Apple Pencils compared: Which Apple Pencil works with each iPad

Apple sells four products all named “Apple Pencil,” but two of them are essentially only for products no longer sold as new, but rather only for legacy models. However, in some cases the older Apple Pencil models are a better choice than the Apple Pencil USB-C, as we will explain in this buying guide that is designed to help you find the right Apple Pencil to use to do what you want to do with your iPad.

Which Apple Pencil: Differences explained

In this article we will help you decide which Apple Pencil to buy to use with your iPad. If you are looking for an Apple Pencil for art then the Apple Pencil that is best for you will be different to the Apple Pencil for someone who just wants to be able to scribble notes in a lecture.

If you want to save money, consider alternative styluses for your iPad. Read our round-up of the best stylus for iPad, iPad Air, Pro, and mini.

Which Apple Pencil: Specs

Here’s a brief breakdown of their technical specifications:

	Apple Pencil (1st Gen)	Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)	Apple Pencil (USB-C)	Apple Pencil Pro
Price	$99/£99	$129/£129	$79/£79	$129/£129
Low Latency	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tilt Sensitivity	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pressure Sensitivity	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Attaches Magnetically to iPad	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charging and Pairing	Lightning	Wireless	USB-C	Wireless
Hover on iPad Pro or iPad Air	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Double-tap feature	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Roll to change orientation	No	No	No	Yes
Squeeze gesture	No	No	No	Yes
Haptic Feedback	No	No	No	Yes
Find My support	No	No	No	Yes
Dimensions (Length x Diameter)	176mm x 8.9mm	166mm x 8.9mm	155mm x 7.4mm	166mm x 8.9mm

Which Apple Pencil: Price

The prices for each Apple Pencil vary by features and compatibility. The most expensive options are the Apple Pencil Pro and the second-gen Apple Pencil, which are both $129/$129. The cheapest is the Apple Pencil with USB-C at $79/£79.

Which Apple Pencil: Design

There’s not exactly a lot of room for flamboyant designs or new aesthetics when it comes to something as form-dependent as a stylus. But, the engineers at Apple have been busy, incorporating a few elements that make the Pencils recognizable from each other. 

In all cases, you’re looking at a white plastic, cylindrical casing with no buttons or markings except for the Apple Pencil name. The 1st-Gen Pencil is the only one that is completely round (and has a glossy finish), as the Pro, 2nd-Gen, and USB-C versions have a flattened side so that they can be attached magnetically to the edge of a compatible iPad.

Apple has constantly been refining the balance and handling of its Pencil range, as you can see from the fact that with each generation the length of the stylus has slowly been shortened. Here’s how they measure up:

• Apple Pencil (1st Gen): 6.92in/176mm (Length); 0.35in/8.9mm (Diameter)
• Apple Pencil (2nd Gen): 6.53in/166mm (Length); 0.35in/8.9mm (Diameter)
• Apple Pencil (USB-C): 6.10in/155mm (Length); 0.29in/7.4mm (Diameter)
• Apple Pencil Pro: 6.53in/166mm (Length); 0.35in/8.9mm (Diameter)

Both the 1st-Gen and USB-C Pencils have a lid at the top end that can be taken off to charge the device. On the 1st-Gen, removing the cap reveals a Lightning connector, while the USB-C slides up to reveal a USB-C port. The 2nd-Gen and Pro models charge wirelessly and don’t have a port or connector.

At the business end of the Pencil, you’ll find the replaceable rubber tips that make the Apple Pencil such a comfortable experience. Some of the models have more functionality built into their slender frames, which we’ll cover in the next section. 

Which Apple Pencil: Features

While all of the Pencil models will allow you to write notes and sketch on your iPad, they do offer different capabilities depending on the model you choose. The 1st-Gen Pencil delivers a precise writing experience, with low latency and pressure sensitivity to allow thinner and wider pen/brush strokes, plus the ability to sense when you are tilting the stylus for shading and similar techniques. 

Pairing and charging are done via the Lightning port, as there is no wireless charging in this model, plus you can’t magnetically attach it to an iPad. You also don’t get the hover feature on iPad Pro models, which enables you to preview where your mark will be made without having to touch the screen. You will also have to make do without the double-tap action to switch between the various pens, brushes, and other tools. 

The Gen 2 Pencil offers all of the features included in its predecessor, except for the Lightning port charging and pairing, which is instead achieved wirelessly. It introduces the double-tap feature through a touch-sensitive area near the tip, plus there’s the option to have it engraved with a personal message. 

The Apple Pencil USB-C attaches via a USB-C-to-USB-C cable from your iPad’s charging port to the Pencil. You can magnetically attach it to an iPad for safe-keeping, but it doesn’t charge. It has nearly all the same features as the 1st-Gen Pencil, albeit strangely without pressure sensitivity, which does seem like a step backward. As a minor compensation, you do get the 2nd-Gen’s hover feature if you own an iPad Pro. 

The latest is the Apple Pencil Pro, which only supports the iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4), and presumably future iPad Air and Pro models. It has all the features of the 2nd-Gen model with the addition of roll and squeeze sensitivity, haptic feedback, and Find My support.

Which Apple Pencil: Compatibility

Every Pencil supports different iPads, so you’ll need to check which model you have before you buy one of the three stylus models Apple offers:

Which Apple Pencil: Verdict

Some of the main considerations when considering an Apple Pencil are how you want to use it and which iPad you have. If you’re interested in creating art or more decorative writing, then you’ll no doubt find the pressure sensitivity of the Gen 1, Gen 2, and Pro models an essential feature. Then you’ll just need to select the one that is compatible with your device. The Gen 2 Pencil does have the additional benefits of wireless charging, plus the double-tap and hover capabilities – but, crucially, this Pencil doesn’t work with any of the recent iPads so unless your iPad is a few years old this pencil will be no good to you.

If you have a newer iPad with a USB-C connector and just want to take down notes, then the USB-C model could serve those purposes admirably, with the added advantage of being the most affordable model available from Apple.

If you buy an iPad Air with M3 or iPad Pro with M5, or the iPad mini A17 Pro, you can choose between the USB-C model with its very basic functionality or Apple Pencil Pro, which has by far the most features of any Apple Pencil.

The edge case is if you have an iPad mini (6th gen), 10th-gen iPad, or iPad A16 and really need pressure sensitivity. While you would normally choose the USB-C Pencil for those models, the only compatible Pencil with pressure sensitivity is the first-gen Apple Pencil, which comes with a little USB-C to Lightning charging adapter you’ll have to use to charge it.