Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

arturmeireles

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 1, 2009
88
18
Portugal
The pencil is extremely fragile. So be VERY careful with the Apple Pencil. I dropped from a very small height and stopped working. The tip of the pencil is VERY VERY VERY fragile. Apple refunded me and I got another apple pencil and now I ALWAYS keep the pencil inside the original box...I´m even afraid to leave it on my pencil case.
 
I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you got a new one. Tell me, did you drop it sideways or straight on the nib?

My fear now is not damaging it by dropping it, but just by using it. I'm almost afraid to press harder with it, fearing that I may break the nib or something.
 
I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you got a new one. Tell me, did you drop it sideways or straight on the nib?

My fear now is not damaging it by dropping it, but just by using it. I'm almost afraid to press harder with it, fearing that I may break the nib or something.

Avena, the pencil fell from half sideway half on the nib.Not 100% straight with the nib facing down.
 
I've heard this a couple of times, and from my limited use it certainly feels fragile and just doesn't feel like a 'premium' device. It functions beautifully, but I actually think Microsoft has bested Apple by a good margin as far as the industrial design of their stylus goes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doodler
I dropped my Pencil while walking from about waist high onto a ceramic tile floor, no damage at all. No bends, cracks, splits,....and still works just as before the accidental drop.

Ceramic tile is a hard surface, I think it's made pretty well considering that in the past I have dropped a Wacom stylus onto ceramic tile and had to replace it.

YMMV but I have no complaints about the durability, and it has always felt like a premium device to me. I try my best to take care when using any of my equipment but accidents do happen and fortunately for me the Apple Pencil held up very well.
 
I've heard this a couple of times, and from my limited use it certainly feels fragile and just doesn't feel like a 'premium' device. It functions beautifully, but I actually think Microsoft has bested Apple by a good margin as far as the industrial design of their stylus goes.

They could have made it more rugged. It feels like I'm holding a piece of jewelry made of pearl or something lol. It's very slippery and I keep it tucked away in my cover buddy if I'm not using it. It is one of the fancier looking styluses though which may be the trade off....
 
It doesn't seem that fragile to me; yes it's shiny but it's got a good heft to it and feels premium to me. The nib on the SP4 stylus seemed far more fragile to me.

I suspect that some folks lamenting the fragility of the Pencil might be engaging in a bit of hyperbole.
 
You can't really break the nib on the SP4 stylus though in any way that will damage the thing, at least not without trying. In the year + since the current basic design was released I've heard of people wearing them out, but I can't recall anyone breaking the thing. And a pack of additional nibs is $10.
 
Mine feels fragile, but I expected it to since Apple is obsessed with style and appearance. A bit slippery too.

Conversely my SP3, and now my SP4 stylus have both proved very durable and robust. Just relax and use them.
 
I'm using those spongy foam pencil grips on my Pencil right now hoping it would have enough texture to it that it would stop it from rolling around when on a table and possibly rolling right off the edge, but it still does. That's my biggest fear using it. I tried to pick up one of those triangular grips locally in a Staples store but neither they nor OfficeDepot/Office Maxx carries them.

Ordered one off ebay but it has little ridges inside the hole so doesn't slip on. Just ordered another one that is made for slightly larger pencils, so we'll see how this one fits. I'll post the seller link if this one works out well.
 
Last edited:
Mine's been perfectly durable so far. I've dropped it a few times onto carpet without issue.

We've only seen a couple of reports of them being broken so far, with thousands in the wild. I don't think it's proper to label it as "fragile" at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZombiePete
The pencil is extremely fragile. So be VERY careful with the Apple Pencil. I dropped from a very small height and stopped working. The tip of the pencil is VERY VERY VERY fragile. Apple refunded me and I got another apple pencil and now I ALWAYS keep the pencil inside the original box...I´m even afraid to leave it on my pencil case.


Do you mind me asking how you went about getting it refunded by Apple? I started using my Pencil last week and use it about 5-6 hours a day for work. Last night I went to put it in my pocket and it tripped onto wood (about 2ft) straight on the nib.....it seems to be working but is definitely bent and I'm not sure how long the tip (not the nib, but the tip itself) will hold up.....I messaged Apple and they basically said...."sorry, no luck"

Thanks!
 
The pencil is extremely fragile. So be VERY careful with the Apple Pencil. I dropped from a very small height and stopped working. The tip of the pencil is VERY VERY VERY fragile. Apple refunded me and I got another apple pencil and now I ALWAYS keep the pencil inside the original box...I´m even afraid to leave it on my pencil case.
[doublepost=1453278149][/doublepost]Mine just stopped working for no apparent reason. I am baffled why mine stopped working when some people drop theirs on a ceramic tile and theirs still work. Maybe i got a one off defective pencil...i know after reading these posts that i will not even let anyone touch the thing. I was planning to let my girlfriend try it out when it just stopped working. I'm pretty sure she will be terrified to even look at it and i'd probably will feel nervous with anybody touching it when my replacement arrives.
 
Mine feels fragile, but I expected it to since Apple is obsessed with style and appearance. A bit slippery too.

Conversely my SP3, and now my SP4 stylus have both proved very durable and robust. Just relax and use them.
I don't think I've seen anyone drops the sp4 stylus on the nib before. Can someone try it to see if it'll continue to work?
 
I haven't made any purchase but I'm thinking to buy very soon. Is t that delicate? Is there any proper way to keep it safe.
 
Do you mind me asking how you went about getting it refunded by Apple? I started using my Pencil last week and use it about 5-6 hours a day for work. Last night I went to put it in my pocket and it tripped onto wood (about 2ft) straight on the nib.....it seems to be working but is definitely bent and I'm not sure how long the tip (not the nib, but the tip itself) will hold up.....I messaged Apple and they basically said...."sorry, no luck"

Thanks!

Sorry for the super late reply! My refund was very fast. Like 10 days. I could be even faster but took me 4 days to hand it in the Pencil to UPS(I´m from Portugal). Apple only gives you the refund after they get the product back. I´m a very honest person but I didnt tell Apple what happened to my Pencil cause I was afraid that Apple would say the same they told you "Sorry, its was your fault". I just said my Pencil stopped working suddenly and they gave me the refund.
[doublepost=1454001047][/doublepost]
I haven't made any purchase but I'm thinking to buy very soon. Is t that delicate? Is there any proper way to keep it safe.

Edward, sorry for the super late reply.
What I ALWAYS do now is to keep the Pencil inside the original box. I´m afraid to put it inside my pencil case! After what happened to me I´m scared even to leave the Pencil inside my regular pencil case. Apple should add to the Pencil a cap like regular pens have. For sure the Surface Pen is more solid and robust than the Apple Pencil! When I was a kid, I had the "habit" of braking the regular wood pencil with the tumb finger and I think if I do the same to the Apple Pencil, it will brake it for sure!!! Without much effort/pressure/strenght.
 
Last edited:
The pencil is extremely fragile. So be VERY careful with the Apple Pencil. I dropped from a very small height and stopped working. The tip of the pencil is VERY VERY VERY fragile. Apple refunded me and I got another apple pencil and now I ALWAYS keep the pencil inside the original box...I´m even afraid to leave it on my pencil case.

Thanks for sharing this. I'll definitely take even more care of mine. Obrigado, pá! ;)
 
Shocked they didn’t come out with an apple pencil sleeve/case
I'm actually shocked it doesn't magnetically stick to the side of the machine, they've been pumping out so may magnetic accessory patents lately I'm shocked we haven't seen anything. Maybe WWDC?
 
I'm actually shocked it doesn't magnetically stick to the side of the machine, they've been pumping out so may magnetic accessory patents lately I'm shocked we haven't seen anything. Maybe WWDC?
I use the magnetic sleeve from Moxiware and I love it. As a bonus, the Pencil cap sticks to the side of the Pencil while charging via the lightning connector.

http://www.moxiware.com/products/apple-pencil-magnet
 
I'm actually shocked it doesn't magnetically stick to the side of the machine, they've been pumping out so may magnetic accessory patents lately I'm shocked we haven't seen anything. Maybe WWDC?

It DOES magnetically stick to the front of the Smart Cover.
 
I have My pencil cracked also, and it just seems to be a weak spot above the removable tip. I unscrewed it and screwed with the replacement tip but the pen stopped working.
It is truly the thing that Apple should improve for next generation.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.