Review: Jinhao X159

[Le.Pen.Supremo]

Hi! I was intrigued by the Jinhao X159 hype so I decided to get one! Here's a review of this nifty chonky fountain pen! 

 

Price 10/10
This pen is just worth 4 USD, with aconverter included! It's completely amazing at that price point so I'm rating it with a 10/10! 

 

Packaging: 10/10
The pen came only in its black velvet sleeve. For the price I paid, I'm not complaining! 

Build Quality: 7/10
The X159 is mostly made of resin. I'm not entirely sure if this is high quality or whatnot, but it doesn't feel necessarily cheap! However, I could see the injection molding seams throughout the pen's body. It wasn't thoroughly polished. Well, this pen is worth 4 USD and I'm not complaining xd

Design: 9/10
I chose the chocolate brown version with chrome trims. It is very nice! Although it's much lighter in person. More of a milk chocolate brown. I like how Jinhao didn't fully copied the 149. It's still unique in it's own right. 

Cap: 7/10
Very nice. The clip is easy to operate. I don't feel it would snap anytime soon. It has a chrome plated cap band with the brand "Jinhao" on the front, and "X159" on the back. The pen takes approximately 2 full turns to uncap. This is quite too much for me personally. 

Filling Mechanism: 6/10
This pen has a Jinhao branded cartridge/converter filling system. It works as it should be, tho there are a few ink splatters from time to time. I'm not sure if the converter is a defect or it's just because of the temperature. 

The Writing Experience/Nib: 9/10
The pen has a #8 Jinhao steel nib. They only offer this pen with a Fine nib. Out of the sleeve, the tines were too tight for ink to flow well, causing skipping and the need to exert more pressure. Fortunately, it was just an easy fix for me! I opened up the tines and it's now quite wet, the way I like it! The nib was very very smooth, without any baby's bottom. The nib is also a tad bouncy. As for the width, it's on the broader side of a Western Fine nib. 
I find it hard to believe that a fine steel nib from China, could perform so wonderfully! In fact, if I were to write with this pen blindfolded, I would confidently say that it's a gold nib! 

Comfort: 10/10
Tho the pen is rather large, the pen feels well balanced! It's super comfortable to my hands! I didn't felt the need to grip it tighter, like with smaller pens. It posts well too, tho I prefer to use this pen, unposted. 

Others: 
I also got a black one for my friend and after flushing it, the plastic section, and the metal that connects to it, fell apart. Somehow, the glue used was either insufficient or was dissolved by water. I find it rather unfortunate, but it's an easy fix with epoxy, or at your own risk, super glue. I'm not really upset with that, cause of how cheap this pen is, but if that were to happen to my more expensive pens, I would totally be infuriated. 

Overall 9/10
This pen from China has quite a few pros and cons. But the main factor is the price, which is why I'm giving this a 9/10! Sure it's not the most high quality pen out there, but it's designed to write, that is with tuning. The pen is comfortable as well, and doesn't feel like 4 dollars. Jinhao could actually sell this for 20 USD, with better tuning and packaging. With the nib tuned, it's a fantastic writer! Another reason why I like this pen is because it's cheap, I could use it as a throwaway pen. I clip it to my pants pocket with no problems!

One of my purposes for this pen, is to test if the 149 size works for me. And I would say, yes I find it to be good! It's rather ridiculous how Montblanc can charge a thousand dollars for their 149, and Sailor pricing their KOPs at about 800 for a CC filling system. BUT with MB and Sailor, you pay for the quality and prestige. Whether or not the retail prices of pens like MB or Sailor, is worth it, depends on the buyer.

Thank you for reading this review of the Jinhao X159! Till the next one!

[OCArt]

Good review and great photos too!

[jchch1950]

Thank you for the review. I agree with your comments that a pen under ten dollars can not be equal to one 900 or 1000 , quality have to be different as well as some technical designs and materials, but the important aspect is that the pen is good for writing.

[encremental]

Just an update to say that with the release of new colours (cream, green, orange and a few others) there is now an EF option. I've got both the orange and green in EF, and they have pretty good nibs.

 

John

[His Nibs]

Thanks for the review. I just inked up my first one (red/burgundy) with the F nib (an XF is also available, depending upon the dealer). I'm similarly impressed. In many ways, it was the 2022 Pen of the Year. 1/100 the cost of my Montblanc 149 -- and the resin is precious enough for me. 😉

[TSherbs]

I liked my first one so much (black) that I ordered a second (burgundy). This one came with the gold trim and two-tone gold (steel) nib. The "F" nib writes almost like a Western medium, which I like. Suddenly, a bunch of my nice thinner pens (Italix, Waterman Expert) are slipping out of rotation. Bam! 

[Sailor Kenshin]

I enjoy the black/silvery one I got.  But….colors?  EF?  Must. Not. Look!

[donnweinberg]

I just ordered 7 of them, each in a different color (with gold-ish trim) on Ebay, for a total cost of $62.22 (free shipping from China).  I'm looking forward to trying them out.

[TSherbs]

1 hour ago, donnweinberg said:

I just ordered 7 of them, each in a different color (with gold-ish trim) on Ebay, for a total cost of $62.22 (free shipping from China).  I'm looking forward to trying them out.

Ha!

 

Are you expecting variation? 

[donnweinberg]

No variation, except for color.  I tend to like a pen in many different colors, especially one that is relatively inexpensive, as is the Jinhao x159.  😋

[AceNinja]

the only thing aesthetically (just a small gripe), is that the breather hole in this #8 nib is way too small, just doesn't look as good / match with the big nib.  Jinhao's #5 has a bigger breather hole.

I've a X159, I must say the quality of the pen and nib is excellent.

[ArchiMark]

Great review and pics!

 

At this price, I couldn't resist and got a black/silver tone pen a few months ago...

 

Like you, I can forgive a lot at this price...

 

My pen wrote well 'out of the package'.....and feels very comfortable in the hand....

just like a 149 I used to have....although the 149 is a much higher quality pen....

but for the price, the x159 is a keeper....

 

[TSherbs]

I just ordered a green/gold one. That makes three for me. I like it more and more. 

[Knoffie]

 I have the maroon X159  ( v 2)  and I absolutely love it.  It took a bit of getting used to it as it is so fat!  But it has a really warm feel in the hand. The standard nib i very smooth  and it is very well made. Even at $30-$40 I would  still buy it.  The Mont Blanc  # 149 is like Rolex , overpriced ,

[nigelg]

i have the older 159 and think it is excellent for the price (although fine nibs are not really to my taste). I'd buy the X159 too if it was offered with broader nib options. Is it possible to fit other nibs in them?

[lenj]

Very nice review.  Got mine in exactly the same color.  I was fortunate as it wrote perfectly "right out of the box".

 

It is the smoothest Chinese nib I have ever written with.

 

This is the first time I have seen a Chinese pen company go back and correct what was wrong with the original (159) model.

[Fountain PenDa]

Thanks for the review! Good to know that because I am thinking of buying it!

Nice colour by the way

[donnweinberg]

I finally received seven x159 fountain pens from China as shown below:

 

    

 

Before being shipped to me, each had been dipped in ink to test for writing.  I have not filled one yet, as I'm waiting on the pens to dry from my cleaning process.  Perhaps I'll provide my own impressions after I've written with one for awhile.

 

 

 

[TSherbs]

Wait for the pen to dry before filling it? What's that? 

 

 

[Thinkpad_maven]

Which Pen shop in China tests them before they ship them?