Effectively that’s a twist nobody appeared to foretell. Apple didn’t announce new iPads nor did it unveil a third-generation Apple Pencil with interchangeable ideas. As a substitute, it pre-announced a 3rd mannequin that makes the Apple Pencil lineup as complicated because the iPad lineup.

Perplexing Pencils

Apple has a brand new chart that tries to make sense of the brand new nonsense Pencil lineup. It’s not precisely good, higher, greatest; as a substitute, it’s extra like good at this, good at that, greatest.

Apple Pencil (second-gen) for $129 is the perfect by way of options, but it surely doesn’t work with the iPad 9 or 10. That is the one to purchase if you would like probably the most options on iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad Professional.

Apple Pencil (first-gen) for $99 is sweet for drawing on iPad 10 as a result of it has stress delicate enter, but it surely doesn’t work with the iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad Professional fashions that Apple at the moment sells. It’s the one Pencil that works with the iPad 9 that Apple nonetheless sells.

The brand new Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $79 lacks stress sensitivity so it’s extra geared for note-taking. It really works with each iPad that Apple at the moment sells besides the iPad 9.

Pencil and Pencil Professional

Is three Apple Pencils one too many? I don’t assume so. If Apple launched a real Apple Pencil (third-gen) with extra options than the Apple Pencil (second-gen), there wouldn’t be as a lot confusion.

I feel the most important level of confusion will probably be settled when Apple drops the iPad 9 and discontinues the unique Apple Pencil. Then the lineup can be sort of like Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Professional.

Maybe a third-gen Apple Pencil with magnetic ideas will change the second-gen Apple Pencil and really use that Apple Pencil Professional product title. Till then, we’ve bought this complicated interstate of options and compatibility to grasp earlier than making an iPad and Apple Pencil shopping for choice. Select properly!

Backside line

Complicated product desk rant apart, how must you go about deciding with Apple Pencil to purchase?

• In the event you purchase the $329 iPad (ninth-gen), purchase the $99 Apple Pencil (first-gen)
• In the event you purchase the $449 iPad (tenth-gen), purchase the $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C)
• In the event you purchase the iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad Professional for drawing and/or need wi-fi charging, purchase the $129 Apple Pencil (second-gen)
• In the event you purchase the iPad mini, iPad, or iPad Professional for note-taking and/or don’t thoughts wired charging, purchase the $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C)

Hopefully that helps. Perhaps. I can’t name it.

Extra