Apple has announced a new Apple Pencil that's easy on the wallet and packs the convenience of USB-C connectivity.
This iPad accessory is retailing for $79 — $50 less than what the second-generation Apple Pencil costs. Of course, with a cheaper price point, this new Apple Pencil does not include a few features that are found on the first and/or second-generation Apple pencil accessories.
Most notably, it does not support pressure sensitivity or include wireless pairing and charging. One end of the pencil has a sliding cap that exposes the USB-C port to charge the device, as you can see in the image below.
The announcement is a long time coming for the Apple Pencil. While the second-generation Apple Pencil only charges wirelessly, the first-generation still charges via the Lightning Connector that you have to plug in. This made it somewhat inconvenient from 2018 with the release of the third-generation iPad Pro. In the years since, the iPad Air, iPad Mini, and even the entry-level iPad would switch over to USB-C.
This is the latest product to include USB-C, and comes roughly a month after Apple announced that the iPhone 15 is the first in its smartphone lineup to ditch Lightning in favor of USB-C charging. However, other products Apple sells still rely on Lightning to charge, including the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, the basic AirPods (including the third-generation), and the high-end AirPods Max.
Here's a list of all the iPads the USB-C Apple Pencil supports:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018 model or newer)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2018 model or newer)
- iPad Air (2020 model or newer)
- iPad (2022 model only)
- iPad Mini (2021 only)
The new Apple Pencil will be available to order starting in early November.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
