Apple announced its Apple Pencil alongside the new iPad Pros yesterday. As the 2nd generation Pencil, the new tool and accessory sports some new features that are designed to work with Apple’s new tablets.
For starters, the new Pencil is charged wirelessly, with its charging process initiated via the iPad Pro’s magnetic attachment. This change in the accessory’s charging method was necessary, especially since the new iPad Pro models switched from the brand’s proprietary Lightning connector port over to the more universally accepted USB Type-C.
There is a drawback in using the new Pencil. Firstly, it’s compatible with the new iPad Pro models, and only them. There is no backwards compatibility with the older iPad Pro. Likewise, Apple isn’t providing any forward compatibility for the first generation Apple Pencil and the new tablets either. To that end, Apple itself has created a listed on its official page. Listing down the compatibility of each Pencil to their corresponding tablets.
Moving on, Apple’s new Pencil also comes with new gesture controls that, as demonstrated on stage, allows users to switch between the lead thickness of the Pencil within a drawing app.
At the time of writing, Apple Malaysia still hasn’t provided an official launch date for the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. However, it is official that the new productivity tool will retail for RM549 upon availability. On top of that, consumers who choose to purchase the pen online will have the option to have a custom laser engraving etched into the Pencil, at no extra cost.
