Jinhao X169: The New Pen in Town People Are Now Raving About and For Very Good Reasons

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist

Just when I thought Jinhao had squeezed every possible variation out of the X159, along comes the Jinhao X169.

Released only in June 2026, the X169 is one of Jinhao’s newest oversized fountain pens—and at first glance, it looks very familiar. If you already know the X159, you might even ask, “Wait… haven’t I seen this pen before?”

Well, yes. Sort of.

I would describe the X169 as an upgraded and more substantial version of the X159. It retains the imposing, cigar-shaped silhouette and oversized #8 nib that made the X159 such a popular budget giant, but Jinhao made one very significant change: the X169 has a solid metal body.

And you can definitely feel it.

At around 45 grams, this is not a lightweight fountain pen. The X169 has some serious heft. If the X159 is the friendly giant, the X169 is the same giant after a few months of weight training.

But that extra weight isn’t just for show. It completely changes the character of the pen.

A Nib That Should Probably Be Illegal

Let’s talk about the nib, because this is where the X169 really surprised me.

The nib writes so smoothly—in my experience, noticeably better than the one on its predecessor. It is wonderfully wet, with a generous flow that makes writing feel effortless.

In fact, I think this pen should be made illegal.

It is addictive to write with.

I got the F nib, but don’t expect an exceptionally fine Japanese-style F. Mine writes more like what I would expect from a typical international F, or roughly around a Japanese Medium. It puts down a wet, substantial line that makes handwriting look wonderfully juicy.

If you prefer a dry, precise, needle-like nib, this probably isn’t your pen.

But if you like your fountain pen nibs wet, smooth, and unapologetically generous, the X169 is dangerously good. And a lot of people in my circle say the same thing about the pen. One even said he’s bough all colorways of the pen because they’re that good. He’s the one who actually convinced me to buy one.

Heavy Metal—Literally

The biggest difference between the X169 and the X159 is, of course, the body.

The X169’s solid metal construction gives it a much more substantial feel. At approximately 45 grams, however, the weight also means that how you hold the pen matters.

For me, the X169 is best used unposted.

Posting the cap makes the pen noticeably more cumbersome because the additional weight at the back throws off the balance. Instead of making the pen feel more substantial, it makes the writing experience feel a little awkward.

Unposted, however, the balance works much better for me. The pen feels substantial without becoming unwieldy.

So if you’re someone who normally posts your fountain pens, you may need to rethink your habits with this one.

Pretty in Marbled Blue

I got the marbled blue version, and I absolutely love how it looks.

The finish gives the pen a surprisingly premium appearance—more premium than the X159, in my opinion. The combination of the oversized proportions, metallic construction, and marbled finish makes the X169 look like it should cost considerably more than it actually does.

And that’s one of the things I find most amusing about Jinhao.

This pen looks like it should have a much more intimidating price tag.

It doesn’t.

A Converter Worth Talking About

Another feature I really appreciate is the large-capacity screw-in converter.

Oversized fountain pens have always seemed to demand an appropriately oversized ink supply, and thankfully, Jinhao seems to agree. The large converter gives the X169 plenty of ink capacity, which is particularly welcome given how wet and generous the nib is.

Because let’s be honest: a nib this wet is going to need fuel.

Lots of it.

And Then I Saw the Price

Here’s the part that makes the X169 even harder to resist.

I paid only about US$8 for this pen.

Eight dollars.

For a solid-metal, oversized fountain pen with a large #8 nib, a large-capacity screw-in converter, a surprisingly premium-looking finish, and a nib this smooth?

That’s bordering on ridiculous.

The X169 is one of those pens that makes you wonder how Jinhao manages to put this much pen into such a small price tag.

It’s cheap, but it absolutely does not look cheap.

And more importantly, it doesn’t write cheap.

So, Would I Recommend It?

If you like heavy fountain pens, yes. Absolutely.

The X169 isn’t for everyone. If you prefer lightweight pens, post your caps, or like very fine and restrained nibs, the 45-gram body and wet F nib might not be your cup of tea.

But if you enjoy oversized, substantial pens with smooth, wet nibs, the X169 is ridiculously easy to recommend—especially at around eight dollars.

For me, it feels like Jinhao took the already successful X159 formula, gave it a metal makeover, improved the writing experience, added a larger ink capacity, and somehow still kept the price ridiculously low.

The X159 was already a fun giant.

The X169 is the giant that went to the gym, got dressed up, and learned how to write beautifully.

And at this price?

I’m not saying you need one.

I’m just saying that if you buy one, don’t blame me when you suddenly find yourself ordering another color.