In-depth Review of the Apple Pencil 2
What can you do with it? Is it better than the first generation? Should you pay 129 US$ to get it for your new iPad Pro?
For the past 3 weeks, we’ve been testing the 2nd generation of the Apple Pencil with the iPad Pro. Here is our review of Apple’s new iPad stylus and our opinion on past, present, and future of the device.
Specs
The Apple Pencil 2 is only compatible with the latest generation of the iPad Pro models, that have been released in early November 2018. The delay when drawing or writing with the Apple Pencil 2 on the iPad screen hasn’t been changed and is still as low as 20ms thanks to a refresh rate of 120HZ. This is the same performance as on the iPad Pro 10.5”. In other words, writing with the Apple Pencil 2 is still frictionless and smooth, and there is no notable difference compared to writing on a real piece of paper.
Price
The Apple Pencil hasn’t been cheap before but the 2nd generation is even more expensive than the first one. The price has increased from 99US$ to as much as 129US$. It sounds like a lot of money but we’ll answer the question whether it is worth it in a bit. So if you wanted to stop reading because of the increased price, we hope you’ll bear with us for a bit longer.
Hardware improvements and new double-tap gestures
While the first generation of the Apple Pencil consisted out of three pieces — the tip, the shaft, and the cap, which covered the lightning connector — the new Apple Pencil only consists out of two of these: The tip and the shaft. The tip can still be replaced but Apple stopped including replacement tips in the box. We assume they realized that it wasn’t really necessary to replace the Pencil’s tip unless someone severely damages it. At least we never had to replace any of our Apple Pencil’s tips in the past three years despite heavy usage. One of the major improvements compared to the old Apple Pencil is the way how it charges. Previously, the cap had to be removed and the Pencil had to be plugged into the iPad’s lightning port, which didn’t only looked awkward but imposed a high risk of breaking the connector or losing the cap. The idea of charging the iPad accessory without the need for a power outlet is great but the solution was never ideal. Apple’s product team found a better solution and solves a lot of the existing problems with it: The new Apple Pencil charges and pairs wirelessly by attaching it to the side of the iPad, where it sticks on magnetically. And yes, it holds onto it very well.
Double-tap
The lower third (on all sides) of the Apple Pencil’s 2nd generation reacts to tap input, which is something we as app developers were most excited about. Apple introduced a double-tap gesture which lets users control apps and trigger certain actions, for example switching between the pen and the eraser or switching between the two last used tools in note-taking or drawing apps like GoodNotes. The preferences can be changed in the iOS Settings but Apple also opened this up to developers to let users of their apps configure their own preferences for double-tapping. So far, most of the available apps support the default double-tap gestures but we’ve seen some very interesting approaches and are excited to try out some more advanced double-tap features ourselves for GoodNotes.
Our opinion about the 2nd generation Apple Pencil
The previous generation of the Apple Pencil always felt like one of Apple’s most complete products, which is especially impressive for a first release. In short, everything that was not ideal in the first generation has been fixed or added with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Since the Pencil finally received its own dedicated spot on the side of the iPad it is much more present and becomes a more integrated part in iPad workflows. Automatic wireless charging and pairing is likely the biggest and best thing that could happen to the Apple Pencil. In our tests, it never ran out of battery once and even if it runs low on battery after an intensive drawing or note-taking session, it still charges quickly on the side of the iPad. An (almost) empty Apple Pencil usually imposed a huge productivity blocker for people when they realized it at the beginning of a meeting and first had to plug in the Pencil into the iPad to charge it. Now, the Apple Pencil 2 is always charging. This makes a lot more sense because it intelligently uses the time where you don’t need it so that it is ready when you do. The new matte surface provides a much better grip than the old polished white plastic and makes the Pencil feel warmer and more convenient to hold, which will make a difference for everyone who uses it for long stretches of time.
Sweet, sweet “side” effect
The Apple Pencil has one flat side which is needed for attaching it to the iPad for charging but also has the effect that it doesn’t roll off the desk so easily. It also makes it more convenient to hold, resembling the feeling of a real Pencil. People with small hands will be delighted to hear that the 2nd generation Apple Pencil is shorter (6.53 inches/166mm vs. 6.92 inches/175.7mm) than its predecessor. Weight and diameter stay the same but the new Apple Pencil feels more balanced when writing.
Every one of our team members owns at least one Apple Pencil and as you can imagine, it sometimes becomes quite confusing when you’re picking up a Pencil from a desk and try to write with it before you realize it is actually not yours. So for us, the option to engrave the new Apple Pencil when ordering it was definitely a bonus point.
Rumors — More Pencil Gestures?
When the hardware reacts to a double-tap, it certainly can also recognize triple taps or maybe even other gestures like swiping or sliding. First rumors have appeared that more gestures could be added as additional software updates over time. With a 129 US$ hardware, it seems only logical that customers could expect at least one update that makes their purchase better. We’re curious and excited about the potential future of that.
What could be better
We stand by our opinion that the new Apple Pencil is one of the most complete products that Apple currently sells and that they have done a great job of fixing former weaknesses of the first-generation Apple Pencil with the new design and functionality. However, there are a few things we’re hoping to see in the future.
More Colors & Styles
Apple missed out on the chance to introduce more Pencil styles. Personal engraving is a nice add-on but how cool would it be to have a matte black or a flashing yellow Apple Pencil? For now, we’ll have to stick with the matte white finish Apple offers, or invest in a Pencil skin, which companies like Dbrand sell.
Why stop at one flat side?
The flat side of the Apple Pencil feels great in your hands and lets you rest your index finger on it more comfortably. It would be interesting to see an Apple Pencil with all flat sides, which would be even closer to a real pencil.
A smaller version
The new Pencil is shorter and feels more balanced but is still quite heavy compared to analog pencils. A smaller version could potentially also work together with the iPhone but we’re not sure if Apple will ever go into that direction. After all, who wants a stylus?* ;-)
Cheaper price
129 US$ is a lot for a product that actually should be bought with every iPad because of the great synergy effect these two create when using the right apps. Many people probably miss out on the great experience writing with the Apple Pencil offers because they don’t want to spend another 129 US$ after investing a lot of money in an iPad Pro. It would be great to see a price drop or a cheaper version of the Apple Pencil so that more people can enjoy this fantastic product.
More Pencil tips
The Pencil’s tip can easily be screwed off and replaced. At some point in the future, when the hardware is ready, it would be awesome to see different Pencil tips like paintbrushes. This may not be necessary for note-taking apps like GoodNotes but people who primarily want to draw on their iPads will enjoy a greater selection of tips.
Conclusion
The 2nd generation of the Apple Pencil is an amazing device. Apple managed to make a great first-generation product better in every single way. The downsides we listed above are nit-picking because the new Pencil is almost flawless. The experience of using the Apple Pencil with the new iPad and the right software is seamless and delightful. If you’re buying one of the new iPad Pros, you should also get a 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Without it, the iPad feels kind of… Pointless.
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About GoodNotes:
If you’re interested in a great note-taking app for the iPad and your new Apple Pencil, GoodNotes is a great choice for you. Our digital ink is powered by a pioneering vector ink algorithm which allows a smooth and precise handwriting experience. GoodNotes is available on the App Store.
We’ve written about using the new Apple Pencil in GoodNotes here:
If you want to compare other iPad styluses, read our review about the 6 best styluses here:
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* Steve Jobs coined this phrase when mentioning it during the presentation of the first iPhone. The internet frequently makes fun of the Apple Pencil, quoting Steve Jobs. While this may have been true in 2007, we have to acknowledge that times and human needs have changed. Technology is now able to recreate pen and paper input in a digital form, which is attractive to millions of people worldwide, not just in creative jobs.
