Drawing Pencils for Ipad Mii
The best iPad stylus in 2021: iPad pens for drawing and note-taking
Included in this guide:
The best iPad stylus can be a fantastic addition for your iPad. Whether you want to take notes, turn your tablet into an artistic tool or merely make it easier to navigate for general browsing, a good iPad stylus can be the most essential purchase you can make after the iPad itself. And with Christmas coming up, the best iPad stylus can also make the perfect present for anyone who uses an iPad.
There's a wide range of styluses available to use with the iPad, and choosing the best one will depend on your needs and budget. Do you want to use your tablet for professional drawing or just to tick off tasks, make notes or play some games without getting fingerprints all over your device? Below, we'll look at a range of options for different uses.
Of course, the quickest, simplest answer to the question of which is the best iPad stylus should be no real surprise. Apple's own Apple Pencil is lag-free, creates pixel-sharp lines, and is generally the smoothest experience you can get. If you've already spent cash on one of the most recent top-of-the-line iPads (see our reviews of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch M1, 2021 and the iPad Pro 11-inch M1, 2021), the Apple Pencil 2 is the best stylus for an iPad for almost any use and is definitely a wise purchase.
There are other options, however, with other features, and generally available at more affordable prices. If you aren't sure where to start, skip down to our guide to what makes a good stylus for a summary of common technical features like palm rejection and tilt sensitivity.
If you're considering alternatives to the iPad, see our guide to the best tablets with a stylus. Also, if you're dead set against using Apple's own-brand Pencil, check our guide to the best Apple Pencil alternatives. For now, though, read on to find the best iPad stylus for you, along with direct links to retailers' best current prices.
The best iPad stylus available now
The iPad stylus overall (if your iPad is compatible)
Specifications
Pressure levels: 4096
Weight: 20.7g
Length: 175.7mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Battery life: 12 hours
Reasons to buy
+Really natural to use +Good with all apps +Great for writing and drawing
Reasons to avoid
-Selective compatibility
We don't think anyone will dispute the suggestion that the Apple Pencil 2 has been the best pen for the iPad since its release back in 2018. Out of all the options available, it provides the smoothest and most seamless drawing experience. It has pressure sensitivity, palm rejection and lag-free operation, making it a superb stylus for drawing – so much so that drawing tablet manufacturers are getting a little nervous about the iPad entering their specialist niche.
The only caveat is that you need to make sure the Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with your iPad. If you have a standard iPad or a Pro or Air older than the 2020 iPad Air or 2018 iPad Pro, you'll need the older Apple Pencil 1. See below to check which versions of the iPad the Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with. Other than that, the only drawback with the Apple Pencil 2 is, of course, its cost. iPads are already expensive, so you may think a three-figure outlay on top is too much. If that's the case, scroll down to see the best third-party iPad styluses available at a lower cost.
Compatibility
Which versions of the iPad the Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with? You can use the 2018 device with the fourth-generation iPad Air (2020), the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third generation) and later, and the iPad Pro 11-inch (first generation) and later.
The original Apple Pencil works with iPad Pro 12.9-inch (first and second generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad (sixth generation to ninth generation) and iPad mini fifth generation. To compare the two styluses, see our guide to Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2.
02. Zagg Pro Stylus
The best affordable third-party iPad stylus
Specifications
Pressure levels: None
Weight: 15g
Length: 153mm
Connectivity: None
Battery life: No batteries
Reasons to buy
+Useful palm rejection +Tilt sensitivity
Reasons to avoid
-No pressure sensitivity -No wireless charging
The world of third-party styluses can be difficult to navigate, with great products sitting alongside poor-quality ones. However, we're happy to recommend the Zagg Pro Stylus as a compelling, well-made Apple Pencil alternative. It has palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, making for a premium-feeling drawing experience, and it'll work seamlessly across whichever iPad apps you care to use (as long as you're using a relatively recent iPad, at least).
The Zagg Pro Stylus charges via its hidden USB-C port, and is comfortable to use for even long periods. With embedded magnets, it can attach to the side of your iPad for easy transportation. It doesn't connect via Bluetooth, but creates an electric field that allows it to interact with the iPad (hence the need for charging).
There is one strike against the Zagg Pro Stylus though, and it's a considerable one: there's no pressure sensitivity. For some artists, this will simply be a deal-breaker; if that's not the case for you, then this is a fantastic choice of iPad stylus, available at a price that undercuts the Apple Pencil in all its forms.
03. Meko Universal Stylus
The best cheap iPad stylus for those on a budget
Specifications
Pressure levels: n/a
Weight: 20g
Length: 230.8mm
Connectivity: Wireless
Battery life: Eight hours
Reasons to buy
+Hugely affordable +Strong aluminium build
Reasons to avoid
-No pressure sensitivity -Extremely basic
If you don't need anything fancy and just want a basic stylus that works, the Meko Universal Stylus should be your point of call. With its single-digit price tag, it's much, much more affordable than a high-end stylus. While it doesn't have sophisticated artistry features like pressure-sensitivity, it does have a pleasingly precise nib. The handy clear disc that lets you see precisely where you're drawing is a welcome touch.
For writing, note-taking and basic sketching, this will do the job. The aluminium build of the Meko Universal Stylus is pleasingly solid, and the fact that it's compatible with pretty much any touchscreen going means it's an especially good choice if your household has multiple tablets of different makes and models.
04. Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3
The best stylus for sketching
Specifications
Pressure levels: 2048
Weight: 18g
Length: 14.73mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Battery life: 18 hours
Reasons to buy
+Ideal for sketching and note-taking +Svelte dimensions
Reasons to avoid
-Specialised nib for sketching -Not available in the US
Wacom boasts an industry-leading reputation thanks to its fabulous range of dedicated drawing tablets. So it's only natural that the company produces an attractive line of styluses as well. As well as being our favourite iPad stylus for sketching, the Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3 also takes the plaudits for general use on the iPad Air and iPad Mini series thanks to its compatibility with iOS devices. it only misses out on our top three because it's not currently available in the US.
Instead of trying to mimic a traditional rounded pen, the Bamboo Fineline 3 has an ergonomic triangular design for better grip. It also has a comfortable palm rejection function, which makes it super-authentic. It's an excellent all-rounder, but its fine tip and pressure-sensitive nibs make it just about as close an experience to sketching on paper as you can get. With a brilliant battery life (recharged via USB) it uses Bluetooth to connect to your iPad, which brings the integrated shortcut buttons into play, too, enabling you to set up handy shortcuts within your chosen iOS apps.
05. Adonit Pixel
A top-quality third-party stylus for drawing and note-taking
Specifications
Pressure levels: 2048
Weight: 20g
Length: 150mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Battery life: 15 hours
Reasons to buy
+Pressure sensitivity +Compatible with lots of apps
Reasons to avoid
-Buttons can be over-sensitive -Palm rejection is spotty
Adonit has been refining its styluses for close to a decade now, and the Adonit Pixel is still one of its best for drawing on an iPad. Bluetooth enabled and compatible with many of the sorts of apps creatives will likely be using on their tablets, the Pixel boasts 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and a range of function buttons on its body that can be assigned to the user's preferred tools (though be warned these can be easy to knock accidentally if you're not paying attention). The battery should last for about 15 hours of use, allowing you to get really stuck into your projects, and the sleek design makes the Pixel stylus genuinely enjoyable to use.
06. Adonit Dash 4
The best affordable pen for the iPad with a long-lasting battery
Specifications
Pressure levels: n/a
Weight: 15g
Length: 192mm
Connectivity: Wireless
Battery life: 15 hours
Reasons to buy
+Stylish look and finish +Long battery life
Reasons to avoid
-No pressure sensitivity -No Bluetooth
The simple, affordable Adonit Dash 4 is widely compatible and works well on most iPads, including native palm rejection for the latest models. It offers a straightforward, stylish drawing experience. It doesn't have as many variations in the choice of finish as the previous Dash 3, coming in only graphite black and matte silver, but it looks smart. Best of all, the battery can last up to 15 hours, and the charging time is fast, offering fewer interruptions while drawing. For an affordable and reliable basic stylus, the Dash 4 is a sound choice.
07. Logitech Crayon
A an Apple-approved Apple Pencil alternative
Specifications
Pressure levels: n/a
Weight: 18.1g
Length: 163mm
Connectivity: Wireless
Battery life: 7 hours
Reasons to buy
+Very affordable +Instant connectivity +Useful palm rejection
Reasons to avoid
-No pressure sensitivity
While Apple originally announced the Logitech Crayon would only be available for schools and educators, it later changed its tune and made this great Apple Pencil alternative available to everyone (albeit at a slightly higher price). Again, the lack of pressure sensitivity is a point against it, but it packs in some useful features such as palm rejection, instant wireless connectivity to compatible iPads and tilt support, which lets you adjust the thickness of a line by altering the angle at which you're using the Crayon. It's not a groundbreaking pen for the iPad and can't compete with the Apple Pencil, but it's affordable and reliable, with a reasonable battery life of seven hours.
08. Adonit Mark
The best cheap iPad stylus
Specifications
Pressure levels: N/A
Weight: 22g
Length: 140mm
Connectivity: None
Battery life: N/A
Reasons to buy
+The price! +Comfortable to use
Reasons to avoid
-Very basic -No actual connectivity
If you only plan to use an Ipad stylus for navigating and aren't convinced about the need to spend more than $20/£20 on something you'll only use as a pointing device, then Adonit's most budget option, the Adonit Mark, could be the option you're looking for. Despite the very cheap price, this stylus has been designed to feel comfortable in your hand, with a triangular anti-roll design. It retains the precision you'd expect from a manufacturer that only makes styluses, largely thanks to its smudge-free mesh tip. The Adonit Mark won't win any innovation awards, but if you just want a simple stylus to make it easier to navigate on your iPad, you won't find a better budget iPad stylus than this.
What makes a good stylus?
Which is the best iPad stylus for you? That depends a lot on your needs, but for most people, a comfortable hold is critical. A stylus is no good if using it is less comfortable than simply using your finger on the touchscreen. A good stylus should sit easily in your hand and be comfortable to use for long periods. Of course, you also need a tip that won't scratch your screen, which is the reason why you should avoid super-cheap styluses from dodgy-looking websites.
If you want a stylus simply to navigate on your iPad and maybe take down notes, those two criteria may be enough. However, if you want to use your iPad stylus to sketch or illustrate, then you'll want to consider paying more for more sophisticated features. The terms below are the ones to look out for.
Pressure sensitivity: This is important for drawing and you'll see it mentioned a lot in our guide above. Cheaper styluses have only two states of operation – drawing a line, or not drawing a line. However, premium styluses with pressure sensitivity can detect how hard you're pressing and vary the thickness of the line accordingly. In digital art, this is hugely important.
Different styluses offer different levels of pressure sensitivity (as do different tablets). Styluses with 2,048 distinct levels of pressure sensitivity are fairly common, but some offer as many as 8,192. Apple is notably quiet about how many levels its Pencil can detect, though it's clearly quite a few.
Palm rejection: With palm rejection, you can rest your hand comfortably on the surface of the tablet while you're drawing without it impacting on your work, just as you would a piece of paper. Without it, the tablet may get confused with the multiple input signals. If you're planning to spend long sessions drawing, a stylus with palm rejection will make things much more fluid and comfortable.
Tilt sensitivity: like with pressure sensitivity, tilt sensitivity allows you to fine-tune your drawing. It allows the tablet to detect the angle at which the stylus is being placed against the screen. This allows you to vary line shape and thickness in a very intuitive manner, just as you would with a pen or pencil.
Wireless connectivity: Some of the above features require the stylus to be connected to your tablet, so it can be a great advantage to have a stylus that offers connectivity via Bluetooth or similar wireless technology. Styluses with this option also tend to be a lot more compatible with drawing apps.
All these features are great to have, and fairly essential if you're planning on using your iPad stylus for digital art. They do add to the cost, however, and aren't necessary if you're only going to use your iPad stylus for note-taking and general navigation.
Related articles:
- iPad Pro apps: Make your Apple Pencil shine
- How to avoid losing your Apple Pencil
- Drawing apps for iPad: Top options for digital artists
Beren Neale is the deals editor at Creative Bloq. After editing several creative and design magazines - including the graphic design mag Computer Arts - he found his home on the biggest global art and design website, helping digital creatives get the best deals on the kit that they need.
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Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/features/best-ipad-stylus
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