Is the Apple Pencil 2 a Deal-maker for the Next-Generation iPad? The Two Issues with the iPad Prototype and the New iPad Air

Apple released a second version of the Apple Pencil in 2018, aptly named the Apple Pencil 2. It was an upgrade over the other model, adding features like a way to attach it to the side of your iPad to charge it, and a flat edge that prevented it from rolling off a table. However, those improvements came at an increased cost of $129, a $30 jump from the first Apple Pencil.

There have been some iPad updates that have been waiting for Apple. The 10th-generation iPad, powered by M2 chips, and the updated iPad Air with an M 1 chip were launched in March and September of 2022, respectively.

The new Apple Pencil also doesn’t have the double tap feature that lets you switch back and forth between tools — I’m giving it a pass here, though. The feature has been frustrating and inconsistent for me. At least it has tilt sensitivity?

Some advanced features on the higher-end iPad may be of importance to you, even though this new stylus cuts one feature too many.

If you care about convenience, the new Pencil loses the biggest features that give the second-generation Pencil so much of that “it just works” juice: wireless charging and pairing. It’s so sneakily powerful that, no matter what, when I pull the Pencil off of the side of my iPad, it will be ready to go. Alternatively, if you care about using the Pencil as a creation tool, the loss of pressure sensitivity drops a critical feature for artists.

I think feature decisions there are more about market positioning than simply cutting costs and reaching a price point. I think a lot of people are like me and would give up a double tap feature if it made it easier to charge their phones. I am assuming that Apple suspects the same thing.

Not so with the iPad. If you really need to save money, you’ll get a six- year old design and miss out on a lot of features. The 10th-gen iPad gives you that updated design and a bigger screen… It adds over 100 dollars to the price and doesn’t have key features. To get fully featured software while not paying for performance you don’t need, you have to buy at least last year’s iPad Air, which isn’t cheap at its $699 starting price. You have to decide if you prefer a better screen for the 11 inch model, or if you prefer a convenient size for the 12 inch model.