The Apple Pencil is crucial for artists, designers, and professionals who rely on its accuracy and usefulness. However, a short battery life can hinder its efficiency.
This article provides information on how long an Apple pencil battery lasts and offers and how it compares to other styluses in the market today.
How Long Is Apple Pencil’s Battery Life?
Both first-generation and second-generation Apple Pencils have a battery life of 12 hours on a full charge. The second-generation Apple Pencils have improved battery management and charging modes that allow them to be magnetically attached to the iPad for charging.
If the battery life of the Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2 runs low, a quick 15-second charge will give you around 30 minutes of usage.
The Apple Pencil 2’s ability to attach to the side of an iPad means it’s always ready to use without being plugged in separately.
Discover what to do if your Apple Pencil is not charging.
Factors Affecting Apple Pencil’s Battery Life
These factors can affect the battery life of an Apple Pencil:
- Usage Intensity.
The Apple Pencil’s battery drains faster when you use it a lot for drawing, taking notes, or navigating. - Charging Habits.
You should charge your Apple Pencil regularly before it drains. If you let it completely run out of battery often, it can wear out over time. -
Storage Conditions.
Exposing the Apple Pencil to extreme hot or cold temperatures can harm the battery’s health.
- Age of the Pencil.
Like any rechargeable device, your Apple Pencil’s battery life will decrease over time. - Software Updates.
Updating the software on your Apple Pencil can sometimes improve battery efficiency. But in rare cases, it might cause unexpected battery drain.
How to Check the Battery Level of Apple Pencil
Here are ways to check Apple Pencil’s battery level:
Method 1. Add the Battery Widget on Your Home Screen
Follow these steps to add the battery widget to your iPad’s home screen:
- Step 1. Swipe right on your home screen & find the “Edit” button.
- Step 2. Click “Edit > Batteries”.
- Step 3. Click the plus button next to the widget.
- Step 4. Move the battery widget wherever you want, then click “Done”.
Method 2. Connect the Apple Pencil to Your iPad
To pair a first-generation Apple Pencil with your iPad, remove the cap from the end of the pencil to reveal the lightning connector. Insert the pencil’s lightning connector into your iPad’s lightning port and tap “Pair”. After pairing, you’ll see the pencil’s battery level.
To connect the Apple Pencil 2, attach the flat side of the pencil to the magnetic connector. This connector is located on the side edge of iPad models and is only compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Read this article from Apple Support to learn more about pairing and charging Apple pencils to your iPad.
Method 3. Open the Apple Pencil Menu
iPads have an Apple Pencil menu in their settings that displays all the relevant information about your device. This includes the battery life of the pencil. To view it, head on to “Settings > Apple Pencil”.
How Does Apple Pencil’s Battery Life Compare to Other Stylus?
The second-generation Apple Pencil is known for its impressive battery life and effectiveness. It can stay powered for up to 12 hours on a full charge, and a quick 15-second charge can provide 30 minutes of use.
This quick-charging ability is made possible by its magnetic attachment to the iPad, which also serves as its charging port.
Are you looking for an Apple Pencil alternative that works just as good as it? Check out this list of the best Apple Pencil alternatives!
In terms of battery performance, the Apple Pencil outperforms other styluses on the market. Numerous rival styluses, such as the Adonit Note+2, Zagg Pro Stylus, and Logitech Crayon, offer a good battery life from 7.5 to 8 hours. Still, they don’t achieve anything closer to the 12 hours the Apple pencil does.
However, they often require complex charging systems such as micro USB cables or separate charging docks.
Check out an in-depth comparison between the Apple Pencil and stylus.
