Best Stylus for the iPad

The iPad has come a long way since it first hit the market. The iPad alone is a versatile tool for different purposes, but having accessories can unlock more opportunities to enhance your creativity and productivity. Specifically, some actions are troublesome or even impossible to do with fingers. People mainly used it like a larger iPhone or compact computer over the years, but the game has changed since Apple introduced the Apple Pencil. Having a stylus can convert your iPad into a proper working station, notebook, or canvas. Apple has already released two generations of the Apple Pencil, but they aren’t your only options. We know products from the company aren’t the most affordable, so you can look at styluses from other lesser-known brands if you have a tight budget.

In this guide, we’ll share the best iPad styluses available on the market in 2022. We strived to include diverse options: for professional drawing or occasional document signing, affordable or advanced. Read on to find a stylus that fits your needs and budget.

The second-generation Apple Pencil is a perfect choice if you own a newer iPad and are looking for a stylus offering seamless compatibility. It can be used with iPad Air starting with the fourth generation and any iPad Pro, from the first to the latest generations. The Apple Pencil is ideal for sketching, note-taking, browsing the web, or signing documents, and it works with any software running on iOS.

With the release of the new generation, the Apple Pencil has undergone significant adjustments. It doesn’t require a charger anymore. Instead, the stylus magnetically attaches to your iPad’s edge to charge while not in use. This significantly saves time, ensuring the stylus is always charged and won’t get lost.

Consequently, the design has also changed, featuring one flat edge and ditching the silver cap ring. This Apple Pencil provides pixel-perfect precision with tilt and pressure sensitivity. The palm rejection stylus makes drawing a bliss, delivering a natural pencil-like feeling. Apple announced the new iPad Pro in October 2022, which features the powerful M2 chip, and Apple Pencil users will love the new Hover feature. This new feature allows you to hover the stylus slightly above your iPads screen, telling you exactly where it will draw, sketch, etc., on your display. 

Pros

• Magnetically attaches to an iPad
• Always charged
• Tilt and pressure-sensitive
• Seamless compatibility with most iPad models

Cons

• Pricey
• Not compatible with older iPads

Specification

• Price $129.00
• Connections Bluetooth
• Length 6.53 inches (166 mm)
• Diameter 0.35 inch (8.9 mm)
• Weight 0.73 ounce (20.7 grams)

The 1st generation Apple Pencil might be cheaper than the newer one, but you can only use it for older devices. It offers seamless compatibility with the 6th to 10th generation iPad, 5th generation iPad mini, 3rd generation iPad Air, 1st and 2nd generation 12.9-inch, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Pro 9.7-inch. You’ll have to get the 2ns generation Apple Pencil if you have a newer device.

The original Apple Pencil is designed in the brand’s unique style, sleek and minimalistic, available in the color white with a silver ring on the cap. The stylus features pressure and tilt sensitivity for utmost precision. It’s suitable for taking notes, drawing, or casually browsing the web.

Thanks to flawless compatibility with iOS, the Apple Pencil can be used with any software running on your iPad. The stylus charges via a Lightning port hidden under a removable magnetically attached cap. It runs up to 12 hours without charging, enough for a whole day of active use. To connect the stylus to your iPad, pair it via Bluetooth – no extensive setup is needed. The stylus comes in a set with an additional tip.

Pros

• Flawless compatibility
• Long battery life
• Simple Bluetooth pairing
• Compatible with older iPad models
• Pressure and tilt sensitive

Cons

• Pricey
• Not compatible with newest iPad models

Specification

• Price $99.00
• Connections Bluetooth, Lightning connector
• Length 6.92 inches (175.7 mm)
• Diameter 0.35 inch (8.9 mm)
• Weight 0.73 ounce (20.7 grams)

The Adonit Note – M with Mouse Sensor Pencil is one of the reliable universal styluses currently available on the market. Compatible with all iPad models updated to iOS 13.3 or above, provided any previously used stylus is disconnected. What’s unique about this stylus is how you can also use it as a mouse. It uses a multi-angle sensor on the cap designed to be detected by the screen from a five-millimeter distance. You drag it on your table as you would with a standard mouse, and it has a touch panel on the stylus that works as a scrolling wheel, and a single button serves as the left and right clicks.

One thing to remember is that you would need to establish a Bluetooth connection to use the mouse function. Like the original Apple Pencil, the Adonit Note – M can magnetically attach to the iPad’s edge or any other metal surface, ensuring it won’t get lost.

The stylus charges via a USB-C port located on the side. It provides up to 10 hours of drawing or five hours in the mouse mode on a full charge. The stylus takes an hour to charge fully. The Adonit Note – M is highly versatile thanks to palm rejection, tilt, and pressure sensitivity. It’s great for artists, signing documents, or casual browsing.

Pros

• Mouse mode
• Integrated scrolling wheel and mouse buttons
• Universal charger
• Palm rejection, tilt and pressure sensitivity
• Universal compatibility
• 12-month warranty

Cons

• Shorter than average battery life
• Pricey

Specification

• Price $64.80
• Connections Bluetooth
• Length 166 mm
• Diameter 11.2mm
• Weight ‎0.529 ounces

Pixel is one of Adonit’s most advanced styluses, lying in the higher price range. The stylus is compatible with the latest iPad models, specifically iPad Pro 12.9-inch, iPad Mini fourth generation or above, and iPad Air second generation or above. It can also be used with an iPhone via Bluetooth.

Adonit Pixel flawlessly works with any software running on iOS and is ideal for signing documents, note-taking, and even professional drawing – more on that in a minute. It is one of a few non-native iPad styluses with pressure and tilt sensitivity. Along with palm rejection and a 1.9-millimeter fine tip, this stylus is an artist’s dream, ensuring lag-free and precise lines. The stylus provides up to 15 hours of continuous use and takes only an hour to get a full charge via the USB-C port on the cap.

The aluminum body ensures durability and a comfortable grip. There’s no power button on Adonit Pixel. It automatically turns on when you pick it up. An LED light indicates the battery level. Programmable keys enhance workflow efficiency, letting you quickly access your most-used apps and tools. Unfortunately, the Adonit Pixel isn’t perfect because its palm rejection has flaws, and some may experience over-sensitivity with its buttons. 

Pros

• Pressure and tilt sensitivity, palm rejection
• Long battery life
• Programmable buttons
• Automatically turns on
• Universal charger

Cons

• Pricey
• Palm rejection needs to be improved
• May experience over-sensitivity with its buttons

Specification

• Price $71.99
• Connections Bluetooth
• Length 5.91 Inches
• Diameter 0.41 Inches
• Weight ‎0.64 ounces

The Adonit Dash 4 is among the more affordable options you can find on the market, and it will cost you around $50 to purchase in 2022. This stylus comes with two different modes: one for when you use it with newer iPads and one for when you use it for iPhone and Android devices or any other touchscreens.

The Adonit Dash 4 is easy to use, and you won’t need any Bluetooth pairing to get started. You just simply push a button on the top of the stylus, and you’re good to go. Like many other modern styluses for iPads, it comes with palm rejection so you can rest your hand on your display without ruining your work. 

You can last an entire workday with this stylus without needing to charge because you can get up to 15 hours of usage on a single charge. Once you run out of juice, you won’t have to wait too long before using it again because it will only take about an hour to charge fully. The way it charges is pretty unique because it charges magnetically using a USB Type-C charging stand. The stylus has an LED indicator that tells you if the battery is running low. Upon purchase, customers will get a USB Type-C charger, two replaceable nibs, and a 12-month warranty.

Pros

• Affordable
• 2 Modes
• Magnetic charging
• Palm rejection
• Easy to use

Cons

• Lacks pressure sensitivity
• Some might prefer a stylus with Bluetooth support

Specification

• Price $49.99
• Connections Automatic
• Length 7.56 Inches
• Diameter 2.22 Inches
• Weight ‎0.5 ounces

If you’re an artist, you might want to check out the Adonit Note+. You can expect every letter, dash, swoosh, and line will appear how you precisely intended it to be thanks to the stylus’ tilt support and 2,048 pressure sensitivity levels. The pen comes with two shortcut buttons, and you have complete control of the function you want to be assigned to each button. Users can feel like they turned their iPad into a notebook with this pen because they can freely rest their palms on their iPad while they use the stylus to write. The Adonit Note+ features a palm rejection feature that ensures you won’t get any smudges on your project from resting your palm. 

This stylus is perfect for creative people or those who work in the creative industry because it works well with apps like Noteledge, Zen Brush 2, Concepts, etc. You can use the stylish with the third and fourth-generation iPad Air, the fifth and sixth-generation iPad Mini, the sixth to ninth-generation iPad, and the iPad Pro models released in recent years. You’ll have to make sure that your iPad’s software is updated to version 12.2, at the least. In terms of battery life, you can expect around 10 hours of usage per charge, which is disappointing since the original Adonit Note reached 12 hours. It might be because the Adonit Note+ needs to draw more power. Upon purchase, customers get a 12-year warranty.

Pros

• Excellent tilt support and pressure sensitivity
• 2 shortcut buttons
• Palm rejection
• 12-month warranty

Cons

• Requires pairing per app
• Not the best battery life
• Shortcut buttons won't work with all apps

Specification

• Price $69.99
• Connections Bluetooth
• Length 6.02 Inches
• Diameter 0.41 Inches
• Weight 0.529 ounces

The Logitech Crayon is undoubtedly a great pick to use with your iPad since Apple gave it its stamp of approval. It’s compatible with the third to fifth-generation iPad Air, seventh to tenth-generation iPad, the second to fourth-generation iPad Pro 11-inch, and the fifth to sixth-generation iPad Pro 12.9-inch. Users will need their iPad’s OS to be updated to version 12.2 or later. 

The stylish promises fast and precise pencil input, and using it to draw and write makes you feel like you’re using an actual pen. It features Palm Rejection Technology, so you can rest your palm without worrying if your display will pick up anything from it. The stylus’ tilt capabilities make it convenient for you to draw thicker or thinner lines. You can begin using the stylus instantly because all you need to do is turn it on. You won’t need to go through any tedious pairing process anymore. 

The Logitech Crayon was built to last, and its sturdy and durable build allows it to survive drops of up to four feet. Unfortunately, its battery life needs to be significantly improved because users will only get 7.5 hours of usage per charge. The stylus is available in two color options: Grey and Orange. 

Pros

• Palm Rejection Technology
• Tilt capabilities
• Instantly connects to iPad
• Sturdy and durable
• Stylish

Cons

• 7.5-hr battery life

Specification

• Price $69.95
• Connections Automatic
• Length 6.4 Inches
• Diameter 0.3 Inches
• Weight ‎0.705 ounces

Yet another worthy alternative to the original Apple Pencil in our selection is the Jamjake Pen for iPad. The stylus is compatible with iPad models released after 2018, like the iPad Air third and fourth generations, iPad Mini fifth generation, iPad Pro 11 and 12.9-inch, and all the new models that were announced in 2022. The system requirement is iOS 12.2 version or above.

No Bluetooth pairing is needed to use the stylus. Turn on the stylus, and you’re ready to take notes, draw, or sign documents. The stylus has a sleek design in white color. The only visual element is the USB-C charging port on the cap and a tiny LED power indicator. A slightly angled shape delivers a realistic pencil-like and comfortable grip.

This stylus offers up to 20 hours of continuous use and takes only 90 minutes to charge fully. A whole year of standby makes this stylus perfect for occasional use. After five minutes of no use, the stylus turns off automatically to save the battery. A 1.5-millimeter fine tip enables you to draw precise lines lag-free. Palm rejection ensures comfortable use. However, the stylus has no pressure or tilt sensitivity, which may be a drawback for artists.

Pros

• Long battery life
• Ultra-fine tip
• Affordable
• Comfortable grip
• Universal charger

Cons

• No tilt and pressure sensitivity

Specification

• Price $30.99
• Connections Automatic
• Length 8.4 Inches
• Diameter 0.6 Inches
• Weight ‎2.08 ounces

For those who don’t see the point in spending over $50 or $100 on a stylus for their iPad, the Adonit Mark would be the perfect fit for you. This stylus is only worth about $9 in 2022. You can get it in either Black, Silver, or Teal. It features a mesh tip that is guaranteed durable, so you can expect it to last long. 

The stylus itself has a triangular shape, which allows it not to roll over when you place it on top of a table. It also gives users a natural feel when holding it, which is both satisfying and convenient. The Adonit Mark will work with a wide range of iPads, but it might not be the best option for those who do professional creative work. Since it has such a low price tag, you shouldn’t be surprised that it doesn’t feel as premium as its more expensive rivals on the market. This stylus would be suitable for those who simply need a stylist for casual note-taking.

Pros

• Super cheap
• Different color options
• Anti-roll design
• 3 color options

Cons

• Build feels cheap compared to rivals

Specification

• Price $9.99
• Connections Automatic
• Length 5.5 Inches
• Diameter 0.38 Inches
• Weight ‎0.8 ounces