Apple Pencil alternatives: save money with these pens

The was specially created to use it to create notes on the iPad Pro or to create digital works of art. And that has its price: The tablet pen costs just under 100 euros – and it still cannot be used on all iPad and iPhone models. Fortunately, there are a variety of equivalent alternatives that not only cost less, but are also compatible with other Apple devices (besides the iPad Pro). Four of these are presented below.

1. Alternative: Wacom Bamboo Finline

TheseApple Pencil alternative can be used for all touchscreen devices with iOS. The pen and the iPad or iPhone are connected to each other via the Bluetooth connection – it is switched on by turning the lower half. Even if the Has only one programmable button that you can use to undo (or erase) every step, the pen can communicate its pressure levels to all compatible apps. As a result, he writes and draws as you would expect, but this alternative has a catch: the pen does not recognize the angle of inclination, so that no hatching is possible.

2. Alternative: Moko Active Stylus

The is significantly cheaper than the other tablet pens mentioned at just under 27 euros. Nevertheless, it can keep up with its predecessors: When charged, this Apple Pencil alternative lasts up to eight hours at a time, and it also has a special metal tip (1.5 mm thick) – the pen generates a magnetic field on the display when it is touched with it. This has the advantage that a human finger is simulated and writing or drawing on the screen should be very realistic. Furthermore, the Moko Active Stylus has a soft rubber tip at the other end that can operate the touchscreen even without energy.

The only downer: The tablet pen has no pressure levels and tilt detection.

3. Alternative: MPIO Stylus Pen

Another inexpensive model – compared to some other Apple Pencil alternatives – is the MPIO Stylus Pen. Due to its slim design, it looks like an ordinary pen, but has a 1.5 millimeter wide pressure tip. This means that it can be used not only for drawing and writing on various iPad and iPhone models, but also on other tablets. In contrast to other models, the no hand recognition, but you get a real bargain for just under 30 euros – including an Apple pen case.

4. Alternative: Adonit Pixel

First things first: the is compatible with the iPhone (5 and newer), the iPad Mini (1 to 4), the iPad Air (1 and 2) and the iPad Pro (12.9). In contrast to the Apple Pencil, the alternative tablet pen has two programmable shortcut buttons – in other words, you can set the pen so that activities performed can be undone (i.e. deleted) or repeated. The integrated grip sensor activates the Adonit Pixel as soon as you move it with your hand. If you connect it to an iPad via Bluetooth, the pen reacts to pressure (with up to 2048 sensitivity levels on the display). This has the advantage that, depending on the angle of inclination, you can draw lines of different thicknesses.

Plus point: The pen is also compatible with various apps (including Goodnotes, Procreate and AstroPad).