Apple put its new budget Apple Pencil with USB-C connectivity on sale Wednesday for all your sketching and note-taking needs. Just $79, it’s now available in 33 countries, including the United States.
That price saves you $50 compared to Apple Pencil 2, but it also buys you fewer features.
Apple Pencil (USB-C)
The new Apple Pencil closely resembles and functions in most ways like the 1st and 2nd-generation models, including tilt-sensitivity (but not pressure sensitivity). And of course you also have many third-party styluses to choose from.
The new Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to iPads via a flat edge. However, unlike Apple Pencil 2, doesn’t charge when attached. That’s what the USB-C connector is for, in addition to pairing. The new Pencil is great for iPad 10 — which has no built-in Pencil charger — but it works with all USB-C iPads. That includes all new iPads since March 2022. And the new Apple Pencil includes Hover functionality found in new iPad Pro tablets.
“Apple Pencil has revolutionized note taking, sketching, and illustrating, unleashing endless possibilities for productivity and creativity,” Bob Borchers, Apple VP of Worldwide Product Marketing Bob Borchers said when Apple announced the new product.
“Combined with the versatility of iPad, the new Apple Pencil unlocks another great option to experience the magic of digital handwriting, annotation, marking up documents, and more.”
‘Gold standard’
Here’s how Apple described the new Apple Pencil, which includes a new sliding cap over the USB-C port:
Apple Pencil (1st and 2nd generation) set the gold standard with advanced pixel-perfect precision, low latency, and support for tilt sensitivity, and the new Apple Pencil offers these same features that customers love. The new Apple Pencil works great with iPadOS features like Scribble, Notes, and collaborating with others in Freeform, and when used with M2 iPad Pro models, it supports Apple Pencil hover for even greater precision. A non-removable sliding cap reveals a USB-C port, enabling customers to use a USB-C cable to connect the new Apple Pencil to all iPad models with a USB-C connector for pairing and charging. When magnetically attached to iPad for storage, the new Apple Pencil enters a sleep state to conserve battery.
Which of 3 choices should be yours?
So now you have another stylus choice to make, depending on the features you want and the iPad you have. If you have iPad (10th generation), try Apple Pencil (1st generation) or the new Apple Pencil. If you have iPad Pro, iPad Air or iPad mini, Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or the new Apple Pencil should work best for you.
Get compatibility information and more from apple.com/apple-pencil.
Price: $79
Where to buy: Apple
Source: Apple
