Cheap but effective Alternative to Apple Pencil ?

[marcusalwayswins]

Hi Guys,

I have the iPad Pro 11" first generation 2018. Can you guys suggest a cheap alternative for Apple Pencil? Any other stylus that works as good as Apple Pencil, but just costs a fraction than Apple Pencil?

 

[russell_314]

Hi Guys,

I have the iPad Pro 11" first generation 2018. Can you guys suggest a cheap alternative for Apple Pencil?

I've heard the Logitech Crayon is a good choice for note taking. I have an AP so I haven’t tried it but from what I’ve seen online it’s good despite the silly name.

Any other stylus that works as good as Apple Pencil, but just costs a fraction than Apple Pencil?

This is not possible. Costs a fraction of the price can never be just as good unless it’s a counterfeit product. It’s possible someone makes a counterfeit Apple Pencil but I’m not sure.

 

[MultiFinder17]

I have one of those ones you see all over Amazon for $10-20 as well as an actual Apple Pencil second gen.

Pros of the cheap one:

• It’s cheap!
• It tracks seemingly just as well as my legit pencil.
• No pairing, it just automagically works with any iPad you bring it near.
• Magnetically snaps to the side of an iPad.
• Battery life is decent.
• Did I mention it’s cheap?

Cons of the cheap one:

• It feels as cheap as it is. Super light, very plastic feeling. Feels like a cheap mechanical pencil.
• It has to be turned on with a little button on the end. It does at least auto power off.
• No hover, tilt, tap to change tool, any thing fancy like that.
• No battery status in software, just a couple blindingly bright blue LEDs for charge level.
• Has a usb-c port on it for charging, not wireless. Same as the usb-c legit Apple Pencil.

Honestly, if you’re just looking to draw or do handwriting recognition then the cheap dudes do pretty much just as well as a legit Apple Pencil. I use mine pretty much interchangeably between my iPad Pro M2, iPad Air M1, and iPad mini. I don’t do advanced art, just sketches in notes, drawing little circuit diagrams, and taking notes no for those uses I don’t notice a difference. I take the cheap one with me to school so if it disappears in my classroom or the hallway sometime I’m not out a $100 stylus.

 

[marcusalwayswins]

I have one of those ones you see all over Amazon for $10-20 as well as an actual Apple Pencil second gen.

Pros of the cheap one:

• It’s cheap!
• It tracks seemingly just as well as my legit pencil.
• No pairing, it just automagically works with any iPad you bring it near.
• Magnetically snaps to the side of an iPad.
• Battery life is decent.
• Did I mention it’s cheap?

Cons of the cheap one:

• It feels as cheap as it is. Super light, very plastic feeling. Feels like a cheap mechanical pencil.
• It has to be turned on with a little button on the end. It does at least auto power off.
• No hover, tilt, tap to change tool, any thing fancy like that.
• No battery status in software, just a couple blindingly bright blue LEDs for charge level.
• Has a usb-c port on it for charging, not wireless. Same as the usb-c legit Apple Pencil.

Honestly, if you’re just looking to draw or do handwriting recognition then the cheap dudes do pretty much just as well as a legit Apple Pencil. I use mine pretty much interchangeably between my iPad Pro M2, iPad Air M1, and iPad mini. I don’t do advanced art, just sketches in notes, drawing little circuit diagrams, and taking notes no for those uses I don’t notice a difference. I take the cheap one with me to school so if it disappears in my classroom or the hallway sometime I’m not out a $100 stylus.

I am thinking about the ESR one's any experience of idea about those ?