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Which Apple Pencil Works With Your iPad?
My picks
- 1Best iPad for drawing
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
- 10.86" laminated screen
- Apple M4
- Pencil Pro support
- Pencil sold separately
- 2Cheapest iPad (check your Pencil)
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)
- 10.86" screen, not laminated
- A16 chip
- Pencil sold separately
- USB-C Pencil has no pressure
The one thing to know
For drawing, you want pressure sensitivity. That's what makes lines thicker when you press harder. The Apple Pencil (USB-C) doesn't have it. Apple lists tilt and hover for it, but not pressure. The Apple Pencil Pro does.
Which Pencil works with which iPad
| Pencil | Pressure | Works with (current iPads) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pencil Pro | Yes | iPad Pro (M4, M5), iPad Air (M2, M3, M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro) |
| Apple Pencil (USB-C) | No | iPad Pro (M4, M5 and older), iPad Air (M2, M3, M4 and older), iPad (A16, 10th gen), iPad mini (A17 Pro, 6th gen) |
| Apple Pencil (1st gen) | Yes | iPad (A16) with an adapter, plus older iPads |
Source: Apple's Apple Pencil and iPad spec pages. Always double-check your exact model in Settings > General > About.
What each Pencil adds
- Apple Pencil Pro: pressure, tilt, hover, squeeze for shortcuts, barrel roll for rotating brushes, haptic feedback, wireless charging and Find My.
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): tilt and hover, charges by cable. Fine for notes and marking up, not for expressive drawing.
- Apple Pencil (1st gen): pressure and tilt. On the base iPad (A16), it needs an adapter to pair and charge.
So which should you buy?
iPad Air (M4): get the Pencil Pro. Base iPad (A16): get the 1st-gen Pencil if you'll draw; the USB-C one only for notes. The base iPad's screen also isn't laminated, which is why I recommend the Air for art.
Not tied to Apple? Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S10 FE include a pressure-sensitive S Pen in the box.