Apple Pencil: Which iPads Work with the Apple Stylus?

Apple Pencil does a great job for artists, students, and anyone who likes to doodle digitally or take handwritten notes. Unfortunately, the Pen doesn’t work on every iPad Apple makes. We’ll look at which iPads you can use with the stylus and offer some alternatives if you don’t want to upgrade an incompatible iPad. We will also provide some Apple Pencil tips and tricks from our past articles.

Apple Pencil and iPad Pro 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch

Apple Pencil works with the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro released in late 2015. At first this was the only iPad it could work with. Later last year, in the Spring, Apple introduced the 9.7-inch Apple iPad Pro. These are the only two iPads that work with the Pen.

Apple iPad Pro 9.7 inch, available in Rose Gold, Space Grey, Gold and Silver color options, works with Apple Pencil.

Apple offers multiple styles Including two sizes, 9.7 inches (starting at $599) and 12.9 inches (starting at $899). The smaller iPad Pro comes in four colors, Silver, Gold, Space Gray, and Rose Gold. In larger size, they only offer Silver, Space Gray and Gold.

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro works with Apple Pencil and comes in three colors Space Grey, Gold, and Silver.

Apple has released an update for the regular non-Pro 9.7-inch Apple iPad. It costs less than any other new iPad starting at $329, but it doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil, despite being the latest iPad to come out of Apple’s headquarters. This is not an iPad Pro model, but more suited to the education and low-end tablet markets. This may surprise people accustomed to Apple, which focuses on the high-end market leaving the market for budget devices to competition. With Chromebooks becoming more popular in schools, Apple has chosen to go after them with this new low-cost option. However, they did not put Apple Pencil support on the new tablet.

Note the three-pin connector on the edge of the iPad Pro.

To keep prices low on this model, they didn’t include the Apple Pencil or Apple Smart Connector that attaches to the Keyboard Cover. starts at $149 for the smaller model

The company has also slashed the price of the iPad mini 4, which doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil or keyboard. The iPad mini 4 cost $399 for a 32GB one, but they dropped the 32GB model and lowered the price. 128GB model for $399.

Apple Pencil Alternatives for Non-Pro iPads

People with a non-Pro iPad can still use a stylus and get fine-dot ink for taking notes and even drawing and painting in fine art apps. We have published a list of alternatives to the Apple Pencil. Adonit’s tools work best. They offer my favorite alternative, Adonit Dash 2. Like the Apple Pencil, it has a fine tip and like most fine tip stylus options, the user doesn’t need to pair it via Bluetooth.

Wacom makes Wacom Fine Line 2The , is another great pen for art and writing on iPad. It costs $59.95 and comes in 4 colors. It works with every iPad, but for some reason the iPad Pro is 9.7 inches. You get pressure sensitivity and a subtle hint. Charge with a micro USB cable.

Apple Pencil Tips and Tricks

If you do, we’ve posted 12 tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your Apple Pencil.

First, make sure you get a case or attachment to hold the Pencil with your iPad Pro. I love the Switch Easy Cover Buddy. sells for $39 at Amazon.

Keep the pen normal and get regular lines. Hold at an extremely low angle and draw using the edge of the tip and achieve shading.

You can use art features by doing two things. Press harder to get darker and wider lines in supported apps. Also, hold it like an art pen and press using the edge of the nib instead of the small nib to achieve shading as seen above.

See the link above for other tips, such as placing paper on the iPad Pro screen and tracing on Paper using Apple Pencil.