Apple is introducing a new, more affordable version of its Apple Pencil that will save you some money, but with some concessions.
Touted as being ideal for note taking, sketching, annotating, journaling, and other similar activities, the new Apple Pencil offers pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency, and tilt sensitivity. It has a matte finish and flat side that magnetically attaches to the side of any iPad for storage (it works with all of them that have a USB-C port), and it pairs and charges via USB-C cable.
The new Apple Pencil can be used with applications like Scribble, Quick Note, and when collaborating with others in Freeform. When used with M2 models of iPad Pro, the new Apple Pencil supports hover, allowing you to sketch and illustrate with greater precision.
A sliding cap reveals a USB-C port where you can attach a USB-C cable to connect to the new Apple Pencil for pairing and charging. When magnetically attached to iPad for storage, the new Apple Pencil enters a sleep state to preserve battery life.
As the most affordable Apple Pencil in the line-up, it does not support pressure sensitivity, something you’ll find in the Apple Pencil (1st generation) model. The top-line Apple Pencil (2nd generation), meanwhile, adds the double-tap gesture as well as hover and wireless pairing and charging.
Why might the lack of pressure sensitivity matter? With pressure sensitivity, the screen reacts when you press harder or use lighter strokes. Thus, you might not find that it’s as accurate and responsive. But if you’re using this Pencil for very simplistic purposes where pressure sensitivity might not be a big deal, it will save you a few bucks. It also eliminates the need for a USB-C adapter if you’re using an iPad model that the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) doesn’t support.
The new Apple Pencil will be available for purchase separately for $109 ($95 for education), with availability beginning in early November. It is compatible with the iPad (10th generation), iPad Air (4th and 5th generations), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generations), and iPad mini (6th generation), which are all the models with a USB-C port.
Apple Pencil (1st generation), compatible with iPad (10th generation) and iPad (9th generation) using a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter, which is included in the box (or is $10 for existing owners who don’t yet have one), will remain at $129 while the latest Apple Pencil (2nd generation), which works with iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro models, is $169.