The Apple Pencil – Plain Old Stylus or Something Special?

During Apple’s ‘Hey Siri’ event last week, the new iPad Pro was revealed. Alongside it came a new accessory – the Apple Pencil. This is a new incarnation of the stylus, allowing for precise sketching and design work on the iPad Pro.

With the moniker of ‘Pencil’, Apple seems to be distancing itself from styluses, suggesting the Apple Pencil is something entirely new. Is it? And just how good is the Apple Pencil?

The iPad Pro has a far larger screen than any of its iPad predecessors at 12.9 inches. It is also rather costly at $799 (£519) for the basic version and $1079 (£701) for the most expensive version. It is clear that this tablet is designed with professionals in mind. It has a function that allows two side-by-side full screen windows due to its size. This allows for efficient multitasking for work and clear presentation for meetings. It is no surprise, then, that it is also designed to be beneficial to artists and creative professionals.

The Apple Pencil itself costs an additional $99 (£64). A big selling point shown off by Apple is that in just 15 seconds of charging, the Apple Pencil has 30 minutes of power. Full charge of the Pencil gives 12 hours of power (though the iPad itself only lasts for 10 hours). This may seem good, but many of the Pencil’s competitors last far longer.

While the Apple Pencil may seem like a new, revolutionary product, many similar products have existed for a long time. Drawing tablets such as those made by Wacom have allowed graphic designers to create digital images with a stylus-like pen for over 20 years. There is also the Microsoft Surface Pro – a tablet that is frequently used by designers. But the most similar product is the Fifty Three Pencil – it even has a similar name. The Fifty Three Pencil is a stylus that can be used for sketching and drawing on any iPad or iPhone (not just the iPad Pro!), and works in a very similar way to the Apple Pencil.

Unlike the Apple Pencil, the Fifty Three Pencil includes an eraser for quick removal of unwanted marks, and a full charge lasts a month – far exceeding Apple’s 12 hours. It can be used on any iPad, and it costs half the price of the Apple Pencil. It is also designed ergonomically for easy grip, whereas the Apple Pencil seems to be more concerned with visual design than ease of use. The Fifty Three Pencil is available in Aluminium and Wood, as opposed to Apple’s plastic Pencil.

However, the Apple Pencil does have some design advantages. Whilst many designers complain of problems with a delay on their styluses, the Apple Pencil has been credited as seeming natural and free from delay, flowing like a real pencil. The iPad Pro has a huge 5.6 million pixels crammed into its screen, allowing for extreme precision in design. It has sensors that allow for different applications of pressure, and measures tilt to create accurate, desirable markings.

But, despite the clear amount of work put into the Apple Pencil’s design, they have failed to take advantage of having a first-party accessory. They could have designed the iPad Pro with some kind of helpful holder for the Pencil, but they have neglected to do so. Instead, the rather expensive Pencil will be prone to damage and loss due to being separate from the iPad itself.

While the Apple Pencil has some sleek design elements, there are some far superior (and cheaper) options out there. Some designers may find it to be a useful device, while some may stick with their Wacom tablets and Fifty Three Pencils. As for the rest of us, we’re best sticking with plain old pencils and paper.