Hey there! If you‘ve considered getting an Apple Pencil to unlock your iPad‘s creative potential, you might be wondering whether to go with the original 1st generation model released back in 2015, or the updated 2nd generation pencil that came out a few years later in 2018.
There are some surprisingly big differences between the two styluses – especially when it comes to charging method, gestures, and compatibility. This handy guide of yours aims look in-depth across all the key areas so you can confidently decide which Apple Pencil best fits your needs and budget.
We‘ll compare everything from the physical design and dimensions, latency and responsiveness, tilt and pressure sensitivity, magnetic attachment and storage methods, tap controls, pricing options and more.
Here‘s a quick overview of what we’ll cover:
Apple Pencil showdown
- Dimensions – which pencil is longer and thicker?
- Weight – are they the same heft or different?
- Compatibility – what iPad models work with each stylus?
- Connectivity and charging – wired Lightning vs wireless magnetic
- Latency and responsiveness – is one more instantaneous feeling?
- Sensitivity and tilt support – do both pencils offer robust creative capabilities?
- Magnetic attachment and storage – how to prevent losing your pencil
- Customizable tap gestures – can you toggle tools with touch features?
- Price and availability – launch costs and current pricing from Apple
- Usage recommendations – best applications for each Apple Pencil
- Durability concerns – assessing long term reliability
- Verdict – concluding which is the better buy in 2022-2023
Let‘s dive in and compare these advanced iPad writing instruments side-by-side! By the end, you‘ll know clearly whether the original Apple Pencil 1 or upgraded Apple Pencil 2 better matches your creative iPad needs.
Physical Dimensions and Design
The first difference you may notice when viewing the Apple Pencil 1 and 2 side-by-side is their external housing shapes and dimensions.
Apple Pencil 1 maintains a traditional cylindrical pencil profile that tapers slightly towards one end. It measures 6.92 inches long (175.5 mm) maintaining a uniform diameter of 0.35 inches (8.9 mm) across its entire aluminum and plastic body.
Apple Pencil 2 on the other hand has reinvented the classic pencil silhouette with one flat side more reminiscent of a carpenter‘s pencil. The flattened design allows it to rest without rolling on tables.
It comes in slightly shorter at 6.3 inches long (160 mm) yet retains the same 0.35 inch diameter as its predecessor. The matte finish and angular shape give it a more industrial appearance compared to the original‘s glossy exterior.
Both Apple Pencil models are impressively lightweight, each weighing just 0.73 oz (20.7 g) – similar to a real pencil. So you likely won‘t notice much difference holding one over the other for extended drawing sessions.
Now that we’ve looked at the physical design and dimensions, let’s examine which iPad models maintain compatibility with each stylus.
Apple Pencil Compatibility
Before purchasing either Apple Pencil, it‘s absolutely essential to confirm compatibility with your specific iPad model.
While both pens leverage Bluetooth connectivity to pair with iPads, Apple uses the magnetic inductive charging method exclusive to newer tablets for repowering the Apple Pencil 2.
Here’s a breakdown of iPad models compatible with each digital pencil:
Apple Pencil 1 Works With:
- iPad Pro 12.9′′ (1st & 2nd Gen)
- iPad Pro 10.5"
- iPad Pro 9.7"
- iPad Air 3rd Gen
- iPad 6th Gen
- iPad 7th Gen
- iPad 8th Gen
Apple Pencil 2 Works With:
- iPad Pro 11′′ (1st, 2nd & 3rd Gens)
- iPad Pro 3rd Gen 12.9′′
- iPad Pro 4th Gen 12.9′′
- iPad Pro 5th Gen 12.9′′
- iPad Air 4th Gen
- iPad 9th Gen
- iPad 10th Gen
So in summary – the Apple Pencil 1 supports every iPad model dating back to 2017 and earlier. Meanwhile the Apple Pencil 2 works with 2018 iPad Pro tablets and all later models.
Depending on when you purchased your iPad, only one pencil choice may be compatible. Factor this connectivity constraint heavily into your buying decision. Using an incompatible stylus will prevent responsive drawing plus lack fast charging.
Now speaking of charging….let‘s compare how you actually power up these battery-powered pens!
Charging and Connectivity
Charging the Apple Pencil 1 or 2 couldn‘t be more different. Each relies on completely distinct technologies with their own pros and cons.
The 1st generation Apple Pencil features a male Lightning connector port hidden beneath a removable cap. To charge the battery, you must plug a standard USB to Lightning cable into the port.
The other end connects either to a wall adapter or directly into your iPad itself through the tablet‘s female Lightning input.
- A 15 second quick zap provides enough temporary juice for 30 minutes of drawing.
- Fully charging the battery from empty takes approximately 30 minutes in total.
- When fully charged, expect around 12 hours of total usage before needing to recharge again.
Having to constantly uncap the Lightning connector makes keeping Apple Pencil 1 powered rather tedious long-term. You must remember to occasionally recharge it separate from your iPad or risk losing usability.
In contrast, the Apple Pencil 2 relies on a completely cordless magnetic inductive charging system similar to Apple‘s MagSafe technology.
Simply by magnetically attaching the pencil to the right edge of a compatible 2018+ iPad Pro tablet, charging begins automatically without any cables required!
- A brief 30 second magnetic attachment provides 30 minutes of drawing uptime, similar to the quick charge wired method.
- A full charge completes in just 15 minutes magnetically.
- Fully powered, the 2nd generation Apple Pencil likewise lasts around 12 hours before requiring recharging.
This key innovation introduced with Apple Pencil 2 makes keeping it charged effortlessly convenient. No more fussing with connectors and cables. Just magnetically snap it on your iPad Pro when not actively drawing for a quick power boost as needed!
Magnetic attachment also assists with storage and preventing misplacement as we’ll now explain.
Magnetic Attachment Design
Alongside enabling wireless inductive charging, the inclusion of strong built-in magnets gives Apple Pencil 2 a distinct storage advantage.
Thanks to the magnetic attachment strip located along its flat mid-section, Apple Pencil 2 can securely fasten onto the right edge of compatible iPad Pro tablets when not in use.
The solid magnetic connection allows easily keeping Apple Pencil 2 always stored alongside your iPad Pro. No more worrying about misplacing that small stylus again in your bag!
Unfortunately the 1st generation Apple Pencil lacks any magnetic elements or method to affix onto iPads. You must manually place it into a case or bag compartment separate from your iPad.
For digital artists, designers and other creatives who use an Apple Pencil daily, having constant quick access dramatically improves mobility and convenience. Stashing Apple Pencil 2 on your iPad Pro magnetically makes long term ownership more streamlined versus needing to detach and store the older model manually.
Now let’s compare the all important responsiveness and latency metrics between these two iPad writing implements!
Latency and Responsiveness
When sketching, drawing or simply taking handwritten notes, lag or latency while writing can severely impact the user experience. Latency refers to the time delay between moving an Apple Pencil across glass and ink registering digitally on screen.
Thanks to its 240 Hz ProMotion display and powerful A12Z Bionic processor, the 2018 iPad Pro dramatically reduced latency down to just 20 milliseconds when using an Apple Pencil. That’s only 1/50th of a second!
Remarkably, the 2018 refresh upgraded down to 6 milliseconds latency when combined specifically with the new Apple Pencil 2. This allows essentially real-time feedback without noticeable lag, proving how optimized Apple designed the 2nd generation pencil and 2018 iPad Pro as an integrated unit.
While Apple never published exact latency testing for the 1st generation Apple Pencil back in 2015, unconfirmed reports estimate around 40 milliseconds.
So in summary:
- Apple Pencil 1 – ~40 ms latency
- Apple Pencil 2 – 6-20 ms latency range depending on paired iPad Pro model
Keep in mind even professional Wacom tablets traditionally benchmark around 25 milliseconds latency. So both Apple Pencils rank impressively responsive despite a higher refresh score from the 2nd generation.
Unless you scrutinize lines extremely closely, you likely won’t perceive much practical difference during everyday drawing tasks either way. But knowing Apple Pencil 2 technically updates the latency metric reassures long term investment for budding digital artists focused on refinement.
Speaking of creative capabilities – do these advanced iPad styluses actually offer realistic pencil, pen and marker experiences? Let‘s examine their pressure sensitivity and tilt functionality next!
Pressure Sensitivity and Tilt Support
Core to any digital pencil‘s drawing competency involves its ability to detect varied pressure and tilt angles just like conventional artistic tools.
Impressively both the 1st and 2nd generation Apple Pencil shine here by incorporating sensitive force and positional sensors internally.
Both styluses feature an astounding 2048 varying pressure levels – even greater than professional Wacom tablets! Apply just a delicate touch or heavy hand to modulate line thickness.
You can also tilt Apple Pencils at angles up to 60° while sketching for dynamic shading textures replicating real world pencils and markers.
So whether drafting concept product designs, painting digital art on your iPad, or just taking quick notes, you‘ll enjoy equal artistic control between either Apple Pencil choice.
However, there is one area where Apple Pencil 2 pulls ahead for superior creative workflows…
Customizable Tap Gestures
Drawing and designing digitally demands easily toggling between eraser, pencil, paint brush and other modes.
Here Apple Pencil 2 introduces a completely new tap gesture vocabulary lacking from the 1st generation.
Thanks to capacitive sensors built into its flat section, you can double tap Apple Pencil 2 with your finger to switch modes. The default toggles between your current tool and eraser, but can be customized app-by-app.
For example, in Adobe Fresco you could set double tap to switch between a pencil and brush tool. Procreate allows even more advanced gesture customization like triple tap or slides.
This quick touch access removes constant menu digging to change modes – a headache that still plagues Apple Pencil 1. Instead of constantly lifting hand from tablet or soiling screens with fingertip smudges, tap to toggle instant mode changes. It‘s transformative for digital painters!
Now speaking of contacts, let‘s address durability concerns that could factor into long term ownership costs.
Reliability and Durability Testing
Investing nearly $100+ dollars into an iPad stylus demands confidence its advanced components can withstand daily travels inside bags alongside keys and other devices.
How does the plastic and metal construction of Apple Pencil 1 and 2 models hold up against accidental drops, dents and general mishandling?
YouTuber JerryRigEverything conducts brutal endurance tests upon newly released consumer electronics each year. Let‘s examine how both Apple Pencils faired under stress testing!
- In Jerry‘s 2016 Apple Pencil 1 video we witness surviving waist high drops onto concrete floors with no visible damage later. Impressively its tip and sensors still maintained perfect drawing responsiveness post-tests exceeding reasonable real world conditions.
- Fast forward to Jerry‘s Apple Pencil 2 durability test in 2019
and similarly impressive resilience shown all-round! It likewise endured harsh drops and scratches while working flawlessly. The flat section scuffed slightly from abrasion however.
So how do we interpret these experiments on prospective Apple Pencil life expectancy? Reassuringly both stylus models exceed fragility perceptions of consumer electronics following years of durability refinements by Apple.
Unless you‘re externally piercing, cutting or attempting to snap them in half delibrately, expect either Apple Pencil to endure usual backpack adventures and occasional accidental drops over years of use. Their tip sensors remain surprisingly resilient and replaceable worst case.
For artists and note takers alike prioritizing longevity, either Apple Pencil should satisfy unless treating them intentionally severely. Handle with reasonable care and you‘re unlikely to experience failure from solely internal technical faults.
That covers physical expectations, but what about performance consistency over time? Do these battery-reliant devices degrade noticeably across years of continual usage?
To find out, I spoke with professional digital illustrator Shelby Christensen who shared hercomparative experiences leveraging both Apple Pencil generations across 5 years as iPad Pro illustration tools…
Professional Artist Feedback
"I‘ve used an Apple Pencil 2 daily for the past 3 years after upgrading from the 1st generation. In my experience both have maintained consistent responsiveness over time even as batteries deplete slightly."
"I haven‘t noticed any major performance, pressure sensitivity or latency changes between when my Apple Pencils were brand new compared to hundreds of hours of high intensity digital painting later. That reliability provides crucial consistency us illustrators rely on."
– Shelby C., Digital Artist
This long term usage feedback further confirms both Apple Pencil 1 and 2 deliver persistent drawing precision between charges and across years of progressing battery cycles. As a customer, that‘s my favorite type of device — set it and forget it — no nagging reliability anxieties!
Now speaking of customer costs, let‘s finally compare pricing and value delivered by each generation…
Pricing and Value Comparison
As premium accessories embedding advanced force, tilt and touch sensors, unsurprisingly neither Apple Pencil model is outright cheap. However relative value between the two has shifted over time since release.
The original Apple Pencil debuted alongside the first iPad Pro in November 2015 for $99 USD. An undeniably steep cost for a stylus, but not unreasonable given its once-unique drawing competency against competitors then.
Following the Apple Pencil 2‘s announcement in late 2018, Apple soon discontinued further production of the 1st generation. Today across third party sellers you can find original Apple Pencils priced around $85 USD – a 14% cost decrease from initial MSRP.
Comparatively the second generation Apple Pencil launched at a higher $129 USD price point and still retails for that amount officially via Apple in 2022-2023.
Is the Apple Pencil 2‘s higher cost worth it for shoppers today? Evaluating based on improved conveniences like magnetic charging, storage and gestures controls – I believe yes absolutely. You’ll soon consider its enhancements indispensable upgrades over older models.
Amortizing the $129 MSRP over just 2 years of daily usage also makes Apple Pencil 2‘s value proposition easier to stomach at only $0.18 cents per day ownership cost. That‘s cheap for drastically enhancing iPad productivity and creativity!
Yet financially the Apple Pencil 1 still appeals for the budget conscious at $0.12 cents daily over 2 years. And it remains perfectly competent for basic note taking or occasional doodling purposes on older iPad models.
Ultimately both Apple Pencils deliver immense capability and value upgrades over passive capacitive styluses costing only $10-15 USD. But comparing generations head-to-head, the extra features and refinements brought by Apple Pencil 2 easily justify paying its modest premium for your investment.
Now let‘s condense everything we‘ve covered into simple recommendations based on use case scenarios and iPad models…
Apple Pencil Recommendations
Here is my straightforward advice summarizing the best Apple Pencil choice based on your tablet model, budget and intended drawing or note taking usages:
Apple Pencil 1 – Best for older 2017-earlier iPad owners seeking basic stylus functionality on a budget. Lacks latest conveniences yet still highly capable for occasional users.
Apple Pencil 2 – Most sensible choice by far for 2018+ iPad Pro owners thanks to its nifty gestures, magnetic charging and overall refinements. Must-buy for creatives.
In conclusion when held side-by-side, while both Apple Pencils allow transformative iPad interactions, the 2nd generation model clearly pulls ahead as today‘s smarter buy if paired with compatible modern iPad Pro tablets especially.
Thanks for following this journey comparing both Apple Pencil models from all angles! Hopefully you‘re walking away more informed to choose the best match for your creative needs. Reach out with any other questions in the comments below!
