Apple Pencil: Things You Need to Know To Get Started
Introduced alongside the first-gen iPad Pro (2015), Apple Pencil has managed to garner rave reviews from fans and experts alike. And rightly so, as the digital pen has got a lot under the hood to warrant high praise. If you are new to the Apple ecosystem or for that matter toying with the idea of buying the stylus; you may want to know everything about Apple Pencil and whether or not it could be an ideal addition to your armoury.
What Makes Apple Pencil Different?
While Apple Pencil may not have an eye-catching design to boast of, the digital pen stands out on many fronts. First and foremost, the stylus is touted to have imperceptible lag and delivers pixel‑perfect precision. The impressive tilt functionality along with pressure sensitivity and support for palm rejection make it one of a kind.
Image credit: MacWorld
Whether it’s smooth drawing, fast note-taking or precision sketching or proficiently marking up documents, Apple Pencil nails it like no lother digital pen in the market.
Which iPad Models are Compatible with Apple?
Initially, Apple was reluctant to make other iPad models like the standard one and Air to have support for Apple Pencil. However, the tech giant has now made the stylus compatible with even affordable iPad models like the 6th-gen iPad.
Read – Rumour Roundup: iPad Pro (2021) Specs, Price, and Release Date
Apple Pencil (1st Generation) works with:
iPad Air 3, iPad Mini 5 iPad 6, iPad 7, iPad 8, iPad Pro 12.9 inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 9.7 inch, iPad Pro 10.5 inch
Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) works with:
iPad Air 4, iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9 inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11 inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 11 inch (2nd generation)
What’s the difference between Apple Pencil 1st and 2nd-gen?
While Apple Pencil 2 sports a flat side and a sanded design that enhances the texture, the Apple Pencil 1 features a smooth and rounded design.
Unlike the first-gen Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil 2 also supports touch gestures for swapping between tools which are pretty helpful.
The original Apple Pencil has a Lightning connector which enables it to charge securely, whereas the second-generation model charges inductively through the iPad Pro.
The different charging mechanisms aside, both the Apple Pencil 1 and 2 are designed to work seamlessly with the iPad. As for the price, while the first-gen is available for ₹ 8,495, the second-gen model is available for ₹10,900 on Amazon right now. Tips for pencil are also available separately.
Tips to Customize Apple Pencil 2 Touch Gestures
One of the notable features of the second-gen Apple Pencil is the super handy touch gestures that you can use to swap between a drawing tool and an eraser in a sketching app. What’s more, you can even customize the touch gestures to suit your needs better.
To get going, launch the Settings app on the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil connected. After that, select “Apple Pencil”. Next, choose the desired touch gestures.
Image credit: MacRumors
You have mainly three options for the tap gesture: Switch Between Current Tool and Eraser, Switch Between Current Tool and Last Used, and Show Color Palette. Notably, there is also an option to disable the tap feature if you don’t find it helpful.
How to Charge Apple Pencil and View Its Battery Level
The original Apple Pencil features a Lightning port at the end, which enables it to charge. As for Apple Pencil, it charges inductively through the iPad Pro. Simply stick the second-gen digital pen on the right side of the iPad in the flat area to kickstart the charging. Thanks to the strong magnets, the stylus is held onto the device securely while charging.
Image credit: Apple
The moment you attach Apple Pencil (2nd generation) to your iPad Pro, the charge status shows up on the screen. To find out how much charge your Apple Pencil has left, you can check the Today View on your iPad by swiping from left to right on the Home screen or Lock screen.
Image credit: Apple
How to use Apple Pencil
There is no separate tool or app or setting in order to start using Apple Pencil. Once you have successfully paired the Pencil with the iPad, you can simply start using it, both natively to navigate and also to draw or write in any App. It is extremely easy and intuitive to use.
Bottom Line:
Having put our hands on Apple Pencil 1 and 2 and explored what it has to offer at Rapid Repair – India’s most prominent Apple repair centre, we can vouch for the excellence that Apple’s stylus boasts. With unmatched palm rejection and pixel-perfect precision, they are designed to make the drawing, sketching, and note-taking a pleasing affair. What do you have to say about the stylus? Be sure to share your thoughts down below in the comments section.
