Apple Pencil With USB-C Is Not A Replacement For The Second-Gen Model: Here's Why

Apple unveiled its new Apple Pencil with USB-C yesterday through a press release. But, despite being the latest Apple Pencil, and being the third model that Apple has released, the new Apple Pencil isn’t a replacement for the Apple Watch second generation; instead, it replaces the first-generation Apple Pencil which charged using the Lightning connector. 

First and foremost, the new Apple Pencil gets a USB-C slot for charging and doesn’t charge wirelessly like the Apple Pencil second generation. And, the new Apple Pencil with USB-C sacrifices a plethora of features for Apple to offer it at Rs 7,900—making it the most affordable Apple Pencil model to date. For context, the Apple Pencil second generation, costs Rs 11,900, and the first-generation model with the Lightning connector retails for Rs 9,500.

Notably, the new model also omits features like pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, and auto-pairing which the second-generation Apple Pencil offers. But, it will still attach magnetically to supported iPads (no charging) like the iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation), 11″ (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation), iPad Air 4th and 5th generation, iPad 10th generation, and iPad mini 6th generation.

Apple mentions on its website that the Apple Pencil second generation is its “ultimate Apple Pencil experience,” the first-generation model, which is continuing to be sold, is its “advanced Apple Pencil experience,” and the new Apple Pencil with USB-C is its “most affordable” Apple Pencil yet. And it is this description that more or less summarizes the lineup for you.

With that said, Apple’s self-published comparison also points out that when it comes to the spec sheet, it is the second-generation Apple Pencil that continues to sit at the top—with features like double-tap to change tools and wireless pairing and charging—something neither the first-gen Apple Pencil nor the new USB-C equipped Apple Pencil models offer.

So, before you decide to buy a new Apple Pencil to go alongside your iPad, you must ensure that the model you choose best meets the feature set that you want out of it. For instance, if you are an expert artist looking to create digital art, the new Apple Pencil with USB-C may not be the best fit while working in Procreate, while the other models will work just fine. But, considering the new Apple Pencil is the cheapest of the bunch, it may appeal to a lot of people who just want an advanced first-party stylus for their iPad.