Let’s be real. Buying an apple pencil with ipad pro is basically a rite of passage for anyone who wants to feel like they’re living in the future. You see the ads. You see the clean aesthetic. You imagine yourself sketching a masterpiece or taking these incredibly organized, color-coded notes that would make a neuroscientist jealous. Then you get to the Apple Store or open the website, and you’re hit with a compatibility chart that looks like a logic puzzle designed by a sadistic engineer.
It’s confusing.
Apple currently sells four different pencils. Four. And they don’t all work with the newest iPads. If you grab the "wrong" one, you’re stuck with a plastic stick that won't even charge. Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is assuming the most expensive Pencil is the best one for their specific iPad Pro model. It isn’t.
The Compatibility Trap Nobody Explains Clearly
You’ve got to check your model. Seriously. If you’re rocking the brand-new M4 iPad Pro, you cannot use the Apple Pencil 2. It won’t work. The magnets are different because Apple had to move the front-facing camera to the landscape edge. To make that happen, they had to redesign the charging induction hardware. This led to the Apple Pencil Pro.
It’s the new king. It has haptic feedback—which basically means it vibrates slightly when you squeeze it—and a gyroscope that lets you roll the barrel to change the orientation of your brush strokes. If you’re an artist, this is a game-changer. If you’re just marking up PDFs of your lease or signing digital contracts, it’s arguably overkill.
But here’s the kicker: if you have an older iPad Pro, say a 2018 through 2022 model, that Apple Pencil Pro is a paperweight. You need the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation). It’s frustrating. It’s "Apple." But once you get the right tool in your hand, the latency—that tiny delay between your hand moving and the ink appearing—is so low you actually forget there’s a computer involved.
Why the iPad Pro Screen Changes Everything
Using an apple pencil with ipad pro feels fundamentally different than using it on an iPad Air or the standard entry-level iPad. Why? ProMotion.
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Most screens refresh 60 times a second. The iPad Pro does it 120 times. This 120Hz refresh rate is the secret sauce. When you move the nib across the glass, the "digital ink" follows the tip with almost zero lag. On a 60Hz screen, you can see the ink trailing a few millimeters behind the tip if you move fast. It’s subtle, but your brain notices. On the Pro, it’s instant.
Then there’s the "Hover" feature. This was introduced with the M2 chips. Basically, the iPad senses the Pencil when it’s about 12mm above the glass. You see a little cursor or a preview of your brush size before you even touch the screen. It sounds like a gimmick. It isn’t. It’s the difference between guessing where your mark will land and knowing exactly where it’s going.
The Matte vs. Glossy Dilemma
Writing on glass is weird. It’s slippery. Some people hate it. They say it feels like writing with a needle on a dinner plate. To fix this, a lot of people buy "Paperlike" or other matte screen protectors.
These protectors add friction. They make it feel like 20lb bond paper. But they also come with a trade-off. They can slightly blur that gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR or Tandem OLED display. They also wear down your Pencil tips faster. If you’re a heavy user, you’ll find yourself unscrewing that little white tip and replacing it every few months because it’s become sharp or flat on one side.
Alternatively, Apple now offers "Nano-texture glass" on the high-end M4 models. It’s etched directly into the glass. It’s incredibly expensive—you have to pay a premium and buy the 1TB or 2TB storage models to even get the option—but for professional illustrators, it's the gold standard.
Real-World Use: Beyond the "Artist" Stereotype
Most people think the Pencil is for drawing. It’s not. Well, it is, but that’s only half the story.
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I’ve seen surgeons use them to annotate X-rays. I’ve seen architects use an apple pencil with ipad pro to mark up CAD drawings in the middle of a dusty construction site. My favorite use case? Notetaking in apps like Notability or GoodNotes.
- Handwriting Search: You can scribble notes in a messy hand, and the iPad can actually search those handwritten words later.
- Audio Syncing: You record a lecture or a meeting while you write. Later, you tap a word you wrote, and the iPad plays back exactly what was being said at the moment you wrote that specific word.
- Math Notes: This is a newer feature in iPadOS. You write out a complex equation, put an equals sign, and the iPad solves it in your own handwriting. It’s honestly a bit spooky.
The "Pencil USB-C" Confusion
There is a cheaper version called the Apple Pencil (USB-C). It’s tempting because it’s way less expensive. But be careful. It lacks pressure sensitivity.
If you press harder, the line doesn't get thicker. This makes it almost useless for serious art, though it's perfectly fine for students who just want to highlight textbooks. It also doesn't charge wirelessly. You have to plug a cable into the end of it. It’s a bit clunky for an "iPad Pro" experience. If you’ve spent $1,000 or more on a Pro tablet, saving $50 on the Pencil usually ends up feeling like a mistake.
Longevity and Maintenance
These aren't "buy it and forget it" devices. The battery inside the Pencil is tiny. If you leave your Pencil in a drawer for six months without charging it, the battery might die completely. Like, permanently. Lithium-ion batteries at that scale don't handle deep discharge well.
Keep it attached to the side of your iPad. It’s designed to stay at 100%.
Also, watch the tip. If you see the metal sensor peeking through the white plastic, stop. Stop immediately. If that metal touches your screen, it will scratch it. Replacement tips are cheap—usually about $20 for a pack of four. It’s the cheapest insurance you can buy for your $1,000 glass slab.
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The Software Side: Where the Magic Happens
The hardware is cool, but the software is why you’re here. Procreate is the obvious heavyweight. It’s the reason many people buy an iPad in the first place. But don't sleep on Freeform.
Freeform is Apple’s "infinite canvas" app. It’s built-in. You can zoom out forever. It’s great for mind-mapping or planning a project where you don't want to be constrained by a "page."
Then there’s the professional stuff. Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for iPad both have specific Pencil integrations. In Final Cut, you can use "Live Drawing" to animate text or sketches directly over your video footage. It’s a workflow that is actually faster than using a mouse and a desktop computer.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re sitting on the fence, here is the move.
First, identify your iPad Pro model. Go to Settings > General > About.
- If you have an M4 iPad Pro (2024): You must get the Apple Pencil Pro. Don't even look at the others unless you are on a strict budget, in which case the USB-C version is your only other option.
- If you have an M2, M1, or older USB-C iPad Pro: Get the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). You get the wireless charging and the double-tap gesture to swap between the pen and eraser.
- Check your tips: If you already own one, run your finger over the tip. If it feels rough or looks lopsided, replace it now. Your screen will thank you.
- Ditch the "Apple Notes" only mindset: Download a dedicated app. If you want to write, get GoodNotes 6. If you want to draw, get Procreate. The native Notes app is okay, but it doesn't unlock the layers, brush engines, or organizational tools that make the Pencil actually worth the money.
Using an apple pencil with ipad pro is about removing the barrier between your brain and the screen. It turns a consumption device into a creation device. Just make sure you aren't buying a version that doesn't support the features you actually need, like pressure sensitivity or haptic feedback. Check the magnets, check the model number, and stop writing on glass if you hate the slide—get a screen protector that actually provides some grit.