Buying an Apple Pencil has always been a bit of a minefield. Up until very recently, Apple offered three Pencils with varying prices, features, and degrees of compatibility with its various best iPads. We’ve often bemoaned how fragmented and confusing the lineup is, which is why we were absolutely thrilled when Apple decided to add another model to the lineup for 2024. 

Unveiled at its May 7 iPad event, the Apple Pencil Pro is the company’s latest and greatest Apple Pencil, replete with a new barrel roll gesture, haptic feedback, and more. For your average consumer, however, the choice of an Apple Pencil (and the iPad to go with it) is now more pertinent, and confusing than ever.

To that end, we’ve put together a handy guide that details all of Apple’s Pencil shenanigans in one place to make the choice a bit easier. Thankfully, the question of which Apple Pencil you should buy now largely depends on which iPad you own, or which one you’re thinking of buying. So here’s the rundown of all four models, starting with the oldest and ending with Apple’s shiny new Apple Pencil Pro. 

Apple Pencil at a glance:

Apple Pencil (1st generation)

Apple still sells its first generation Pencil from 2015, which is a testament to… something. Despite being the oldest, and arguably least capable model in the lineup, the first-generation Apple Pencil is not the cheapest model on offer. It still sports the legacy Lightning connector, hidden under the plastic cap at the end. It’s also the only Pencil still rocking the completely cylindrical design, with all the others offering an improved squarer design. The Apple Pencil (1st generation) is only compatible with one of the iPads Apple currently sells, the iPad 10. Here’s the full list including older models.

The Apple Pencil (1st generation) is compatible with the following iPads:

• iPad Pro 12.9 (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generation)

Who should buy the Apple Pencil (1st generation)?

If you own any of the aforementioned iPads except the iPad 10, then this is the only Apple Pencil compatible with your iPad. So if you want to buy an Apple Pencil for an older model listed here, this is the only choice you have. 

If you own the iPad 10 or are considering purchasing one now it has a shiny new cheaper price, you have a choice between this Apple Pencil and our next contender, the Apple Pencil USB-C. As mentioned, the first generation still has a Lightning connecter, making this choice pretty much a no-brainer. iPad 10 customers should definitely buy the USB-C version to match the USB-C port on their iPad. While the latter doesn’t support Pressure sensitivity on some iPads, it does support magnetic attachment and Apple Pencil hover (which the first-gen doesn’t), and it’s cheaper. 

If you don’t already own an iPad, then I would avoid this choice at all costs. The Apple Pencil (1st generation) is nearly 10 years old, and any of the three alternatives in the lineup would make for a better option. If you want the best compatibility and cheapest model, I’d choose the Apple Pencil USB-C and any of Apple’s current iPads. If you’re serious about art, design, and creation, then the Apple Pencil Pro and either a new M4 iPad Pro or an iPad Air 6 is the best way to go because of their more powerful processors, and the OLED display on that Pro.

Who is it for?:

- Legacy iPad owners

Who is it not for?

- iPad 10 owners

- First-time buyers

- Literally anyone else

Apple Pencil (USB-C)

The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is Apple’s cheapest iPad Pencil, despite being newer than the Apple Pencil 2 and better overall than the Apple Pencil (1st generation). (Are you starting to understand the confusion?)

The Apple Pencil USB-C was unveiled towards the end of 2023 and is essentially Apple’s best budget Pencil choice. It offers compatibility with a wide range of models including every iPad that Apple currently sells. However, it doesn’t offer as many features as either the Apple Pencil 2 or the new Apple Pencil Pro, limiting its usefulness somewhat. Here are all the models the Apple Pencil USB-C supports:

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation)
• iPad Air (4th and 5th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad (10th generation)

The Apple Pencil (USB-C) has the newer Apple Pencil design language, USB-C charging (albeit through a cable), and support for basic Pencil features. Namely, it can be used for writing, drawing, and sketching, and offers tilt sensitivity as well as Apple Pencil hover. However, it lacks Pressure sensitivity, wireless pairing and charging, and double-tap to change tools compared to the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro. So who is it for?

Who should buy the Apple Pencil USB-C?

While the Apple Pencil USB-C technically works with any of Apple’s current iPads, it is best suited to users who want some of the functionality and novelty of the Apple Pencil but are not interested in serious creative design and drawing. Anyone considering buying an Apple Pencil (or an iPad) for the purpose of drawing, painting, sketching, and creating art should not consider the Apple Pencil USB-C as their first port of call. If your iPad is primarily for notetaking or jotting down ideas, and you don’t want the full suite of artistic features, then the USB-C Apple Pencil is pretty much perfect. While the Apple Pencil USB-C offers great compatibility with the current lineup, it doesn’t work with many older models.

Who is it for?

- Budget users

- Notetakers 

Who is it not for?

- Serious artists

- Anyone who owns an older iPad

Apple Pencil 2

The Apple Pencil 2 is the second generation of Apple Pencil. However, despite being the second oldest model on the list, it’s the same price as the best and newest model. It also works with only one iPad Apple currently sells, the iPad mini 6. Cool. 

The Apple Pencil 2 works with the following iPads:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation)
• iPad Air (4th and 5th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)

As you can see, this is where things start to get really complicated in the lineup. Apart from the Apple Pencil Pro, the Apple Pencil 2 is the most capable Pencil in the lineup. It supports all the functionality of the USB-C model and the pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pencil (first generation). However, it also includes wireless pairing and charging and the double-tap gesture. So who is it for?

Who should buy the Apple Pencil 2?

If you own any of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch models from 2018 onwards, this is the only Apple Pencil that works with your iPad. Likewise, it’s the sole choice for owners of the first four generations of the 11-inch iPad Pro. If you own one of Apple’s brand-new iPad Pro models (the M4), or a new iPad Air (the M2), the Apple Pencil 2 won’t work with your iPad. 

The only users who have a choice in the matter are owners of the iPad Air 4, iPad Air 5, and the iPad mini 6. These iPads support both the Apple Pencil 2 and the Apple Pencil USB-C. As such, the same criterion from above applies. If you want your Apple Pencil for basic notetaking and jotting down ideas, the USB-C model will do just fine. It’s also $50 cheaper at RRP than the Apple Pencil 2. If you own an iPad Air 4, 5, or iPad mini 6 (that’s the current generation) and are serious about art and creativity, then you should go for the Apple Pencil 2. If you’re a first-time buyer and you’re serious about art and creativity, however, you probably aren’t considering any of those iPad models, because you’re looking at the new Pro or iPad Air 6. In that case, you want the Apple Pencil to rule them all…

Who is it for?

- Legacy iPad Pro users

- iPad Air 4, 5, iPad mini 6 artists 

Who is it not for?

- First time buyers

Apple Pencil Pro

Despite being Apple’s latest and greatest Apple Pencil, the Apple Pencil Pro costs the same as the Apple Pencil 2 the company released in 2018, six years ago. In terms of compatibility and features, this Apple Pencil is the most straightforward model to get your head around. It has all of the features, but it only works with Apple’s two brand-new models, the iPad Pro M4 and the iPad Air 6. Specifically:

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

The Apple Pencil Pro has all of the features of the Apple Pencil 2, plus the new barrel roll and squeeze gestures, as well as Haptic feedback, and Find My functionality. As with some of the previous options, customers of the new iPad Pro and iPad Air face a choice between this model and the Apple Pencil (USB-C), and the parameters haven’t changed. If you want some basic Pencil functionality for annotations and note taking, but you’re not serious about drawing and painting on iPad, the Apple Pencil (USB-C) will do you just fine. If you’re buying an iPad for drawing, painting, creation, editing, or even to use with the new Final Cut Pro for iPad or Logic Pro for iPad apps, then the Apple Pencil Pro is the choice for you. 

Who is it for?

- M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air owners

Who is it not for?

- Anyone who doesn't own an M4 iPad Pro or M2 iPad Air

- M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air owners who aren't hardcore artists and designers

So there you have it, the most comprehensive answer possible to the question "Which Apple Pencil should I buy." Happy drawing!

The Apple Pencil 2 gets its biggest discount ever thanks to Amazon and Best Buy. You can now get if for $40 less than you can at Apple's own store and a whopping $45 less than Walmart is selling it. 

With Cyber Monday just around the corner, you can already score big savings on the first generation of the Apple Pencil too. We've found the lowest-ever prices on both the first and second generation models. 

The first-gen doesn't have the magnetic storage or inductive charging of the second-gen but is still a very capable stylus. If you're the proud owner of an iPad 10th or 9th gen then it's also the only Apple Pencil you'll actually be able to use with your iPad. For owners of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini, then you'll be able to use the Apple Pencil 2 with all its magnetic storage and convenient charging options.

This Cyber Monday looks to be one of the best times of the year to find any of Apple's gear at great prices, so make sure you're looking out for the best prices you possibly can.

Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals

Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)

Apple Pencil (1st Gen)

• Amazon: one of the cheapest places to find Apple Pencil deals
• Best Buy: doesn't always offer the best Apple Pencil deals, but has been known to have some discounts in the past
• B&H Photo: sometimes reduces Apple lineup with some great deals.

The Apple Pencil 2 works with more modern versions of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini 6. You can clip it to the side of the iPad through magnets and it will charge through induction while it's there. It won't work with the new iPad 10th-gen or the previous iPad 9th-gen however.

The first-generation Apple Pencil will work with pretty much every iPad available to buy now - it's almost a must-have extra for many purchases. It has been reduced in the past, so watch out this Cyber Monday to see if there are any extra reductions.

Where to find the best Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals

The Apple Pencil (first-generation) is the one additional expense I recommend to anyone getting a 10.2-inch iPad or using a previous generation iPad Pro. It's more than a stylus — it's the closest representation to an actual pen or pencil you can use with a tablet. Once you have your very own, you're probably going to want a case, a dedicated charger, and some other cool accessories to go with it. These are the best Apple Pencil (1st Gen) accessories.

Finding the best Apple Pencil accessories

Your Apple Pencil is an accessory to your iPad, but that doesn't mean you can't have the best Apple Pencil (1st-Gen) accessories for your accessory. My personal favorite is the Ztylus Metal Protective Case because it feels so comfortable to hold and is stylish too!

If you're worried about those infamous disappearing caps, we recommend the Fintie Cap Tether as a great choice to keep your workspace organized. The above choices will ensure your Apple Pencil stays safe and in perfect condition from charging to protection.

The best Apple Pencil alternative for you isn’t just dependent on the type of iPad you have but your needs and your budget. With the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air 6 now out in the world, there’s a lot more you have to account for before you buy. For instance, the new line of iPads uses a different magnetic system, which means that Apple Pencil alternatives not specifically designed for them will no longer magnetically clip on the side. Though they will be just as good at drawing and taking notes, you may need an alternative charging source and perhaps somewhere to put it when you travel. 

The Apple Pencil is an excellent device, with some smart sketching features, decent battery life, and a great look. However, being one of the more expensive iPad styli on the market, and with others offering some unique features, you may want to shop outside of the Apple Store this time.

Though we think the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 is the best on offer, thanks to great compatibility, an excellent feel, and great battery life, there are so many choices out there that are worth paying attention to. 

Here are the best Apple Pencil alternatives out there right now. 

Quick list

Best overall

Zagg’s Pro Stylus 2 is the best Apple Alternative on the market right now for many reasons. As well as being compatible with all iPad models since 2018, it has a super responsive tip that is easy to get plenty of creative expression out of and even comes with its own wireless charger. Added to this, it can work with any wireless Qi charger, meaning you may be able to pop it on some of the best wireless charging pads for iPhone without having to bring a separate lead. 

What is perhaps the most interesting thing about Zagg’s offering is that the tip can be used to draw, and the back can be used to just scroll through your iPad. If you like using a stylus for casual scrolling without accidentally activating the pretty great Scribble feature, this is the choice for you. The tip of the stylus has tilt recognition, palm rejection, and a super fine nib for precise movements. It is missing pressure sensitivity but makes up for it with a great feel, and plenty of other features. 

What also helps set the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 apart from its competition is the wide range of colors you can get it in. From a plain White to a vibrant Yellow, it will look excellent on the side of your iPad, especially if you have one of the best iPad cases to go with it. 

Best for multiple devices

The Adonit Neo Duo is an incredibly impressive Apple Pencil alternative. Firstly, it is magnetically attachable to the iPad Air 4 and 5, and the 2022 iPad Pro, meaning you can use it just as you would an Apple Pencil 2 on the go. Interestingly, it beats out all versions of the Apple Pencil in its ability to work with the best iPhones. If you think you would benefit from being able to draw on the comparably smaller screen of the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 14, you can do this easily — making it an excellent choice for artists who don’t have the space to pull out an iPad. With two different modes, the green light mode works on all Apple and Android mobile phones whereas the blue light mode is specifically designed to take advantage of palm rejection on newer iPads. 

At just 15g, the Adonit Neo Duo is a very thin and light stylus, which makes it a particularly good choice for use on iPhone. It can be charged in a little under two hours and this will keep it powered for 9 hours of continual use. As it is plugged in via USB-C, you can use it while charging, which means you will never run out of charge, as long as you bring a spare cable with you. 

Available in a Graphite Black or Matte Silver color option, the Neo Duo has a rather understated look that looks great on the side of an iPad. 

Best for artists

SwitchEasy is a good name for this brand as it makes the swap from Apple Pencil…easy. With an MSRP half that of the Apple Pencil Pro, and regularly seeing sales as low as 50% off, the Pro 3 offers the best balance of features and price of this whole list. It can connect to iPads quickly, without pairing, offers both palm rejection and tilt sensitivity for better control, and is super light. 

Like the Apple Pencil, it is only available in white but it is perhaps the most Apple Pencil-like look on this entire list, and could even be mistaken for one at a distance. The ultra-fine POM tip is light and very responsive, making for a super accessible pencil feel, and it can even attach to the side of the iPad Air 4 and 5, and iPad Pro from 2018, 2020, and 2022. Though it won’t charge like this, it can ensure your pencil is kept safe when you’re out and about. Charging with a USB-C port, you can get 10 hours of use out of just a single hour of charge. As it powers off automatically after five minutes of idle use, you will end up getting the full 10 hours when you use it. 

As it turns on and pairs by touching the cap, you can accidentally turn it off and on from here, so you will have to be prepared to hold it just right, but this can be overcome with just a little time. It’s so nice to hold in the hands that you can get used to it very quickly. 

Best value

The MKQ Stylus pen is one of the best value styli on the market and it provides plenty of great features for that price point. It comes with replaceable pen tips, can be turned on and off with a handy switch at the top of the pen, and even has a magnet, allowing it to stick to the side of the iPad Air 4 and 5, as well as the 2022 iPad Pro. Unfortunately, it does not have wireless charging but it can be charged with a handy USB-C port at the top and an LED display gives you an idea of how much battery is left in the pencil. 

The MKQ Stylus has palm rejection meaning you won’t accidentally draw with your hand while holding it, and tilt sensitivity allows for different degrees of thickness as you draw. These come together to make a pencil that is expressive and easy to use. Unfortunately, that price does come with some downsides and the MKQ is missing pressure sensitivity, which means that you can’t fully take advantage of the best drawing apps for iPad. However, it is excellent value for the money. 

It helps that the MKQ Stylus is both light and looks great. The LED on the side indicates when it is on so you will never miss a clean brush stroke by forgetting to active your stylus ever again. This is a particularly good option if you live in a house with multiple artists. You can get a handful of MKQ styli for the same price as an Apple Pencil. 

Best for note-taking

Logitech’s Crayon is a very stylish choice and perfect for both artists and writer. It feels great in the hand, and has a handy switch at the very top to turn it off and on. You will want to use this switch as the comparably lower 7 hours of battery time makes this one of the shortest-lasting on our entire list.  However, it charges up quickly again and comes with LED lights to give battery life indications. It will also automatically shut off after five minutes of idling, which should help to extend that battery life further. 

With both palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, Logitech’s Crayon has all of the major functions you would want out of an iPad stylus and even comes with a free accessory case when you purchase it with the Logitech Combo Touch, one of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases right now. 

With a build designed to stay put on a desk and a very durable quality, this is perfect for taking notes. It also works on multiple tablets at once, which means you can collaborate with others without having to pair it to specific devices. It is specifically designed with the Apple Pencil in mind, so isn’t missing any of the features you can find in the Apple Pencil 2. 

Best without charging

Adonit’s Pro 4 stylus is the most unique choice on this entire list, and technically the cheapest too. It is simply a pen, with a clip on the top to fit onto a clipboard and a unique tip, with a round shape encasing the nib itself. All of this comes together to create a device that doesn’t even use power. You don’t need to worry about it running out of charge and it’s super low price point means you don’t need to be quite as cautious about losing it. 

Unfortunately, due to it not being electronic, you miss out on fancy features like palm rejection and it can sometimes be a little less precise than our other choices but it makes up for this in its sheer simplicity. If you are someone who forgets to put things on charge or are worried about your Pencil breaking in a backpack, this is an excellent choice thanks to its build quality and design. 

Available in Black, with gold trim, Silver, and all Gold, it has both a super luxurious look and feel. This is a niche Apple Pencil alternative but perfect if you want something easy and comfortable to use without all the fancy features of an Apple Pencil. 

Q&A

The Apple Pencil: your official option

Still, I wouldn't entirely discount the idea of an Apple Pencil. It is, after all, specially designed for your iPad by Apple engineers, so no stylus is going to work better. If you can get a good deal on an Apple Pencil, it can be pretty close in price to the alternatives. 

The second-generation and USB-C Apple Pencil models do offer some exclusive features, such as Apple Pencil hover. This feature allows you preview your mark before you touch the screen. 

Apple's Pencil and Pencil 2 stand out from the rest of the stylus crowd for a number of reasons. They work in tandem with Apple's iPad displays to create low-latency brush strokes, they're both lengthier than your average digital pen, and they charge up without the need for any extra accessories.

And when it comes to drawing or writing with one, there are only a few basic techniques you need to know before you can start mastering your new tool. Here's what you need to do in order to learn how to draw with Apple Pencil.

Download some drawing apps for iPad

It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to figure out how to get the most out of your Apple Pencil is to download a bunch of apps and start practicing.

Apple's built-in Notes app is a good place to start since it's already on your iPad and offers some basic handwriting and sketching support, though there are plenty of great drawing apps for iPad and Apple Pencil that you can snag from the App Store. We recommend starting out with some of the free options in order to learn the basics, then head for the in-app purchase or paid-for app once you've got the hang of things.

Get to grips with your Apple Pencil's features

While doodling around in your drawing app of choice, it's well worth getting to know exactly how to use your Apple Pencil and learning some of the features it boasts. Apple Pencil is more than just a stylus; it actually offers some built-in smarts that set it apart from third-party iPad styluses.

When you draw with Apple Pencil, your hand, arm, and fingers can rest on the screen thanks to the iPad's palm-rejection technology. While previous third-party styluses have had variations on palm rejection in certain apps, they never quite worked perfectly; the Apple Pencil, in contrast, is about as perfect at palm rejection as you can get with a digital touchscreen (though its implementation in some apps can, admittedly, vary).

Because of bad stylus experiences in the past, it's common for first-time Pencil users to awkwardly grip it and hover their hand above the screen but you don't need to. Feel free to rest your hand against the screen while you draw. It'll take a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it'll feel as natural as resting your hand on paper.

Equipped at the drawing end of the Apple Pencil is a beautifully responsive nib for all manner of sketching and writing. It's pressure-sensitive, too, so you shouldn't be afraid to press harder and softer on the screen to see how your Pencil reacts.

One of the best calibration tests with any new drawing tool — digital or not — is drawing a series of vertical and horizontal lines, to test how different pressure results in different line widths. We highly encourage everyone to do something similar — not only will it get you comfortable with the Pencil's variations, but you'll also get a better sense of how you need to hold the tool for optimal control.

We also recommend moving your grip up closer to the nib when doing detailed lettering or drawing. It gives you more precision over those fine lines. And don't be afraid to pinch-to-zoom with your free hand — most great apps support it.

It's not just the tip of the Pencil nib that works on the iPad Pro's screen: The entire cone of that nib is responsive. As a result, you can use the side of the Pencil to shade with your digital brushes — much as you might use the side of a graphite stick to color in a shadow on paper. Not only is it a cool effect, but it's a feature you might easily miss when first getting to know your new tool.

Shading also looks different in different apps and with different brushes — don't be afraid to experiment to find which brushes and apps work best for your purposes.

With the Apple Pencil 2, you can double-tap the flat edge in order to quickly switch between different tools. For most apps, including Apple's Notes app, this will default to switching to the eraser tool and back to your drawing tool, though you can customize the Apple Pencil double-tap function. Third-party apps can also assign different actions to this gesture.

In addition to being a great drawing implement, the Apple Pencil can be used to navigate your iPad in between drawing programs.

It's surprisingly enjoyable to use the Pencil to scroll lists and swipe between views — its precision tip makes tapping and selecting certain items a whiz, and if you have to switch to another app while drawing, it keeps you from having to put the Pencil down between tasks.

Learn how to draw from the masters

If you love the idea of an Apple Pencil but your drawing skills are lackluster, the oldest idiom is the best advice: practice makes perfect! Drawing constantly is the best way to get better.

If you're just starting out, we recommend looking at some of your favorite artists, studying their styles, and trying to recreate them on your choice of digital canvas. It's a fun exercise and should get you thinking about shapes and styles.

That might be too complex for you — and that's fine! If you truly want a 101 course, there are a couple of drawing websites and services out there that offer great tutorials, videos, and PDFs.

• Drawspace boasts the slogan "now everyone can draw," and if its excellent step-by-step drawing lessons are anything to go by, that statement is the absolute truth.
• Proko offers a bunch of great videos on drawing forms and anatomy shapes.
• Draw a Box offers some great active tutorials for drawing everyday objects, people, landscapes, and yes — boxes.
• Learning in Hand has a great resource for starting to draw on the iPad, as well as some all-purpose tips for setting up your workspace and drawing.
• The Postman's Knock is a website designed to teach modern calligraphy techniques with a dip pen, but their printable PDFs are also incredible tools for learning letter forms and figures.

Improve your experience with Apple Pencil accessories

Whether you've got the original Apple Pencil or the Apple Pencil 2, there are ways to get more out of your drawing experience with accessories.

The first-gen model, for example, is perfectly round which poses some ergonomic and functional challenges. With the right Apple Pencil accessories, however, you can assuage any concerns about it rolling off the table with a neat stand or equip your Apple Pencil with a dedicated grip for a more comfortable hold.

The flat edge on the second-gen Apple Pencil already works to solve these problems, and the magnetic charging means you'll usually be resting it atop your iPad anyway, though you could still consider an Apple Pencil 2 case to protect it with. That would be especially useful if you want to prevent it from being knocked off your iPad's edge while traveling.

Novice to pro

The Apple Pencil and iPad integration is a prototypical example of Apple's hardware and software working in complete unison which makes drawing and sketching on the iPad a joy.

Whether you're totally new to digital art or getting back into drawing with your iPad after some time off, the above guide should get you up to speed quickly.

Updated March 2022: Updated for Apple Pencil 2 and current iPad lineup.

No matter what iPad you own you know that you can make it infinitely cooler by adding an Apple Pencil. Right now we have some of the best all-time Apple Pencil deals on offer, with both the first and second-generation offerings now being sold with some very reasonable discounts.

Not sure which Apple Pencil to buy? Be sure to check out our Apple Pencil compatibility page before making any purchases because things can get a little complicated. But no matter which Apple Pencil you need, we have a deal for you!

Pencil in this bargain before it's too late!

There's no telling when these two Apple Pencil deals will come to a close, so get those orders in soon!

Perhaps the best Apple Pencil use case is as a digital note-taking device, with the stunning iPad mini perhaps the ultimate in notebook alternatives right now. Apple's miniature iPad and its best Apple Pencil make for a formidable team and you can even use it to draw or paint between meetings as well. What more could you need?

The Apple Pencil is a tremendous accessory for any iPad user, and this deal means you can score the original for just $80.

Right now you can get $20 off the original Apple Pencil, now just $80 instead of $100 at Amazon.

The first Apple Pencil lets you write, take notes, draw, and paint effortlessly on your iPad

Our review of the Apple Pencil found it to be a great choice for any iPad user even five years after its release. From our review:

The Apple Pencil works with more recent Apple devices including the iPad and iPad mini, it features palm rejection so you don't accidentally input with your hand on iPad while using it, pressure sensing, and tilt support where changing the angle of your pencil can adjust things like the thickness of a line you're drawing.

This model works with the iPad (6th, 7th, and 8th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch. It connects via Bluetooth and charges using the Lightning connector on your iPad. Order one now and it will even arrive before Christmas!

Whether it's the first- or second-generation model, the Apple Pencil is the best stylus you can get for any iPad. The only other one you should consider is the Logitech Crayon, and that's because it's much less expensive. From pressure sensitivity, class-leading palm rejection, and tight integration with iPadOS, the Apple Pencil outstrips any other iPad stylus on the market.

While the first-generation Apple Pencil doesn't have the excellent magnetic storage and inductive charging of the more recent version (alas, it still needs to stick out of the Lightning port on an appropriately-equipped iPad to charge), it's still a very capable stylus. But, unfortunately, it's the only one that works with the iPad 2021. Conversely, Apple Pencil 2 can be stored magnetically on the side of its compatible iPads, which includes the iPad Air 4, 2021 iPad Pro, and the new iPad mini 6.

This Cyber Monday will be the best time to get your hands on one, and some sales are already beginning on both generations of Apple Pencil. Here are the best Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals that you can find right now. And don't forget to check out more Cyber Monday Apple deals while you're at it!

Where to find the best Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals

• Amazon: one of the cheapest places to find Apple Pencil deals
• Best Buy: doesn't always offer the best Apple Pencil deals, but has been know to have some discounts in the past
• Walmart: we've seen the Apple Pencil for all-time low prices here before
• Target: the popular retailer offers Apple Pencil deals occassionally

When do the Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals begin?

Cyber Monday sales are in full swing now, and we've already seen some great deals for both versions of the Apple Pencil!

Cyber Monday Apple Pencil deals

Apple doesn't seem to be in a hurry to update the Apple Pencil. In any case, if you want to use one, you'll need one of the two versions currently on sale. And while there aren't many deals live just yet; there are some discounts available on both the first and second-generation stylus.

Apple Pencil (1st Gen)

The first Apple Pencil on the market works with the latest iPad, plus older tablet models, including the first- and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, third-generation iPad Air, sixth-, seventh, and eighth-generation iPad, and fifth-generation iPad mini.

Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)

Besides the current fifth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, third-generation 11-inch iPad Pro, fourth-generation iPad Air, and sixth-generation iPad mini, the newer of the two Apple Pencil models also works with the third- and fourth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and first- and second-generation 11-inch iPad Pro.

What you need to know

• Apple is bringing more language support to the Apple Pencil in iPadOS 14.
• 'Copy Handwriting as Text', 'Data Detectors', and 'Scribble' all now support more languages.
• Support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish have been added.

The Apple Pencil just got even more useful for those who write in languages other than English or Chinese.

As reported by MacRumors, Apple has brought a number of its Apple Pencil features to more languages in iPadOS 14. 'Copy Handwriting as Text', 'Data Detectors', and 'Scribble' now support five new languages.

The features on iPadOS were already available in English and Chinese, but the expansion has brought the feature to a number of other languages including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Below is the full list of all of the new languages supported:

• French (Belgium)
• French (Canada)
• French (Switzerland)
• French (France)
• German (Austria)
• German (Germany)
• German (Switzerland)
• Italian (Switzerland)
• Italian (Italy)
• Portuguese (Portugal)
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Spanish (Spain)
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Spanish (Mexico)

'Copy Handwriting as Text' allows users to handwrite something and then copy and paste it as standard text. 'Data Detectors' recognize handwriting and then provide useful actions like opening up a handwritten address in Apple Maps or calling a handwritten phone number using the FaceTime app. 'Scribble' allows Apple Pencil users to write in any text field and have it immediately converted into standard text.

You can see the full list of supported languages for the Apple Pencil features on Apple's iOS and iPadOS - Feature Availability website.

While all of these features work with the Apple Pencil, there are also a ton of alternatives you can use and still enjoy them. Check out our list of the best Apple Pencil alternatives: The best non-Apple stylus for iPad 2021.

This was the most time-consuming but ultimately most fun video I've ever done. And I kinda love how it turned out. For those of you who prefer to read than watch, though, here's the gist...

This Apple Pencil 2 review was originally written in November 2018 when it first launched. This review was last updated in July 2021 to note iPad compatibility.

Apple Pencil 2: Price and availability

The Apple Pencil 2 has been around a long time and it's readily available at many retail stores, including those mentioned above. The price for this item remains mostly stable, although you might see modest discounts around holidays alongside the best iPads.

Apple Pencil 2: What's good

I used Wacom Intuous and Cintiq tablets and styluses for over a decade when I worked in design. And I loved them. I loved them. Then, Apple introduced the iPad Pro and the Pencil along with it. No digitizer. No air gap. No parallax. No reticule. And it made every other stylus seem like something from the dark ages.

Yeah, sure, it wasn't perfect: It was slick and circular, had no quick way to switch tools, its cap was so easy to lose, and it's fast charging solution just looked... rude.

Now Apple has introduced an all-new iPad Pro and a No. 2 Pencil. (No, I'm never going to stop calling it that.) And it's matte, and flattened... ish, and has a tool changer, the cap is gone, and the charging solution in general Is, well, we

Now, a few things haven't changed. The tip is still the tip. As is the pressure sensitive technology inside it. That's right, unlike Apple Watch, iPhone, and the Mac Trackpad, it's the Pencil here that registers both the force and the angle, and transmits it all wirelessly to the iPad.

That's where the touch layer, ProMotion refresh rate, predictive tracking, and palm rejection come in. All incredibly impressive, but all the same as last year's iPad Pro. Apple did a lot of materials and coating work to get it to feel as good as it does, but it's still plastic on glass, and the No. 2 Pencil does nothing to change that.

Everything else, though. That's all new. Which is good, because the second generation Pencil doesn't work with previous generation iPads, and the the first generation Pencil doesn't work with the new iPad Pro.

It's a bummer, especially because the new Pencil costs $30 more than the old Pencil thanks to all the new tech — shrunk now denser than AirPods, I've heard — and sometimes the future comes at the expense of the past.

The finish isn't glossy any more. It's matte now. And while I never found the old pencil overly slick, the new one just feels better and more tactile. Less plastic and more... dunno... chalky? (Hand holding Pencil?)

There's no lightning connector on the back any more. (Draw Lightning. Erase lightning connector). And that means there's no cap to cover it, to take off and put on, or to lose. So damn always. Now the end is... just an end.

Except for the branding. I like the Apple. Heart the Apple. The word Pencil though... that's a little much. (Draw branding, erase pencil. Rocket saying a bit much?)

So, how do you charge the new Apple Pencil now? Inductively, just like Apple Watch and iPhones 8 and later. Bring it near the right edge of a new iPad Pro and it gets sucked precisely into place like it was hit by an imperial tractor beam. That's thanks to ferrite magnets in Hallback arrays, which is a fancy way of saying cleverly shaped magnetic fields.

It attaches with a satisfying thunk, like AirPods, and once it's in place it'll just charge. And Apple will just manages it so it always stays charged and ready for you to use it. It also pairs that way so, while it's still One iPad, One Pencil, you can switch iPads and Pencils any time but just slapping one on the side of the other.

If you somehow deplete your Pencil's charge, and find yourself on empty at a coffee shop or on a plane, it'll still fast charge so you can get back up and Penciling in just a few minutes. And if you forget to put it on your iPad and just leave it lying around, it'll detect it's not being used and go into ultra-low power mode to keep as much charge as it can for as long as it can.

But, honestly, because you stick it back on the iPad any time you're not using it, and it charges any time you do, it's pretty much never without charge. After a few days, you kinda even forget it does charge.

Instead of being completely round, Apple flattened one of the Pencil's edges so it sits better on the side of the iPad. As a side-effect. It makes it feel more pencil-like when you hold and use it. I like it. A lot. So much I hope Apple goes full-on Pencil and flattens all the sides next time.

As it is, it stays in place most of the time while docked and charging, though you can still knock it off and it can get knocked of in a bag. So keep a grip on it... and an eye.

Just above the tip is a new, capacitive touch area. Double tap on it and you can switch between tools. The default is draw and erase in Notes. It's faster than spinning the Pencil around and erasing with the back, and less tactile-ly annoying than having a physical button always there, lying in wait, tempting you to click it over and over again...

You can switch the double tap to alternating between the current and previous tools, or to bring up the palette. Developers can use also make it do anything that makes sense in their apps.

As of July 2021, the Apple Pencil 2 is only compatible with the third-, fourth-, and fifth-generaiton iPad Pro 12.9-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch, and fourth-generation iPad Air.

Apple Pencil 2: What's not good

There's not much not to love about the Apple Pencil 2. Among the minor criticisms: The basic shape is also still the same. The Pencil... is a Pencil. Which is great for people like me that have always used and loved pencils. For people who prefer the ergonomics of thicker or sleeved drawing tools, no help here.

Additionally, and because of the new double tap zone, you can't cover the top any more. And because of the new charging tech, you can't cover the middle any more, so unless someone comes up with something really clever, the Pencil shape will remain the pencil shape now for everyone. And... its still white. No silver. No space gray. Certainly no gold.

Apple Pencil 2: Competition

Because the Apple Pencil 2 only works with certain iPads, you might want to purchase an alternative so that it can work with multiple Apple tablets. Among these is the Logitech Crayon, Adonit Mark, ZAGG Pro Stylus, and Cosmonaut by Studio Neat. Before purchasing, make sure it supports all of your devices.

Apple Pencil 2: Should you buy it?

• You're using a compatible device and plan on writing a lot
• Want the latest and greatest

• Your iPad doesn't support it
• Worried about the price

So, is the new Pencil any better or is it just different?

Trick question. In almost every way, it's different in ways that make it better. $30 is still $30, but for that it grips better, it switches, there's no more cap to lose or convenient if awkward charging solutions. Instead, it charges in a way that makes you forget it even needs to charge.

It makes the all-purpose Apple Pencil more Apple and more Pencil, and I hope this video helps you understand why.

If you're an iPad Pro user, there's honestly nothing better than the Apple Pencil 2. Sure, there are cheaper options available, but this is the one that works best with your tablet.

What you need to know

• Apple has highlighted the work of Eric 'Efdot' Friedensohn.
• He's an artist reimagining baseball cards using the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.

Apple has highlighted the work of a New York artist reimagining baseball cards using an iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil.

From the feature:

Efdot works for Topps, the official trading card company of MLB on Project 2020:

This year Project 70 is an expansion of that with more artists reinterpreting cards from the last 70 years that are only available to purchase for 70 hours once released. The report describes how Efdot uses the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil to bring his vision to life:

You can see more stunning designs and read the full report here.

What you need to know

• Astropad Studio now supports Windows.
• The new 'Project Blue' beta lets you use an iPad and Apple Pencil as a drawing tablet for Windows.

A new beta of the popular AstroPad Studio brings with it support for Windows, meaning you can use your iPad and Apple Pencil as a drawing pad on a Windows PC.

The company stated:

Astropad Studio has been used by Star Wars, Nintendo, Pixar, and Disney, and is a well-established drawing companion for the Mac. Now, the fun comes to Windows, specifically Windows 10. You'll need the 64-bit version, build 1809 or later, as well as an iPad running iOS 9.1 or later, and an Apple Pencil.

Initially, the beta will include support for drawing tablet functionality including mirroring and touch support, as well as the Apple Pencil, and Astropad Studio's many shortcuts and customizations. Coming soon is expansions to shortcuts, more customization, and performance enhancements like Luna Display integration so you can use your iPad as a second display for your Windows device. Currently, the beta support either Wi-Fi or USB connectivity and low latency at 60fps, with more latency reductions to come later on.

The app can be used with any application such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and more, and has been optimized for drawing with the Apple Pencil.

You can sign up for the Project Blue Beta by going to the Astropad website now.

What you need to know

• A small-time Apple leaker has shared an image claiming to depict a new Apple Pencil.
• It could reveal a new style of Apple Pencil Tip or a new mechanism for changing them.
• A separate leak from the same source has previously stated the device could come in black.

A new picture from a leaker claims to show off Apple's new Apple Pencil, possibly indicating a change to the mechanism for changing tips.

The tweet, shared by Mr White simply stated:

https://twitter.com/laobaiTD/status/1367102458124660745

Mr. White has previously shared information claiming the next Apple Pencil will be available in black, as well as its trademark white. From that report:

The tip pictured is significantly larger in size than Apple's current replacement tips offered for the Apple Pencil. As one commenter noted, it could also indicate a much glossier finish over the current matte design.

Mr. White has previously leaked images of Apple's 20W USB-C adapter before it was released, and also correctly indicated the iPhone X would be available in gold back in 2018, as well as information about the iPhone 12's notch last year.

Unfortunately, we know very little else about Apple's next iteration of Apple Pencil, save that it likely exists and might come in a new color.

Apple launched the Apple Pencil alongside its first iPad Pro back in 2015, transforming the way iPads are used for drawing and creation as well as general use. From our recent five year Apple Pencil 1 review:

Recent reports have indicated a new iPad Pro is just weeks away, so there is every chance Apple could debut a new Pencil alongside a new tablet. The next-generation of iPad expected to feature a mini-LED display.

When the Apple Pencil first launched alongside the first iPad Pro way back in late-2015, I remember thinking that this would change the way we use iPads. Not right away, mind you — back then, the cost of entry was pretty high. You needed to buy the Apple Pencil, but you also needed to buy the iPad Pro, which was pricey for anyone.

In 2021, the Apple Pencil is a different story. There are two models now, one that works with the newer iPad Pros and the iPad Air 4, and the Apple Pencil (first-generation), which works on the newer iPad and iPad mini models. The cost of entry into the world of Apple Pencil is so much lower than it was when the Apple Pencil first made its debut, and it's the best stylus for iPad you're going to get in 2021.

Apple Pencil (First-Generation) Review: Why review it twice?

This is our second time reviewing the Apple Pencil (first-generation). Our first time looking at the Apple Pencil was done by Serenity Caldwell, back when she worked for iMore, and it was entirely drawn by hand using the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro. It's a super cool review highlighting many of the first-generation Apple Pencil's artistic abilities that still hold today. However, I believe that the first-generation Apple Pencil serves a slightly different audience and purpose now than it did when it launched.

When it launched, it was the only Apple stylus, and it only worked with one model. If you were an artist who wanted an iPad as a drawing tablet. The first-generation Apple Pencil was your only option. Now, that's not the case.

Once the Apple Pencil 2 came out, and the first-generation Apple Pencil started working with lower-cost iPads, the "Pro Artist" crowd moved on. Suddenly, you had a new crop of people who could afford the first-generation Apple Pencil, who may not be looking to use the iPad as a drawing tablet. Does the Apple Pencil provide enough for them?

Apple Pencil (First-Generation) Review: Drawing

I said that serious artists wouldn't be using the first-generation Apple Pencil. While that generalization probably has some merit, the artistic abilities of the Apple Pencil (first-generation) shouldn't be understated.

I personally am not an artist — I can barely draw straight lines, but even I have been enjoying opening up some of the best drawing apps and just seeing what the Apple Pencil can do.

Drawing or coloring feels so smooth and very reminiscent of drawing on paper, with maybe just a little less friction. You can use the side of the Apple Pencil for shading, make use the superb pressure sensitivity to make lines thicker or thinner, and the palm rejection is incredible. In all my time using the Apple Pencil with my iPad (2020), my palm has never made a mark when I have been in a drawing app.

While there's no doubt that the Apple Pencil 2 and iPad Pro will provide the best artistic experience for the pros, if you're an amateur artist or just don't want to spend the money on the more expensive models, the Apple Pencil (first-generation) is a more than capable artistic tool.

Apple Pencil (First-Generation) Review: Performance is king

For me, the Apple Pencil is worth its weight in gold because of how well it integrates into iPadOS, even when you're not drawing, sketching, or painting.

Tap any text-entry field and start writing in it, and your iPad will convert it into text. Tap the Lock screen with your Apple Pencil, and immediately, you're in the notes app where you can sketch or jot down notes with ease. The little toolbar is constantly changing and adapting to what you're doing with your Apple Pencil — like having a search button if you're in the URL field in Safari. Plus, you can hide the toolbar off to the side if you don't want it just chilling down at the bottom of your screen. It's all just so seamless.

There are some Apple Pencil alternatives that offer bits of the experience that the first-generation Apple Pencil provides. Still, none of them come close to being as intuitive or as smooth. Plus, some of the low-cost iPad stylus options are nothing more than just a capacitive stylus.

Apple Pencil (First-Generation) Review: Same old annoyances

The Apple Pencil (first-generation) still has the same annoyances it did years ago when it launched.

You still have to charge it via the Lightning connector, which you can do by sticking it directly into your iPad's Lightning port. It's not the most elegant way of charging a stylus, and admittedly, it makes the iPad a little bit difficult to hold or use when your Apple Pencil is charging. The magnetic solution that Apple came up with for the second-iteration is much better, but the good news is the Apple Pencil gets about 10-12 hours of battery life, depending on how you use it. Plus, it charges up moderately quickly — it should be pretty easy to avoid charging the Pencil when you want to be using your iPad.

There's no easier way to charge, which some other drawing styluses that work with other drawing tablets do have. If that's something you think is a must in a drawing stylus, then you'll need to look elsewhere.

Lastly, and this is more of a personal thing, I don't find the first-generation Apple Pencil to be super comfortable in hand. It has a completely round design that doesn't always feel good to hold and draw with for hours on end. I think the one-flat side design of the Apple Pencil 2 is a bit better to use for longer periods. Your mileage will likely vary on this point.

Apple Pencil (First-Generation) Review: Final thoughts

The Apple Pencil has finally done what I thought it would do — change the way I interact with my iPad. I don't pick up my iPad (2020) without my Apple Pencil (first-generation) anymore. It's become an integral part of the iPad experience for me.

When I get the itch to sketch something, or more likely, color in an app, I'm treating it as an artistic tool that I'm not even good enough to handle. It's so satisfying to draw on the screen, color with different brushes, and use the pressure sensitivity to change the thickness and how the Apple Pencil responds.

The real utility of the Apple Pencil lies in all the little things it can do that your figure can't do as easily. Editing a GarageBand track is made simpler by giving you a more fine tip to drag around your various instrument and make more precise cuts. When I'm drawing in an app and my partner texts me, I can easily respond by writing a response back to them in the text field. It's this ability to interact with your iPad with much more precision that fills me with immense glee every time I find a new use for the Apple Pencil that makes my life easier.

If you have an iPad that supports it, I can't recommend getting a first-generation Apple Pencil highly enough. It will open you up to a whole new way of using your iPad, and that's more than any other iPad accessory can say.

What you need to know

• The latest iPadOS 14.5 betas have revealed more language support for Scribble.
• Scribble now supports German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese languages.
• Originally, Scribble only supported English and Chinese.

When Apple released iPadOS 14, there was a new feature called Scribble, which allows users to write in any text field on iPad with an Apple Pencil (or other compatible styluses). This handwritten text would automatically get converted into typed text. The latest iPadOS 14.5 beta has unveiled that Scribble support is coming to several more languages.

When Scribble first launched, it was only limited to the English and Chinese languages. In the developer and public betas for iPadOS 14.5, it has been discovered that Scribble is now supporting the German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese languages.

What this means is that anyone in these countries can write in their native languages with Scribble, and it will automatically and accurately be converted into typed text. In order to enable a specific language, you'll need to go through the "Keyboard" section in the iPad's Settings app.

As users add their preferred languages as a keyboard option, it gets listed under "Scribble" in the Apple Pencil settings on the iPad. Once this is done, that language becomes available to use when writing, and all special characters should also be supported.

If you're not familiar with the Scribble feature, it can be used systemwide on iPadOS 14. You can use your Apple Pencil to write out messages with iMessage, search Safari, get directions in Maps, create Notes, add new Calendar events, write emails, and more. Scribble also has some other nifty features like Smart Selection, which allows for copying and pasting of handwritten notes, as well as data detection to convert numbers and email addresses into something tappable.

The full list of supported languages for Scribble on Apple's website continue to list out English and Chinese, but that should change soon.

If you upgraded your iPad during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you owe it to yourself to pick up an Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil is a perfect complement to the latest iPad models. Whether you like going hands-on with your documents and taking notes or if you're an artist who's dreaming up the first digital piece you're going to create, the possibilities are endless with an Apple Pencil.

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon is offering a discount on both the first- and second-generation Apple Pencil for a limited time; you can pick up the latest, second-generation Apple Pencil on sale for $99, its best-ever price, or grab the first Apple Pencil for $79.99. These are some of the best Apple Pencil deals of all time, saving you up to $30.

Apple's 2nd-gen Pencil features a matte design with one flat edge, so it doesn't roll around on flat surfaces. It can also charge wirelessly when connected to the iPad Pro via magnets, eschewing the need to plug it into the iPad's port to recharge and getting rid of the end cap that was far too easy to lose on the first-gen model.

Apple Pencil is fully pressure and tilt-sensitive, which means you can press harder against the screen to get a thicker line, or tilt your Pencil against the screen to virtually "shade" in a drawing or draw calligraphic letters. The 2nd-generation model has the added benefit of one additional function, which is accessed by double-tapping the flat side of the Apple Pencil near the nib.

In most circumstances, this will trigger the eraser feature of an app, though app developers can assign a different action to the double-tap, like selecting a different artist tool, but so far, we've only seen it used to trigger the eraser in most apps other than the Notes app. In the Notes app, you can change the double-tap function to trigger switching between the current and last used tool showing the color palate, switching between the current tool and the eraser, and turning off the Apple Pencil 2. We reviewed the updated Apple Pencil on release, so take a look at that for an in-depth look at all of its features.

The second-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with 2018 iPad Pro models as well as the new 2020 iPad Pro models that are available now. If you're at all confused as to which Apple Pencil is right for you, check out our guide to iPad and Apple Pencil compatibility and take a look at our how to on using Apple Pencil to get the most out of your new accessory.

While the original 1st-generation Apple Pencil and 2nd-gen Apple Pencil are both great, the price is a little steep. I had the original Apple Pencil when I was just using a 2017 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but I've moved on to the 2020 11-inch iPad Pro. However, I didn't feel like coughing up another $130 to Apple for another Pencil because I, quite frankly, am not an artist. I mostly just used my Apple Pencil as a stylus, but I do like to create some handwritten notes now and then. So for me, dropping another hefty chunk of change for an Apple Pencil just wasn't feasible.

I started to look into alternatives and stumbled upon the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus. Here's why it's a great digital stylus to consider for your iPad needs.

An affordable stylus that covers the bases

SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: What I like

The EasyPencil Plus has a design that is pretty much like the second-generation Apple Pencil. So while it's mostly cylindrical, there is one flat edge. This flat edge not only prevents the EasyPencil Plus from rolling around on a flat surface, but it is also the side that magnetically attaches to your iPad (only on the Pro models), so it's easy to store when you're not using it.

To turn the EasyPencil Plus on and have it connect to your iPad, just tap the top of the stylus. When it's on, a blue LED light appears above the small SwitchEasy logo on the flat side, underneath the USB-C port. The EasyPencil Plus automatically sleeps after one minute of inactivity to conserve battery, and it fully turns off after 20 minutes of idling. When you need to charge it up, just use the included USB-C cable (or any cable you already have) to give it juice — just 30 minutes gets you around 10 hours of continuous use.

The nib on the EasyPencil Plus has a pretty fine point, which I found accurate enough for writing notes and doing quick sketches (I'm no artist). If you're using it on a protector-less iPad screen, it may have a tiny bit of friction due to the silicon tip against glass, but it's still smooth overall. But for the best experience, SwitchEasy recommends its PaperLike Screen Protector.

I got the PaperLike screen protector and put it on my 11-inch iPad Pro, though it wasn't without some hiccups during the installation process (unfortunately, you only get one chance because only one comes in the pack). As a result, I have an air bubble on the screen, which is visible when I use the iPad. But the PaperLike is a matte protector, giving the iPad a feel similar to paper while providing anti-glare. As a result, when you combine it with the EasyPencil Plus, it feels great to write and sketch on the iPad and is definitely better than the iPad screen without the film.

While the EasyPencil Plus tip will wear down over time, SwitchEasy provides an additional tip in the box. It's also easy to replace the tip — just twist the nib out and insert the new one in. I've been using the EasyPencil Plus for a few months, and the tip is still pretty good, so you won't need to replace it for a while. But when the time comes, it's good that SwitchEasy already gave you a replacement.

You also get palm rejection with the EasyPencil Plus, so you don't need to worry about your palm or wrist making all sorts of unwanted marks on your canvas while using the stylus. And again, the EasyPencil Plus attaches magnetically to your iPad Pro (11-inch and 12.9-inch) on the flat edge, so you can easily store it away when not using.

The best thing about the EasyPencil Plus, though, is that it has a wide range of compatibility across iPad models. You can use the EasyPencil Plus with iPad mini 5, iPad Air 3rd-generation and later, iPad 6th-generation and later, and iPad Pro 3rd-generation and later (11-inch and 12.9-inch). However, keep in mind that the magnetic attachment for the EasyPencil Plus only works with the 11-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.

It's a little too easy to turn off by accident

SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: What I don't like

One of the things I've noticed while using the EasyPencil Plus is how easy it is to turn it off accidentally. Since it turns on and off just by touching the top, I have often turned it off by mistake while fiddling around with the pencil between uses. I'll only find this out because my iPad stopped responding, and I check, and the LED light is off. I wish it were not so sensitive to touch because this happens more often than not.

While it doesn't really affect me, it is a little disappointing that this does not have pressure sensitivity, so you can't just apply more pressure to change the line's thickness. So if you are looking at this for drawing, be aware that you'll need to adjust brush size manually. It also does not support a double-tap to change tools like the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil.

The EasyPencil Plus, while it can be used as a stylus to navigate your iPad and even do screenshot gesture (from the corner), cannot be used to pull up the App Switcher.

The competition

The EasyPencil Plus takes a lot of inspiration from the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, and it shows. But with the latest Apple Pencil, you get wireless charging, pressure sensitivity, and a double-tap to change tools, though it only works with the newest iPad Pros. The original Apple Pencil, which lacks the flat edge, charges through Lightning and doesn't have a double-tap to change tools, works with more iPad models. However, the price of the Apple Pencil can be steep, which is why alternatives like SwitchEasy Pencil Plus exist.

But if you are an artist who needs pressure sensitivity, then you should look at some other Apple Pencil alternatives, or consider the Apple Pencil itself.

SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: Should you buy

You want an affordable Apple Pencil alternative

The EasyPencil Plus is a great, affordable option for those who want a stylus for their iPad. It features a flat-side design, precise tip, palm-rejection technology, charges via USB-C and has long-lasting battery life, and is great for note-taking and sketching. All for a fraction of the cost of an Apple Pencil.

You want wide compatibility

No matter what kind of iPad you're using, as long as it's from 2018 or later, it will work with the EasyPencil Plus. But keep in mind that it can only magnetically attach to iPad Pro models.

You don't mind that it's not Apple Pencil

The SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus looks very similar to the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, though it lacks some key features of the Apple Pencil. But if you don't need pressure sensitivity or double-tap to change tools, then this can pass as an Apple Pencil from a distance.

You need pressure sensitivity and double-tap tool changer

If you are a digital artist, you would greatly benefit from the pressure sensitivity and double-tap to change tools features in the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil. Both of those are missing from the EasyPencil Plus.

You want wireless charging

Even though it looks like an Apple Pencil, the EasyPencil Plus uses USB-C for charging and cannot charge wireless while magnetically attached to your iPad Pro.

You need a stylus that can do it all

Though the EasyPencil Plus works for note-taking, sketching, taking screenshots in iPadOS 14, and navigating as a stylus pen, it doesn't work for pulling up the App Switcher, for some reason.

While the Apple Pencil is a great tool, it's a little expensive for some people. The SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus is a great alternative, and it offers most of the basic features that come with the Apple Pencil, including easy pairing, a precision tip, palm rejection technology, long-lasting battery life, and a flat edge to prevent rolling and magnetically attach to iPad Pro. All for a fraction of the price of Apple Pencil. It's great for those who just want a great stylus for handwriting notes or doing basic sketching on the iPad.

However, if you need a stylus with pressure sensitivity, then the EasyPencil Plus does not have it. It also lacks any kind of shortcut like double-tap to change tools on the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, and it can't be used to get to the App Switcher (you'll need to use your finger). But if those missing features don't bother you, then the EasyPencil Plus is a good Apple Pencil alternative to consider.

There are sure to be some great Black Friday Apple Pencil deals coming up, so there's no better time to purchase an Apple Pencil for your iPad. But why Apple Pencil? It's simply the best stylus that you can get for your iPad, no matter which model you're using.

With Apple Pencil, you're getting pinpoint accuracy with the fine tip, so it's easier than ever before to write and draw, right on your iPad. It is also sensitive to pressure and tilt, so you can adjust the line weight and size, go for more subtle shading, and many more artistic effects, without having to lift the Apple Pencil from the screen. And don't worry about your palm messing you up, because there is also built-in palm rejection. The only flaws about the 1st-generation Apple Pencil is that it charges via Lightning, it has a glossy finish, and it's cylindrical, so it may roll off a table. It also doesn't attach magnetically, but it has a much wider range of compatibility with older iPads.

With the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, you are getting the same features as its predecessor, but it attaches magnetically to your iPad and charges up wirelessly. You can also double-tap the Apple Pencil to change drawing tools, and the flat side provides a better grip and prevents rolling off of flat surfaces.

While the 1st-generation Apple Pencil doesn't have as many cool new features as the new Apple Pencil, it has a much wider range of compatibility with older iPads. Here's the full list of iPads that work with the 1st-generation Apple Pencil:

• iPad (6th, 7th, and 8th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch

If you have a newer iPad, then you're going to want the latest and greatest Apple Pencil to go along with it. These iPads are compatible with the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil:

• iPad Air (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd and 4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st and 2nd generation)

The Apple Pencil doesn't go on sale very often. So if you are looking for the best price, then you probably won't get it for anything lower than what you'll find with Black Friday Apple Pencil deals. While the discounts may not be as steep as you'd like, we're sure the Black Friday Apple Pencil deals will be better than what you'll find year-round, so keep checking.

And if the price of Apple Pencil is still just too much, there are many other great Apple Pencil alternatives out there too, which you should also see some Black Friday deals on. And don't forget to check out some other Apple Black Friday deals if you want to save a few bucks here and there!

Prime Day is finally here, so the deals are certainly flowing. Usually, Prime Day is an excellent time to buy some of the electronics and other tech products that you have been eyeing for quite some time, including the Apple Pencil. Even though Apple doesn't mark down its items, Amazon usually shaves a few dollars off the regular price year-round, so Prime Day is an even better time to buy Apple Pencil.

You may be hesitant to go for Prime Day Apple Pencil deals with Black Friday just around the corner this year. However, we don't think the price will go down any lower than what you'll find with Prime Day, so it's a great time to buy one if you're in the market for the real deal, and not an aftermarket clone.

Prime Day is a great time to purchase an Apple Pencil

Prime Day has become as popular as Black Friday, except it is a retail holiday created by Amazon. You're going to find a lot of deals on pretty much anything and everything, especially tech. Again, you may not find lower prices than Prime Day, even on Black Friday, so why not get a head start on your holiday shopping now?

Why Apple Pencil?

Apple Pencil is a great accessory for any iPad owner. It not only is a stylus, but also a tool that allows you to use your iPad just like a piece of paper with a good, high-quality pen. You can handwrite your notes, draw, sketch, and paint to your heart's content with some of the best drawing apps, and there are several new Apple Pencil features with iPadOS 14.

What are the differences between the 1st-gen and 2nd-gen Apple Pencil?

The 1st-gen Apple Pencil pairs with your iPad and charges via Lightning. It's also cylindrically-shaped, like an actual pencil or pen, so it may end up rolling around. The first-generation Apple Pencil works with the following iPads: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation only), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad (6th, 7th, and 8th gen), iPad Air (3rd generation), and iPad mini (5th generation).

With the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, you get wireless charging and pairing, and it can attach magnetically to your iPad. It also has flat sides, so it doesn't roll around on surfaces. And when using apps with different drawing tools, you can simply double-tap the Pencil to change tools. The second-generation Apple Pencil only works with: iPad Pro 11-inch (1st and 2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd and 4th generation), and iPad Air (4th generation).

Both the 1st and 2nd-gen Apple Pencils are similar, with the imperceptible lag, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and pixel-perfect precision.

Best Prime Day Apple Pencil Deals

Again, Apple products, in general, don't go down in price very much, so Prime Day is probably the best you'll get. These are the current prices for Prime Day Apple Pencil deals.

Black Friday prices may not be better than Prime Day

This has been a strange year, since Prime Day is just a few weeks, not months, away from Black Friday. However, we think the prices you're seeing for Prime Day Apple Pencil deals are the best possible right now, and you won't find anything lower, even on Black Friday. Especially since Apple doesn't usually mark things down, including Apple Pencil, so right now is the best time to pick one up if you need it.

I would not hesitate to pick up an Apple Pencil right now to save some cash. After all, the Apple Pencil is pretty pricey, so any cash I can save on it is a win!

Make sure to check out all of the great Prime Day deals we've found, and happy shopping!

Some of the more significant updates coming to iPadOS 14 revolve around the Apple Pencil. Both the first- and second-generation Apple Pencil are gaining new capabilities in the latest software, which is now available to anyone with a compatible iPad.

First, we have the Scribble feature, a powerful new tool that lets you write with the Apple Pencil and watch as your handwriting automatically transforms into text. Then, there are several enhancements in the Notes app centered around handwriting with the Apple Pencil, such as the ability to copy handwriting like you would copy typed text and data detectors for handwritten text.

And if you're wondering which is the best iPad to use with these new Apple Pencil features, I would argue that it might be the freshly-announced iPad Air 4, thanks to its support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, powerful hardware, and a starting price much lower than that of the iPad Pro.

Here are the essential details on the changes coming to the Apple Pencil with iPadOS 14.

Scribble

Perhaps the single-coolest feature arriving on iPads this fall, Scribble, is a system-wide feature that lets you write with the Apple Pencil into any text field on your iPad and watch as your handwriting automatically transforms into typed text. This includes text for languages such as Chinese, which can be recognized without having to do anything to adjust your system language.

And when I say "any text field," I mean it. Write in the compose field in Messages, or the address bar in Safari, and Scribble works nearly flawlessly, even for my crummy handwriting. But it's not just Apple's own apps that are playing nice with Scribble out of the gate.

In my testing of iPadOS 14, I have found the Scribble is already working with third-party apps right now, without any updates. While I'm sure there are things developers will be able to do to optimize the experience for their apps, it works very well, even at this early stage.

Scribble goes just beyond writing, too. Scratching out a word in your typed text using the Apple Pencil's tip will see that word deleted. Circling a word with the Pencil will select it for copying or pasting. Touch and hold the Apple Pencil tip between two words to add a space.

Scribble also has a palette of common actions for your app that you can access by tapping the pencil icon in one of the corners of your screen, usually the bottom-left corner. Opening the palette will show you a small set of controls like Undo, as well as a button to bring up the software keyboard. You can reposition this palette just as you can the one for Markup in apps that support that feature.

Scribble is a truly impressive feature right out of the gate, and it plays a very important role in the other major Apple Pencil-related features coming to the Notes app this fall.

Notes

The Notes app is getting some interesting enhancements in iPadOS 14, many of them centered around the Apple Pencil and handwriting.

Powered by the Apple Pencil, handwriting produced by the Pencil in the Notes app can now be copied, just as you would highlight and copy typed text. This feature, called Smart Selection, lets you select single words or entire passages that have been written by hand. Double-tap a to select a single word, triple-tap to select a sentence, just as it works with typed text. Going further, you can swipe your Apple Pencil over large blocks of handwritten text without lifting it to select those blocks in a single motion.

Once you select the handwritten text, you'll have the option to 'Copy as text' pop up. Tap this will convert your handwritten passage into typed text, which can then be pasted into any text field in Notes or any other text-based app. Apple notes that the transcription from handwriting to type takes place on your device so that everything stays private.

Notes is also gaining support for shape recognition using the Apple Pencil. When you draw a shape with the Pencil, hold the Pencil to the screen after you've finished drawing a shape, and watch as it jumps into place as a professional-looking, smooth shape. Notes supports recognition of 16 types of shapes, including lines, circles, triangles, thought bubbles, and continuous lines with 90-degree turns.

Finally, and very impressively, is data detectors. While Notes has supported data detectors for a while, now it supports them with handwriting. Write an address, phone number, even a web URL, and Notes will detect it as such and allow you to tap it. This means that you can write out "imore.com" in notes, then tap it to open iMore in Safari. A straight yellow line will appear under these items when Notes detects them, and that's your cue that it's working properly.

Settings tweaks

These are a couple of smaller Pencil features that nevertheless deserve to be noted. There are two new options in the Apple Pencil section of the Settings app that you should know about.

The first is Only Draw with Apple Pencil. This setting, when you enable it, means that only the Apple Pencil can be used to draw on your iPad. Your fingers (and, presumably, third-party styli) will be used for scrolling and tapping, and won't draw.

The second option is to turn Scribble on and off. This one's pretty straightforward. If the Scribble feature is annoying you, you can turn it off in Settings. Scribble is on by default.

Write away

These features are all fairly impressive. Are you excited to use Scribble on your iPad? If you have any questions about Scribble or the Apple Pencil-related changes coming to Notes, let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• Apple's Craig Federighi sat down with Popular Mechanics to talk about Scribble.
• The feature converts handwriting into text on iPadOS 14.
• The senior VP talks about how it was created and how it's able to run on device.

In an interview with Popular Mechanics, Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, sat down to talk about how Scribble, the company's newest feature for the Apple Pencil and iPad in iPadOS 14, came to be.

When it came to understanding how people wrote, Apple literally had tons of people physically write. Doing so allowed the company to understand all the variations that go into how someone writes fast, slow, at an angle, and more.

Apple's machine learning, which understands not only what you are writing but what you may write next, is calculating everything on the iPad itself. Federighi says that this is required in order to protect user privacy and perform at the speed that people need.

The Scribble feature, which allows users to convert writing into text with an Apple Pencil, launched with iPadOS 14.

There's a lot to like about iPadOS 14. While it's not as big an update as the initial launch of iPadOS last year, there are a lot of impressive and delightful changes coming this fall that demonstrate, at least to me, that Apple is committed to taking the iPad seriously as its own platform.

But there's one aspect of the iPad experience that got more attention than any other this year: the Apple Pencil. While there are other aspects of iPadOS that I would have liked to have seen updated, the Apple Pencil is having a great year, getting perhaps its most substantial changes since the introduction of the first-generation iPad Pro in 2015.

And between the Apple Pencil updates in iPadOS 14 and the trackpad and mouse support updates from earlier this year, 2020 really seems to be the Year of iPad Accessories.

Scribble

Having used it since the first iPadOS 14 beta dropped, I'm more confident in my assertion that Scribble is the single most impressive feature announced at WWDC 2020 for any platform. It shows the prowess of Apple's machine learning teams that it works as well as it does.

First, Scribble recognizes my handwriting. My handwriting isn't terrible, but I've never received high marks for penmanship. I'm truly impressed with what Scribble can extract, and it's right much more often than it's wrong. And when it's wrong, I often can't even blame it. For instance, I sometimes write a lowercase 'm' like it's a 'v' connected to an 'n,' and that's the output I sometimes get from Scribble. And I don't mind Scribble recognizing it as such because it leads to another thing I'm appreciative of about the feature.

Scribble doesn't apply autocorrect to text converted from your handwriting. Scribble makes its best guess at what you've written and basically says, "here you go." And while it's right most of the time, there are hiccups, which you might expect. But what Scribble does when it's not sure about a word is underline it with a blue dotted line, just like the system would when it autocorrects a word or when it's unsure about a word spoken during dictation. You can tap the word, tap Replace, and see if what you meant to write is available.

I love the fact that Scribble doesn't use autocorrect. Autocorrect would only reinforce that you need to write in a particular way for Scribble to understand you, and at the end of the day, Scribble's really all about letting you be you. It's easy to correct things if Scribble gets something wrong, and I feel like I need to do that less and less.

Speaking of corrections, Scribble has become my favorite way to edit my own writing. When I was writing papers in school, I'd often print out my first or second draft and go over them with a pen, marking things I wanted to change. Now, thanks to Scribble, I can do that again with my Apple Pencil and pieces like this one, but all of the changes can be applied instantly. Scribble, in a way, brings back some of the tactility of working on a document that I didn't realize that I was missing.

Corrections are easy to make. Circle a word to highlight it, or a sentence to highlight that. Draw a horizontal line down to split one word into two (useful if your handwritten spacing is sometimes off, like mine) or draw a line upward to bring two words together. Deleting something couldn't be easier — just scratch it out.

I'm completely head-over-heels in love with Scribble. It's one of those completely delightful, 'it just works' experiences that we love to see from Apple. I'm using my Apple Pencil a lot more than I used to, and I'm glad that it's found a place in my workflow alongside my Magic Keyboard.

Notes

Scribble isn't the only highlight of the Apple Pencil updates in iPadOS 14. The Notes app is getting a substantial update, too, and it revolves around the Pencil. What's more, these features are available for third-party developers to take advantage of in their apps written for iPadOS 14.

In Notes in iPadOS 14, handwriting is now treated a lot more like typed text than ever. You've been able to write by hand in the Notes app for years now, but iPadOS 14 lets you do something with it. You can now highlight handwriting written with the Apple Pencil, just like typed text. Once you do, you'll see those same circular grab points that let you adjust how much is highlighted.

Once your text is highlighted, you can even copy and paste it, just like typed text. Even more impressively, in my estimation, is the fact that when you copy your handwriting, you can select "Copy as Text," and then paste it in any text field in any app as typed text.

There's also shape recognition. If you draw a shape, such as a square, triangle, star, or circle, in Notes using the Apple Pencil, you can keep holding the Pencil down for a second when you're done drawing to see your shape snap into a geometrically-perfect version. No more wonky stars for me, that's for sure. You can also highlight hand-drawn shapes just as you can handwritten text.

Finally, we have my favorite of the Notes updates: data detectors. As you might be aware, data detectors find and highlight certain kinds of data in a document so you can easily access it directly. For instance, if you type 'www.imore.com' into a Note, it will be highlighted yellow, meaning you can tap on it to be taken to iMore in Safari.

Now, data detectors work with handwriting. When you write something that can be found by a data detector with the Apple Pencil, you'll see your writing highlighted in yellow. This works for everything from phone numbers to web links to addresses. It's great.

More than just being excited about these updates for Notes, I'm glad that'll they're available for iPad app developers as part of the iPadOS 14 SDK. I'm excited about the possibility of these handwriting capabilities coming to other apps.

The Year of iPad Accessories

The Apple Pencil is the second half of the iPad's big accessory story in 2020. It might have come before iPadOS 14, but we can't forget about the addition of trackpad and mouse support to the iPad earlier this year with iOS 13.4.

While I was disappointed with the lack of any meaningful updates to the keyboard and trackpad experiences at WWDC (I would have loved new trackpad gestures and better support for global keyboard shortcuts), it would be difficult to deny that the addition of robust trackpad and mouse support was a game-changer for the iPad. Having a trackpad attached to an external keyboard has changed how I'm able to work on my iPad Pro.

Support for trackpads and the iPadOS 14 Apple Pencil updates really mark 2020 as a substantial update to the iPad accessory experience and show the tablet to be one of Apple's most versatile products.

The iPad increasingly seems like a modular computer, one that fits whatever dynamic a user needs. It can be a serious machine for office work, an artist's canvas, or a portable entertainment center. You can get lower-powered variations, or high-powered, professionally-focused tablets. You can get a little storage or 1TB of storage.

The new accessory updates rolling out throughout this year give us more freedom to use our iPads in any way we see fit. I'm glad that Apple has, over the last few years, brought Apple Pencil support to every iPad model that it sells. Likewise, I'm glad that trackpad and mouse support are present on all iPads, not just the iPad Pro. Both initiatives make it more likely that these features will be adopted, which is great for every iPad user, from those with the budget-friendly 10.2-inch iPad to those of us rocking the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

What are you looking forward to?

What do you think of the iPad's new Apple Pencil capabilities? Is there a big iPad feature coming this fall that you're looking forward to using? Let me know in the comments.

What you need to know

• Apple could be planning a big new upgrade to Apple Pencil.
• A new patent has revealed how it could include color sampling in the device.
• It would let users sample colors from the real world with their Pencil, before recreating them on-screen.

A new Apple Pencil patent has revealed how Apple could include color sampling technology in a future version of the device.

Filed earlier this week, the patent is titled 'Computer System With Color Sampling Stylus', and the abstract states:

As you'd expect, the patent roughly features a stylus (Apple Pencil), with a light detector embedded in the device. This detector can be used to sense the color of a real-world object, and then used to control the color of whatever it is your drawing inside of an app. Say you're creating within Photoshop, and the color of a nearby book cover really inspires you. Simply use your Apple Pencil to scan the color, and voila, you can now draw or shade in that color on-screen.

As with all patented technology, this is likely a long way off for Apple, and may not ever see the light of day as a feature of Apple Pencil. But it certainly sounds like a feature that creators and designers would be able to make use of. Would you be interested in an Apple Pencil that can sample color? Let us know!

Apple Pencil isn't just for creatives. To highlight this notion, Apple's likely to add an essential feature for the writing tool in the coming weeks that could prove useful to everyone from students and teachers to business users. The move, however, only makes real sense if something else is announced. Could this be the year Apple Pencil support finally arrives on the iPhone?

Phone 12 (2020): Rumors, release date, price, features, and more

According to 9to5Mac, code in iOS 14 suggests big changes are coming to mobile Safari. Among the changes could be Apple Pencil support for the native app for the first time. If correct, the support could allow users to draw and markup website pages on the fly.

Cupertino launched the first Apple Pencil nearly five years ago. At the time, the wireless stylus only worked with iPad Pro tablets and was marketed to the drawing and note-taking crowd almost exclusively, as was the iPad Pro itself. Since then, first-generation Apple Pencil support has been extended to other iPad models, including the 2019 iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad. The second-generation Apple Pencil arrived in late 2018. This model, which offers magnetic wireless charging, only works with iPad Pro models that have a USB-C connector.

While it added Apple Pencil support to non-iPad Pro models, Apple also began highlighting the writing device's ability to markup documents in different apps. Adding support to mobile Safari, by itself, isn't a big deal. However, if it's coupled with bringing Apple Pencil support to iPhone, it could be a game-changer.

I believe we're likely to see Apple Pencil support arrive in iOS 14 for the upcoming iPhone 12 series. Further, a next-generation Apple Pencil (also for iPhone?) could launch in the color black. Previous models, of course, are white.

Why stop there? Wouldn't it be even better if you could purchase Apple Pencils that match the color of your iPad or iPhone? Hopefully, we'll hear more about Apple's upcoming Apple Pencil plans in the coming weeks.

This year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off on Monday, June 12. At that time, we should hear more about Apple's plans for iOS and iPadOS. Stay tuned!

What you need to know

• A new rumor claims Apple Pencil will come in black.
• The Mr-white Twitter account posted the mysterious rumor today.
• No other details, such as a potential release date or reason, were provided.

According to a new rumor, the next generation of Apple Pencil could come in an entirely new color. Reported by AppleInsider, a mysterious Twitter account called Mr-white posted today saying that the next Apple Pencil will be released in a new black color.

There have so far been no rumors of a new Apple Pencil in general and certainly not anything related to the possibility of a new color. The tweet did not specify any other details, such as when the new color would be released.

So far, the Apple Pencil has only come in the usual glossy and matte white color that covers almost all of Apple's accessory lineup. All of its accessories like cables, chargers, AirPods, and mice/trackpads are mostly white.

Apple is expected to release a new generation of the iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display, but analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo said that these devices could not see a release until 2021. If Apple did release a new Apple Pencil, it most likely would not see a debut until the new tablets rolled out as well.

The Mr-white Twitter account is not known for Apple leaks, but recent posts do cover Apple prototypes and testing samples.

It would be highly unusual for Apple to release an accessory in white - AirPods, for instance, have never been released in a different color since they released back in 2016. The only accessories that are released in another color are more for Apple's "Pro" products. The iMac Pro, for example, has a Space Gray keyboard and trackpad/mouse.

Could Apple's next Apple Pencil be the "Apple Pencil Pro"? We'll have to wait and see.

Anyone who currently owns an Apple Pencil, or is looking to purchase one in the future, will find that once you get used to the smooth movements of the stylus across the applications on your iPad, you'll never want to go back to using your finger. The Apple Pencil was designed to make note-taking, drawing, sketching, and designing as easy and efficient as possible. Upgrading your stylus with awesome accessories can be visually appealing and will boost productivity.

Summary

Pair your Apple Pencil up with the perfect accessories to make using your stylus fun and as convenient as possible. If you're an individual who likes the look and feel of a pen while you work, then the Ztylus Slim Apple Pencil Metal Case may be a great accessory for you as this enclosure is made from strong aluminium and feels smooth and delicate against your skin.

The FRTMA Magnetic Sleeve for Apple Pencil allows you to customize your Apple Pencil while providing additional protection and grip. You can choose from various designs to personalize your Apple Pencil.

If you're someone who is constantly using your stylus and are searching for a convenient way to charge your Apple Pencil, then the TechMatte Aluminum Charging Stand is a great choice. This charging stand comes equipped with a cable, dock, and compartment for storing the cap while your pencil is charging. There is an abundance of accessories available for your Apple Pencil; however, if we narrow it down to functionality, personal style, and convenience, the above are our top picks.

What you need to know

• A new patent suggests an Apple Pencil with touch sensing is coming.
• The Apple pencil would have a touch-sensitive area near the tip.
• It would disregard accidental touches.

A new patent suggests Apple is working on an upgraded Apple Pencil that would be able to detect when a user swipes a finger along it. The new tactile input would be a marked improvement on the second-generation Apple Pencil which can already sense taps.

The patent, titled "Touch-based input for stylus," carries US Patent Number 20200012358 and was spotted by Apple Insider.

While the new Apple Pencil would be able to sense when a user interacts with it, the patent says that the device would be able to tell when a user is simply holding it rather than interacting with it.

It's possible that such a sensitive Apple Pencil could allow users to alter the size of on-screen drawing tools by swiping a finger up and down the device. They may also be able to use it for other things, such as scrolling through a web page or document in a similar manner to a scroll wheel on a mouse.

We've seen plenty of Apple Pencil-related patents recently including one that puts a status indicator into the stylus. Another includes haptic feedback which could potentially be used in conjunction with today's patent.

As ever, it's important to remember that not every patent results in a product being announced. Still, it's fun to wonder, isn't it?

What you need to know

• A newly-published patent has revealed how Apple could simulate the feel of writing and drawing on paper using Apple Pencil.
• The patent features haptic feedback and a force-sensing system that detects movement.
• The design is meany to "render texture sensation to simulate drawing on a textured surface with the stylus".

An Apple patent published today has revealed how Apple could use haptic feedback within Apple Pencil to simulate drawing and writing on paper.

As reported by AppleInsider, the patent is titled 'Styles with haptic feedback for texture simulation'. The abstract states:

As the report notes, that patent is similar to a 2015 filing and even features the same drawings. The difference, however, is in the use of tip in receiving haptic feedback during use. With regard to using just the tip, as opposed to whole Pencil the patent states:

As mentioned, given the previous 2015 patent, Apple has been exploring the use of haptic feedback in its Pencil for some time. The updated patent, which uses only the tip to detect input and provide feedback seems to be a refinement of the idea. The Apple Pencil, combined with iPad is one of the mobile best note-taking, scribbling, drawing and design solutions around. Haptic feedback that could simulate doing all of that on paper would certainly cause a stir.

Given that this is simply a patent filing, there is, of course, no guarantee this tech will ever see the light of day, but it's nice to dream!

What you need to know

• Adobe Photoshop for iPad is now available from the App Store.
• You'll need a $9.99/m subscripton to use it.
• But there's a free one-month trial, too.

It was announced at WWDC in June and now it's available for everyone to try. Photoshop for iPad is here, and while it isn't quite the "real" Photoshop that we were promised, it does show signs that it might morph into it eventually.

In some respects this is the Photoshop that artists and graphics tinkerers have been hoping for. It handles full-fat PSD files, including those that are high resolution and make use of multiple layers. And of course, there's Apple Pencil support as well.

And acccording to Bjango founder Marc Edwards – who knows a thing or two about this sort of thing – the app stands up to the test well.

But that doesn't mean that everything is rosy. We'd heard reports that Photoshop for iPad would be missing some features at launch and sure enough even the developers of the app are well aware that it isn't quite finished yet. The message in this screenshot shared by Edwards speaks volumes.

But the fact that Photoshop is now on iPad in anything close to its PC and Mac forms is impressive. And given the start the app is off to it seems clear to me that Adobe intends to get it up to speed eventually. Hopefully that won't be too far into the future. Given Adobe's MAX event starts today it seems like the app needed to be ready for November 4th. Whether it was actually finished, or not.

Photoshop for iPad can be downloaded from the App Store for free, but you'll neeed to pay $9.99 each month to use it unless you already have a qualifying Adobe membership. Interestingly it doesn't appear that Photoshop for iPad counts as a computer, so doesn't affect Creative Cloud's two-computer limit.There's a free 30-day trial available for those who just want to take the app for a spin, too.

What you need to know

• A new Apple Patent includes a stylus with a display of some sort.
• That display could be LED or LCD.
• It could be used to show a selected color, etc.

The latest Apple patent to be picked up by Apple Insider is number 20190324561, "Stylus with Display." And it looks like it's exactly what that name would suggest.

The patent shows an Apple Pencil-like stylus with a display that could be either LED or LCD. That display could be used for a few things, such as to show the color that would be implemented when the stylus was used.

"A stylus can be provided with an on-board display that indicates to a user a color that will be applied when operating the stylus with an external device," the patent application goes on to say. "The display on the stylus can be positioned to conveniently provide an indication of the color. For example, the display can be provided at or near a tip that is used to contact the external device."

The stylus could also be used as some sort of digital color picker. Allowing the stylus to be placed against an object and then having the color recognized and used in software sounds awesome, and something that would be of huge benefit for image editors and artists alike.

Another method for selecting colors could be to have a way to rotate the pencil's display to make selections. Similar to a dial, for example.

As always it's important to remember that Apple applies for tons of patents each year and only a fraction of them become products. Which category this patent will fall into is anyone's guess, but there's no denying it sounds pretty cool!

What you need to know

• An new patent filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office suggests haptic feedback could be coming to the Apple Pencil.
• The patent was granted to Apple this week and revealed it could consist of adding magnets inside the Apple Pencil.
• The idea is intriguing, but it's just a patent which doesn't gaurentee Apple will implement it in real life.

The Apple Pencil could be getting much more responsive with a future update. That's what a new patent Apple filed suggests.

First spotted by AppleInsider, Apple was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent was titled "Stylus with external magnetic influence," and it suggests Apple is considering bringing haptic feedback to the Apple Pencil.

Here's the description for the patent.

AppleInsider suggests the magnetic components could be housed in a spring. Then when the Apple Pencil is used to draw, tilting the stylus would deliver the haptic feedback giving users a more granular feel for how to use it.

The patent certainly sounds intriguing, but it is never a guarantee Apple will apply it in real-world usage. Apple makes a habit of filing patents for a myriad of ideas, most of which never make it to consumer products.

Regardless, haptic feedback would be a very useful feature for the Apple Pencil, giving it even more functionality for professional users.

What you need to know

• A new report claims Appple Pencil support is coming to the 2019 iPhone.
• It's unclear if the feature would be exclusive to Apple's largest iPhone model.
• Apple Pencil support is currently available to certain iPads.

The iPhone will soon support the Apple Pencil, according to Citi Research. In fact, support for the tool will apparently be a major selling point of the 2019 iPhones.

In a report released on Wednesday, via Business Insider, Citi Research listed a series of features it expects to see from this year's iPhone. Among the features listed is "support for the iPhone pencil/stylus," which has thus far only supported certain iPad models.

Over the past several months, we've heard numerous rumors about the 2019 iPhone, including the fact that it may feature a triple camera setup. But there have been far fewer reports about the next iPhone featuring support for the Apple Pencil. One of the most notable rumors came back in 2018, when noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned Apple Pencil support could come to a future iPhone, though he didn't mention when.

There are currently two versions of the Apple Pencil, the second generation of which was released with the redesigned iPad Pro. If Apple does bring Pencil support to the iPhone, one would assume the company's handset would play nice with the second generation version.

Bringing Apple Pencil support to the iPhone could not only spur more sales of the accessory, but elevate interest in Apple's latest iPhone. After all, sales of the smartphone are on the decline, so what better way to spark interest?

How to use Apple Pencil (1st & 2nd Generation): The ultimate guide

Apple has made a number of dreams come true and included support for the original Apple Pencil in its brand new, fifth-generation iPad mini. The first-generation Pencil features a Lightning connector on top, underneath a removable cap. Just plug the connector on the Pencil into the iPad mini's Lightning port, then tap "Pair" when prompted to do so on your iPad, and you're good to go. From then on, the Pencil will be connected to the iPad via Bluetooth.

The Lighting connector is also how you charge the original Apple Pencil. You can plug it into your iPad mini when you're not using it so that the Pencil can charge. The Pencil also comes with a Lightning adapter, which has two Lightning ports, one which is plugged into by a Lightning cable, and the other which you use to plug in your Apple Pencil. This way, the Pencil can charge without having to stick out of your iPad mini.

So far, Apple has made only one set of devices that work with the second-generation Pencil, the 2018 iPad Pro models. Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro have flat sides that accommodate a magnetic attachment point for carrying the second-generation Apple Pencil, this magnetic point also has a built-in inductive charger for the Pencil.

Including this hardware on the new iPad mini would have driven up costs for Apple, and, subsequently, the price of the new iPad for customers.

With its brand new iPad Air, Apple has included support for the original Apple Pencil. The first-generation Pencil features a Lightning connector on top, underneath a removable (and frankly, highly-loseable) cap. Just plug the connector on the Pencil into the iPad Air's Lightning port, then tap "Pair" when prompted to do so on your iPad, and you're good to go. From then on, the Pencil will be connected to the iPad via Bluetooth.

The Lighting connector is also how you'll charge the Apple Pencil. You can plug it into your iPad Air when you're not using it so that the Pencil can charge. The Pencil also comes with a Lightning adapter, which has two Lightning ports, one which is plugged into by a Lightning cable, and the other which you use to plug in your Apple Pencil. This way, the Pencil can charge without having to stick out of your iPad Air.

So far, Apple has made only one set of devices that work with the second-generation Pencil, the 2018 iPad Pro models. Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro have flat sides that accommodate a magnetic attachment point for carrying the second-generation Apple Pencil, this magnetic point also has a built-in inductive charger for the Pencil.

Including this hardware on the new iPad Air would have driven up costs for Apple, and, subsequently, the price of the new iPad for customers.

The Apple Pencil lets you digitally draw, write, and illustrate anything your heart desires on your iPad and iPad Pro.

But though the Pencil needs no regular sharpening like its namesake, its plastic nib can wear down and get damaged over time. Having recently replaced a Pencil nib, I wanted to quickly run through the decision and replacement process for everyone else curious about the life cycle of their stylus.

Note: These steps are valid for both the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil 2.

When should you replace an Apple Pencil nib?

The Apple Pencil's nib is made of a hard capacitative plastic that sends signals to your iPad's screen based where you're drawing — and how hard you're pressing, too.

Hard plastic though it may be, it's not the same kind as the Pencil's exterior body — the tip has a slightly more flexible plastic that can wear away, chip, or otherwise get damaged over time.

As you sketch or write on your iPad, pressing against your screen will slowly wear down and widen the Pencil tip. This process isn't quick, however: I've owned (and pretty regularly used) Apple's stylus since 2015, and I've only replaced two nibs in its lifetime.

This process won't dramatically alter your Pencil experience on the iPad, either: The tip gets a little rougher and larger, but you'll still have full functionality.

If you're debating whether to replace your Apple Pencil nib, the biggest reasons to do so are feel, finish, and functionality.

As your nib wears down, it might feel a bit rougher when drawing on your iPad. Don't worry, unless there's actual finish damage (more on this in a moment), this roughness won't hurt your screen; that said, it may change the way you draw on the iPad and you might not like it as much.

(Alternatively, for those who feel the Pencil is too slippery, wearing down the nib might actually make it feel better when drawing on your screen.)

When a nib is really worn (or it's been damaged due to a drop or excessive wear), you'll be able to feel it by running a finger over the tip of your Apple Pencil. If the nib feels overly rough or sandpaper-like in any way, you've worn down the plastic and might want to start thinking about a replacement.

Though I've never worn a nib down to the extent where using it damaged my tablet, I'd still advise against using a Pencil with a physically rough nib on your iPad's screen.

In rare cases, you might damage the Pencil nib to the extent where it no longer functions as a capacitative stylus, effectively "breaking" the tool. While I've never had this happen to me, I've heard of a few (very rare) cases where a direct drop on concrete flattened the nib enough that it no longer registered when drawing.

If your Pencil shows up as connected to your iPad but you can't make drawing work, consider replacing the nib before getting into more complex troubleshooting scenarios.

Where can you get replacement Apple Pencil tips?

First and foremost: Your Apple Pencil comes with one free nib replacement in its original box and packaging. If you haven't thrown it away, you can find the spare nib inside the paper sleeve (along with a Lightning adapter that allows you to plug your Pencil into a standard Lightning cord).

If you've thrown it away or otherwise can't find your spare nib, you can pick up a set of replacement tips from the Apple Store.

How do I replace my Apple Pencil tip?

This part is easy:

1. Unscrew the nib in a counter-clockwise direction until it comes off the Pencil.

2. Install the new nib by screwing the new tip on your Pencil until it feels secure.

When should I replace my Apple Pencil outright?

Thanks to nib replacement, you should get many more years out of your Apple Pencil than a traditional ink pen or pencil. In an ideal world, you shouldn't have to replace your Pencil; that said, if the Pencil's internals begin pulling away, you might want to consider putting it out to pasture. (Or, at the very least, contacting AppleCare.)

Other questions?

Let us know in the comments.

Update March 2019: Updated for Apple Pencil 2. Serenity Caldwell contributed to a previous version of this article.

Whether you have the original or new second-generation model, there's more to your Apple Pencil than just writing and drawing. There are things that you can do with the Apple Pencil that might not be common knowledge. For instance, did you know that you could replace the tip of your Apple Pencil? What about using the Apple Pencil with a piece of paper covering your iPad's screen, allowing you to trace something from paper onto your iPad?

Here are some tips and tricks that you can use with your Apple Pencil. Most of them will work for both the first-generation and second-generation Apple Pencil.

• Replace the tip of your Apple Pencil
• Tilt to shade, press for pressure
• Palm rejection
• Check your Apple Pencil's battery
• Double-tap to switch modes on the second-generation Apple Pencil
• How to change the double-tap function for the second-generation Apple Pencil
• Trace through paper

Replace the tip of your Apple Pencil

Using the Apple Pencil continually will undoubtedly cause its tip to become worn down over time. You can replace it easily by unscrewing the tip from the Apple Pencil and replacing it with a new tip. The first-generation Apple Pencil comes with one replacement, but if you've used that, or you have a second-generation Apple Pencil, you'll need to buy Apple's Pencil Tip 4 Pack, available for $19.

See at Apple

Tilt to shade, press for pressure

When drawing using the Apple Pencil, you can easily shade in an area of your work by tilting the Apple Pencil towards one side and moving the flat side of the Pencil tip to shade it in, just as you could with an analog pencil on paper.

The Apple Pencil is also pressure sensitive, with most drawing and writing apps that support Apple Pencil allowing you to create thicker or thinner lines and shapes depending on how much pressure you put on the Pencil tip.

Palm rejection

One of the annoyances of using previous iPad styli was that you had to hold your hand in such a way as to not rest your palm on your iPad. I don't know how you hand-write or draw things, but for me, that was the worst thing about using this sort of tool on the iPad. Stylus and app developers both created their own palm-rejection features, but they were imperfect fixes, often requiring you to disable other features, or required you to manually turn palm rejection on.

When using the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro has near-perfect palm rejection. Sure, I'll still have the odd palm touch register, but for the most part, it's smooth sailing. Just start using the Apple Pencil on your iPad Pro, and palm rejection activates without another word.

Check your Apple Pencil's battery

If you want to check your Apple Pencil's battery, you can do so using the Notification Center widget view and the iOS battery widget. The widget shows the battery level of your current device, as well as all of the accessories connected to it, including Bluetooth headphones and yes, the Apple Pencil.

How to check the battery level on Apple Pencil

Of course, it's even easier to do with the second-generation Apple Pencil and 2018 iPad Pro. Simply magnetically attach the Pencil to the charging surface on the iPad Pro, then observe the battery readout that appears at the top of the screen.

Double-tap to switch modes on the second-generation Apple Pencil

The latest generation of the Apple Pencil comes with a flat surface that you can double-tap in order to switch between tools. For instance, if you're writing or drawing with the Apple Pencil and make a mistake, double-tap the surface to switch to the eraser tool in your present app and erase the error. Or use the double-tap to switch between your current and previous tools.

You can change how the Apple Pencil's double-tap gesture works in Settings on your 2018 iPad Pro.

How to change the double-tap function for the second-generation Apple Pencil

1. Open Settings on your iPad Pro.
2. Tap Apple Pencil.
3. Tap Switch Between Current Tool and Eraser, Switch Between Current Tool and Last Used, Show Color Palette, or Off.

Trace through paper

This is pretty cool. You can actually write on your iPad through paper using your Apple Pencil. Of course, you don't want to try and use especially thick paper, but standard printer paper should work just fine. This is particularly useful if you want to trace something into a drawing app.

Get an Apple Pencil

If you don't already have an Apple Pencil, you can get one now from Apple. If you have a 2015, 2016, or 2017 iPad Pro, or a 2018 9.7-inch iPad, you'll need the first-generation Pencil. If you have a 2018 iPad Pro, you'll need the second-generation Pencil.

• Apple Pencil (1st Generation) ($99) - See at Apple
• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) ($129) - See at Apple

The new features of the second generation Apple Pencil aren't designed to work with the older iPad Pro models. A prime example is a way each Apple Pencil charges.

The original Apple Pencil charged via the Lightning connection, which is hidden under the cap, and you would plug it into the port of your iPad Pro to charge it up. The new Apple Pencil automatically pairs, physically connects (via magnets), and wirelessly charges from the side of the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 11-inch iPad Pro.

With no magnets on the side or wireless charging in place, the older iPad Pro models can't make use of the new Apple Pencil.

The good news is if you're looking for the older version of the Apple Pencil, it's still available! The old Apple Pencil works with the following iPad models:

• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (second generation)
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (first generation)
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad (6th generation)

The new iPads Pro are here and they're exactly what everyone — including Apple — has been imagining since Steve Jobs showed off the original in 2010. It's got an edge-to-edge Liquid Retine display, USB-C port, the A12X processor, Apple Pencil 2 that connects magnetically and changes inductively, and a new Smart Keyboard Folio.

And you can pre-order it now.

See at Apple

1. Design

Apple's war on bezels continues. After deleting them from iPhone and Apple Watch, Apple has now pushed them all but off the iPad Pro as well. The result is an almost edge-to-curved-edge Liquid Retina display, anti-aliased and masked around the corners just like iPhone XR, but with an extra anti-reflective coating and, off course, 120hz ProMotion refresh rate all its own.

It looks gorgeous. It's not as dense as the XR but you hold it further away, so the experience is roughly the same. And, yeah, it's DCI-P3 completely color managed, and individually color calibrated at the factory, so all those pixels look amazing

The old 10.5 maintains the same casing size and but now has a new 11-inch display to better fill it. The new 12.9 maintains the display size but shaves off all the extra casing making it smaller and more portable. So much so, I think many 10.5 inch fans, including myself, will gravitate to the newly stealthy 12.9.

Both are now squared off in a way that's, probably intentionally, very reminiscent of the original iPad.

And yes, that means the Home button is gone, and the new gesture navigation first seen on iPhone X is in full effect. And it works really well, even if it is a little more complex and overloaded, given the multiple swipes for dock and mission control, and the support for multi-window and drag and drop.

2. Face ID & True Depth

No Home button means no Touch ID. Instead, Apple's once again gone all-in on Face ID.

You set it up in Portrait orientation but then you can use it in portrait or landscape, and Apple has even optimized the hardware and neural networks to function when it's docked to a keyboard as well. You can even double click the space bar to wake it and trigger Face ID so you don't have to reach across and tap-to-wake the screen.

It works off the same True Depth cameras system as modern iPhones, yeah, it can also take all your Portrait Selfies complete with Portrait Lighting and Depth Control.

And, thanks to the silicon, it's fast.

3. A12X Bionic

That silicon is, of course, the A12X Bionic, which really is on Hulk serum. 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU. Apple claims it's faster than 92% of portable PCs and has the graphics punch of an Xbox One S console.

That means it can do everything from running real Photoshop and Autocad to intensive, high frame rate games well.

4. The No. 2 Pencil

There's a new Pencil as well and, while Apple didn't call it the No 2, it could have.

It's got a new, matte finish that grips and just feels better, and you can tap the side to switch modes, like between draw and erase, zoomed in or zoomed out.

One side is even flattened out so you can store it magnetically. The magnets are strong enough to edge you towards the sweet spot and it clicks in with a satisfying, AirPods style thunk.

It also charges inductively right there on the side of the iPad Pro, opposite where the old smart connector was.

The new smart connector, meanwhile, is on the back. And it powers the smart keyboard folio that, unlike the old keyboard, cannot be served at different angles for table and lap use.

5. USB-C

Along with the bezel, and yes, the 3.5 mm headset jack, Apple has also ditched Lightning.

The why is simple. Apple wanted the connector to do more than lightning was designed to. Including driving in up to 5K display, right off the iPad Pro, as well as connecting directly to higher end photography, video, and audio gear.

No external storage though. At least not yet.

But you can get up to 1TB of internal if you really want it.

6. Pricing and availability

iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 11-inch and $999 for the 12.9 inch but goes up quickly as you add that storage and optional LTE networking. No gold option though. No matter how much you pay.

It's inarguably expensive, but that's Apple's current strategy: incredibly premium devices and experiences that they believe deliver significantly higher value for that price.

If that's too much for your budget, or not enough for your color profile, Apple is keeping the previous generation 10.5 around in space gray, rose gold, gold, silver, with up to 512GB of storage, and optional LTE, from $649.

Orders start today, ships next week.

See at Apple

The Apple Pencil is one of the best tools any iPad Pro user can have — especially artists — and it's finally getting an upgrade! Apple announced the second-generation Apple Pencil at its October press event in New York; here's everything you need know!

See at Apple

What's different about the new Apple Pencil?

In a quick blurb, the Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) has a slightly new design, charges wirelessly, and has some new functionality! Oh, and it's currently only available for the iPad Pro (2018).

How does the Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) charge?

It charges wirelessly by magnetically connecting to the side of the new iPad Pro, meaning your Apple Pencil no longer has a lightning connector on the end and you don't have to plug it into your iPad to charge it up! Plus, since it connects to the side, it should make it much easier to keep track of your Apple Pencil.

New design

The Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) is flat on one side, which allows the magnetic connection to the iPad Pro (2018) to be much stronger and sit flat against the side. It also has a matte finish instead of the glossy finish of the first-generation Apple Pencil.

New functionality

The Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) also allows you to double tap the pencil to switch between modes, even the eraser, making it easier than ever to access the mode you need while you're using the Apple Pencil. Different apps offer different functionality with the double-tap action.

Compatibility

The Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) is currently only compatible with the 12.9-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro (2018) models. If you want an Apple Pencil for the older models of iPad Pro (or the 6th generation iPad) you'll need the older generation Apple Pencil. The first-generation Apple Pencil does not work with the 2018 model iPad Pro.

How much does it cost?

The new Apple Pencil costs $129 and is available now.

See at Apple

For the last couple of years, all we've had are Apple Pencil 2 dreams. Now, just ahead of Apple's October More in the Making Event, legit rumors about the next generation of don't-call-it-a-stylus-or-you-blew-it are finally making the rounds.

October 28, 2018: New design, new gesture button

Kuo Ming Chi last week, via MacRumors

Mark Gurman also touched on a new Pencil for Bloomberg:

• An updated Apple Pencil, succeeding the original version launched in 2015.

Though both reports are light on details, Guilherme Rambo has teased more on Twitter:

And Steve Troughton-Smith:

Still no word on lengths, colors, tips, or anything else in terms of style or flexibility. (And I know, PHRASING, but we're all adults and artists here, so I'll trust you to comport yourselves accordingly.)

Update: Well, this could be the design!

What do you want to see in Apple Pencil 2?

Let me know in the comments below!

The Logitech Crayon was designed for children, and in fact was only available for educators to purchase upon release. As of today, however, anyone can preorder the Crayon, which ships Sept. 12. But is it something you'll want to buy?

For a certain target audience, it will be a great purchase.

• Comfortable, kid-friendly design
• Responsive; no perceptible lag time
• No need to pair, just turn on and go
• Supports palm rejection
• Smart tip adjusts line thickness according to your angle
• Almost 7-hour battery life

• Only compatible with one device: the iPad (6th generation)
• Doesn't support pressure sensitivity

The Logitech Crayon in action

I've spent a lot of time using the Apple Pencil, and I found the experience of using the Logitech Crayon to be quite similar. This was no surprise, as Logitech has a partnership with Apple which allows them to use Apple's proprietary technology in their products.

I found the Logitech Crayon very easy, comfortable, and natural to use. The flat shape didn't bother me, but when I handed the Crayon to my daughter the artist, she found the shape to be a little awkward. This is a personal preference, though the logic behind the flat shape is to make it more kid-friendly. As a teacher, I'm quite familiar with the phenomenon of pencils rolling off of desks accidentally-on-purpose. It's one thing for an actual pencil to hit the ground, but you don't want a digital pencil to do so.

There is no need to pair the Logitech Crayon to your iPad. Just press the on button and go. It works as a pencil on paper would. It even has palm rejection. This means that when you rest your palm on the iPad while you work with the Logitech Crayon, your iPad ignores your palm. There is no noticeable lag time, the Crayon is so responsive.

When you hold the Crayon at an angle, you get a thicker line. However, the Logitech Crayon does not support pressure sensitivity, so you don't get a darker line by pressing harder like you would with the Apple Pencil.

You charge the Logitech Crayon with a standard lightning cable. The tips are replaceable in case of wear and tear, but you don't have to worry about kids prying them off because you need a tool to remove them.

The only thing about the Logitech Crayon that really bothered me was the fact that it's only compatible with a single device: the iPad (6th generation.) I honestly thought that was a typo at first. I couldn't believe it wasn't compatible with any of the iPad Pros. But it isn't. I really hope Logitech decides to make something similar for iPad Pro in the future.

The Verdict

There is a lot to love about the Logitech Crayon. It's easy and natural to use and it works beautifully. It does what you want and expect a smart stylus to do. If you don't mind the orange color, flat shape, and lack of pressure sensitivity and if you do specifically have an iPad (6th generation), the Logitech Crayon is a great option.

The Logitech Crayon is available for preorder directly from Logitech right now and will be available to the public on Sept. 12 at Apple retail stores and on Apple's website.

See at Logitech

Do you use the Logitech Crayon? How do you like it? Let us know in the comments.

Logitech's Crayon for iPad is now available to schools!

Logitech's $49 Crayon stylus is reportedly now available for purchase. The low-cost, rugged stylus is only available to schools and must be purchased through Apple's education channels.

Schools can also purchase the standard Apple Pencil at a $10 discount.

You've probably heard by now about Logitech's $49 Crayon stylus, which uses similar technology as the Apple Pencil on the 2018 iPad.

There's a bit of confusion about Logitech's Crayon, what it supports, and when it will be available. So, I've done some digging to give you all the details right here.

Can I use the Crayon with my iPad Pro?

Sorry, but this little guy is specifically designed for the 2018 9.7-inch iPad. It uses a special type of connection technology that is not available on other Apple Pencil supported devices. It's not a difference in the iPad's screen or software. It's specific to Logitech's unique connection technology.

Did you say special connection? So not Bluetooth?

Logitech explained to me that the Crayon, "interacts with the iPad 6, allows for multiple pens to work on same iPad (not simultaneously) and can go from one iPad to another without any delay but does not pair."

There is a button at the end of the Crayon that you press for two seconds, which connects it directly to your iPad. Nothing else. No going into settings to make sure Bluetooth is on or having disconnect issues — just press a button and you're connected.

Does it work across the iPad's entire operating system?

It sure does. As far as the internals are concerned, Logitech Crayon works the same as Apple Pencil. You can swipe on the Home screen, use it in a variety of supported drawing apps, tap the keyboard with it, highlight text in iBooks, and pretty much anything else. It works very much like a standard stylus but has a few super cool extra features that are exclusive to the 2018 9.7-inch iPad.

Does it write like Apple Pencil?

Almost entirely, yes. It uses the same internals as Apple Pencil, which means low latency, palm rejection, and tilt support so you can make wider and thinner lines and add shading.

But unlike Apple Pencil, Crayon is not pressure-sensitive: It won't allow for lighter/darker or thinner/thicker lines based on the amount of pressure you place on its nib.

Why no pressure support? It's likely that creating a pressure-sensitive Crayon would have been cost-prohibitive; instead, Logitech and Apple chose to omit pressure to keep the price point lower for education customers. If you want pressure, you can always get an Apple Pencil.

My students break everything. Will Logitech Crayon be kid-proof?

Logitech is way ahead of you here: The designers knew what they were doing when they came up with the structure of the Crayon.

It's made of aluminum and rubber, so it's tough: The tip, which lasts for approximately 1.25 miles of writing according to the company, is protected with a special cover that can't be removed without a special tool; as such, little fingers can't pry the nib out of its base.

The bottom of the stylus has a removable cover which houses a female Lightning port (instead of Apple Pencil's male port); not only do you charge using a traditional cable, but the cover is tethered to Crayon so it won't get lost (or swallowed) during class time.

Additionally, the Crayon has a flat design similar to pencils used in kindergarten and early grades; it's flat, so it won't easily roll off the table, down the hallway, and into the principal's office. It also won't find its way down the bottom of a locker quite as easily, either.

Of course, kids will be kids, and I'm sure many of them will find a way to do damage to the Crayon over time, but the basic structure of the stylus will probably last a long time. Educators will also be able to buy replacement tips and caps if they get lost (or broken).

How long does the battery last?

The Crayon is estimated at up to 8 hours of writing. There's also an automatic shutoff feature, so if you're not using it after 30 minutes, the stylus will power down and no longer drain any battery (not even low-level trickle drain).

If the Crayon does run out of juice in the middle of a report or note taking, you can supercharge it: A 90-second charge will juice up the Crayon for another half hour of use.

OK, I want one. How do I get it?

If you're not an educator, that might be a problem. Starting this summer, along with Logitech's Rugged Combo 2 iPad case, schools and school districts will be able to order the Crayon for $49.99 with a minimum buying order of 10 units. If you're working in education, you can sign in to your schools account or sign up for a new one through Apple's Education Channel, where you'll be able to order the Crayon or Rugged Combo 2 iPad case this summer.

That's not to say that Logitech won't eventually offer it for stand-alone sale, but for now, it's education only.

Any more questions?

Do you have any more questions about what Logitech Crayon is and how it works with the 2018 iPad? Put them in the comments and I'll dig up the answers for you!

Updated May 16, 2018: Added information about the Logitech Crayon's availability.

Today is National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey, an event created — in part, at least — to emphasize to the children of the world that they are successors of the future. It's meant to nurture bright young minds and encourage them to showcase their intelligence and talents, as well as put a spotlight on children's issues. Apple, which has long dedicated itself (in its way) to supporting and inspiring kids, is joining in on the festivities by sharing self-portraits created by Turkish children using the new 9.7-inch iPad and Apple Pencil.

Over the past week, Apple has been sharing a series of videos on its Turkish YouTube channel entitled "Benim Portrem," or "My Portrait." Each clip shows a time-lapse process of the self-portrait being created, accompanied by a voiceover of the child's explanation of the portrait and what each part means to them. 12-year-old Defne A. described how she and her dog both love flowers, 10-year-old Ece S. placed herself in the beauty of nature, and 12-year-old Sude D. drew his silhouette and then added all the "things in [his] head." Apple CEO Tim Cook even shared the work of 13-year-old Özgün Asya on Twitter, whose portrait features a beautiful background of cherry blossoms, her favorite flower.

This isn't the first time Apple has spotlighted its products by celebrating National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Last year, the company put billboards up in Turkey showcasing work shot by young photographers using the then-new iPhone 7, as well as sharing short video clips taken by children to the aforementioned Turkish YouTube channel.

Thoughts?

Which super cool self-portrait is your favorite? Have you drawn anything using the new 9.7-inch iPad yet? Share in the comments!

For about a year, I worked exclusively on an iPad Pro. During that time I learned a lot about the highs (and massive lows) of iPad productivity, fell in love with the Apple Pencil, and discovered how best to balance my iPad and Mac lifestyle.

It's no secret to say that the iPad has changed how I work and think on my devices. I use it for work, roller derby, casual sketching and idea generation, watching movies, and so much more. And it's why I've continually been bullish on the device, even when sales lagged and great multitasking was but a rumor on the road map.

To me, the 2018 base-model 9.7-inch iPad is a special beast: It hits a line drive right through the company's fabled intersection of technology and liberal arts — and at the right price point. The iPad Pro did it first, but at a cost unattainable for all but the tinkerers and serious artists, and without iOS 11's crucial multitasking features. At $329, the iPad offers a low-end tablet experience unlike any other on the market. Add an extra $99 for Apple Pencil, and Apple has created the best device for all-purpose education, period.

But it's easy to make that claim, and a whole other thing to explain why I believe it so whole-heartedly. As a result, I decided to try and prove it: Starting with a blank page in Procreate, I created an entire iPad review video by just using my 2018 iPad, Apple Pencil, and third-party apps. My Mac came into play only once — when I uploaded my video to YouTube.

Here it is.

"Filming" my 9.7 iPad review on my iPad

Rene and I have filmed and edited reviews on Apple devices before, starting with the iPhone 6s review back in 2015. But this iPad review was a bit different: I shot only one piece of live-action footage (using my 10.5-inch iPad Pro to film me working on the 2018 iPad).

Instead, I used techniques I developed with my Linea review to "film" the screen of my iPad as I worked in apps and OS features across the device. I achieved this chiefly with iOS's built-in Screen Recorder, though I also used a few Procreate video replays of my line-drawings.

Screen Recorder will record pretty much anything save for copyrighted video, which makes it an incredible tool for making timelapses of drawings, workflows in Keynote, app experiences, and more. In total, I "filmed" in apps like:

• the aforementioned Procreate and Linea Sketch
• Keynote
• Astropad
• Glider Classic
• Swift Playgrounds
• iTunes U
• Boulevard AR
• VHS Cam
• Prompt
• Safari
• iBooks
• The App Store

To create timelapses of video, I used the excellent LumaFusion video editor, which lets you speed up clips to 6x their original speed. I'd import the videos, cut the areas I didn't need, and speed them up; if they still weren't fast enough, I'd export that clip, then re-import it into LumaFusion and re-layer the speed adjustment.

To import some of my found-footage, I used a web-based YouTube exporter to grab the direct URL of two YouTube videos (a section of Steve Jobs's 1985 speech on education at Lund University in Sweden and a small clip of Wired's incredible piece on preserving the personality of a dying family member inside a chatbot), then downloaded the video to GoodReader, where I was able to save it to the Files app.

I was also lucky to have access to some old digitized Hi8 footage of my childhood computers, courtesy my father, which were stored in Dropbox (and easily downloaded to Files).

I also used [Keynote](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/keynote/id361285480?mt=8&at=10l3Vy&ct=UUimUdUnU46276's new Magic Move and Line Draw features to draw atop the Steve Jobs speech and some roller derby footage, and recorded the final animation using Screen Recording.

Once I had all my video clips, I primarily assembled them in iMovie, with LumaFusion playing the part of a section editor — I'd edit a section of timelapsed footage in LumaFusion, then drop it in as a single chunk in iMovie so as to avoid too many moving pieces. (iOS still has many limitations when it comes to editing in a mobile environment, and I've had detached audio clips move too many times in a big project not to play it a bit safe.)

When I was ready to add music, I hopped into GarageBand and composed a few little ditties using the app's Toy Box Sound Library — it was my first time using GarageBand's sound library to make something, and I came away incredibly impressed with the technical ability of the app. (iMovie crew, take notes!) Even never having used it, I was able to compose something that didn't sound completely awful, and in under an hour, to boot. GarageBand even lets you export the resulting MP3s directly into an iMovie project, making my scoring process nice and easy.

The last thing I made — the review's opening and closing titles — were created using Screen Recorder and iOS 11's built-in Markup tool.

During the process, I sent Rene and a few friends some edits in progress by using Screen Recorder over iMovie's preview screen — it saved me from having to export an in-progress timeline, which at times had upwards of 45 minutes of unprocessed footage residing in it.

For the final movie, I exported it to Photos, then uploaded it to Google Drive — where my Mac took on its sole duty, uploading the video to YouTube. (I probably could have done this step via iPad, but I didn't want to risk the chance that the app would compress the video file during upload.)

Would I make another iPad review on an iPad again? Absolutely

This process took a few weeks of trial and error as I built — and rebuilt — my workflows and tried to figure out how exactly I wanted to showcase the iPad's myriad skill-sets. It's certainly the most involved project (short of designing my wedding) that I undertook on an iPad.

But here's the best part: With the exception of some of the video editing tools (seriously, iMovie team, you folks have work to do), everything I did on my iPad was much easier than it would have been to make this on a Mac. The Apple Pencil remains, to my mind, one of the best tools Apple has ever created — in a vacuum, it's a pretty decent stylus; when paired with the power of an iPad, however, it offers almost unlimited flexibility for writing, drawing, precision editing, strain-free navigation, and creativity.

iPad 2018 (6th gen) is the linear successor of last year's iPad 2017 (5th gen). It takes what was the best value in tablets, adds the Apple A10 Fusion chipset, faster LTE (if you go with the LTE model), a more coppery gold finish (if you go with the gold model), and support for the Apple Pencil, all while keeping the price the same. And that makes iPad 6 almost exactly half an iPad Pro — for almost exactly half the price.

But is that enough? Paired with a Logitech Rugged Keyboard and Crayon, is that enough for kids in classrooms that are increasingly going Chromebook? With its faster chipset, is that enough for people looking to upgrade from one of the original iPads, iPads Air, or iPads mini? With Apple Pencil, is that enough for someone who wants to draw and write by hand but just couldn't justify the price of a Pro?

Let's find out.

See at Best Buy

iPad 6 Video Review

Note: I've been using a review unit of the 2018 iPad (6th Generation) for about a week. It's substantially similar to the 2017 iPad (5th Generation), and I've been using and testing iPads since they first launched in 2010, so I'm comfortable getting this review up quickly for those deciding whether or not they want to buy one quickly. I'm going to keep using it as my primary tablet for the rest of the month, though, and I'll update this review with anything interesting or unexpected I discover regarding battery life, app performance, or Pencil use.

iPad 6 In Brief

• A less-expensive iPad
• A higher-performance tablet
• Apple Pencil support
• Access to a million tablet-optimized apps

• An iPad Pro
• More RAM and better cameras
• A laminated, wide-gamut, ProMotion, TrueTone display
• Smart Connector and Keyboard

The 2018 iPad (6th Generation) lacks the laminated, DCI-P3 wide color gamut, 120 Hz ProMotion, color-matching TrueTone display of the iPad Pro. It lacks the quad-speaker system for landscape stereo. It lacks the 4 GB of RAM for simultaneous side-by-side and slide-over apps. The Smart Connector for Apple Smart Keyboard. The 12 mp / 4K rear camera and 7 mp / 1080p front camera. And the larger 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch options.

But it's almost half price: Starting at $329 instead of $649.

And for that you get the same chipset as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (which is the same as iPad Pro, minus the X-tra cores), the same Apple Pencil support as the iPad Pro, faster LTE networking (optional), and access to the same 200,000 education apps and 1,000,000 tablet-optimized apps in the iPad App Store.

it's still not an iPad Pro but many — perhaps even most? — people won't care. With these updates and at this price, it's a better value than ever.

See at Best Buy

iPad 6 combines elements of iPad Air, iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro 9.7. Rather than repeat review material here, please see my previous reviews.

• 9.7-inch iPad 2017 (5th Gen) review
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro review
• iPad mini 4 review
• iPad Air 2 review
• iPad Air review

iPad 6 The Same

iPad 6 is almost identical to iPad 5. Both are hybrids of iPad Air and iPad Air 2. They're both 9.4 inches (240 mm) tall, 6.6 inches (169.5 mm) wide, 0.29 inches (7.5 mm) "thin", and weighs in at 1.03 pounds (469 grams) for the Wi-Fi version and 1.05 pounds (478 grams) for the cellular version. That's the same "thinness" and weight as the original iPad Air, and 0.05 inches (1.4 mm) thicker and 0.07 pounds (9 grams) heavier than the iPad Air 2 or 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

What it means, though, is that all of your accessories going all the way back to the original iPad Air will fit iPad 6 — including many iPad Air 2 accessories.

• Best accessories for the 9.7-inch iPad
• Best cases for the 9.7-inch iPad

It's also got the same two speaker system on the bottom. Same lack of a mute switch / rotation-lock switch. Same lack of a camera bump. Same big, plastic window on the top back of the LTE version.

It's the design language that started with iPod Touch, moved to iPad mini and iPad Air, and settled on iPad Pro. And if something new is coming — something more iPhone X like — it won't start with this iPad. It'll start with the next Pro.

The camera optics are the same as well, still in line with the Air Pad Air, original 12.9-inch iPad Pro, or iPhone 6. That means 8 megapixels, 1080p video out back and 1.2 megapixels, 720p video up front. It's not modern, and it's certainly not great.

It'll probably be fine for occasional, casual use, including use in classrooms. That includes taking everyday photos in well-lit environments, scanning documents to digitize, and capturing image and videos for family or school projects. Also, taking and making FaceTime video calls. But it's not for anyone who takes photography seriously. Yes, even on an iPad.

Touch ID on the front is also the same, first generation sensor as last year, not the faster second-generation sensor found on the iPads Pro and modern iPhones.

iPad 6 The Different

There are a few minor differences between this year's iPad and last. Where the 2017 model came in a champagne gold similar to the one Apple's been using since iPhone 5s, the 2018 gold is much closer to iPhone 8 — not rose so much as blushing copper. I like it. A lot. Even if it does make it tough to color-match multiple Apple products across the line... The LTE networking, if you choose that option, is also twice as fast as before. Up to 300 Mbps now.

There are also two serious differences. The first is speed. The Apple A10 Fusion system-on-a-chip (SoC) in the 2018 iPad is about 1.5x as fast as the Apple A9 in the 2017 iPad.

A10 Fusion came about because Apple was pushing it's high-performance silicon so far, so fast, it was starting to leave a gap underneath. So, beneath the two high-performance cores, Apple slid in two high-efficiency cores. All of that is managed internally by a custom controller so the system only ever sees one set of cores at a time. Behind the scenes, though, it assigns to right cores to the right job.

Combined with a hex-core graphics processor, it provides plenty of power for launching apps, crunching music, photos, and movies, and powering augmented reality (AR) experiences. And, behind the A10X in iPad Pro and new A11 Bionic in iPhone 8 and iPhone X, it remains one of the most efficient and performant processors on the market. (Just beating the original iPads Pro and approaching the power in a MacBook Air or even 2013 MacBook Pro…)

If you're only watching videos or surfing the web, it won't make a big difference to you. If you're doing a lot of productivity or creative work, it'll make all the difference.

The second significant addition to the 2018 iPad is Apple Pencil support. Introduced alongside the original iPad Pro, Apple Pencil combines pressure sensors in the tip with telemetry sensors and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the shaft to provide an experience that's both similar to but decidedly different from traditional digital stylus pens.

There's no eraser on the back, which I don't miss because none of the pencils I used in art school or design work ever had erasers on the back. I'm used to drawing with one hand and erasing with a gum or white eraser in the other, which is a behavior emulated by most art apps. But the pencils used in elementary school typically do have erasers on the back — for as long as they last — so kids might end up spinning the Pencil around a few times before habituating themselves to nothing being there.

There are also no buttons on the Pencil, unlike some other stylus pens and real-world art tools like the airbrush. I kinda wish there was something there to click on, even though I'm not sure how I'd use it. Switch from stroke to spray?

You can charge the Pencil by plugging it right into the Lightning port on your iPad, which a lot of internet hot-takers found silly but which anyone who's used one will tell you is a life-saver in practice: If the Pencil runs dry, without even needing to find a charger, you can top it up quickly and finish your work. I've used it on planes, in coffee shops, and even when lounging around on the sofa so often. The only downside is the cap that covers the Lightning plug — it's magnetic and can stick to your iPad when charging, but it's still super easy to lose when you've popped it off.

To support the Pencil, iPad 2018 has the same touch system as the 2016 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Combined with the air gap of the non-laminated display, it's not a great an experience as the original Pros, much less the current versions. But, surprisingly, it's still pretty good, and still much better than the Wacom Cintiq tablets I used for years.

When I gave it to my godkids and a few friends to try — digital artists, none of them — they couldn't tell much if any difference. Especially because the capabilities, from pressure sensitivity to angle and tilt all work the same.

In addition to drawing apps, Pencil now works exceptionally well in Apple's iWork suite as well: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. You can draw into documents just like you can with Notes, but what's especially cool is the new dynamic annotation feature. Instead of markup floating in its own, static layer on top of the document, each element is separate and independently anchored to the appropriate element of the document.

It's currently in beta, but just like GarageBand in the early days of iPad, iWork + Pencil shows the potential of what's the come.

Logitech will also be making a Crayon for education. It won't have pressure sensitivity but it will have angle and tilt, so it'll be half a Pencil for half the price. (Sense a trend?) It'll also pair over a unique frequency, which means it won't be compatible with iPad Pro but will let teachers hand them out without having to worry which Crayon is bound to which iPad. Neat.

iPad 6 Not Pro

Even though the 2018 iPad has an Apple A10 Fusion SoC, it doesn't have the A10X Fusion of the current generation iPad Pro or the new A11 Bionic that powers iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and will almost certainly power the next generation of iPads Pro. With 2 GB of memory instead of 4GB, it can do side-by-side apps and slide-over apps, but the latter will pause the former. iPad Pro can keep all of those apps alive all at the same time.

It also doesn't have the laminated display of the iPad Pro, which makes it look less like the pixels are painted under the screen and more like they're embedded into the glass. Colors are restricted to the sRGB space rather than the wider gamut DCI-P3, so you don't get the deeper reds and richer greens. There's no TrueTone, so white doesn't look as absolutely paper white regardless of the warm incandescent lighting or cold fluorescent lighting of the room. And there's no ProMotion, which boosts the refresh rate to 120 Hz, not only making scrolling ever-so-smooth but making Pencil latency all but disappear.

The sound is stereo, so long as you hold it in portrait, so the two bottom-mounted speakers are firing the same way. But there's no four-speaker system that dynamically maintains stereo sound no matter which way you rotate or hold it.

There's no Smart Connector, so you can't use Apple's Smart Keyboard, which I live by on iPad Pro, or any of the Smart Connector-equipped Logitech keyboards. So, Bluetooth keyboards are your only option.

The cameras, being 8 MP and 1080p and 1.2 MP and 720p are also a far cry from the iPad Pro's more magnificent 12 MP and 4K (2160p) and 7 MP and 1080p cameras. The 2018 iPad does get the same image signal processor (ISP) as the current-generation iPad Pro, though, so you have the same object detection, auto focus, white balance, and iso, and all the other bells and silicon whistles.

And, of course, size is limited to 9.7-inches. There's no 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch option for those who want a bigger tablet experience.

iPad works with iOS 11 — currently iOS 11.3. It includes a variety of built-in apps for everything from web browsing to mail, photography to ebooks, maps to movie-making. It also works with the over 1 millions iPad-optimized apps in the App Store, which turns iPad 2018 into... just about anything.

• iPad buyers guide
• iOS 11 review
• iOS 11 getting started guides
• Best iPad apps of 2018
• Best iPad games of 2018

iPad 6 But, Price

Before the original iPad launched, there was a rumor that it would cost $1000. During the iPad introduction event, Steve Jobs revealed the actual price to an "unbelievable" $499. Newer versions of the 9.7-inch iPad, from iPad 2 to iPad Air 2, all kept the same price point, even as older versions hang around at $399. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro raised the cost of entry to $599. iPad 6 — like iPad 5?

Still, $329.

Yes, you're getting what you pay for. And that means a display straight out of the original iPad Air — not laminated like iPad Air 2, not TrueTone like iPad Pro, and certainly not DCI-P3 and ProMotion like iPad Pro 2.

The camera system is from iPad Air 2, not nearly as impressive as the 12-megapixel / 4K and 7-megapixel / 1080p camera system of iPad Pro 2.

The chipset is better: the same A10 Fusion found in iPhone 7... but it's not the A10X Fusion found in iPad Pro 2, with double the memory and graphics punch.

It has Apple Pencil support, which used to be an iPad Pro-only feature. But it doesn't have Smart Connector support, which remains an iPad Pro-only feature.

But, $329.

It may have only half the features of iPad Pro but it's very nearly half the price, and if you don't need any of those extra features, that's a significant savings. Even and especially with Apple Pencil added to your cart.

By all means, if you want an iPad Pro or a Mac, get an iPad Pro or a Mac. But for students in and outside the classroom, for people looking top upgrade from an original-style or Air-era iPad, or for those who just want Pencil support without the full Pro price, the 2018 iPad Pro, Apple's 6th Generation, once again delivers the best value in tablets today.

See at Apple

Apple has partnered with Logitech for its education-themed accessories for the new sixth-generation iPad. There's a new second-generation rugged iPad case and keyboard combo, and in addition, Logitech has co-developed a lower-priced, kid-friendly Crayon stylus with Apple.

These two new products are available exclusively for the 6th-generation iPad, and they will only be available to purchase from Apple's Education Channel for schools and school districts.

The Rugged Combo Case

The Rugged Combo iPad case is a thick, hardshell case made from soft polymer ribs with square corners for extra protection against drops. It also has a kickstand on the back with free movement with 20 to 60 degree tilt angles so you can stand it up in various angles.

The detachable keyboard clips magnetically to the case, but connects to the iPad using special data transfer technology that goes from the connection point to the device through the Lightning port, so it is extra secure for student testing and exams. Because the keyboard connects to the iPad, it doesn't need a separate charging port. It pulls its juice from the iPad using low power consumption.

The Rugged Combo is only sold in boxes of 10 units and will cost $99 for schools and school districts through Apple's Education Channel. It's available now.

The Crayon

The Logitech Crayon takes much of the technology inside of Apple Pencil — including low-latency communication, tilt and shade, and palm rejection — and angles it for an education audience. Logitech worked with Apple to design the student-oriented device, and took into consideration many of the issues teachers might have with the original Pencil (detachable nib, price, design, pairing ability, and charging). As such, it's probably the only stylus we'd recommend outside of the Apple Pencil; unfortunately, as with the rugged case, the Crayon is available solely for education customers.

How does Logitech's Crayon stylus work?

The main differences between it and the original Apple Pencil are as follows:

• The Crayon has no pressure sensitivity
• It's designed solely to work on the sixth-generation iPad (sorry, iPad Pro users)
• It uses a single-frequency (non-Bluetooth) connection to connect with your iPad (you'll press a button on the side of the stylus to turn it on and connect it)
• It has a flat design, much like 53's Pencil stylus
• It's made from aluminum and rubber, and designed for rugged use
• It uses a female lightning port to charge — remove the (attached) nib and plug in a regular Lightning cord to charge it
• It lasts for 8 hours (to the Pencil's 12 hours)

Educators will be able to order the Crayon at $49 each through Apple's Eduction Channel in June.

Questions?

Let us know in the comments.

Updated March 27 4:50PM ET: Added more information about the Crayon.

When will Apple's 2018 March Event take place?

Tuesday, March 27, 2018. That continues Apple's pattern of holding spring events later and later in March.

• 2016: March 21
• 2015: March 9
• 2012: March 7
• 2011: March 2

Where is Apple's 2018 March Event being held?

The Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, you'd think? But no: It's being held in Chicago this time.

Does an education event mean we won't see new iPhones, iPads, or Macs?

Hard to say. We could get there and see new Books (formerly, iBooks) and new Classroom for iPad software. And that's it. Or we could see the next version of the less expensive 9.7-inch iPad and new Apple Pencil to go with it, and maybe the new, updated MacBook Air for students.

Nothing is official until Apple announces it, so let's just cover all the bases.

Will we see new iPads Pro?

Apple updated the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and introduced the 10.5-inch iPad Pro back in June. That's only 9 months ago for a product that typically enjoys a 12-18 month refresh rate.

But Apple silicon – in this case, the September-launched A11 bionic — waits on no refresh rate, and the idea of iPads Pro getting MacBook Pro-style spec bumps is appealing. (Even if it causes grumbles from those who just bought the previous model.)

Arguably, the bigger advances awaiting iPads Pro are OLED displays, TrueDepth cameras, Face ID, and new screen improvements for the Apple Pencil.

Given OLED constraints and Apple's desire to push the display technology to two new iPhones this year, it seems extremely unlikely for iPad. Whether Apple can produce enough TrueDepth modules or tries to push LED edge-to-edge, we'll have to wait and see.

More iPad Pro 3 rumors

What about a new, cheap 9.7-inch iPad or a new iPad mini?

Another example of Apple launching new products even when it doesn't hold events, 2017 saw a new, less-expensive iPad — roughly analogous to an iPad Air 1.5 with updated processors, it was targeted at people who still had iPad 2 or other, older, devices.

So the questions becomes: Does Apple keep that model around and push prices down even lower — into cheap video tablet ranges — or keep the price the same and bump up the specs?

iPad mini is an even harder knot to cut. Steve Jobs never wanted a small tablet. Eddy Cue convinced him of its value. And it worked... for a while. But when iPhone went big and bigger, the iPhone Plus cut into the iPad minus.

Now, with rumors of an even bigger iPhone on the horizon, is there any space left at all for an iPad mini or 7.9-inch iPad Pro?

As someone who'd love a big phone or tiny tablet with Apple Pencil support, I just hope Apple offers one of those products by year's end.

Could we see a new Apple Pencil 2?

You mean a No. 2 Pencil? (No, you stop!) Serenity certainly hopes so:

What I want to see in Apple Pencil 2

AirPower and AirPods 2?

Apple teased AirPower inductive charging pads and inductive charging cases for AirPods back in September of 2017. It would be odd to rehash them rather than launch them, but if they're ready and there's at least a slide's worth of new information to talk about, why not? (Especially if that AirPower mat also charges Apple Pencil 2.)

There are rumors of water-resistance and Hey, Siri-capable AirPods 2, and even AirPods-style, high-end, over-the-ear headphones as well. It might be too early for those, though.

What about iPhone SE 2?

Apple typically unleashes new iPhones in September, but in 2016 we got an everything-old-is-new-again rebirth of the 4-inch screen size with iPhone SE. Could Apple be readying a repeat?

The existing iPhone SE is an iPhone 6s in iPhone 5s clothes. Apple might replace it in the less expensive lineup with an iPhone 9 this spring, but what about in the much smaller lineup? With next-generation iPhones rumored to go Plus again, it would be nice to have something that's still on the small side as well.

An iPhone SE 2, so to speak.

More on iPhone SE 2

Could we see a Gold or Product RED iPhone X?

While we didn't get a March Event in 2017, we did get a Product RED iPhone 7. And it was stunning. New colors are often as exciting for customers as new designs — we've seen that with gold and rose gold in the past.

Competitors are launching new flagship-ish phones this spring and a great way for Apple to grab back some of that attention is new iPhone colors. Not only does Product RED fit that bill, it provides funding to an incredibly worthy cause.

Whether we'd see anything other than potential gold or red iPhones X — purple or blue, anyone? — or any new colors at all are questions I'm incredibly excited to see answered.

More iPhone 9 / iPhone XI rumors

What about new Macs?

Apple announced the 12-inch MacBook at the March event in 2015 and updated in in 2016. The 2017 updates showed up at WWDC in June along with updated MacBooks Pro and iMacs. In December, we got iMac Pro.

All of them are now on Kaby Lake (with the exception of iMac Pro, which is on Skylake, because Xeon W.) Is Coffee Lake ready for the Mac? Intel has been struggling with the last few die shrinks and architecture changes — so much so the company has delayed and divided its roadmap numerous times. Apple needs very specific chips and time for deep integrations, so we'll have to wait and see.

Same with a redesign. I'd love Face ID on the Mac even more than I would iPad. With T1 and T2 chips, everything is there assuming the TrueDepth camera modules are available in sufficient quantity and yield rates. And if it comes with an edge-to-edge display like in the mockup above — take my money.

But it's a huge if, especially for March.

More on MacBook rumors

What about the software?

We've got the betas for iOS 11.3 and the rest, so all the small new features coming this spring are already out there. If there's anything specific to the new hardware or services, we'll hear about it.

And iBooks... er... Books?

Books — the new version of Apple's ebook store and reader — certainly seems on the cusp of an App Store-style redesign.

What do you want to see?

What do you most want to see from Apple at March 27th's "Field Trip" event in Chicago? Let me know in the comments below!

Apple added a feature to the Notes app on the iPad Pro (you might even say it's a new feature on Apple Pencil) that allows you to instantly open up to a new note from the Lock screen. Everything else is still locked down until you enter your passcode or use Touch ID, but you can use it to jot down a quick note without needing to jump through a bunch of steps. Here's how to use it.

• How to enable Instant Notes on iPad Pro in iOS 11
• How to use Instant Notes on iPad Pro with Apple Pencil in iOS 11
• How to customize how long a recently added note is accessible from the Lock screen
• How to disable Instant Notes on iPad Pro in iOS 11

How to enable Instant Notes on iPad Pro in iOS 11

You can open a new note directly in the Notes app from your iPad Pro's Lock screen, but you'll have to enable it first.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPad Pro.
2. Tap Notes.

3. Tap Access Notes from Lock Screen.
4. Select the way you want to open Instant Notes.
   • Always Create New Note
   • Resume Last Note Created on Lock Screen
   • Resume Ladt Note Viewed in Notes App

How to use Instant Notes on iPad Pro with Apple Pencil in iOS 11

Instant Notes is only compatible with the iPad Pro and can only be accessed with an Apple Pencil, so make sure your Apple Pencil is charged up and connected to your iPad Pro.

All you have to do is tap the screen (make sure the screen is awake, but it doesn't have to be unlocked). You'll automatically open a new note. If you want to access a different note or exit the Notes app altogether, you'll have to enter your passcode or use Touch ID to log into your iPad Pro.

How to customize how long a recently created or viewed note is accessible from the Lock screen

With Instant Notes and the Apple Pencil on iPad Pro or with the Notes app in Control Center, you can access the most recent note you wrote for as little as 5 minutes or as long as all day. You can also set it up to always be accessible from the Lock screen or never be accessible from the Lock screen.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPad Pro.
2. Tap Notes.

3. Tap Access from Lock Screen.
4. Tap Resume Last Note Created on Lock Screen or Resume Last Note Viewed in Notes App.
5. Select a duration of Always, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, Once Daily, or Never.

The note you recently created or viewed will appear for the designated amount of time. After that, you'll open a new note instead.

How to disable Instant Notes on iPad Pro in iOS 11

So your friend keeps playing jokes on you and secretly writing you notes when you're not looking. No problem. You can disable Instant Notes.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPad Pro.
2. Tap Notes.

3. Tap Access Notes from Lock Screen.
4. Tap Off.

This also disables Instant Notes from being accessed from Control Center. You can still use the Notes tool in Control Center, but you'll have to unlock with Touch ID to enter the Notes app.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about enabling and using Instant Notes? Put them in the comments and we'll help you out.

I've wanted Apple Pencil support on iPhone — specifically iPhones with larger than 5-inch displays — for a long time. My background is in art and design and the idea of having a tiny drawing pad delights me. It's my favorite thing about Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 series. It's not my favorite implementation (see below), but the idea of being able to doodle anywhere, any time I have my phone in hand is beyond compelling. Same for markup, notes, all of it.

So far, though, Apple's kept Pencil exclusive to iPad. (And, similarly, 3D Touch to iPhone.) Why?

Tale of two technologies

A while ago I wrote about the different requirements for 3D Touch-based pressure sensitivity and Apple Pencil-based pressure sensitivity:

And because Apple is likely moving away from LCD/LED to OLED in iPhone 8, and will need to implement a different force detection system:

Both implementations are different than how Apple Pencil currently works. From my original iPad Pro review:

Multitouch is actually 3D. It radiates from the display and can sense capacitance even if not in direct contact. Other vendors have used this to add features like hover state or to provide some measure of support with thin gloves. Apple has used it to map the hand, figure out its position, and more accurately register touch events and reject unintentional contact.

With Apple Pencil, that's combined with the pressure and other information coming off the tip and body of the Pencil itself to produce a remarkably real-world feeling from a digital tool. One much better, in my many years of experience, than the kind achieved with previous generation digitizer-layer technologies like those used by Wacom/Samsung and Microsoft.

Putting the two technologies together adds both complexity and cost. It has to be done in such a way that neither interferes with or compromises each other, nor raises the bill of goods higher than Apple's price points (with desired margins) would allow.

Putting Pencil in the palm of your hand

In order to support Apple Pencil on iPhone, a few things would need to happen. First, iPhone would need to be able to ramp up screen refresh to reduce latency. Apple's ProMotion technology, which debuted back in June with the second generation iPads Pro, should be able to handle that.

From my 10.5-inch iPad Pro review:

ProMotion would also significantly improve the iPhone's display experience, including clearer scrolling and video playback down to "cinematic" 24 fps. When and if Apple adds ProMotion to iPhone, it would have to be compatible with 3D Touch and fit within Apple's cost structure, so that handles that.

Size matters

The only other potential issue when thinking about Apple Pencil on iPhone is size. Apple Pencil was designed to be a full-sized tool. It wasn't shrunk down so it could be stuffed inside a phone. That makes it annoying to cary — where's my Pencil?! — but incredible to use. And since an iPad isn't a pocket device anyway, it's not much more work to pull out a Pencil along with it.

iPhone, though, is often kept in a pocket. That's what makes the shrunk down stylus pens on Galaxy Note so convenient to carry, if less enjoyable to use.

Apple could simply add support for the current or next-generation Apple Pencil to iPhone and require people to either stuff it into a pocket as well, or carry it in a bag. Apple could also come up with something purpose-built for iPhone and the way iPhone is used.

Better on the bigger phone

Yes, Steve Jobs once said "yuck" about stylus pens and claimed the finger was the best input method. And Jobs was correct — at that time. Resistive stylus pens were... yucky. But time marches on and technology improves. Apple Pencil isn't a resistive stylus. It may not be "better" than your finger, but it's an amazing complement and extension to your finger.

Apple has no doubt tested Pencil technology on iPhone. Apple tests everything. Yet, Apple hasn't released an iPhone with Pencil support, nor has the company brought Pencil to iPad mini. That means we have our sketchbook (~13-inch) and notebook (~10-inch), but no field notebook (~6-inches).

Looking at Apple's current product line and projecting forward, it feels like iPad mini's best days are behind it while iPhone's potential is still increasing. Apple Pencil support would only accelerate that.

So, here's hoping Apple starts doing more than just testing Pencil on iPhone — and starts shipping.

What's the Apple Pencil?

Apple's own smart stylus for the iPad Pro, which debuted with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in late 2015. The Pencil hardware itself hasn't changed since then, but Apple just improved its performance by adding ProMotion technology to the just-refreshed 12.9-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro that launched at WWDC 2017. It's an optional $99 add-on that only works with the iPad Pro.

• How to use Apple Pencil: The Ultimate Guide

What's the Surface Pen?

That's Microsoft's stylus for the Surface devices: It comes with the Surface Book and Surface Studio desktop, and it's an optional $99.99 add-on for Surface Pro tablets and the Surface Laptop. The Surface Pen was updated in 2017 to give it four times the pressure sensitivity, quicker response time, and a brand-new tilt control that so far only works with the new Surface Pro, but will come to other devices this year.

• New Microsoft Surface Pen: Everything you need to know, by our friends at Windows Central

How do their stats stack up?

Kind of exactly like this:

• Apple Pencil: Unspecified pressure sensitivity, 20ms latency, tilt support, 12 hours battery life (rechargeable), Bluetooth 4
• Surface Pen: 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, 21ms latency, tilt/rotation support (on some devices), 9g of activation force, 1 year battery life (replaceable), Bluetooth 4

Wow, so that latency is almost equal.

Yeah, you shouldn't notice. Apple improved the Pencil's latency with the new iPad Pro line by introducing ProMotion technology, which doubles the display's refresh rate to 120Hz when you're using the Pencil. That way, the lag time between when you draw a line and when it appears onscreen is halved from 40ms to 20ms, and you can draw faster.

The Surface Pen similarly communicates between the Pen and the Surface Pro's display. The newest Surface Pro has Pixelsense Accelerator chip that essentially provides hardware acceleration for Windows 10's Windows Ink features. The new Surface Pro is also the only device where the new Pen's tilt feature works, which lets you shade in areas by tilting the Pen, like you were drawing with the side of a pencil lead. (The Apple Pencil has offered tilt control since late 2015.)

• Apple's ProMotion is going to change how we use our devices

Are they about the same size?

Pretty close.

• Apple Pencil: 6.92 inches long, 0.35 inch diameter, 20.7 grams (0.73 ounces).
• Surface Pen: 5.75 inches long, 0.38 inch diameter, 20 grams (0.71 ounces)

Do they come in colors?

Apple Pencil is white. The Surface Pen comes in platinum, black, cobalt blue, and burgundy, which coordinate with the keyboard and mouse you can also get for your Surface Pro.

How does battery life compare? How do you charge them?

The Apple Pencil is rated for 12 hours of battery life, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it's rechargable and charges very quickly. You pull off the magnetic cap and plug the Lightning connector inside right into the Lightning port on your iPad, and 15 seconds (yes, seconds) of charging will give you 30 minutes of battery life. The Pencil also comes with a little adapter to let you charge from a standard USB port.

The Surface Pen runs on a single AAAA battery (quadruple-A!), which is included and should last about a year.

Do they have any other buttons?

The Apple Pencil doesn't. It's smooth all the way around. The cap isn't an eraser, it's just a little cap that covers the Lightning connector. Come on, this is a Jony Ive design! Of course it doesn't have buttons.

The Surface Pen does, although we're not here to button-shame it, because you can program the button on the side and the eraser on the tail in the Windows Ink settings. You can even pick different actions for a click, double-click, and press-and-hold.

• How to customize the active pen settings for Windows Ink on Windows 10 Anniversary Update, courtesy of Windows Central

Can you switch out the tip?

Yes. Well, the Apple Pencil comes with an extra tip in case yours gets lost or damaged somehow, but both tips are the same. If you need more, pick up a four-pack of Apple Pencil Tips for $19.

Microsoft went further with the newest Surface Pen, offering a Tip Kit that can change the feel of the instrument. The four tips mimic the feel of 2H, H, HB, and B pencils. It comes with the Surface Pen, and you can pick up an extra Tip Kit for $19.99.

The newest Surface Pen has multiple tips.

What kinds of apps do they work with?

In iOS 11, Apple added tons of new iPad features, including a few for the Pencil. If you tap the Pencil on the lock screen, for example, Instant Notes will let you can start sketching and jotting down your thoughts immediately. Your handwritten notes will also be searchable in Spotlight, though only in English and Simplified Chinese for now. But even before iOS 11, the Pencil enjoyed wide support, from drawing apps to productivity apps, graphic and 3D design apps, photo editors, and even powerhouse suites like Adobe's Creative Suite and yes, Microsoft Office.

• Don't miss our picks for best handwriting apps and best drawing apps for the Apple Pencil, plus the best iPad Pro apps to download right now

The Surface Pen enjoys wide support too—iterations of it have been around much longer than the Pencil, after all. The Windows 10 Anniversary Edition and Creators Edition really emphasize what the Pen can do, and it's a natural in apps like OneNote, Sketchable, DrawboardPDF, StaffPad, and obviously the Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and tons more.

• 7 essential apps if you own a Surface Pen, from Windows Central

Now for the money question: Which performs better?

Wouldn't you like to know? (I'm kidding. We all would.) We are in the midst of our own extensive testing, and you'll be able to read the results very soon. In the meantime, Paul Thurrott just posted his first impressions, and called them "roughly identical." Interesting!

Have any more burning questions about the Apple Pencil or Surface Pen? Let us know!