With Apple Pencil, you can turn iPad into your notepad, canvas, or just about anything else you can imagine. That’s even more true in iPadOS 14, where Apple introduced the amazing Scribble feature, which allows you to handwrite in any text box and have it translated to plain text. Originally released in 2015, the Apple Pencil is a wireless stylus that’s specifically designed to work with iPads. Not much bigger than an average pen, the Apple Pencil is great for drawing and taking notes. Apple Pencil attaches magnetically to the side of your iPad Pro or iPad Air and automatically pairs and charges on the go. What iPads work with Apple Pencil 2 or 1?
Key feature
Apple Pencil 2
- Attaches magnetically
- Wireless pairing and charging
- Double-tap to change tools
- Free engraving
- Tilt and pressure sensitivity
- Pixel-perfect precision
- Imperceptible lag
Apple Pencil 1
- Tilt and pressure sensitivity
- Pairing and charging via Lightning
- Imperceptible lag
- Pixel-perfect precision
What iPads work with Apple Pencil 2?
Except for the removable tip, the second-generation Apple Pencil is all one solid piece. There’s no cap to remove and no Lightning connector. Instead, the Pencil magnetically attaches to one of the sides of the iPad Pro or iPad Air for inductive charging. This is also how you pair the Pencil to a compatible new iPad. It just snaps on, asks to pair, and starts charging.
- iPad Pro, 11-inch (2018)
- iPad Pro, 12.9-inch (2018)
- iPad Pro, 11-inch (2020)
- iPad Pro, 12.9-inch (2020)
- iPad Air 4 (2020)
What iPads work with Apple Pencil 1?
The first-generation Apple Pencil has a cap on it concealing a Lightning connector, which plugs into the Lightning port on these iPads for both quick pairing and charging. The Apple Pencil can also be charged by way of the included Lightning adapter, which features two Lightning ports on it, one into which you plug the Pencil, and one into which you plug a Lightning cable.
- iPad Pro, 12.9-inch (2015)
- iPad Pro, 9.7-inch (2016)
- iPad Pro, 10.5-inch (2017)
- iPad Pro, 12.9-inch (2017)
- iPad (2018)
- iPad Air 3 (2019)
- iPad mini 5 (2019)
- iPad (2019)
- iPad (2020)
What iPads do not work with Apple Pencil 2 or 1?
- iPad 9.7in (2017)
- iPad mini 4 (2015)
- iPad mini 3 (2014)
- iPad mini 2 (2013)
- iPad mini 1 (2012)
- iPad Air 2 (2014)
- iPad Air 1 (2013)
- iPad 4 (November 2012)
- iPad 3 (March 2012)
- iPad 2 (2011)
- iPad 1 (2010)
What iPads work with Apple Pencil 2 or 1 – comparison?
| Zagg Pro Stylus | Apple Pencil 1st gen | Apple Pencil 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 6 | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad 7 | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad 8 | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad mini 5 | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad Air 3 | No | Yes | No |
| iPad Air 4 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 9.7″ Pro | No | Yes | No |
| 10.5″ Pro | No | Yes | No |
| 1st-gen 11″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2nd-gen 11″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3rd-gen 11″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
| 1st-gen 12.9″ Pro | No | Yes | No |
| 2nd-gen 12.9″ Pro | No | Yes | No |
| 3rd-gen 12.9″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
| 4th-gen 12.9″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
| 5th-gen 12.9″ Pro | Yes | No | Yes |
How to connect Apple Pencil 1 or 2 with iPad Pro 2020 for Charging?
You’ll both charge and connect your Apple Pencil in the same way.
If you have a first-generation Apple Pencil, unscrew the cap on its “eraser” end to reveal the Lightning connector, and plug it into your iPad. It’ll start charging right away. If you’re asked if you want to pair with the Bluetooth device, tap Pair.
You can also charge your first-generation Apple Pencil using the Apple Pencil Charging Adapter that comes with it. Plug your Pencil into one end, and a Lightning charger cable into the other end.
The second-generation Apple Pencil connects and charges by latching onto the magnetic connector on your iPad’s side.
The second-generation Apple Pencil connects magnetically.
Your Apple Pencil will take about 15 minutes to fully charge, and a full charge will last for about ten to twelve hours of use. You can check the battery on your Apple Pencil by swiping all the way to the left on your iPad’s home or lock screen.
How to check the charge level? If you have a second-generation Apple Pencil, attach the Apple Pencil to the paired iPad and view the battery status via the pop-up indicator. If you have a first-generation Apple Pencil, swipe down to reveal the Notifications center, swipe right to access the Widgets screen, then check the Battery widget to see your Pencil’s charge status.
What iPads drawing feature work with Apple Pencil 2 or 1?
The Apple Pencil works with every app. For example, your iPad’s default Notes app has a markup feature that lets you handwrite your notes instead of typing. The Apple Pencil would be perfect here. If you have iPadOS 14 or later, you can even handwrite in any text field and have your writing converted into typed text.
The Apple Pencil is a stylus — a pen made to use on digital screens — that can do anything your finger can do, but with more precision. This means that you can more easily tap small icons, draw complex shapes, and write in your own handwriting.
Art apps like Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint feel entirely new when you have a good stylus to draw with — especially one with both pressure and tilt sensors. The Pencil is also great for popular rhythm games like “osu!” and “VOEZ,” which require the player to tap tiny buttons in time with music.
It can also be a good substitute when you don’t want to use your fingers in general — maybe you’re wearing heavy gloves, or have ink on your fingers. The Apple Pencil can do anything that your fingers can do.
Screenshots – If you take a screenshot on your iPad and then tap it when a preview appears in the corner, you can draw and write on it using the Apple Pencil through a feature called Markup.
Markup – Markup is the Apple feature that lets you write on screenshots, but it also works across the operating system in various apps. In Mail, you can edit photos or PDFs (it’s great for signing documents), in Messages, you can draw on photos, in the Photos app, you can add captions and drawings to images, and in Books, you can edit PDFs.
Apple Pencil also works with tons of third-party apps for note taking, drawing, sketching, and more. You can find these apps by searching for Apple Pencil in the App Store on the iPad, but below we’ve listed some standouts.
Notability ($8.99) – Notability is a note taking app that’s been around for a long time. It has all kinds of features for writing, sketching, annotating PDFs, and more, plus there are plenty of paper styles and it can scan documents, record audio clips, and more.
Procreate ($9.99) – Ideal for sketching, drawing, and art creation. Simple enough for beginners, but powerful enough for professionals.
Pigment (Free with in-app purchases) – If you like to color and find it relaxing, there are tons of coloring apps for the Apple Pencil like Pigment.
Pixelmator ($4.99) – If you like to edit photos on your iPad, Pixelmator is worth checking out. It supports Apple Pencil, and the Apple Pencil is a great tool for precision edits.
Adobe Photoshop Sketch (Free) – Adobe Photoshop Sketch is a pared down version of Photoshop that’s optimized for artists who like to sketch and draw. It has a bunch of brushes and supports brushes from Photoshop, plus useful color mixing features and layers support. Adobe also has a full Photoshop app for the iPad.
Linea Sketch ($4.99) – If you like to jot down ideas and make quick drawings, Linea Sketch is easy to learn, easy to use, and has a useful range of tools for you to take advantage of.
Adobe Fresco – Adobe Fresco is a drawing, painting, and sketching app from Adobe that also takes advantage of the Apple Pencil. It offers tons of Photoshop brushes, including live brushes and vector brushes, plus it has powerful tools for making selections, masking, adding layers, and more. It’s free, but premium features cost $9.99 to unlock.
What iPads work with Apple Pencil – customer review?
A Must have for your iPad Pro11 3rd gen
I’m so glad that I purchased this Apple Pencil 2nd gen. It’s my fav accessory for my iPad. It is so easy to create beautiful artwork with this Pencil. The grip is nice. The thickness of the Pencil is just right. I don’t even feel that it needs a cover. It’s so easy to work with this Pencil. I wish Apple has added an eraser as well on this Pencil and that would have made it beyond perfect.
Overall this Pencil is a must have if you have iPad Pro and you love to create artwork.
By Nitika at Best Buy
