Apple has announced a cheaper Apple Pencil which comes with USB-C. The iPad accessory will cost $79 and comes with a sliding cover that reveals the USB-C port. It also magnetically attaches to the side edge of an iPad, even the 10th-generation model that Apple released last year.
The cheaper price means the Pencil doesn’t come with some of the more advanced features of the first- and second-generation accessories. The device does not support pressure sensitivity, wireless pairing and charging, or the double-tap feature that allows you to switch between tools. However, it still supports scrolling with the M2 models of the iPad Pro.
The first Apple Pencil model used a protruding Lightning connector to connect to your iPad’s port for charging, while the second-generation model charged wirelessly and is not compatible with the 10th-generation iPad that Apple released last year. , leaving owners of that iPad with not-so-great options if they wanted to use Apple’s fancy stylus.
The Apple Pencil USB-C is compatible with a variety of iPads, including the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 3rd to 6th generation, the 11-inch iPad Pro 1st to 4th generation, and the 4th and 5th generation iPad Air. , the 10th generation iPad and the 6th generation iPad Mini. The Apple Pencil USB-C will be available in early November.
Apple released a second version of the Apple Pencil in 2018, aptly named Apple Pencil 2. It was a big upgrade over the original model, adding features like wireless charging (meaning you didn’t need to connect it to an iPad to charge it). ), a way to attach magnetically to the side of compatible iPads (meaning it had a flat edge that kept it from falling off the table), and support for gesture controls for things like switching tools while using an app. However, those improvements came at a higher cost of $129, a $30 increase over the first Apple Pencil.
