If you are an iPad user, you are already familiar that iPads are one of the best tablets out there. And to further enhance your experience, it is essential to have an excellent iPad stylus. Apple has introduced two variations of the Apple Pencil for this purpose. These pencils are designed for various models of iPad and undoubtedly are one of the best inventions out there.
Introduced in 2015, Apple Pencil is a stellar tool for basic and professional uses equally. They are popular and widely known for their outstanding features that provide the most pleasant experience to their users. Their features, including pen pressure sensitivity levels, pixel-perfect precision, and tilt recognition technology, make any activities from sketching to note-taking unmatchable to any other stylus.
However, the main downfall of these pencils is their cost, which is very expensive. But many Apple Pencil alternatives are available to save your day. Today, we will look into the best alternatives instead of the Apple Pencil, which has almost the same features, if not much better.
Top 7 Apple Pencil alternatives available at the moment
Your reason for seeking out a stylus for the iPad could be sketching and illustrating or general annotating and scribbling. Since it isn’t fair to pay the same price regardless of how regularly you plan to use the stylus on your iPad, we’ve cherry-picked the best ones in the business. Rather than listing them all up into one bundle, we’ve dissected the market to get a hold of the best Apple Pencil alternatives based on their specific purpose.
- Logitech Crayon – Most Accurate Alternative for Apple Pencil
- Adonit Note+ – Affordable and Professional Choice for Artists
- Adonit Dash 4 – Best for Multiple Device Compatibility
- Zspeed Stylus Pen – Most Affordable Option with High Sensitive Pen Tip
- Zagg Pro Stylus – Dual-tip Stylus with Excellent Features
- NovaPlus A8 Duo iPad Stylus – Great Solution for All iPad Purposes
- XIRON Stylus Pen – Active Fine Point Stylus for Your Basic Needs
1. Logitech Crayon – Most Accurate Alternative for Apple Pencil
Price: $100
Logitech Crayon deserves its place on the list due to its affordability and features and because Apple approves it. One of its main features is that it is quick to recharge and can last up to 7 hours of continuous use. It works not only well with iPads but with other Apple apps too.
I recommend this stylus, especially to digital artists who require various features, including palm reflection and tilt support, for a better experience. It has a striking design with gray and orange colors. It is compatible with the 6th Gen of iPad mini, 9th Gen of iPad, iPad pros back to 3rd Gen and 1st Gen as well as iPad Air back to 3rd Gen.
The only feature that is absent in the stylus is the pressure sensitivity. That is, it is not as sensitive as the Apple Pencil. But suppose you are looking for an accurate alternative that is affordable and built with great quality. In that case, Logitech Crayon is the best option for you.
Pros
- Fast charging
- Battery life that lasts up to 7 hours
- Tilt technology and palm rejection features
- Comfortable to use
- An accurate model of the Apple Pencil
Cons
- No pressure sensitivity
- Not as sensitive as Apple Pencil
Logitech Crayon for iPad, check current price on Amazon now
2. Adonit Note+ – Affordable and Professional Choice for Artists
Price: $70
This particular pencil is the best alternative for digital artists, with all the features it offers at a relatively lower price. Of Course, the cherry on the cake is its amazing features including tilt technology, palm recognition and pressure sensitivity of 2048. In terms of battery life, it can easily be used for almost 10 hours and can be charged with a USB-C connection.
Apart from these features, Adonit Note+ has two programmable buttons for shortcuts. It is compatible with all the 11-inch iPad Pro series, 3rd to 5th Gen of 12.9-inch iPad models, 5th and 6th Gen iPad Mini and 3rd to 4th Gen iPad Air. Certain features are limited to apps as it does not work with all the apps. However, it has great potential and is of great use to digital artists.
Pros
- Fast charging and 24-hour battery life
- Has pressure sensitivity
- Compatible with most iPad models
- Universal compatibility
- USB-C connection for charging
Cons
- Features limited to certain apps
Adonit Note + for ipad, check current price on Amazon now
3. Adonit Dash 4 – Best for Multiple Device Compatibility
Price: $49
The killing feature offered by Adonit Dash 4 and why you should consider going for this pencil is due to its compatibility with almost all devices. Not only this stylus works well with iPad Pro but also with iPhone and Android tablets as well. It has an amazingly long life battery of almost 15 hours and can be charged using a USB-C charger.
This stylus has palm rejection features, so great for everyday use. It has a smooth tip and is lightweight in design. But the pencil lacks Bluetooth connectivity, implying no pressure sensitivity and tilt support features are available. It is a great stylus with versatility but not recommended for artists.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Palm rejection feature
- Lightweight and durable
Cons
- No tilt support and pressure sensitivity
Adonit Dash 4 for iPad, check current price on Amazon now
4. Zspeed Stylus Pen – Most Affordable Option with High Sensitive Pen Tip
Price: $16
Zspeed Stylus Pen comes in a sleek design in both black and white colors. It is a highly sensitive pen that has a capacitive tip. This tip is compatible with all capacitive touchscreen devices making it a great catch among this list of alternative pens.
It comes with an extra 1.45 mm tip which helps you to have excellent control over the screen while using it. It lasts up to 10 to 12 hours when fully charged and contains a magnetic cap that keeps the dust and dirt away from the USB charging port. This pen is great, especially if you are on a certain budget.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Long battery life
- Highly sensitive with a precise pen tip
- Compatible with devices that have capacitive touch screens
- Magnetic cap
Cons
- Many features are not available
- Not compatible with all the iPad apps
Zspeed Stylus Pen for iPad, check current price on Amazon
5. Zagg Pro Stylus – Dual-tip Stylus with Excellent Features
Price: $49
With its universal compatibility and dual-tip design, Zagg Pro Stylus is another closer alternative to Apple Pencil. This stylus looks expensive with a smooth and glossy design. Further, Zagg Pro Stylus has palm rejection and tilt support features with a battery lasting up to 8 hours.
Zagg Pro Stylus can pair well with any iPad from 2018 and newer and can be charged with a USB-C connection within 2 hours. Even with all these amazing features, Zagg Pro Stylus might be a deal breaker for professionals needing pressure sensitivity features. But suppose that’s not your ultimate preference. In that case, this pencil is worth the attention due to its comfortable use and universal compatibility.
Pros
- Fast charging and long battery life
- Tilt technology and palm rejection features
- Precise dual-tip design
- Universal compatibility
- Requires USB-C connection for charging
Cons
- No pressure sensitivity
Zagg Pro Stylus for iPad, check current price on Amazon
6. NovaPlus A8 Duo iPad Stylus – Great Solution for All iPad Purposes
Price: $30
This new stylus in the market is very similar to the Apple Pencil with most of its striking features. It has tilt support and magnetic charging with a replaceable tip, among other excellent features. It can be charged with a USB-C charger if preferred and is compatible with all newer iPads.
The NovaPlus A8 Duo also works well with popular apps such as Procreate, Goodnotes and Notability. This stylus offers most of the features of the Apple Pencil and many more. It is a great alternative for writing and drawing purposes with a smooth experience.
Pros
- Magnetic charging
- Replaceable tip
- Long-lasting battery
- Tilt sensitivity and palm rejection
- Type-C port
Cons
- Not compatible with some older iPads
NovaPlus A8 Duo iPad Stylus, check current price on Amazon
7. XIRON Stylus Pen – Active Fine Point Stylus for Your Basic Needs
Price: $35
Need to make digital art or take notes? You’re in good hands with Xiron. Thanks to its anti-fouling glove and palm rejection, it is ideal for your needs in digital writing and art. It has a rechargeable lithium polymer battery and can be charged via USB. Because the Xiron stylus has a 12-hour battery life, you can take it anywhere and create art whenever you like.
Although the Xiron stylus lacks a Bluetooth connection and integrated shortcut buttons in basic models, you cannot gripe about it because of its super affordable price. In conclusion, this is a good option if you need a basic Apple stylus alternative that is affordable.
Pros
- Anti-fouling glove mode
- 12- hour battery life
- Fine- point tip and high touch sensitivity
- Affordable price
Cons
- No pressure sensitivity
- Lacks integrated shortcut buttons
- No bluetooth connectivity
XIRON Stylus Pen, check current price on Amazon
How to choose your Apple pencil alternatives?
Apple Pencil alternatives are helpful and a necessary step to make to save money. They are great because they have features similar to the Apple Pencil and some other features you won’t find in the Apple Pencil.
These pencils are not only affordable, but some of these go well with your iPhones as well. Whatever your reason for choosing an alternative option, the main doubtful question is how to choose them. This might be a little tricky and confusing, but no need to worry because we are here to help.
Choosing an alternative depends on how you use it or any particular preferences you may need. Let’s look at some factors you should take into account before purchasing a stylus.
Pressure and Tilt Sensitivity
Suppose you use the stylus not just for note-taking and other activities but for professional use. In that case, pencils with some specific features should be considered. These include Pressure Sensitivity and Tilt Sensitivity which helps you to sketch or draw smoothly.
Palm rejection
Another excellent feature to consider if you want to rest your palm on the surface without affecting your work is Palm Rejection. Palm Rejection is a basic but, at the same time, an amazing feature to include in your preferences.
Charging and Battery Backup
The stylus is available in active as well as passive modes. The active stylus has a power source, like a battery and connects through Bluetooth. On the other hand, passive does not include any power source. It is a great choice if you don’t want any difficulty recharging a battery. I recommend an active stylus if you want a precise version of the Apple Pencil, and don’t forget to look out for battery backup.
Budget
Last but not least, your budget and compatibility with the device you use are great points to consider while making a choice. Choose an alternative that fits your price range but has all the features you need.
FAQs
Is the Apple Pencil worth the money?
Apple Pencil offers great features, which makes it a great deal among all the stylus pens available in the tech world. The pixel-perfect with pressure sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, and palm rejection, along with other features, escalates the users’ experience.
It also has a feature that automatically pairs with the iPad and offers efficient control when you write or draw. All these features help the users have an incredible and magical time using the Apple Pencil.
However, suppose you are on a budget and want similar features. In that case, you can always opt for the alternate options that work, mostly like the Apple Pencil.
Can we use other pencils with the iPad?
The short answer is yes. You can use any pencil other than Apple Pencil to work with your iPad. They always come in two types. You can choose passive styli or active styli if using batteries and chargers is fine. Additionally, the decision also depends on your requirements and your budget.
Which alternative is the closest to the Apple Pencil?
From many reviews and other surveys, there is no doubt that Logitech Crayon is regarded as the closest alternative to the Apple Pencil. On top of that, it is personally approved by the Apple company. This makes it even more of a great choice for this category.
The only disadvantage of this pencil is that it lacks the pressure sensitivity feature, an excellent feature offered by Apple. But if that is not an issue and you use it for basic purposes, it is a great alternative to the Apple Pencil.
Conclusion
It is evident that the Apple Pencil is an excellent tool, but it is also very expensive. The features they offer are impressive, but they are not something every user requires. Suppose you think these extra features are unnecessary or want to use the pencil for basic purposes.
In that case, opting for an alternative pencil is the best choice. These pencils, as we discussed earlier, offer similar features but at an affordable level. They can help you to have a smooth experience. We hope the list mentioned in this post helped you decide on your pick.
Read also
– Apple Pencil Not Working? 10+ Ways to Fix it Now
– Apple Pencil Tips & Tricks You Must Know
– These are Apple Pencil Accessories You May Like
– Cheaper Yet Effective Alternatives to the Magic Keyboard for the New iPad Pro
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