

● 2g Initial Activation Force (IAF): 50% lighter than before, so even the softest strokes are captured.

● 30ms Initial Response Time: 3× faster than X3 Pro, delivering ultra-smooth pen-to-screen flow.

● ±0.2mm Accuracy: Tighter precision for consistent, sharp lines.

Whether sketching, note-taking, or painting, the X4 Smart Chip Stylus ensures natural, paper-like control.

Improvement 2: Industry-leading 16,384 level pressure sensitivity

Compared to traditional 8K digital pens, the X4’s 16K pressure sensitivity sets a new benchmark:

● Ultra-fine gradation for detailed shading.

● Smooth transitions from light strokes to heavy lines.

● Ideal for digital painting, graphic design, and handwriting.

This level of sensitivity allows both beginners and professionals to create with confidence.

Improvement 3: Enhanced stability & pen control

XPPen redesigned the stylus for better consistency:

● 200% tip stability improvement reduces wobble and jitter.

● Shorter tip travel (0.3mm vs 0.6mm): More natural writing feel.

● New bullet-style pen nibs: Longer-lasting and less shaky.

The result? Cleaner, more reliable strokes—perfect for illustrators, animators, and architects.

Improvement 4: Magnetic attachment

The X4 Smart Chip Stylus features a magnetic attachment design, making it easy to carry and harder to lose. Attach it directly to your Artist 12 3rd, and your workspace will be neat and organized.

Who deserves the X4 Smart Chip Stylus?

The X4 Smart Chip Stylus isn’t limited to one type of user — it’s designed for everyone who values creativity and efficiency. Whether you’re a student stepping into digital art, a professional illustrator chasing precision, a creator who needs mobility, or an educator looking for seamless handwriting and note-taking, the X4 adapts to your workflow. It’s more than a stylus; it’s a versatile tool that empowers creativity across study, work, and art.

● Students & beginners: Affordable entry into professional-level drawing.

● Digital artists & designers: High precision for illustration, comics, and concept art.

● On-the-go creators: Magnetic attachment for easy portability.

● Education & business users: Smooth handwriting and note-taking.

Final Verdict

The XPPen X4 Smart Chip Stylus combines cutting-edge chip technology, 16K pressure sensitivity, and a magnetic design—making it one of the best styluses for drawing tablets in 2025.

If you’re upgrading from X3 Smart Chip Stylus or just starting your digital art journey, the X4 Smart Chip Stylus offers a professional experience at an accessible price.

Ready to upgrade your drawing experience? Pair the X4 Smart Chip Stylus with the XPPen Artist 12 3rd  for the ultimate creative setup.