While we were waiting for the launch of new iPads on Tuesday, October 18, Apple had a completely different surprise for us. Instead of a tablet, we got a new, cheaper stylus…
Stylized as N for “Apple Pencil (USB-C), N” retails for $95, which is $24 less than the 1st-gen model and $54 less than the 2nd-gen model. It includes some of the same features (including low latency and tilt sensitivity), but it also lacks pressure sensitivity and wireless charging. Finally, it is not compatible with the 9th-gen iPad.
Bottom line: The all-new Apple Pencil isn’t as good as the 2018 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, and doesn’t even have all the tech of the 2016 1st-gen. It’s cheaper than both, but it’s not compatible with the entry-level iPad. And it attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad, but still requires a cable to charge. The new Apple Pencil (USB-C) is also shorter than its predecessors (6.10 inches vs. 6.92 inches and 6.53 inches), and it’s the only one with a charging port. And you can’t engrave it.
Like the iPad lineup, buying an Apple Pencil now requires a thorough study of a comparison chart. Are you a 10th-generation iPad owner? You’ll have to look at the expensive Pencil 2, while the Pencil 1 isn’t compatible, and the latest iteration doesn’t have pressure sensitivity. Do you have a Pro tablet? Are pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, and double-tap to switch tools really worth an extra $54? These are questions you need to ask yourself.
The main thing is not there
Steve Jobs famously rejected the idea of a stylus when he introduced the iPhone, but even he would admit that it would be quite useful on the iPad.
The Apple Pencil is a fantastic input device that greatly enhances the functionality of your tablet, no matter which model you use. But choosing which one to buy shouldn’t take more than a few seconds.
The problem may be with the iPad itself. The entry-level model doesn’t have a USB-C port or a flat-edged design, limiting it to the first-generation Pencil. The 10th-generation iPad is the only one with its front-facing camera on the longer edge, which is likely why it doesn’t support the Pencil 2’s wireless charging.
We’re expecting changes across the entire iPad lineup in the coming weeks and months, so it’s possible Apple will streamline compatibility with future updates. But why launch the new Pencil now if that were the case?
The Apple Pencil now has its own comparison chart.
The Apple Pencil now has its own comparison chart.
Apple
The Apple Pencil now has its own comparison chart.
Apple
Apple
And why does the new USB-C Pencil lack pressure sensitivity, a technology that has been around since the original Pencil launched in 2016 and has become standard.
A third Apple Pencil simply isn’t necessary. The original already comes with an adapter to charge it with the 10th-gen iPad, and you still need a USB-C to USB-C cable to charge the new Pencil, so what’s in it for us?
