Best Apple Pencil Deals: Save on Your New iPad Stylus Today

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Jamjake Stylus Pen for iPad: $20

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$40 at Amazon

Adonit Note Stylus: $40

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It’s hard to argue that the iPad isn’t one of the best tablets available right now, especially when you look at the top end of the lineup. They’re great for consuming content like movies and websites, but you really need a stylus to get the most out of an iPad and the App Store’s array of great apps. Whether you’re taking notes, drawing, or doing things on the go, a stylus is an essential accessory, and Apple makes a few to choose from. There are also plenty of alternatives to the Apple Pencil, so you won’t be short of options.

There are now four Apple Pencil models to choose from, with prices normally starting at $79. You certainly don’t have to go for the Apple logo if you don’t want to, but whichever stylus you choose, there’s no reason to overpay. We’ve rounded up all the best deals so you can get the right product at the right price. Before you buy, be sure that your chosen Apple Pencil or third-party stylus compatible with your specific iPad.

Best Apple Pencil Pro Deals

The all-new Apple Pencil Pro is here now, and it’s compatible with the latest M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. Both new tablets offer improved features, but the new Apple Pencil Pro brings its own set of improvements.

The Apple Pencil Pro supports a new pinch gesture that lets you quickly open the tools palette, while the barrel roll gesture lets you change the way lines are drawn.

Please note that the Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pro and the M2 iPad Air.

The all-new Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the latest M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, but it introduces new features like pinch and roll gestures for better, faster tool selection and interactions.

Best Apple Pencil (1st Gen) Deals

Apple’s first-generation Apple Pencil was released in November 2015 and has been around ever since. When it debuted, it only worked with the first iPad Pro model, before support was added to other models. It has a built-in Lightning connector on the end for charging directly from your iPad, and it has a removable tip that can be replaced if your current one wears out.

The first-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with all iPad Pro models prior to 2018, the iPad Air 3, the 2019 iPad Mini, and all base iPad models since 2018. It’s also the one used with the 2022 10th generation iPad. It’s odd that most retailers sell two versions of the first-gen Apple Pencil: one with a Lightning adapter and one with a USB-C adapter. Aside from the adapter, the Apple Pencil is exactly the same, so the deciding factor between the two comes down to how you plan to charge it. The USB-C version has only been around for a short while and usually doesn’t see a discount. Here are the best first-gen Pencil deals you can buy right now.

The first-generation Apple Pencil is now just $79 at Amazon. That’s a $20 discount on this beloved writing and drawing accessory.

Best Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) Deals

The second-generation Apple Pencil launched in October 2018 alongside the third-generation iPad Pro . While they look similar on the surface, there are quite a few differences between the two stylus models. One major difference is that the Apple Pencil 2 charges magnetically while attached to newer iPads, meaning there’s no Lightning connector. The design has also been refined somewhat, with a single, flat edge used for charging and a sensor near the tip that enables double-tap functionality.

The second-generation Apple Pencil works with the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros (2018 models and later, except the M4 model), as well as newer iPad Air models (2020 and 2022, but not the M2 iPad Air) and the iPad Mini 6. Here are the best Apple Pencil 2 deals you can get right now.

Apple Pencil (USB-C) Deals

The Apple Pencil goes USB-C with this new, more affordable option that still attaches magnetically to the side of some iPads, but doesn’t charge that way. Instead, a sliding cap reveals a hidden USB-C port for plugging in a cable for charging.

This is Apple’s latest stylus that sits somewhere between the other two options, borrowing some features from both. It has tilt sensitivity, low latency, and pressure sensitivity, but misses out on things like wireless charging and the iPad Pro’s hover functionality. In terms of compatibility, the latest Apple Pencil works with all iPad models with a USB-C port, including the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini.

The USB-C Apple Pencil is the most affordable yet and is compatible with all USB-C iPads. It has its own charging port. You can buy it now from Amazon for $69, which is $10 less than its regular price.

Best Cheap Apple Pencil Alternatives

While the Apple Pencil offers one of the best experiences when paired with the iPad, it may not be the best choice for everyone. There are cheaper alternatives. Here are some of the best ones on sale right now.

The Logitech Crayon works with virtually every iPad out there — unlike the Apple Pencil, where you have to make sure you buy the right Pencil for your iPad model. It doesn’t have fancy instant pairing or magnetic charging, but otherwise it works in much the same way as the Apple Pencil for a fraction of the price.

Zagg’s Pro Stylus 2 gets upgraded with wireless charging and a slew of new colors. It has Apple Pencil-like palm rejection and tilt recognition, plus a round capacitive tip on the back. It lasts 6 hours per charge, and attaches magnetically to your iPad.

Zagg’s Pro Stylus also offers an Apple Pencil-like experience for less. It features palm rejection and tilt-recognition tech like Apple’s, offers automatic pairing, and even attaches magnetically to the side of your iPad Pro or iPad Air (though you’ll need to charge it via USB-C). It’s marked down right now to $35.

This stylus is a great budget alternative to the Apple Pencil if you want the overall style of the Pencil without the price tag. It has removable tips, can be turned on and off, and can even be charged via USB-C.

The Adonit Dash 3 stylus offers a paper-like drag for a more natural writing and drawing experience. It’s capacitive, so there’s no Bluetooth connection required, and it offers up to 14 hours of continuous use. Save $10 when you pick it up directly from Adonit.

This stylus has a nice sleek design and offers a black option that Apple doesn’t currently have for its Pencil models. It offers up to 12 hours of battery life per charge, and a 4-minute charge can give you an extra hour of battery life. It uses Micro-USB for charging and can charge and write simultaneously. There are no discounts on this stylus at the moment, but it’s still a solid value at under $50.

Apple Pencil vs. Apple Pencil 2: Which One Should You Buy?

The decision here is simple: you should buy the one that is compatible with your iPad. Apple doesn’t let you choose which Apple Pencil to use with which iPad. Instead, iPads are only compatible with a specific model of Apple Pencil.

As noted above, the original Apple Pencil works with the first- and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air 3, and fifth-generation iPad Mini, and all base models of iPads since the sixth-generation model. If you have a newer iPad Pro, fourth- or fifth-generation iPad Air, or sixth-generation iPad Mini, you should opt for the Apple Pencil 2.

If you want to avoid this confusion, you can choose one of the non-Apple alternatives mentioned above. These generally have a wider compatibility.