The $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C) is the newest and most affordable iPad stylus available from Apple. It carries over the flat-sided design of the $129 Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) and can magnetically hold onto an iPad when not in use. That said, Apple erases several key features from the Pencil in order to reach its lower price, including pressure sensitivity and wireless charging. While the USB-C Pencil is a solid pick if you need a basic writing implement, artists and creators should still pony up for the 2nd Generation model, our Editors' Choice winner.
A Slightly Different Design
The 1st Generation Apple Pencil ($99) is an odd duck. You charge it by plugging one end into an older iPad’s Lightning port or into a cable through a double-reverse adapter. It's also perfectly round and glossy, which makes holding it difficult, and it doesn’t attach to or stow in the iPad itself, which makes forgetting or losing it far too easy.
Apple improved things tremendously with the 2nd Generation Pencil. The refreshed design attaches to compatible iPads magnetically, charges wirelessly, pairs automatically, sports one flat edge to improve usability, and otherwise solves many of the first-gen product’s problems.
The Apple pencil USB-C is something of a mix of the two.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)It’s made of a similar plastic material as the 2nd Generation Pencil and has a similar shape with one flat side. It measures 6.10 inches by 0.35 inches (HW) and weighs 0.72 ounces. It's shorter than its predecessors, which measure 6.92 (1st Gen) and 6.52 inches (2nd Gen). The shorter length will surely appeal to you if you think the other two are too long. The matte finish and flat edge assist with general usability. I had no trouble holding or using the Apple Pencil for extended periods. It’s got a pleasing heft and is clearly made with care.
The flat side adheres magnetically to iPads that also have a flat side edge, which includes the current Pro, Air, mini, and base models. The new Apple Pencil doesn't charge wirelessly when sticking to the side of the iPad as the 2nd Gen Pencil does. Instead, you have to connect the Pencil to a USB-C cable (hence the name). To do this, you slide the end cap up to expose the hidden USB-C port, which faces sideways. It looks awkward when charging, but it works.
The Apple Pencil connects to the iPad via Bluetooth. To make the initial pairing, however, you have to find a USB-C-to-USB-C cable (Apple doesn't include one in the box), plug the stylus into one end of the cable, and then plug the other end into a USB-C-equipped iPad. This is not the most intuitive way to do things, but at least this also charges the Pencil. I found it awkward to use the Pencil while it was plugged in and charging, though, due to the sideways-facing nature of the charging cable. (If you're looking to convert your existing 1st Gen Apple Pencil to USB-C, Apple sells an adapter for $9.)
(Credit: Eric Zeman)Apple doesn't provide any guidelines on battery life or charging times for the Apple Pencil. I found it to last several days when used for several hours each day. You can see the remaining battery life in either a battery widget or the Apple Pencil settings screen to keep an eye on it. The beauty of the 2nd Gen Pencil is that stowing it on the iPad's edge also charges it, so it's always ready to go. This Pencil will lose its charge after several days even if attached to the iPad. In testing, a complete charge took about 60 minutes when plugged into an iPad and about 40 minutes when plugged into an Apple 20W charging brick.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The Pencil ships with one tip preinstalled and one spare tip should the first get lost or wear out. They are fairly basic. Apple sells replacements in a pack of four for $19, but alternate tips are widely available from third parties.
The Pencil still doesn't support Apple's Find My network, which means if you lose it, it's as good as gone.
What Can You Do With the USB-C Apple Pencil?
The USB-C Apple Pencil has a mix of features that straddle the capabilities of the first two Pencils. Like its predecessors, the stylus is incredibly precise, interacts with the display instantly, and supports tilt sensitivity for drawing and other effects.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)In this regard, the Pencil is simply outstanding. The tip feels more like using a pen than a pencil when gliding across the glass, but you will find no better experience on a modern tablet. It is accurate down to the pixel.
The USB-C Pencil supports the hover feature on Apple's 2022 iPad Pro tablets. Hover is great because it shows you exactly where on the screen the Pencil will write or draw before you touch the tip to the glass. You simply hold it a few millimeters above the screen and you'll see where it will mark.
There's one big feature missing: Pressure sensitivity. Both the preceding Pencils support multiple levels of pressure to allow for a more natural response to drawing or writing. For example, pressing more firmly will result in a thicker line while pressing lightly results in a finer line. With no pressure sensitivity, the USB-C Pencil creates a uniform mark when writing or drawing. That's not necessarily bad if you're going to use it to serve as a mouse or pointer or simple writing tool, but artists will surely be better off with either of the other Apple Pencils for this reason alone.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)Further, it doesn't support the valuable double-tap feature to switch between tools. The 2nd Gen Pencil allows you to swap between your favorite writing utensil and, for example, the eraser. This is clutch if you're drawing something and want to quickly undo or erase a line or mark.
Beyond these physical characteristics, the Apple Pencil works with every app available to the iPad, including core creativity apps such as Autodesk, Evernote, Freeform, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate. It's also great with apps like GarageBand or iMovie when you're performing tasks like managing multiple tracks or audio and video feeds.
Apple's Best Stylus for the Basics
The $79 USB-C Pencil is the most affordable stylus Apple makes, but it loses some core features to reach its lower price point. We like its accuracy, speed, Hover support, and ability to charge via the industry standard USB-C. However, it lacks pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, and easy tool swapping—all features that cater to creators. If you're looking for a simple input tool for basic writing, the USB-C Apple Pencil is a fine choice and easy to recommend. But artists who need advanced tools will be better off with the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), which remains our Editors' Choice winner despite its premium price.
