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Description
Ok so I decided to test out some "budget" pencil brands and my prismas! I'll go through each in order from least-favourite and the pros/cons of each. The point of this is to demonstrate that even really cheap pencils can get the job done, but also to show that despite all making somewhat ok art, there is a clear difference in quality. I'm a firm believer that using cheap tools is great for practice and a great way to start, but that being said, there's a clear quality difference! That being said everyone has different visual preferences so while I might not the look that comes with less pigment, it might be right for someone else. Each has little swatches so you can see the individual colours used.

Starting at the least, The unbranded pencils (modelled by Taku)
For starters, I couldn't find a black. This wasn't a new set so at one point there may have been one, but I had to settle for brown They layered and blended terrible, and the pressure I had to put on them was straining. The colours themselves were largely filler and not very vibrant. The only pro for them was that their barrels were rounded triangles which I personally find to be the most comfortable pencil shape!

Second least (the one I have the most mixed feelings about): Faber Castell Classic Colours (modelled by Keiko)
These pencils were a huge letdown. Being Faber-Castell I expected a solid pencil, comparable at least to crayola and I just have not enjoyed them. They layer alright, they don't blend well though through burnishing which is my blending style of preference. My biggest complain is that the black is horrendous. It is not dark, and even with hard pressure looks like a muddy grey. The colours themselves are vibrant! The leads are a bit harder but you don't have to press uncomfortably hard so they're just alright. For the price though, being the most expensive of the "cheap" pencils, these were a huge letdown. I would not recommend them except maybe for those adult colouring books but even then, I say you're better off with other brands!

Third least: Prang (As modelled by Kim 2)
I haven't ever actually used Prang pencils prior to this (but I do really like their watercolours, those are my favourite cheap watercolours!) As a kid it was always crayola or laurentien. I had a pack though so I tried them out with minimal expectations. Actually not a bad pencil! The colours were pretty vibrant, and they blended as expected with a cheaper pencil, not great, but alright. The black was probably my favourite of the cheap pencils! It was super dark and that's what I like to see. The big complaint with this was comfort, I found you had to press very hard to get nice rich colouring, and my wrist would strain for sure after longterm usage. But, I would recommend these. The price is low and for what you pay you can't complain about the colour quality at all.

Third Best: Laurentien (as modelled by Mike)
Laurentien are very very comparable to crayola, who I did not feature. They're leads are a medium softness, not uncomfortable to work with, but a fair bit of pressure is required to get them. The colours are varied and very vibrant, and the black is quite dark. Blending and layering is fair, though they get waxy after a while. The big drawback with these is that they are no longer made! Laurentien ceased production in 2011 and finding these is semi difficult.

Second Best: Staples/Staedtler (as modelled by Splash)
These were imo the best bang for your dollar. My pack of 48 was on sale for like... 6 dollars? they were the softest of the budget pencils, layered well, but didn't burnish great. The colours are wonderful and between that and the softness AND the price these were wonderful. These are the only budget pencils I plan on really continuing to use (Laurentien too but... I can't ever buy more lmao)

Favourite: Prisma Color Scholar (modelled by Ikaika)
Not to be confused with the premieres, the scholars are about half the price! They are vibrant and comfortable and SO smooth and creamy for lack of a better word. They're soft and don't require much pressure. If you've used premieres these imo feel just the same to use, the colours just aren't as pigmented. They aren't artist grade, but they are a great stepping stone to professional quality pencils. I use them more than any other pencil because they behave like a professional pencil, at a friendlier price. They are expensive for a "budget" pencil (about 50 cents a pencil) but notably cheaper than professional pencils

Any questions are welcome! I'll be doing something similar for watercolours!

Description
Ok so I decided to test out some "budget" pencil brands and my prismas! I'll go through each in order from least-favourite and the pros/cons of each. The point of this is to demonstrate that even really cheap pencils can get the job done, but also to show that despite all making somewhat ok art, there is a clear difference in quality. I'm a firm believer that using cheap tools is great for practice and a great way to start, but that being said, there's a clear quality difference! That being said everyone has different visual preferences so while I might not the look that comes with less pigment, it might be right for someone else. Each has little swatches so you can see the individual colours used.

Starting at the least, The unbranded pencils (modelled by Taku)
For starters, I couldn't find a black. This wasn't a new set so at one point there may have been one, but I had to settle for brown They layered and blended terrible, and the pressure I had to put on them was straining. The colours themselves were largely filler and not very vibrant. The only pro for them was that their barrels were rounded triangles which I personally find to be the most comfortable pencil shape!

Second least (the one I have the most mixed feelings about): Faber Castell Classic Colours (modelled by Keiko)
These pencils were a huge letdown. Being Faber-Castell I expected a solid pencil, comparable at least to crayola and I just have not enjoyed them. They layer alright, they don't blend well though through burnishing which is my blending style of preference. My biggest complain is that the black is horrendous. It is not dark, and even with hard pressure looks like a muddy grey. The colours themselves are vibrant! The leads are a bit harder but you don't have to press uncomfortably hard so they're just alright. For the price though, being the most expensive of the "cheap" pencils, these were a huge letdown. I would not recommend them except maybe for those adult colouring books but even then, I say you're better off with other brands!

Third least: Prang (As modelled by Kim 2)
I haven't ever actually used Prang pencils prior to this (but I do really like their watercolours, those are my favourite cheap watercolours!) As a kid it was always crayola or laurentien. I had a pack though so I tried them out with minimal expectations. Actually not a bad pencil! The colours were pretty vibrant, and they blended as expected with a cheaper pencil, not great, but alright. The black was probably my favourite of the cheap pencils! It was super dark and that's what I like to see. The big complaint with this was comfort, I found you had to press very hard to get nice rich colouring, and my wrist would strain for sure after longterm usage. But, I would recommend these. The price is low and for what you pay you can't complain about the colour quality at all.

Third Best: Laurentien (as modelled by Mike)
Laurentien are very very comparable to crayola, who I did not feature. They're leads are a medium softness, not uncomfortable to work with, but a fair bit of pressure is required to get them. The colours are varied and very vibrant, and the black is quite dark. Blending and layering is fair, though they get waxy after a while. The big drawback with these is that they are no longer made! Laurentien ceased production in 2011 and finding these is semi difficult.

Second Best: Staples/Staedtler (as modelled by Splash)
These were imo the best bang for your dollar. My pack of 48 was on sale for like... 6 dollars? they were the softest of the budget pencils, layered well, but didn't burnish great. The colours are wonderful and between that and the softness AND the price these were wonderful. These are the only budget pencils I plan on really continuing to use (Laurentien too but... I can't ever buy more lmao)

Favourite: Prisma Color Scholar (modelled by Ikaika)
Not to be confused with the premieres, the scholars are about half the price! They are vibrant and comfortable and SO smooth and creamy for lack of a better word. They're soft and don't require much pressure. If you've used premieres these imo feel just the same to use, the colours just aren't as pigmented. They aren't artist grade, but they are a great stepping stone to professional quality pencils. I use them more than any other pencil because they behave like a professional pencil, at a friendlier price. They are expensive for a "budget" pencil (about 50 cents a pencil) but notably cheaper than professional pencils

Any questions are welcome! I'll be doing something similar for watercolours!