11 Best Alternatives to Apple Pencil [Tried & Tested!]

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If you are looking for the best Apple Pencil alternatives, you have come to the right place! This guide will list the best options, including their features, performance, and value.

Best Apple Pencil Alternatives

We will also examine the reasons behind Apple Pencils’ high cost and compare them to regular styluses. 

Why Are Apple Pencils So Expensive?

An Apple Pencil is expensive because of its advanced technology, superb quality, and sleek design. Before its release, the Pencil undergoes extensive research and development, including rigorous testing, design refinement, and other related costs. 

The Pencil’s features, including pressure sensitivity, tilt functionality, advanced sensors, and touch control, also contribute to its higher price. 

11 Best Apple Pencil Alternatives

These are the 11 best Apple Pencil alternatives:

1. Adonit Note+

If you love drawing, shading, or painting, the Adonit Note+ is an excellent choice. Its 2048 pressure sensitivity level lets you create lines of different thicknesses with high accuracy. This stylus also supports tilt, enabling shading techniques similar to traditional pencils.

The pencil’s palm rejection technology allows you to rest your hand on the screen without making accidental marks. It even has programmable shortcut buttons for functions like zoom and erase, which helps save time. Best of all, you can use it continuously for up to 10 hours.

2. ESR Stylus Pen

ESR Stylus Pen Best Apple Pencil Alternative

The ESR stylus pen is a budget-friendly option that is compatible with most touch screens. Its design resembles that of the Apple Pencil, with flat sides for better grip when drawing and writing.

It has palm rejection and can magnetically attach to compatible iPads, making it easy to carry around. It even has a battery life of up to 13 hours, so you don’t have to worry about frequent recharging.

3. Adonit Dash 4

The Adonit Dash 4 is compatible with various devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Android. The stylus features fast charging and a solid 15-hour battery life, making it suitable for long drawing sessions. 

It’s lightweight and has an ergonomic design that provides an enhanced grip while drawing or sketching. While it lacks Bluetooth connectivity, it is designed to be instantly ready for use with a simple button press.

4. Adonit Pixel

Like the Adonit Note+, the Adonit Pixel offers 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, making it the best Apple Pencil alternative for artists and designers. It comes with two programmable shortcut buttons that you can customize to perform specific functions, such as erasing or switching between tools.

This pencil also features a magnetic dock that connects to your computer’s USB port, making it easy to charge or store. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about compatibility with your devices, as it works with various apps and iOS devices. The pen has a battery life of up to 14 hours per full charge.

5. ZAGG Pro Stylus 2

ZAGG Pro Stylus Best Apple Pencil Alternative

Alongside its compatibility with various iPad models, the ZAGG Pro Stylus 2 is user-friendly and ideal for general navigation. The tip features palm rejection, a fine nib, and tilt recognition for exact movements. It also attaches magnetically to the iPad for easy charging, storage, and access.

Moreover, you can use this pencil’s tip to draw and the back to scroll through your iPad, simplifying navigation. Even more, you can choose from a wide range of colors, from vibrant yellow to white, to personalize your device and complement your style.

6. Logitech Crayon

The Logitech Crayon is an excellent alternative to the Apple Pencil. The stylus has most of the features of the Apple Pencil, including technology like palm rejection. It’s durable, easy to hold, can survive drops of up to four feet, and offers an impressive 7 hours of battery life.

In addition, the stylus can adjust the line thickness with a simple tilt, making it versatile for artists and note-takers. It is also ergonomic, offering a comfortable grip while reducing fatigue during extended writing or drawing sessions. What’s great is that it’s instantly ready for use without Bluetooth pairing.

7. Moko Stylus

The Moko Stylus is an affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil. Its capacitive tip makes it ideal for writing, drawing, or general scrolling. 

This stylus is compatible with various touchscreen devices, including iPhones, tablets, and smartphones. This makes it the best alternative to the Apple Pencil for users with multiple devices.

Additionally, you have a variety of colors to choose from, including black, grey, and white. The essential thing here is that this stylus can remain on standby for up to one year and can last up to 8 hours on a single charge.

8. Meko Universal Stylus

For those who need a dependable tool that works well on any device, Meko Universal Stylus is a suitable choice. It doesn’t require charging, Bluetooth, or special apps to function – it just works. This stylus combines durability, ease of use, and versatility.

It also features a fine tip for precise input and a fiber tip for general coloring, scrolling, and tapping. The lightweight design makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods. Additionally, it comes with replaceable tips, allowing you to extend its lifespan without buying a new stylus.

9. Wacom Bamboo Sketch

Wacom Bamboo Sketch Best Apple Pencil Alternative

The Wacom Bamboo Sketch is a pressure-sensitive stylus for iPhones and iPads. It has two customizable shortcut buttons for quick access to functions like switching tools or erasing errors. The stylus also boasts an ergonomic design for comfort during prolonged use.

The Wacom Bamboo Sketch also comes with replaceable soft and firm tips, allowing you to extend its lifespan without purchasing a new one. It also charges via USB instead of a Lightning Port and offers a solid battery life of up to 16 hours on a single charge.

10. Awavo Stylus Pen

This stylus is user-friendly and doesn’t require a Bluetooth connection or any other specialized setup to start using it. It is compatible with a range of touchscreen devices, including iPads. Although it doesn’t require Bluetooth, you must charge for other devices to detect it.  It offers a 24-hour battery life on a single charge.

The stylus features a fine tip, allowing precise line drawing that closely mimics the natural feeling of writing on paper. The Awavo Stylus Pen is also lightweight and comfortable to hold, making it convenient for extended use.

11. Adonit Neo

The Adonit Neo stylus is distinguishable by its sleek design and magnetic feature, allowing it to attach to compatible devices’ sides securely. It is accurate and perfect for drawing, note-taking, and general screen scrolling. The fine tip provides a pen-to-paper feel, offering a traditional pencil-like experience.

It provides up to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge and can be quickly recharged via USB-C. This makes it the best Apple Pencil alternative for users seeking convenience and quick access to their stylus.

What’s the Difference Between an Apple Pencil and a Stylus

The difference between an Apple Pencil and a stylus lies in pressure sensitivity, pairing, and charging. The Apple Pencil offers advanced pressure sensitivity features such as palm rejection and tilt sensitivity. However, while the styluses may support some level of sensitivity, they do not provide the same level of responsiveness.

Read this full comparison of Apple Pencil vs Stylus

Difference Between An Apple Pencil And Stylus

The Apple Pencil pairs seamlessly with compatible iPad models, often magnetically, while most styluses connect through Bluetooth. Generic active styluses typically charge via a USB connector, whereas the Apple Pencil uses wireless charging.

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