I've had the Pencil by FiftyThree for a couple of days and I'm considering taking it back to the Apple Store and getting an Apple Pencil instead. Are there people out there who have used both? If so, do you think the Apple Pencil justifies being twice as expensive as the FiftyThree pencil?
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FiftyThree Pencil vs. Apple Pencil
- Thread starter Robnsn2015
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I've had a 53 and I have an apple pencil and I can tell you the apple pencil blows everything out of the water! There really is no comparison
Agreed, the fine tip precision, even in basic capacitive mode, is like nothing else around. I found the 53 too blobby and chunky for my liking.
No disrespect towards OP, but I can't even believe this is a question. Of coarse the Apple pencil will be the best option
And before you make any decisions.... Do you have an iPad Pro? The Apple Pencil will only work on the iPad Pro (for now...)
Yes, I have an iPad Pro. I have a FiftyThree Pencil that I plan to return to the Apple Store. I was wondering if the Apple Pencil was worth $100 vs. the FiftyThree Pencil for $50.
For me, yes – easily worth the price increase. The precision of the Apple Pencil is unmatched by any other stylus I've tried. (And the FiftyThree Pencil, at least in my experience, was really clunky and intermittently reliable for drawing and erasing.)
Then yes, much as I'd like to support third party efforts, the Apple pencil has no peer. You'll need to find it first though, I'm not sure what the stock situation is currently, but if the iPad Air 3 has support for the pencil, expect it to get even more scarce.
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Yes. I bought a 53 pencil when the apple pencil was impossible to find. Now I have both and the 53 is going back tomorrow.
The 53 tip drags on the screen and its hard to write with it on the screen. It's more for art, but the apple pencil is better for that too. Plus, it can charge from the iPad itself, it's way more precise, and most of all there is no sponginess or give to the tip.
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The 53 tip drags on the screen and its hard to write with it on the screen. It's more for art, but the apple pencil is better for that too. Plus, it can charge from the iPad itself, it's way more precise, and most of all there is no sponginess or give to the tip.
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I bought a second one and it shipped in 2 days.
Yup, that's why I'm taking the FiftyThree back to the Apple Store. You have all convinced me. I'll trade in the FiftyThree for the Apple Pencil.
On other iPads, the 53 Pencil is pretty great for drawing. In fact, it is probably the best option for drawing on non-Pro iPads.
The weird thing, though, is performance on the iPad Pro was noticeably worse for me. While the Apple Pencil blew the 53 pencil out of the water anyway, it seems as if the 53 Pencil didn't work as well on the Pro as it did on other iPads (it works better on my mini 4 - and I still use it for sketching if I don't have my Pro with me).
The weird thing, though, is performance on the iPad Pro was noticeably worse for me. While the Apple Pencil blew the 53 pencil out of the water anyway, it seems as if the 53 Pencil didn't work as well on the Pro as it did on other iPads (it works better on my mini 4 - and I still use it for sketching if I don't have my Pro with me).
Depends on what you compare it with. The iPad Air 2 and Pro have similar screens where the capacitive touch layer is slightly different than other models. It tends to screw with things. On the Air 2, if I set Paper to ignore my finger, I find I need to press down in order for the 53 Pencil to register correctly. I'm not sure if the recent Mini is like the Air 1, or the Air 2.
Dude if you have an iPad pro return that 53 IMMEDIATELY. I can't even believe what I'm reading! The AP scans 240hz, the 53 scans 60hz. You can do the math on that one!
I had the 53 since it came out. I loved it on older iPads. It does not get good performance on the iPad pro. I am not sure what it is. It doesn't even glide the same. I spent a while in the Apple Store today playing with the apple pencil. I really wish that it wasn't $100, but it is miles ahead of the 53 pencil. I may break down and buy the Apple pencil pretty soon.
The original FiftyThree Pencil is probably the best stylus for non-Pro iPads but it is doing only as well as the tech will allow.
The Pro uses proper sylus compatibility so it is quite different tech and allows a much better stylus design as well as feel and performance. It only trails in terms of ergonomics and aesthetics.
The Pro uses proper sylus compatibility so it is quite different tech and allows a much better stylus design as well as feel and performance. It only trails in terms of ergonomics and aesthetics.