Apple Pencil with USB-C is Here But it Lacks Features from Previous Generation—What Tech?

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 01 November 2023, 11:11 pm

The latest Apple Pencil is here, and it comes with USB-C, this is the latest that Apple has to offer for its devices that use the stylus, particularly for the iPad lineup. One of the best perks of owning this new Apple Pencil is that it would be available to charge alongside the iPad, and connecting it with USB-C equipped Apple tablets would no longer be a problem for the cables.

However, despite the USB-C upgrade, the new Apple Pencil lacks several features as seen on the previous generation accessory.

Apple Pencil with USB-C Is Now Here-How Much?

(Photo : Apple)

The Apple Pencil is here, and the Cupertino giant shared its arrival earlier this Wednesday, November 1, offering the USB-C equipped iPad accessory for users, offering new features with this latest release. This Apple Pencil costs $79 and is made available in 33 countries and regions starting this week, with Apple offering it via the online or retail stores for customers.

Apple claimed that this new Apple Pencil still captures pixel-perfect accuracy when using it, alongside a low latency connection to the device, as well as tilt sensitivity.

The Cupertino giant also claimed that this new version also supports the Apple Pencil hover with greater precision, allowing users to perform commands even without touching it.

What Are the Features this Apple Pencil Lacks?

While this is the most affordable Apple Pencil yet, along with some pretty nifty features, The Verge said that it lacks several techs previously found in the 1st and 2nd gen of the accessory. It does not have the famed pressure sensitivity that was previously available in both versions, as well as the pair and charge feature via its magnetic connections like in the 2nd generation.

Apple's Massive Adoption of USB-C

It all started with the MacBook computer that was first released in 2015, offering Thunderbolt 3 ports for users, with the MacBook Pro then featuring four USB-C ports for all. However, it changed drastically in recent years, with Apple prioritizing its MagSafe charging ports for the laptops, but USB-C Thunderbolts remained with the laptops and will continue to be available for all.

Apple had a slow adoption time of the USB-C for its devices, as the next it upgraded was the iPad, particularly the 2018 iPad Pros which featured the new Thunderbolt port for fast charging and connecting to larger displays. Other iPad models also saw the USB-C adoption, first off with the iPad Air, then the iPad Classic, and lastly, the iPad Mini which was recently released.

The latest massive shift to USB-C centered on the iPhone 15 lineup, with Apple then going full blast with its accessories including the AirPods Pro 2 and the EarPods. Apple then announced a famed iPad accessory to get the USB-C port for better accessibility for users, lessening the cables needed to charge, but this new Apple Pencil gets fewer features compared to its predecessors.