Best Apple Pencil 2025: Which Apple Pencil is best for your 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.

Apple Pencil compatibility at a glance

• Apple Pencil Pro costs $129/£129 and is compatible with recent iPad Pro (M4/M5) and iPad Air (M2/M3) models, and iPad mini (A17 Pro).
• Apple Pencil USB-C costs $79/£79 and is compatible with most iPad Pro and iPad Air models going back a few years, the iPad (10th gen and A16) and iPad mini (A17 Pro and 6th gen).
• Apple Pencil (2nd gen) costs $129/£129 and is compatible with older iPad Pro and iPad Air and iPad mini models.
• Apple Pencil (1st gen) costs $99/£99 and is compatible with the iPad (6th-10th gen and A16 models) It also works with some very old iPad Pro and iPad Air and iPad mini models.

In this article we will help you decide which Apple Pencil to buy to use with your iPad. 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: Differences explained

1. Apple Pencil Pro

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Apple Pencil (Pro) – 2024

$100

Who is the Apple Pencil Pro for? This is the best Apple Pencil for artists, as long as you have a compatible iPad.

This Apple Pencil Pro supports pressure and tilt sensitivity and has low latency, so it’s good for drawing and painting.

You can squeeze the Apple Pencil Pro allow you to open a tool pallet for quick access to line weight, different colors, or to switch to a different brush. Lots of artistic apps that take advantage of Apple Pencil Pro gestures.

Support for rolling means you can use the pencil like a paintbrush, rotating it to create effects like calligraphy.

You get a hover preview before the pencil touches the iPad so you know where the pen will make it’s impact, allowing for precision.

The Pencil Pro charges wirelessly and will attach to an iPad magnetically so is less likely to get lost.

The Apple Pencil Pro It works with the most recent iPad Air (M2/M3) and iPad Pro (M4/<5) as well as the iPad mini A17. It has all of the features of 2nd-gen Apple Pencil and several more, including haptic feedback, Find My support, and support for rolling and squeeze gestures.

2. Apple Pencil (USB-C)

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Apple Pencil (USB-C) – 2018

$64.22

Who is the Apple Pencil (USB-C) for? If you have a compatible iPad with USB-C and want a stylus for note taking, but not drawing this could be a good option and the cheapest Apple Pencil you can buy.

The Apple Pencil USB-C is really a pencil for note taking, rather than drawing as it doesn’t support pressure sensitivity, which means you won’t get a thicker stroke by pressing harder. Even the 1st gen Apple Pencil supports pressure sensitivity.

This Apple Pencil also lacks many of the features of the 2nd generation model, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking newer means better. But it is cheaper at $79/£79.

This is essentially a Pencil with a USB-C port, designed for iPads with USB-C charging ports instead of the older Lightning port. But, it doesn’t work with the 9th gen iPad or the earliest iPad Pros.

3. Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

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Apple Pencil (2nd gen) – 2018

$82.58

$94.99

Who is the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) for? This is the Apple Pencil for artists that do not have one of the M-series iPad Air or Pro models.

The second generation Apple Pencil launched in 2018 but it is still on sale (for $129/£129) to meet the demands of those with older iPads that aren’t compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro.

Artists with older iPads should choose this over the Apple Pencil USB-C because it offers pressure sensitivity and tilt control.

In comparison to the first generation Apple Pencil, this model has a flat-edge, so it shouldn’t roll away. A double tap gesture means you can switch tools more easily than with the first-gen model. Additionally it is magnetic so will ‘stick’ to the side of your iPad and it charges wirelessly the same way.

This Apple Pencil won’t work with the iPad A16 or 10th gen, or the M2/M3 iPad Air or M4/M5 iPad Pro.

Read our full

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) review

4. Apple Pencil (1st generation)

Who is the Apple Pencil (1st gen) for? This is the best Apple Pencil for artists with iPads that aren’t compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil 2. In particular the iPad A16, 10th generation or older.

This was the first Apple Pencil that launched way back in September 2015. Apple still sells it because it is the only Apple Pencil for most versions of the standard iPad. It’s compatible the current A16 iPad, as well as the 10th-generation iPad and a number of older iPad models.

You could also use the Apple Pencil USB-C with the iPad A16 or 10th generation, but you would be missing out on some of the features that are key for artists, like pressure sensitivity and tilt detection.

The biggest disadvantage if you have a newer iPad is that charging requires a Lightning port or an adapter. This is only really an issue if you are away from home and don’t have the adapter and cable to hand.

Read our full

Apple Pencil (1st generation) review

Which Apple Pencil: Specs

Here’s a brief breakdown of their technical specifications:

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.

Foundry

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. 

Apple

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.