Apple Pencil celebrates its 10th birthday – the first style is still available

It has soon been ten years ago that Apple has launched a stylus for the first time: The Apple Pencil will celebrate a milestone birthday next Tuesday-conveniently on the day of the iPhone-17 keynote. Once laughed at because Steve Jobs the form of input publicly condemned (“If you need a stylus, you have already failed!”), The peripheral articles, along with the Magic Keyboard, is one of the most popular tablet additives at Apple. However, it is rarely used as an operating aid, instead it serves to draw, sketch and sometimes also write. Apple has repeatedly made improvements here in recent years. What has not changed is the somewhat complex line-up-and the fact that the very first Apple Pencil is still in the group’s program.

Apple: Pencil is creative and productive tools

Apple himself writes in a message that the Pencil has developed “from the pure ‘drawing pen’ to a versatile tool since its introduction, which shapes the digital workflow of millions of users: inside” whether “when learning, working or in creative processes”. Classic characters such as Procreate, but also the handwritten note, Moodboards and “hybrid creative processes”, which can be done with the stylus, are mentioned. Most recently, Apple was able to lure the makers of the 3D tool Blender to the iPad-including Pencil support.

It is not easy to decide which Apple Pencil is the right one. On the one hand, this depends on what you want to spend, and on the other hand, which iPad you have. Because: There are now four different Apple Penclic models. These come with different functions, different loading options plus compatibibilities.

Which pencil would you like?

This is how the very first Pencil- cost at Apple: 119 euros- runs with the iPad Pro of the first and second generation (2015, 2017), the third generation iPad (2019), the fourth generation iPad (2019), as well as, now it becomes confusing, all beginners or standard IPADs from 2018 to 2025. Lightning with a connection under a removable and therefore easily lit cap. The Pencil 2 (149 euros) charges magnetic, has an additional touch interface, is compatible with the iPad per third to sixth generation (2018 to 2022), the iPad Air of Generation 4 and 5 (2020, 2022), the iPad mini 6 (2021) and not a single standard iPad.

Then we would have the Apple Pencil with USB-C, which is available at a bargain price (89 euros). As the name suggests, it charges via USB-C (integrated socket) and is compatible under the current iPads: Regardless of whether the current iPad Pro (7th generation of 2024 with M4), iPad Air of Generation 6 and 7 (2024, 2025), the iPad Mini 7 (2024) or the standard iPads of Generation 10 and 11 (2022, 2025)-it runs. Older devices fall out. To make the set complete, there is still the Pencil Pro. Among other things, it has press (“squeeze”) and rotary gestures (“roll”) and delivers haptic feedback. You can also use it using “Where is?” places. It has the slightest compatibility: The Apple Pencil Pro only supports the iPad Pro of the seventh generation (M4, 2024), the iPad Air of the 6th and 7th generation (2024, 2025) or the iPad mini of the 7th generation (2024). The Apple has not yet been trying to make the Pencil compatible with the iPhone – at least no acquaintances.