Apple Pencil in contrast: Which stylus is correct to your iPad?

In October 2023, Apple unveiled the most recent technology of its Pencil stylus for iPad. Coming in slightly cheaper than earlier fashions, the latest Apple Pencil brings the addition of USB-C on the expense of another options. As all three fashions stay obtainable on the Apple Retailer, we evaluate the Apple Pencil generations to see how they’re completely different and why that may matter to you.

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: Specs

Earlier than we have a look at the variations between the three Apple Pencil fashions, right here’s a short breakdown of their technical specs:

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: Value

The costs for every Apple Pencil fluctuate by options and compatibility:

For some wonderful options, you can even take a look at our roundup of one of the best Pencil or stylus for iPad.  

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: Design

There’s not precisely loads of room for flamboyant designs or new aesthetics relating to one thing as form-dependent as a stylus. However, the engineers at Apple have been busy, incorporating just a few parts that make the Pencils recognizable from one another. 

Foundry

In all circumstances, you’re taking a look at a white plastic, cylindrical casing with no buttons or markings aside from the Apple Pencil title. The first-Gen Pencil is the one one that’s fully spherical (and has a shiny end), as each the 2nd-Gen and USB-C variations have a flattened facet in order that they are often connected magnetically to the sting of a appropriate iPad.

Apple has continuously been refining the stability and dealing with of its Pencil vary, as you’ll be able to see from the truth that with every technology the size of the stylus has slowly been shortened. Right here’s how they measure up:

• Apple Pencil (1st Gen): 6.92in/176mm (Size); 0.35in/8.9mm (Diameter)
• Apple Pencil (2nd Gen): 6.53in/166mm (Size); 0.35in/8.9mm (Diameter)
• Apple Pencil (USB-C): 6.10in/155mm (Size); 0.29in/7.4mm (Diameter)

Each the 1st-Gen and USB-C Pencils have a lid on the high finish that may be taken off to cost the gadget. On the 1st-Gen, eradicating the cap reveals a Lightning connector, whereas the USB-C slides as much as reveal a USB-C port. The 2nd-Gen mannequin is the one one to cost wirelessly and doesn’t have a port or connector.

On the enterprise finish of the Pencil, you’ll discover the replaceable rubber ideas that make the Apple Pencil such a cushty expertise. A few of the fashions have extra performance constructed into their slender frames, which we’ll cowl within the subsequent part. 

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: Options

Whereas the entire Pencil fashions will mean you can write notes and sketch in your iPad, they do supply completely different capabilities relying on the mannequin you select. The first-Gen Pencil delivers a exact writing expertise, with low latency and stress sensitivity to permit thinner and wider pen/brush strokes, plus the power to sense if you end up tilting the stylus for shading and related methods. 

Apple

Pairing and charging are completed by way of the Lightning port, as there isn’t any wi-fi charging on this mannequin, plus you’ll be able to’t magnetically connect it to an iPad. You additionally don’t get the hover characteristic on iPad Professional fashions, which lets you preview the place your mark might be made with out having to the touch the display screen. Additionally, you will must make do with out the double-tap motion to change between the assorted pens, brushes, and different instruments. 

The Gen 2 Pencil presents the entire options included in its predecessor, aside from the Lightning port charging and pairing, which is as a substitute achieved wirelessly. It introduces the double-tap characteristic by means of a touch-sensitive space close to the tip, plus there’s the choice to have it engraved with a private message. 

The most recent entry reverts to non-wireless charging and pairing, this time by way of an on-board USB-C port, so you’ll be able to connect a USB-C-to-USB-C cable out of your iPad’s charging port to the Pencil. You may magnetically connect it to an iPad for safe-keeping, nevertheless it doesn’t cost. It has almost all the identical options because the 1st-Gen Pencil, albeit unusually with out stress sensitivity, which does seem to be a step backward. As a minor compensation, you do get the 2nd-Gen’s hover characteristic for those who personal an iPad Professional. 

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: iPad Compatibility

Each Pencil helps completely different iPads, so that you’ll must verify which mannequin you might have before you purchase one of many three stylus fashions Apple presents:

Apple Pencil (Gen 1)

• iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd Gen)
• iPad Professional 10.5-inch
• iPad Professional 9.7-inch
• iPad Air (third Gen)
• iPad mini (fifth Gen)
• iPad (sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth Gen)

Apple Pencil (Gen 2)

• iPad Professional 12.9-inch (third, 4th, fifth and sixth Gen)
• iPad Professional 11-inch (1st, 2nd, third and 4th Gen)
• iPad Air (4th and fifth Gen)
• iPad mini (sixth Gen)

Apple Pencil (USB-C)

• iPad Professional 12.9-inch (third, 4th, fifth and sixth Gen)
• iPad Professional 11-inch (1st, 2nd, third and 4th Gen)
• iPad Air (4th and fifth Gen)
• iPad mini (sixth Gen)
• iPad (tenth Gen)

Apple Pencil 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen vs USB-C: Verdict

A few of the most important issues when contemplating an Apple Pencil are the way you need to use it and which iPad you might have. When you’re keen on creating artwork or extra ornamental writing, then you definately’ll little doubt discover the stress sensitivity of the Gen 1 and Gen 2 fashions an important characteristic. Then you definitely’ll simply want to pick the one that’s appropriate together with your gadget. The Gen 2 Pencil does have the extra advantages of wi-fi charging, plus the double-tap and hover capabilities, though the latter solely works on iPad Professional.

You probably have a more moderen iPad with a USB-C connector and simply need to take down notes, then the USB-C mannequin may serve these functions admirably, with the added benefit of being probably the most reasonably priced mannequin obtainable from Apple.