Exciting new Apple hardware is arriving on May 15, and for creatives looking to upgrade, the Apple Pencil Pro looks like a fun new tool to create some art with. Like previous versions, the Apple Pencil Pro is a stylus that can be used to take notes, play games, and illustrate. For this model, it can sense when it’s being squeezed and will bring up new tool palettes to help you quickly switch between functions like line weights and colors. All of this sounds quite cool, but the new Apple Pencil Pro, which is up for preorder for $129 at Amazon and Best Buy, will only work on the new iPads. There is some good news for iPad owners who don’t want to upgrade just yet: You can get nice discounts on the “old” Apple Pencils.
Apple Pencil deals
Make sure to confirm compatibility with your iPad model before you buy. Supported devices are on each Amazon listing.
The Apple Pencil Pro also has haptic feedback functions. When you squeeze or double‑tap, you’ll feel a light pulse confirming the action. You can even do a barrel roll–please Google “do a barrel roll” for a treat–as the internal gyroscope allows you to rotate Apple Pencil Pro for precise control of shaped pen and brush tools. Finally, the double tap function has been retained, so you can quickly toggle between other tools like a pen and eraser by tapping the Apple Pencil twice.
These can be magnetically attached to your iPad where it also recharge, but if you’re worried about losing it, you can easily locate it in the Find My app. The Apple Pencil Pro is priced at $129 and will launch on May 15 alongside the new iPads. It’s worth reiterating that it will have limited compatibility, as for now it can only be used on the new iPad Airs with M2 chips, and for iPad Pro M4 users, you’ll need to upgrade to the recently announced models sporting an M4 chip.
2024 iPad preorders
Amazon
Best Buy
The 2024 line of iPad Pros do look very impressive, as not only are they incredibly thin and offer great gaming potential with their powerful hardware, but they also have a vivid OLED screen. If you’re considering some apps where the Apple Pencil Pro could come in handy, Procreate is the go-to program for creating incredible art, and Adobe Fresco is another excellent alternative. For video editing where the Pencil Pro could help you cut the exact frame or move clips about, LumaFusion is a comprehensive suite of creative options for putting together video content.
Check out our iPad Pro and iPad Air preorder guide for every detail you need to know before making your purchase.
