Mitsubishi 9800 vs Remsong Art Matte Pencil Set Review: The UK's Best Sketching Pencil Sets 2026
Jun 30, 2026
Mitsubishi 9800 vs Remsong Art Matte Pencil Set Review: The UK's Best Sketching Pencil Sets 2026
For artists and students who work in graphite, the quality of your pencil set is fundamental to the quality of your work. In this review, we compare two outstanding sketching pencil sets: the Mitsubishi Pencil 9800 3B–10B 12-Pack, a set of Japan’s most celebrated soft graphite pencils covering the full range of dark, expressive grades, and the Remsong Art Matte Pencil Set HB–20B 8-Pack, a comprehensive sketching set that spans from the versatile HB to the ultra-soft 20B. Both are available from TTPEN UK.
Mitsubishi Pencil 9800 3B–10B — Japan’s Finest Soft Graphite, 12 Grades
The Mitsubishi Pencil 9800 — 3B–10B — 12 Pack is a set of Japan’s most respected graphite pencils, covering the soft end of the graphite spectrum from 3B to 10B. At £14.00 for 12 pencils, it provides a comprehensive range of soft grades that are essential for expressive sketching, tonal drawing, and any work that requires rich, dark graphite marks.
The 9800 Legacy
The Mitsubishi 9800 is one of Japan’s most enduring pencil designs, produced to consistent quality standards for decades. The 9800’s graphite formulation is renowned for its smoothness and consistency — each grade delivers a predictable, reliable performance that artists can depend on. The pencils are made from high-quality cedar wood that sharpens cleanly and holds a point well, and the graphite core is centred precisely within the barrel for even sharpening.
The 3B–10B range covers the soft grades that are most useful for expressive sketching and tonal work. Soft grades deposit more graphite per stroke, creating darker, richer marks that are ideal for shadows, deep tones, and expressive line work. The 10B is one of the softest grades available in any pencil range — it produces an extraordinarily dark, velvety mark that is unlike anything achievable with harder grades.
Applications and Techniques
The 9800 3B–10B set is particularly well-suited to life drawing, portrait sketching, and any work that requires a wide range of tonal values. The softer grades (6B–10B) are ideal for large, expressive marks and deep shadows; the harder grades in the set (3B–5B) are better suited to mid-tones and more controlled line work. Having all 12 grades in a single set allows artists to work across the full tonal range without switching between different pencil brands.
Who Is the Mitsubishi 9800 Set For?
The 9800 3B–10B set is for artists who work primarily in soft graphite and want a comprehensive range of dark grades from a trusted Japanese manufacturer. It’s particularly well-suited to life drawing, portrait work, and expressive sketching. At £14.00 for 12 pencils, it’s also exceptional value for a professional-quality pencil set.
Price: £14.00 (12-pack) — Buy the Mitsubishi 9800 Set at TTPEN UK
Remsong Art Matte Pencil Set HB–20B — The Full Spectrum from Versatile to Ultra-Soft
The Remsong Art Matte Pencil Set HB–20B Sketching and Drawing 8 Pack takes a different approach to the sketching pencil set. At £12.00 for 8 pencils, it spans a wider range of grades — from the versatile HB to the extraordinary 20B — providing a set that covers both everyday writing and the most extreme soft graphite work available.
The Matte Finish Difference
The Remsong Art Matte pencils have a distinctive matte finish on their barrels that sets them apart visually from conventional pencils. The matte surface is pleasant to hold and gives the pencils a premium, tactile quality. The pencils are well-made, with a consistent graphite core and clean sharpening characteristics.
The HB–20B Range
The inclusion of grades from HB to 20B makes this set uniquely comprehensive. The HB provides a versatile, all-purpose grade suitable for writing and light sketching; the mid-range grades (4B–8B) cover the most commonly used sketching grades; and the extreme soft grades (12B–20B) push into territory that very few pencil sets explore. The 20B is an extraordinarily soft grade that produces marks of exceptional darkness and richness — ideal for dramatic shadows and expressive, gestural work.
The wide grade range makes this set particularly useful for artists who want to experiment with extreme soft grades and explore the full expressive potential of graphite. The 20B in particular is a grade that many artists have never experienced, and its extraordinary softness opens up new creative possibilities.
Who Is the Remsong Art Set For?
The Remsong Art set is for artists who want to explore the full range of graphite grades, from everyday HB to the extreme softness of 20B. It’s particularly well-suited to experimental artists, students who want to understand the full graphite spectrum, and anyone who wants to experience the extraordinary marks that ultra-soft grades can produce. At £12.00 for 8 pencils, it’s excellent value for such a comprehensive grade range.
Price: £12.00 (8-pack) — Buy the Remsong Art Matte Set at TTPEN UK
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Mitsubishi 9800 (12-pack) | Remsong Art Matte (8-pack) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £14.00 | £12.00 |
| Grade Range | 3B – 10B (12 grades) | HB – 20B (8 grades) |
| Brand Heritage | Japanese, decades of quality | Art-focused, matte finish |
| Softest Grade | 10B | 20B |
| Best For | Life drawing, portraits, consistent quality | Full spectrum exploration, experimental work |
Which Sketching Pencil Set Is Right for You?
The Mitsubishi 9800 and Remsong Art Matte sets both provide excellent graphite pencil coverage, but with different emphases. The Mitsubishi 9800 is the choice for artists who want 12 grades of Japan’s most trusted soft graphite — its consistent quality and comprehensive 3B–10B range make it the ideal set for life drawing, portrait work, and any application where reliable, professional-quality graphite is essential.
The Remsong Art Matte is the choice for artists who want to explore the full graphite spectrum, including the extraordinary ultra-soft grades up to 20B — its wide grade range and distinctive matte finish make it the more adventurous and experimental of the two sets.
Both are available from TTPEN UK with fast UK delivery. Visit www.ttpen.co.uk to browse our full range of sketching pencils and graphite drawing sets.
Final Verdict
The Mitsubishi 9800 and Remsong Art Matte are two of the finest sketching pencil sets available in the UK market. The Mitsubishi wins on Japanese quality heritage and grade consistency; the Remsong wins on grade range breadth and ultra-soft exploration. Both earn our highest recommendation for UK artists and students. Visit TTPEN UK today.
