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Best drawing stylus for Air 2?

S

Silver Idaten

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 31, 2015
578
882
Stratford, CT
I want to start drawing on my iPad. I have an Air 2 that I was originally going to sell but as I was preparing to wipe it I couldn’t bear to let it go I think even after I replace it! In hopefully a few months I’ll be getting a Pro 12.9, but right now, I want to start with the Air 2 I already have.

I heard good things about Adonit, but there are many different options. I’ve tried sketching on my fiancé’s 2015 Pro with the Pencil and it was simple enough, I’m just looking for a similar experience on the Air 2 so I don’t have to blow $1200 on the Pro that I want right now.
 
Silver Idaten said:
I want to start drawing on my iPad. I have an Air 2 that I was originally going to sell but as I was preparing to wipe it I couldn’t bear to let it go I think even after I replace it! In hopefully a few months I’ll be getting a Pro 12.9, but right now, I want to start with the Air 2 I already have.

I heard good things about Adonit, but there are many different options. I’ve tried sketching on my fiancé’s 2015 Pro with the Pencil and it was simple enough, I’m just looking for a similar experience on the Air 2 so I don’t have to blow $1200 on the Pro that I want right now.
Click to expand...

The Pro exists for a reason. You will not have a "similar experience" on an Air 2 unfortunately. The screen is just not designed with the same type of sensitivity on the Pro.

Any stylus you find is simply something with a capacitive nib on the end of it, to simulate your finger. These are universal in nature.
 
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The issue with the Air and stylus is that you aren't drawing directly on the LCD surface. There is always some offset that needs to be accounted for. Many times this was controlled by software/bluetooth but even that is a pain and never really paired up to a great experience.

I had an Air 2 and tried various thick and thin nubbed styluses, none of them came close to what a Pro + pencil or dedicated drawing tablet provide.
 
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Others have pointed out that the experience isn't the same, and I'd agree.

HOWEVER... if you manage your expectations...

  • Pencil by 53 is my favorite non-Pro stylus - it's excellent for drawing (especially in the Paper app), but I don't like it for writing.
  • For a "fine tip" stylus, you'll have to expect some issues (like some lag and some parallax), but some are better than others:
    • For writing (and drawing combo) I like the Bamboo Fineline by Wacom
    • I also like the Bamboo Sketch from Wacom
  • I don't like the Adonit devices - they're expensive and they don't work well.
So, manage your expectations and I think you can still do it and have fun with it! If I didn't have the Pro and the Apple Pencil, I would be using the 53 Pencil.

I'll say this: I had an enormous amount of fun with the 53 Pencil. There were some annoyances (i.e. sometimes the rubber gripped more than I would like), but it was still fun!
 
And bear in mind that thin styluses, especially non-rubber ones may scratch the screen a little bit. I had this problem on my iPad mini2.
 
bensisko said:
Others have pointed out that the experience isn't the same, and I'd agree.

HOWEVER... if you manage your expectations...

  • Pencil by 53 is my favorite non-Pro stylus - it's excellent for drawing (especially in the Paper app), but I don't like it for writing.
  • For a "fine tip" stylus, you'll have to expect some issues (like some lag and some parallax), but some are better than others:
    • For writing (and drawing combo) I like the Bamboo Fineline by Wacom
    • I also like the Bamboo Sketch from Wacom
  • I don't like the Adonit devices - they're expensive and they don't work well.
So, manage your expectations and I think you can still do it and have fun with it! If I didn't have the Pro and the Apple Pencil, I would be using the 53 Pencil.

I'll say this: I had an enormous amount of fun with the 53 Pencil. There were some annoyances (i.e. sometimes the rubber gripped more than I would like), but it was still fun!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your suggestion. I wouldn’t even be asking this if buying a Pro was an option for me, but I don’t want to settle for a configuration I’m not fond of for less money, so until I get $1200 to buy one, I have to try with the Air 2 first.
 
Totally understand!

Like i said, it’s just about managing expectations. If you’re not expecting Apple Pencil/Pro capability, you can still have a lot of fun with another stylus (especially the 53 Pencil)!

Before the Pro, I used other styli on iPads going back to the iPad 2 and I enjoyed the experience, at least as a sketch pad (I did more precise work on Windows tablets and the MacBook).

I don’t want you to get the impression that it can’t be done or you can’t have fun with it without the Pro and the Apple Pencil, but there’s also a balance that says you can’t reach the same experience with the Pro.

Give the Pencil by 53 (or the Wacom) a try with your Air 2 - once you get used to he ins and outs, you’ll have fun!
(And you can get the Pencil by 53 pretty cheap now!)
 
Silver Idaten said:
Thank you for your suggestion. I wouldn’t even be asking this if buying a Pro was an option for me, but I don’t want to settle for a configuration I’m not fond of for less money, so until I get $1200 to buy one, I have to try with the Air 2 first.
Click to expand...
Personal experience, no stylus I've tried has worked quite as well as the Apple Pencil. I liked the ones with the mesh fiber tips or brush tips because they glide smoothly on the display but they're just nowhere near as accurate as the Apple Pencil. Mind, my usage is primarily notes and handwriting.
 
Silver Idaten said:
I want to start drawing on my iPad. I have an Air 2 that I was originally going to sell but as I was preparing to wipe it I couldn’t bear to let it go I think even after I replace it! In hopefully a few months I’ll be getting a Pro 12.9, but right now, I want to start with the Air 2 I already have.

I heard good things about Adonit, but there are many different options. I’ve tried sketching on my fiancé’s 2015 Pro with the Pencil and it was simple enough, I’m just looking for a similar experience on the Air 2 so I don’t have to blow $1200 on the Pro that I want right now.
Click to expand...

Try this link:
https://www.adonit.net/jot/pixel/
I got it and it works well. There is palm rejection, pressure sensitivity, and tilt recognition for shading. If you don’t like it, you can return it.
 
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