Since Apple introduce the iPhone, there were concentrated effort to put stylus on the device. There are a few use cases where a stylus is more desirable. One of them is drawing. Finger drawing while possible, does put a strain on those flangers whereas a stylus is more precise and refined to draw. Apple later introduced the iPad which makes a serious competitor to the drawing block. Artist has been using the iPad to draw on even before Apple entered the game with the Apple Pencil on 2015.

The Best - Apple Pencil 2


apple pencil 2 on a used desk
ProsCons
  • Easily Pairs with your iPad
  • Magnetically attached to your iPad and immediately charge it
  • Very responsive
  • Doesn't work with the base iPad
  • Apple Tax. Expensive
  • Apple put the charger next to the iPad, so if you are using custom case for your iPad Pro / Air / Mini, consider this

Apple Pencil Gen 2 - After introduce a new form factor for the 3rd generation iPad Pro, Apple also released a new Apple Pencil to address all the shortcomings on the first Apple Pencil. Instead of using the lighting port, it charges by the induction pad at the side of the iPad. It also magenetically attached to the iPad at the same charging spot, so you will have the pencil at 100% charge, ready to go. Instead of a rounded shape, the new Apple Pencil is polygon like a No. 2 / 2B pencil. And if that is not enough, the refresh rate of the Apple Pencil is higher. So good is the new Apple Pencil that some claim that it is the best stylus ever made.

Second Best - Apple Pencil 1


apple pencil, 1st gen
ProsCons
  • Very easy to use
  • Very responsive
  • Only works with the base iPad
  • Stupid charging method, stick at the iPad to charge
  • If you don't use it often, you always have a dead Pencil when you need to use it
  • Round shape means it rolls off too easy on your table

Apple Pencil Gen 1 - The first active stylus from Apple is the OG Apple pencil. Introduced in 2015 for the first generation iPad Pro, it comes with both amazement and ridicule. Amazement because of the precise handling and the feel of the stylus feels like a proper writing instrument. The drawback on the first gen Apple Pencil is that you need to use your iPad to charge the pencil which makes it look very awkward. It also is fully rounded and also rolls over when put on the desk. Support was later added to the 6th Generation iPad and 5th Generation iPad Mini.

Alternatives

If you are looking for alternatives, there are 3rd party manufacturers that does iPad compatible stylus.

MoKo Stylus Pen - The best things about this stylus is how stylish it looks. The hidden USB-C port for charing, you can retract the tip just like a real pen. The best thing is that you can magenetically charge and link the stylus to your iPad.


ProsCons
  • The tip is retractable, just like a real pencil
  • Hidden USB-C port, makes the stylus looks clean
  • Not that durable
  • Heavy to hold

Adonit Note


ProsCons
  • Works with any iPad.
  • Can act as a mouse, so there's right click functionality
  • Also can charge magnetically like Apple Pencil 2
  • Half the price of Apple Pencil 2
  • Doesn't have that premium feel like Apple Pencil 2.
  • Battery doesn't last as long as the Apple Pencil 2
  • Uses bluetooth, so the iPad will take awhile to reconnect to this stylus, unlike the instant connection of Apple Pencil 2.

Adonit Note The best stylus from Adonit yet. This Aluminum stylus will not only look good in your hands, it will also feel good in your hands. This stylus does not use bluetooth as it mimics your finger. You can put it in mouse mode.

ESR Digital Stylus


esr digital stylus
ProsCons
  • $30 price tag.
  • Works with any iPad
  • Value for money
  • The on/off switch is right where you put your finger, so you might accidently switch it off.
  • Battery dies fast when using it as a bluetooth mouse

ESR Digital Stylus - You don’t need to pair this one, it mimics your finger by directing an electrical current through the tip. Just turn it on and it works. Charges using a USB-B port.

Adonit Dash


adonit dash stylus
ProsCons
  • Point stylus, so mimic your fingers
  • Tip has the pencil feel.
  • Doesn't use bluetooh, just turn on and start writing
  • Charging is a pain.

Adonit Dash - Use the same concept as the ESR digital stylus, but the tip is a big rougher to mimic the feel of a pencil. Also charges using a USB port.

Logitech Crayon


logitech crayon stylus
ProsCons
  • So good that Apple featured it as an alternative for Apple Pencil
  • Half the price of Apple Pencil but have decent performance
  • Works with all iPads
  • Design around toddlers and kids, so feels like holding a big pencil that is made for ... kids
  • No pressure sensitivity

Logitech Crayon - This one works just like the first Apple pencil but unfortunately doesn’t work on the iPad Air 4. We have to wait for Logitech to release a newer version for the iPad Air and Pro. Critics that use the first version praise that it is quite good for the price which is almost half of the Apple Pencil, but said that the precision is no where like the Apple Pencil.

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