If you’re thinking about picking up the new iPad mini 7, or you’re taking advantage of its recent surprisingly-early price drop, you may also be thinking about getting some accessories to go with it. Well you’re in luck, because the price of both the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro just dropped.
Right now you can pick up the Apple Pencil Pro for $91 over at Amazon, which is $38 off the usual price and just $2 off the lowest price we’ve seen. Similarly the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is now $69 at Amazon, which is $10 off the regular price and just $4 more than its all-time low of $65.
The Apple Pencil Pro is the newest Apple stylus on the scene, coming with a bunch of more advanced features you won’t see on other models. Launching alongside the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, this stylus can detect when you squeeze it, opening up a contextual menu offering up different tools and options to aid whatever it is you’re doing.
The Pencil Pro also comes with a “barrel roll” feature that detects rotation, giving you further options when you’re using tools like shaped pens and brushes on your iPad. Essentially offering a more realistic experience in the process. There’s also Find My support, helping you track down the lost stylus, pressure sensitivity, magnetic charging and everything you’d get on older Apple Pencils. Apple’s also added haptic feedback now, because there’s haptic feedback in just about everything Apple does these days.
The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is, from a feature standpoint, a newer version of the 1st generation Apple Pencil. The big change is that it has a USB-C port, rather than a Lightning connector, and a design closer to that of the Apple Pencil 2 and Pro. There’s even a magnet in the side that snaps to the side of your iPad, though there’s no recharging feature here. You’ll have to physically plug it in for that.
The Apple Pencil USB-C is basic compared to its siblings, offering what Apple called “pixel-perfect precision”, tilt sensitivity, hover mode and of course the ability to draw and write on your tablet screen with minimal latency. There’s no pressure sensitivity or squeeze features, but if you have basic needs from a stylus or one of the cheaper models (like iPad 10th generation) then this is a solid option.
Just be aware that the USB-C stylus won’t work with some of the older 1st gen Apple Pencil-capable iPads, so make sure you check Apple's compatibility list before you buy.
