The Apple Pencil range is confusing, so here’s your guide to which one you should buy

Apple unveiled a slew of new iPads on Tuesday, with updates that sharpen the company’s tablet selection. Yes, there are still six different models in total, but the lines between these tablets are much clearer: you have a good choice (the base iPad), a better choice (iPad Air), and a best choice (iPad Pro). Both the Air and Pro are available in 11-inch or 13-inch frames, but these SKUs are more or less the same outside of size. At the same time, the iPad mini still caters to a relatively small market that prefers compact tablets.

Amid these announcements, however, the Apple Pencil has become even more confusing. Apple has launched a new high-end stylus, the Pencil Pro, but hasn’t discontinued any older models. As a result, potential shoppers now have four (4!) different styli to choose from. Each product has different features, both are priced the same, and only the lowest-end model is available for all iPads in Apple’s current lineup. The highest-end version before yesterday is no longer compatible with the latest iPad Air or iPad Pro.

This is so bad!How did Apple get to this point? possible It comes from what the company calls a “new magnetic interface.” This is how the Pencil Pro is used to connect and charge with compatible iPads, which in this case only includes the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The tablets have been redesigned to place the front-facing camera on the long edge, which is a welcome change in the vacuum, but may result in the devices no longer supporting the charging system used by the second-generation Pencil. However, Apple has not officially confirmed this. The company didn’t provide more information when reached for comment, noting only that the new Pencil charging and pairing port was created to work with the latest tablet’s design and accommodate its landscape front-facing camera.

We’re likely in the middle of an awkward transition period, with the first- and second-generation Pencil becoming obsolete every time the entry-level iPad and iPad mini are updated. However, just like today, digital artists and note-takers would have a hard time viewing the Pencil Collection as chaotic. There isn’t a “product line” at all, and there’s no one-size-fits-all iPad, which is a condemnation in itself. But if you’re in the market for a new pencil but aren’t sure which one to get, we’ve broken down the current offerings below.

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Who should get it?: Those who plan to buy an iPad Air (M2) or iPad Pro (M4) in the near future (most likely).

advantage

• The latest and most advanced pencil with squeeze gestures, gyroscope and Find My Support

shortcoming

• Only works on the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro

Amazon $129

Apple Pencil Pro is the latest, most technologically advanced pencil available. It’s priced at $129 and is available for pre-order now, with general availability starting on May 15th. and the 11-inch and 11-inch iPad Air (M2).

To keep things simple, if you’re buying one of these iPads, this is almost certainly the stylus you should buy. We still need to review it, but it’s essentially an upgraded version of the second-generation Pencil, which we previously recommended in our guide to the best iPad accessories . It has nearly the same comfortable shape and matte finish, but it’s technically 0.05 ounces lighter. It still supports pressure sensitivity, so if you press harder, your marks will be darker, and it supports tilt detection, so you can hold it at an angle for light shadows and similar effects. It still pairs and charges magnetically, and you can still take advantage of the “double-click” feature that lets you quickly switch between tools in certain apps. For some iPads, the Hover feature lets you interact with on-screen elements by holding the stylus over the display.

In addition, Pencil Pro has some exclusive benefits. You can squeeze it to open a contextual menu for changing colors, line width, and similar tools. A built-in gyroscope can detect when you roll the stylus, which should make it easier to change the direction of the shape pen and brush tools. The haptic engine provides more tangible feedback when you use the pen. And, perhaps most conveniently, it works with Apple’s Find My network, so if you can’t find it, it should be easier to find.

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Who should get it?: Those who have an older iPad Pro or iPad Air or the current iPad mini and won’t be upgrading to a new iPad anytime soon.

advantage

• Accurate, comfortable and functional

shortcoming

• Not supported on the latest iPad, iPad Air or iPad Pro

Amazon $79

The second-generation Pencil was released in 2018 and until this week was still Apple’s best stylus. It also sells for $129, but recent sales have dropped it to $79. It works with the following iPads: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generations), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation), iPad Air (4th and 5th generation), and iPad mini (sixth generation).

To reiterate, Apple says no Compatible with any iPad Air or iPad Pro released on Tuesday.Yes, pay $129 for a stylus Having to replace it after a generation or two is annoying.

The second-generation Pencil lacks the Pencil Pro’s squeeze and “bucket” gestures, enhanced haptic feedback, and “find me” support. Otherwise, it contains all the same core features. If you own one of the compatible iPads listed above and don’t plan on upgrading anytime soon, you can buy the Pencil, as it’s still a significant upgrade compared to Apple’s lower-cost models. But if you’re planning on buying a new iPad Air or iPad Pro in the near future and don’t desperately need a stylus now, it’s worth holding off and buying the Pencil Pro along with your new tablet, as bad as it is.

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Who should get it?: Those who must have an Apple stylus but can’t afford Pencil Pro/2nd generation Pencil and only care about casual writing. Also, iPad (10th generation) users don’t care about pressure sensitivity. However, some third-party options may be a better value, depending on the sale price.

advantage

• Cheaper than Pencil Pro and second generation Pencil

shortcoming

• Lacks pressure sensitivity and wireless charging

Amazon $69

The USB-C Apple Pencil was released late last year and is essentially Apple’s “cheap” stylus. It’s listed at $79, but it’s still not cheap, although we’ve seen recent discounts that take $10 off the price.

This is the only Pencil that’s compatible with all iPads in Apple’s current lineup: iPad Air (M2), iPad Pro (M4), iPad (10th generation), and iPad mini (6th generation). In addition, it is also suitable for older 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd to 6th generation), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st to 4th generation) and iPad Air (4th and 5th generation) ).

However, it’s also a significant downgrade from the Pencil Pro and second-generation Pencil, as it lacks pressure sensitivity and magnetic charging support. The former means the illustration is less precise, while the latter means you’ll need a handy USB-C cable when charging your device. You can still attach the USB-C Pencil to the side of the iPad with a magnetic holder, which is convenient, but it won’t be powered. It also doesn’t support Apple’s double-click feature, although it does support basic features like hover and tilt sensitivity. It’s also slightly shorter than higher-end models.

For most people who are keen on drawing or taking notes and are buying an Apple Pencil, I would recommend just buying the Pencil Pro or the second generation Pencil, depending on your iPad. But for those who really want to save money and might just want a stylus for casual writing or a general navigation device, the USB-C Pencil might make sense. This is especially true for the iPad (10th generation), which doesn’t work with any of Apple’s premium models.

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Who should get it?: Hardly anyone, unless you plan on using an iPad (10th generation) or an older Lightning-based iPad for the foreseeable future and need pressure sensitivity for drawing.

advantage

• The most affordable pressure-sensitive pencil

shortcoming

• Archaic and incompatible with most new iPads

Amazon $79

The original Apple Pencil was launched back in 2015. Most people can safely ignore it: the only modern iPad it works with is the entry-level iPad (10th generation), but even that requires a Lighting to USB-C adapter to charge, which seems ridiculous and Giving you more potential uses to lose. It doesn’t attach magnetically and has a smoother, more rounded design that makes it easier to roll around on a flat table. It also lacks most of the more advanced features found in newer pencils.

However, one feature of the first-generation Pencil over the USB-C model is pressure sensitivity. Yes, even though it’s eight years older, it’s technically better in at least one meaningful way. So if you own an iPad (10th generation) and are willing to deal with the dongle-haunted charging situation in exchange for a more precise drawing experience, the first-generation Pencil is still reasonable. But most people in this situation should choose iPad Air and Pencil Pro.

For reference only, the following is a list of iPads that support the first generation Pencil: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (first and second generation), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini ( 5th generation) and iPad (6th-10th generation).