The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the magic wand I was hoping it would be

I’ve had my eyes on the Apple Pencil ever since the first generation model came out. If you’re a regular XDA reader, you’re probably familiar with my passion for Apple products and the tight ecosystem that ties them all together. FanBoi brainwashing Or not, there is no denying that these devices communicate on a deep level that is invisible to the end user. Once you familiarize yourself with the operating systems, you won’t think twice about copying on your iPhone and then pasting on macOS, for example. It just becomes an unconscious part of the workflow. You will only lose them when you switch to different brands – they are not supported.

The Apple Pencil 2 doesn’t contribute much to the current single iPad experience.

My expectations were too high for the Apple Pencil 2. One of the reasons behind this is that it is not a first generation product. So the company has learned from its past mistakes (you think). More importantly, I’ve seen how magical Apple accessories can be, like the AirPods lineup. I was expecting the Apple Pencil 2 to be some kind of magic wand. I’ve thought and hope to unleash the iPad’s full potential – a charming Romeo to a lonely Juliet. After laying my hands on it, I came to a very sudden realization: Love is not real. It doesn’t actually contribute much to the current single iPad experience. And unless you’re a graphic designer or someone passionate about creating digital art, you’ll likely come to the same conclusions you’d come as a regular user. a Good iPad Performance is not dependent on the optional pencil at all.

Apple Pencil 2


Apple Pencil 2: The Yays

Let’s start with the positives because the negatives definitely outweigh them – in my opinion. But before that, let me explain what prompted me to finally make this purchase. freeform It is an app that Apple will release as part of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura later this year. It’s pretty much a whiteboard with very few restrictions. As someone who loves imagining their ideas – especially when brainstorming and preparing detailed content – I very much look forward to getting my hands on it. Moreover, I wanted to use it infreeform – Not through keyboards and touch controls, but by going back to the basics of paper, pencils and doodles.

Really second generation

Apple Pencil connected to iPad

iPad Lollipop in search. – Credit: Jordan Novett / VentureBeat

When you compare the Apple Pencil 2 to the original model, there are a lot of noticeable differences – in terms of design and functionality. Starting with charging, you no longer have to rely on ipad lollipop To recharge your pen with apple flavor. The company realized that plugging a pencil vertically into the iPad’s Lightning port isn’t much Apple LLC from him. It reminds us of the Magic Mouse’s silly inverted charging mechanism.

The Apple Pencil 2 is modern, intuitive, and doesn’t look silly.

The new Apple Pencil mates and charges magnetically by placing it on the edge of a compatible iPad. It’s modern, it’s more intuitive, and it doesn’t look silly. Apart from that, it is also great for storage/portability. You no longer need a dedicated pencil pocket and no need to worry about losing it. Speaking of losing things, the second generation stylus also features a flat tip – so it won’t roll over flat surfaces, like a work desk, and gives the floor a killer hug.

Apple Pencil 2 connected to iPad Air 5

smart nest

I won’t deny that the Apple Pencil 2 has some of them Intelligence. They are frustrating, yes, but we have to admit they are nonetheless. For starters, you get a double-click shortcut that quickly switches between the eraser and the drawing tool you’re using. Apple Support mentions that you can reset it to show a color palette instead, but for some reason these particular options don’t appear in Settings The app on iPadOS 16.

Apple Pencil 2 settings

Additionally, you can swipe diagonally from any of the iPad’s bottom corners to take a screenshot or start a quick note. These gestures work using your fingers as well, but I found them to be more reliable/consistent when using the Apple Pencil 2. Apart from that, many apps support palm rejection when using this Clever The stylus, so you don’t have to deal with accidental touch entries.

Mac accessory

You can turn your iPad into a Wacom monitor of some sort.

Perhaps one aspect that artists will appreciate is Apple Pencil support on macOS. No, you cannot use it on your Mac screen per se. However, you can turn your iPad into a Wacom screen of sorts — thanks to Sidecar. This way you can mirror your screen Mac To the iPad – which supports Apple Pencil 2 input. It’s also great for those who want to quickly annotate or sign a document without handing the entire job over to the iPad app.


Apple Pencil 2: The Nights

Now that we’ve put the Apple Pencil 2 pros aside, let’s delve into the most eye-catching details — just how awful this thing is. Again, this is my personal opinion and unfulfilled expectations. I realize that Pencil caters to a certain group of users – which I don’t seem to belong to – but I’m documenting my experience anyway.

My Finger is superior (and it doesn’t cost me $129)

Apple Pencil 2

Believe it or not, I was once a fan and ardent user of Android. About a decade ago, I’ve been using a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE. Believe it or not, again, I think the stylus included with it is more useful than the Apple Pencil 2. For starters, it didn’t require any power to run. You do not need to charge it or maintain it. Second, it allowed me to interact with the screen without touch it. I would just scroll through the menus by pointing to the bottom of the screen – if I remember correctly. Not to mention that it also has a visible indicator on the screen as you hover over it.

The Apple Pencil 2 doesn’t replace your finger like the Galaxy Note 2 stylus did.

The Apple Pencil 2 only supports the double-click shortcut to switch the tool in terms of Mindfulness features. More importantly, it does not replace your finger as the Galaxy Note 2 stylus did. Stupid The stylus supports all kinds of touch inputs that you can do with one finger. On the iPad, you can’t use the Pencil to do any of the system-wide gestures like switching apps, going to the Home screen, opening Control Center, or checking Notification Center. So I have to switch between the Apple Pencil 2 and my finger if I only use the so-called Clever The pen is equivalent to my finger. And oh – your finger comes built in and doesn’t cost you more than a hundred bucks.

response time

Given that the Apple ecosystem tends to work instantly and effortlessly, I would have expected the Pencil 2 to fully integrate with iPadOS. I assumed the input would be instant – since the company developed both products and could employ the brains to see a seamless connection between the two. Unfortunately, when drawing, you’ll likely notice a few milliseconds of latency. The line you draw does not appear immediately as the tip of the pen touches the screen. The delay is minimal, but I’m sure power users – especially digital painters – will notice. I’ve read that performance is better on the new iPad Pro models, due to ProMotion (120Hz) support. Considering I’m using an iPad Air 5 (with a peak refresh rate of 60Hz), I can’t comment on the Pencil’s performance when paired with the Pro iPads.

handwritten nightmare

Apple Pencil 2 notes

One of the selling points of the Apple Pencil is scribble. This iPadOS feature allows you to instantly convert handwritten content to text. It also supports gestures for word selection, deletion, etc. I like to think my handwriting is legible. I mean, it’s not the manuscript you find on old parchment paper sent out from one king to another. But it is still clear.

Apple Pencil 2 handwriting in Notes

I would say that Scribble perfectly understands 85-90% of handwritten input. This is impressive, given that the feature is working on the device. However, I can’t imagine myself using it to take notes in a time-sensitive situation – like attending a class or during an interview. Having to pause every now and then to correct a word will simply break the flow. Most importantly, the keyboard is faster and more accurate. The Apple Pencil 2 is a great gimmick for those nostalgic for the good old days who want to write their poetry in a traditional way – without having to meet deadlines or catch up with a speaker.

He has a very specific audience

The stylus included with the Galaxy Note 2 hasn’t only been loved by artists. I used to find myself relying on him instead of my finger on him Browse the normal phone. I don’t know how to explain it, but using it on random, non-technical occasions sometimes made sense. This is not the case with the Apple Pencil 2 – simply because you can’t even perform all the actions with it. If I have to switch between the pencil and my finger every time I jump into a different app, I prefer using my finger at all times.

The Apple Pencil 2 is clearly aimed at note-takers and illustrators in a big way. Based on my usage, I would say it was not created for system interactions. You are only using it for its very specific purposes in very specific applications, and that’s it. I wish I could use it globally – the way I can with the Galaxy Note 2. I just hope Apple removes these limitations in a future iPadOS update, because they are purely software limitations.


The Apple Pencil 2 is exceptionally disappointing because a pen like a decade ago outperforms it.

Will I return the Apple Pencil 2? no. Not because I need it. This pen certainly isn’t for me, even further exacerbated by the fact that I don’t create drawings for a living or as a hobby. However, given my field of work, I’d like to keep one – because it might be useful down the road for the content I create around it as a topic. Not to mention I plan to use it with Freeform later this year. It’s also useful when it comes to commenting on the screenshots I include in my articles, so there’s that. If I had worked in a different field, I would probably return it within a day or two of buying it. It’s exceptionally disappointing because a stylus from a decade ago outperforms it in many aspects – in my opinion.

    The Apple Pencil 2 magnetically pairs with compatible iPads and charges wirelessly through the same mechanism. If you think this product is right for you, you can get one for $129.

Do you use Apple Pencil 2? Why and why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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