No, the Apple Pencil is only supported by Apple's two iPad Pro models. This includes the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Apple's stylus does not work with any iPad mini models, iPad Air models or non-Apple tablets. It also does not work with any other Apple products, such as the iPod touch, iPhone, MacBooks and so on.
Yes, the Apple Pencil is designed to work with the stock Notes app on both iPad pro models. You can even doodle using the new drawing tools by tapping the squiggly line icon highlighted above. The Pencil also works with the Mail app, Paper by FiftyThree, Adobe Comp CC, Pixelmator and other third-party apps.
If your Apple Pencil is being unresponsive it may be because it is not paired to your iPad. There are two ways to check if your Apple Pencil is connected to your iPad. The easiest way is to pull down Notification Center and check for your Apple Pencil under Batteries. If your Apple Pencil is not showing then it is not synced to your iPad. You can also check by navigating to Settings > Bluetooth > My Devices. If your Pencil is not connected to your iPad, then remove its cap and plug it into the Lightning connector of your device. After a few seconds you should see a "Pair" button.
The Apple Pencil offers fast charging through your iPad's Lightning connector. It only takes 15 seconds of charging time to get 30 minutes of use. You can also charge your Pencil via USB port with the Apple Pencil Charging Adapter and a Lightning to USB cable.
To check your battery status pull down Notification Center on your iPad and look for the Apple Pencil indicator under Batteries.
If your Apple Pencil is charged and connected to your iPad but still won't respond try checking the tip to make sure it is tightened. The tip of the Apple Pencil will wear down over time, and it is replaceable. This means it can come loose especially if you have been transporting it around with you.
If it is not the tip, try rebooting your iPad by pressing and holding both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons until you see the Apple logo.
Yes, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is basically a smaller version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a few improvements. Not only does it support Apple's stylus, the Apple Pencil, but it also includes all the features found on the iPad Pro, plus an improved 12MP camera and more. The Apple Pencil is available through apple.com for $99.
Submitted by Marshall Walker on
The rumor that Apple intentionally removed some functionality of the Apple Pencil in iOS 9.3 is not entirely false, but it's also not permanent. Apple responded to claims that the company planned to permanently remove the Apple Pencil navigation features, which allows users to select text and scroll on their device using the stylus instead of their finger. An Apple spokesperson told The Verge they did remove the functionality in the last iOS 9.3 beta, but plan to add it back in the next release. Here's the full statement:
Submitted by Jennifer Nguyen on
iPad Pro users running the iOS 9.3 beta have noticed that a major feature is missing from the Apple Pencil. Originally the Apple stylus was capable of replacing a user's finger to navigate iOS. For example, the Apple Pencil could be used to select options and menus in apps, open apps, swipe between apps, select text and so on, but some of these features have been removed in the iOS 9.3 beta. The Apple Pencil is no longer capable of selecting and manipulating text or scrolling on devices running Apple's updated operating system.
Submitted by Jennifer Nguyen on
The Pixelmator Team has updated its award winning image editing app with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil support. Pixelmator version 2.2 now features the ability to create and edit images up to 100 megapixels on Apple's newly released 12-inch tablet. The app also supports all the advanced features of Apple's new stylus, including palm rejection and more.
Submitted by Jennifer Nguyen on
There aren't a lot of iPad Pro accessories available at this time, and the biggest complaint with what is available is the lack of an Apple Pencil option. This means that the current cases do not offer a way to store or carry the $99 stylus alongside your 12.9-inch tablet. Even the announced but unreleased cases from trusted accessory makers such as Zagg and other popular companies lack Apple Pencil support. You can see a list of upcoming and available iPad Pro cases here, and a few carrying cases and sleeve options here. Today we're looking at some iPad Pro case options with Apple Pencil support from crowdfunding websites such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter.
