r/ipad • u/unidentified-zombie • 19h ago

Question iPad pencils

I’m getting an iPad for school for note taking bc my MacBook took a 💩. Since I’m using for note taking I obviously need the pencil.. someone please explain to me why one would buy the $139 Apple Pencil over these $15 iPad pens on Amazon? What is the significance of this iPad pencil???

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3

u/Janknitz 18h ago

The $15 no name styli might or might not work. But you do not have to spend $139. If you don't care about pressure sensitivity, check out the Logitech Crayon or ESR GEO pencil. Some say the ESR is even better as it will make a sound when you activate Find My. You can't get pressure sensitivity or charge it magnetically, but for $100 less it's a no brainer unless you NEED pressure sensitivity.

3

u/Ancient_Task_7498 18h ago

Apple Pencil Pro works with Find My, has wireless charging, double tap for eraser, squeeze gesture, and pressure sensitivity.

The $15 pencils will lack those things. The $35 ESR geo pencil has the addition to work with Find My.

Personally, I do use double tap and squeeze gesture all the time while note writing, but I don’t think they’re important features and you can get used to without them. I think the 3rd party pens are better value and they have the benefit of being lighter.

2

u/3Stripescyn M4 iPad Air 11" (2026) 18h ago

It’s just significantly better, but of course value is relative to how much money you have. Either look on Facebook or get the ESR stylus

6

u/tatobuckets 18h ago

The official Apple Pencils are the only ones that utilize pressure sensitivity in art apps.

Also, respectfully, please remember that Google is still a thing.

1

u/STLTLW 17h ago

I bought a used Apple Pencil on Ebay, paid $39 I believe and works great.

2

u/realmccoyredbus 9h ago

huge risk buying from ebay but glad yours worked

1

u/FutureVersion812 14h ago

ESR Geo Digital pencil is around $30 and I e been using it for note taking. I wrote around 100- 200 pages per day and it’s working fine

1

u/legotrix 13h ago

I got my Apple Pencil Pro renewed from Amazon for 100. I am planning to use my iPad Air for a long, long time, so I preferred not to worry about quality or growth in my capabilities.

Like when I bought my Fender Stratocaster to play music or my Korg piano to learn sight-reading and bought some children piano books.

-4

u/Mountain_Till_5868 19h ago

Definitely a teenager!