Unfortunately, if you’re looking at picking up the new iPad Pro or Air, you’re going to have to pay to upgrade your second-generation Apple Pencil, too. After all, the new tablets are only compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro, but thankfully, today, there’s a deal to offset the cost slightly. Right now, Amazon and Walmart are selling the new Apple Pencil Pro for $119 ($10 off), which is the best price we’ve seen and the first real discount on the stylus since its debut.
Apple might have launched the more affordable USB-C Apple Pencil last year, but it lacks support for Find My and advanced creative features, like pressure sensitivity and double-tap tool switching. It also comes with new capabilities the second-gen Apple Pencil lacks, like the new “Barrel Roll” gyroscope, which lets you quickly turn your digital pen or brush by twisting the stylus as you draw. Apple also added a useful new squeeze gesture, which lets you switch between software functions so you can quickly navigate between menus and other tools you often use and even control your smart home. And of course, with the release of iPadOS 18 later this year, you’ll be able to do even more with the stylus, like solving math problems after writing them out.
Apple Pencil Pro
The Apple Pencil Pro arrives with new features like Find My support so you can find the stylus when it gets lost, as well as new creative capabilities like squeeze gestures and the “Barrel Roll” gyroscope.