Apple Unveils a New Entry-Level Apple Pencil with USB-C

Despite sporadic rumors of new iPads on the horizon for this month, it seems that all Apple actually has to show us for the iPad this fall is a new Apple Pencil with a USB-C port.

However, contrary to some of the other rumors we’ve heard over the years, what Apple announced today isn’t so much an upgraded third-generation Apple Pencil that does more than what came before. Instead, it’s a more affordable version for those who just want a basic stylus for their iPad and don’t need all the bells and whistles of the second-generation Apple Pencil or the pressure-sensitivity of the original first-generation model.

Instead, the new “Apple Pencil (USB-C)” supports only the most basic features of Apple’s stylus. Tilt sensitivity for shading and other effects is its most advanced capability. It also supports the new “hover” feature introduced on the M2 iPad Pro models, although it’s hard to imagine someone who has already invested in one of Apple’s flagship iPad Pro models opting for this stylus instead of the much more full-featured second-generation Apple Pencil.

The new Apple Pencil charges over USB-C rather than Lightning, but the catch is that it only charges over USB-C. Further, Apple has abandoned the original male Lightning connector that plugged into the bottom of traditional iPad models in favor of a male USB-C port that’s hidden under the cap. This means you’ll need to use a cable to charge it up. Granted, having an Apple Pencil protruding from the bottom of your iPad was always a bit strange, but it offered a nice way to get a quick top-up if you didn’t have a cable on hand.

The new Apple Pencil will attach magnetically to the side of Apple’s flat-edged iPads — all of the USB-C models it currently sells. However, it won’t pair or charge in that position; the magnetic attachment is only there for convenience.

The biggest upside to all this is that the new Apple Pencil will retail for only $79, or $69 for educational customers. That’s $20 less than the first-generation Apple Pencil and $50 less than the second-generation Apple Pencil.

Which Apple Pencil Do I Need For My iPad?

However, the new Apple Pencil (USB-C) adds another layer of confusion to the question of which Apple Pencil you should buy for your particular iPad model.

Until last fall, there was a pretty straightforward rule of thumb for Apple’s styluses: If your iPad had a Home Button, you had to opt for the first-generation Apple Pencil. If you had a full-screen iPad with side-button Touch ID or Face ID and a USB-C port, you needed to go for the second-generation Apple Pencil, which could also dock and charge wirelessly with all those iPad models.

Then, Apple threw a monkey wrench into the mix with the 10th-generation iPad. An upgraded version of its entry-level iPad that adopted the design of the iPad Air, leaving the Home Button and Lightning port behind and finally making the switch to USB-C.

The problem is the 10th-generation iPad became an outlier in several ways. It was more expensive, priced awkwardly between the traditional $329 price tag of the original base iPad (which Apple continued selling) and the much more full-featured iPad Air. More significantly, despite its new design and USB-C port, it lacked support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. Instead, customers who wanted a stylus for their iPad had to use the first-generation version and deal with a Lightning to USB-C adapter to charge it.

It’s this problem that Apple’s new Apple Pencil seems intended to solve. The tenth-generation iPad is the only one of Apple’s tablets compatible with the new Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Apple Pencil. Beyond that, the lines are still pretty clear: If your iPad has a Home Button, the first-gen stylus is still the only option for you. If you have a modern iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad Pro, you can use the second-generation Apple Pencil or opt for the more affordable USB-C version, which will dock but not charge on those models.

However, if you’re using Apple’s tenth-generation iPad — and likely the eleventh-generation iPad that will follow it — then Apple’s new $79 USB-C Apple Pencil is probably the better option unless you really need the pressure sensitivity capabilities of the first-generation Apple Pencil and are willing to live with its Lightning connector.

The new Apple Pencil (USB-C) will be available in Apple Stores starting in November as a third option in Apple’s stylus lineup alongside the first-generation and second-generation Apple Pencils.