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Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze, barrel roll, haptic feedback, and Find My to Apple’s stylus lineup. It works only with certain newer iPads running iPadOS 17.5 or later, so check your iPad’s exact model and chip before buying.
What Apple Pencil Pro is—and when it launched
Apple announced Apple Pencil Pro on May 7, 2024, alongside the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. Orders opened that day, and retail availability began May 15, 2024. Its U.S. launch price was $129.
This is a distinct tier in Apple’s stylus lineup, not simply a renamed Apple Pencil 2. Its main appeal is faster physical control while drawing, painting, annotating, and switching tools.
Apple’s announcement and availability announcement document the launch price and dates.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY APPLE PENCIL PRO — Apple Pencil Pro is loaded with intuitive features for ultimate creative control. Gestures and haptics allow you to seamlessly create without missing a beat. And Apple Pencil Pro features pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and low latency. Attaches magnetically for wireless pairing and charging.
- COMPATIBILITY — Apple Pencil Pro works with iPad Pro 13-inch (M5 and M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M5 and M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 13-inch (M2, M3, and M4), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).
- ADVANCED TOOLS — Apple Pencil Pro gives you ultimate creative control. Use gestures like squeeze and barrel roll to access tools, change brushes, and create strokes without missing a beat. Haptics allow you to feel shapes snap into place, and more. Use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro (M5 and M4) and iPad Air (M3 and M2) to preview your mark before you make it. And now you can use Find My to locate your Apple Pencil Pro.
- EASY AND NATURAL — Apple Pencil Pro does it all with pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and low latency. Featuring a flat edge, Apple Pencil Pro allows you to change tools with just the tap of a finger. Apple Pencil Pro attaches, charges, and pairs magnetically.
- TRANSFORMS IPAD INTO A CANVAS — Draw, sketch, color, take notes, and mark up documents. Use built-in apps like Notes and Freeform, or choose from over a million more apps available on the App Store. And for pros, use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro and iPad Air (M2) to preview your mark before you make it.
The four major upgrades
1. Squeeze opens tools faster
A sensor in the Pencil’s barrel detects a squeeze and brings up a palette for switching tools, line weights, and colors. A brief haptic pulse confirms that the squeeze was recognized. This is separate from pressure applied to the Pencil tip.
Developers can implement squeeze interactions in their apps, so the exact behavior depends on the app.
2. Barrel roll controls tool orientation
Apple Pencil Pro contains a gyroscope that detects how the barrel is rotated in your hand. Apple calls this gesture barrel roll. Supported shaped pen and brush tools can respond to this rotation, making it useful for changing the orientation of a mark or brush.
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Barrel roll is not a general iPadOS navigation gesture. Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines recommend using it to modify marking behavior rather than to scroll, open menus, or trigger unrelated interface actions.
Rank #2
- WHY APPLE PENCIL - With pixel-perfect precision, tilt sensitivity, and low latency, Apple Pencil (USB-C) makes note-taking, signing documents, and drawing easy at an affordable price. It pairs and charges via USB-C and can magnetically attach to your iPad.
- COMPATIBILITY - Apple Pencil (USB-C) works with iPad Pro 13-inch (M4 and M5); iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation); iPad Pro 11-inch (M4 and M5); iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation); iPad Air 13-inch (M2, M3, M4); iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3); iPad Air (4th and 5th generation); iPad (A16), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (6th generation); and iPad (10th generation).
- EASY AND NATURAL - Write, sketch, and draw with pixel-perfect precision. Apple Pencil (USB-C) does it all with low latency and tilt sensitivity. Apple Pencil pairs and charges via USB-C and features a flat edge that attaches magnetically.
- TRANSFORMS IPAD INTO A CANVAS - Draw, sketch, color, take notes, and mark up documents. Use built-in apps like Notes and Freeform, or choose from over a million more apps available on the App Store. And for pros, use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro and iPad Air to preview your mark before you make it.
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX - Apple Pencil (USB-C)
3. Haptic feedback confirms actions
The custom haptic engine gives a light pulse to confirm a squeeze or double tap. Haptics provide interaction feedback; they do not change drawing accuracy or processing performance.
4. Find My helps locate a misplaced Pencil
Apple Pencil Pro can be located in the Find My app, a useful feature for a small accessory that is often removed from an iPad. Apple’s product materials establish Find My support, but do not establish that the Pencil has every AirTag feature. Do not assume it provides arrow-guided, room-level, live, or cellular tracking.
Apple lists Bluetooth connectivity; Apple Pencil Pro is not an independently internet-connected or cellular device. See Apple’s product page.
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| Feature | Apple Pencil Pro |
|---|---|
| Length | 166 mm (6.53 inches) |
| Diameter | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) |
| Weight | 19.15 g (0.68 ounces) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Attachment and charging | Magnetic attachment, pairing, and charging on a compatible iPad |
| Gestures | Squeeze, barrel roll, and double tap |
| Haptics | Yes; confirms squeeze and double tap |
| Find My | Yes |
| Finish | White |
| System requirement | iPadOS 17.5 or later |
Apple Pencil Pro attaches magnetically to a compatible iPad for pairing and charging. Apple’s Apple Pencil Pro specifications and feature guide lists the product specifications.
Rank #3
- Compatible with 11 & 13" M4 iPad Pro
- Compatible with 11 & 13" M2 iPad Air Intuitive Touch Controls Supports Squeeze & Barrel Roll
- Integrated Haptic Feedback Apple Pencil Hover
- Double Tap Controls Charge and Pair with Magnetic Flat Edge
- Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity Find My App Compatible iPadOS 17.5 or later
Compatible iPads
Apple Pencil Pro requires iPadOS 17.5 or later and supports only the iPad models below. Check the exact model name and chip or generation in Settings or the device’s identifying information; screen size alone is not enough.
| iPad family | Apple Pencil Pro-compatible models |
|---|---|
| iPad Pro | 11-inch and 13-inch models with M4 or M5 |
| iPad Air | 11-inch and 13-inch models with M2, M3, or M4 |
| iPad mini | iPad mini with A17 Pro |
An older iPad Pro or iPad Air may support a different Apple Pencil generation, but it is not necessarily compatible with Apple Pencil Pro. Match the Pencil to your exact iPad model rather than relying on the general label “Apple Pencil compatible.”
Hover support is a separate, narrower compatibility question. Apple lists hover for iPad Pro M4 and M5, iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Air M2, M3, and M4, and iPad mini (A17 Pro). The 11-inch (4th-generation) and 12.9-inch (6th-generation) iPad Pro models support hover but are not on Apple’s Apple Pencil Pro compatibility list.
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Rank #4
- 【Make Sure Your iPad Model is Compatible】: Metapen Pencil A8 is ONLY compatible with the iPad models 2018-2026: iPad 11/10/9/8/7/6 Gen, iPad Pro 13-inch M4, iPad Pro 11-inch 1/2/3/4/M4, iPad Air 3/4/5/M2/M3, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3/4/5/6 Gen, iPad Mini 5/6 Gen. NOTE: The Pencil A8 is NOT compatible with iPads before 2018, iPhone, Android or Microsoft devices. Please check your iPad model before ordering
- 【0.1 mm Pixel Precise Without Delay】: The upgraded smart chip delivers pixel-level accuracy of 0.1 mm with high responsiveness, no breakpoints, and no delays. You can enjoy writing small words and drawing fine lines with ease, just like using a real pencil! NOTE: The iPad stylus does not support pressure sensitivity
- 【2X Faster Charge】: Metapen Pencil A8 fully charges in just 30 minutes via USB-C and lasts up to 10 hours. 1-min charge = 50-min use; 4-min charge = 2-hour use. The LED indicator displays different colors based on battery level, reminding you to recharge in time. It automatically shuts down after 5 minutes of inactivity for better energy efficiency
- 【Palm Rejection】: Our iPad stylus supports Palm Rejection, so no need for a glove. You can rest your palm or fingers on the screen during sketching, drawing, or writing
- 【More Durable Tips】: Made of high-quality polymer, the Metapen's tips pass a 20 km durability test—2X more durable than original iPencil tips. Their internal structure remains intact even after 3,000 impacts. Each Metapen A8 pen comes with one extra replaceable tips , saving costs for frequent users
App support and practical limitations
A compatible iPad and Pencil do not guarantee identical behavior in every app. Developers decide how squeeze, barrel roll, haptics, and other Pencil Pro interactions are exposed. A feature shown in an Apple demonstration may not be available in every third-party painting or note-taking app.
Apple provides developer guidance through its WWDC session and the Pencil and Scribble Human Interface Guidelines. Check the documentation for your specific app if a gesture does not work as expected.
If pairing or charging fails
- Confirm that the iPad is a supported model and runs iPadOS 17.5 or later.
- Remove a thick case or folio that may block magnetic contact.
- Attach the Pencil to the iPad’s magnetic charging area and allow pairing to complete.
- Check whether the app supports the gesture you are trying to use.
- Check the case manufacturer’s fit information before assuming the Pencil or iPad is defective.
If you accidentally squeeze the barrel or double-tap while changing your grip, check the Apple Pencil settings to adjust gesture actions. Menu wording may vary by iPadOS version.
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Who should buy Apple Pencil Pro?
- Artists and illustrators: Consider it if barrel roll improves your brush, pen, or other supported tool workflow.
- Frequent tool switchers: Squeeze can reduce trips to the toolbar when changing tools, colors, or line weights.
- People who lose their Pencil: Find My can help locate it, though Apple’s materials do not promise AirTag-style precision finding.
- Note-takers and students: Decide whether the extra controls matter for your work.
- Owners of other Apple Pencil models: Keep your current Pencil if it works well and you do not need the Pro’s gestures or Find My.
- Owners of unsupported iPads: Check compatibility before buying; Apple Pencil Pro is not compatible with every iPad that supports an Apple Pencil.
Price
Apple’s U.S. online store listed Apple Pencil Pro at $129 when checked on October 7, 2026. That is a regional displayed price and may change; check Apple’s store for your country’s current price.
Best Value
- 【Compatible with 2018-2026 iPad & iPad Pro】The stylus supports for iPad series 2018-2026 model: iPad Pro 13" (M4), iPad Pro 12.9"(3rd/4th/5th/6th), iPad Pro 11"(All Generations), iPad Air M4/M3/M2/5th/4th/3rd Gen, iPad 11th/10th/9th/8th/7th/6th, iPad Mini 7th/6th/5th Gen. Please confirm your devices before you place an order, another model is invalid
- 【Not compatible with models before 2018】The stylus doesn't support iPad pro 1st&2nd, iPad pro 10.5", iPad pro 9.7", iPad 1 to 5 Gen, iPad mini 1 to 4 Gen, iPad Air 1st/2nd Gen versions of iPad. Not Compatible With iPhone, Android, Microsoft devices.iPad 10gen cannt use magnetic attraction.
- 【Precise and Smooth】1.5mm pen tip can replace your finger to execute finer instructions, it easy to install and tear off the tips on your stylus pen without any tool. No lag/offset/breaking point！Compared with the ordinary stylus pen, it has higher sensitivity, more accurate signal, more comfortable hand. Not easy to break!【 Note 】The stylus pen no pressure-sensitive design.
- 【Palm Rejection Design】Stylus pen with palm rejection technology, rest your hand naturally on the screen while writing or drawing, effortless interaction with your screen, gives you more accuracy and control against the screen. We commend you to use this pen on the iPad with a glass screen protector.
- 【Touch Switch & Fast Charging】Activate this stylus pen with a simple touch of the cap button. A quick 5-15 minute charge provides 15 hours of work time. Please note: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad for normal use, no pairing required.
FAQ
Is Apple Pencil Pro compatible with my iPad?
It is compatible with iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch models with M4 or M5, iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch models with M2, M3, or M4, and iPad mini with A17 Pro. Your iPad must run iPadOS 17.5 or later. Check its exact model and chip or generation before purchase.
What does squeeze do on Apple Pencil Pro?
Squeezing the Pencil brings up a palette for switching tools, line weights, and colors. A light haptic pulse confirms the squeeze, though specific app behavior can vary.
Does Apple Pencil Pro support hover?
Yes, but hover compatibility is separate from Pencil Pro compatibility. Apple lists hover support for specific iPad models, including some older iPad Pro models that are not compatible with Apple Pencil Pro. Check Apple’s compatibility information for both features before buying.
Can Find My locate Apple Pencil Pro like an AirTag?
Apple says the Pencil can be located in Find My, but the cited product information does not establish AirTag-style precision finding or other specific locating features.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
