Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil is a line of wireless stylus pen accessories designed and developed by Apple Inc. for use with supported iPad tablets.
Developer
Apple Inc.
November 11, 2015 (1st generation)
November 7, 2018 (2nd generation)
November 1, 2023 (USB-C)
32-bit RISC ARM-based Cortex-M3
STMicroelectronics STM32L151UCY6 Ultra-low-power MCU @ 32 MHz
64-Kilobyte Flash
First generation:
Lightning connector eight pin, Bluetooth 4.1[3]
Second generation:
Bluetooth 4.1[4]
0.73 ounces (21 g)
The first-generation Apple Pencil was announced alongside the first iPad Pro on September 9, 2015. It communicates wirelessly via Bluetooth and has a removable cap that conceals a Lightning connector used for charging. The Pencil is compatible with the first- and second-generation iPad Pro models, and the sixth through tenth-generation iPad models (with the latter requiring a USB-C adapter).[5][6]
The second-generation Apple Pencil was announced on October 30, 2018, alongside the third-generation iPad Pro, and is used with most iPad models that contain a USB-C connector (excluding the tenth-generation iPad). It uses a magnetic connector on the side of the tablet for charging rather than a Lightning connector, and includes touch-sensitive areas that can be tapped to perform actions within supported apps. In October 2023, Apple announced a third Apple Pencil model, intended as a lower-cost alternative to the second-generation Pencil on iPad models with USB-C connectors; this version removes the pen pressure sensitivity, touch-sensitive areas, and magnetic charging features, and is charged using a USB-C connector concealed by sliding up its cap.
Apple has promoted the Pencil as being oriented towards creative work and productivity;[7] during its unveiling, the Pencil's drawing capabilities were demonstrated using the mobile version of Adobe Photoshop,[8] and its document-annotation capabilities were shown on several Microsoft Office apps.[9][10]
Specifications[edit]
First generation[edit]
The Apple Pencil has pressure sensitivity and angle detection, and it was designed for low latency to enable smooth marking on the screen.[11][12] The Pencil and the user's fingers can be used simultaneously while rejecting input from the user's palm.[13][14] One end of the device has a magnetically-fastened removable cap which covers a Lightning connector which is used for charging from an iPad's Lightning port. A complete charge lasts about twelve hours, fifteen seconds of charging provides sufficient power for 30 minutes of use and it takes about 10 minutes to charge it fully.[15] It also ships with a female-to-female Lightning adapter that allows it to be used with charging cables.[16]
The Apple Pencil uses an STMicroelectronics STM32L151UCY6 Ultra-low-power 32-bit RISC ARM-based Cortex-M3 MCU running at 32 MHz with 64 KB of flash memory, a Bosch Sensortech BMA280 3‐axis accelerometer and a Cambridge Silicon Radio (Qualcomm) CSR1012A05 Bluetooth Smart IC for its Bluetooth connection to the iPad. It is powered by a rechargeable 3.82 V, 0.329 Wh lithium-ion battery.[17][18]
The first-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with iPad models released since 2018 that have a Lightning connector, including the first- and second-generation iPad Pro models, third-generation iPad Air, fifth-generation iPad Mini, sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad, and the seventh, eighth, and ninth-generation 10.2-inch iPad models.[19][20] It also supports the tenth-generation, 10.9-inch iPad released in 2022, but requires a dongle (similar to the aforementioned Lightning adapter) to connect it to a USB-C cable for charging. Apple began to bundle this dongle with Pencil units in October 2022, and it can be purchased separately by existing owners.[20][16]