Apple just announced a new cheaper Apple Pencil with USB-C charging. Compatible with some of the best iPads, including the latest iPad 10th gen, this $79 peripheral lets you take notes, sketch, edit photos, journal and more. And you get both low latency and tilt sensitivity.
Best of all, the new Apple Pencil has a sliding cap that reveals the USB-C port. So you can charge via USB with the iPad 10th gen instead of having to use an awkward USB-C to Lightning adapter.
When you magnetically attach the stylus to an iPad, it enters into sleep mode to preserve battery. This is a smart feature considering how the new Apple Pencil doesn’t charge when attached to an iPad.
The cheaper price means the new Apple Pencil lacks some features present in its counterparts — including pressure sensitivity, wireless pairing and charging and double tap to change tools. It can magnetically attach to iPads, including the latest 10th gen version, though it won’t pair and charge when connected.
The new Apple Pencil works with iPadOS 17 features like Scribble, Quick Note and Freeform. It also supports the hover feature available on the M2 iPad Pro — which is a feature I personally enjoy.
Outlook
Apple has a reputation for releasing expensive products. Because of that, a cheaper Apple Pencil is appreciated. Sure, it’s not as feature-rich as the Apple Pencil 2, but it has the core features we’ve come to expect from the company’s styli.
In particular, the new Apple Pencil is a much better fit for the 10th gen iPad than the original Apple Pencil. We just wish you didn't have to give up pressure sensitivity on this peripheral.
This announcement comes amid rumors that Apple could debut a new 11th gen iPad soon. Expect the new Apple Pencil sometime in early November.
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