The company has launched a new, cheaper Apple Pencil as an affordable alternative to the second-generation stylus. The new model costs $79, can magnetically attach to the side of iPads, and doesn’t require a Lightning adapter like its predecessor. However, it does not support wireless charging or advanced features such as pressure sensitivity and double-tap.
The new Apple Pencil (2023) is also lighter than its predecessor, at 3.6 grams. It has a matte finish and features a flat edge that can be attached to the side of the 10th-generation iPad magnetically launched last year, as well as other iPad models with a USB Type-C port, such as the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and the iPad mini. The new stylus is compatible with the same iPad apps that work with the first-generation Apple Pencil and can be charged via a standard USB cable.
However, the Apple Pencil with USB-C does not support features such as wireless pairing and charging, which is a big miss for customers looking to buy one as a backup or a replacement for their current Apple Pencil. It does still have some appeal as it is less expensive than the $99 first-generation Apple Pencil and the $129.99 second-generation Apple Pencil, and it offers the same pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency, and tilt sensitivity that customers have come to expect from this tablet accessory.
Introducing this new Apple Pencil with a USB-C port makes sense as the iPad lineup is shifting away from products that use the Lightning port for charging. It is also available to the same customers as the original Apple Pencil, so if someone already owns the latest model and needs another one for work or school, this is an attractive option.
In the long run, this Apple Pencil cuts a few critical advanced product features to reach an affordable price point and keep up with its competition. That’s an acceptable strategy until choice becomes overwhelming, contradictory, and confusing, which is what the iPad lineup has become with three different Apple Pencil options.
Apple’s Spring Loaded event is taking place next Tuesday, and the company is expected to reveal a few new iPad models and refresh its MacBook lineup. Rumors have suggested that a new version of the iPad Pro will be launched, which could also include an updated second-generation Apple Pencil. The new Apple Pencil will likely be the event’s primary focus, but it’s unlikely that the company would introduce a third model of the stylus this close to the holiday season. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what the company has planned for its tablet accessory line in the future.
