The Hype about The Latest iPad Pro — Apple Pencil Pro, Revamped

The new iPad Pro 2024 has been announced by Apple with a new redesign, display, accessories, and processing chip. I’d like to believe that the idea behind this new generation of iPad Pro is that it’s catered solely to pro tablet users who use it to replace the standard laptops or computers on their workstations, considering the price of this model alone (without the additional accessories).

There are plenty of features that are kind of new, yet kind of old from this model, and they are meant to improve user experience as a whole, which is often the case with Apple devices. But the best thing about this iPad Pro is none other than the new Apple Pencil Pro (which unfortunately does not come together with the iPad Pro as a part of the package), which we will cover below.

Apple Pencil Pro — Revamped

There are exceptionally plenty of improvements on the Apple Pencil Pro here.

Let’s start with the squeeze feature first. The Apple Pencil Pro is pressure-sensitive. That way, if you were to give it a pinch, you’d see a whole new set of colours to choose from when, let’s say, you’re drawing something on Notes. Switching tools and thickness is a breeze too, with the added squeeze feature.

When drawing something, either on Notes, or Notability or Bear or whichever note-taking app you use, the Apple Pencil Pro also offers double tap on the Pencil to switch tools quickly rather than hovering the pen (or your finger) on the floating bar on the top/bottom of the iPad Pro screen. It saves time, and honestly would create a seamless drawing experience to users.

There’s also haptic feedback on the new Apple Pencil Pro, too. So, to make sure your squeeze counts, or if the double-tapping feature works, the Pencil gives you a little buzz to let you know. That’s niche, I’d say.

Then the Pencil now also has a “barrel roll” feature. It’s something trivial, but a fun feature to see. It simulates how a lead pencil would work when drawing or sketching — there’s the side that you would twist the pencil to get that specific sharp or faded texture of the lead, especially as the lead wears down with each use before sharpening it. The Pencil Pro adds that feature now, so that’s something to look out for if you were to buy one.

And one last niche feature the latest Apple Pencil Pro features is the Apple Pencil hover. It’s basically a preview of where your Apple Pencil would land on the iPad screen, but it’s a preview of a shadow of your Apple Pencil Pro. The iPad screen simulates a shadow to make it look like the Pencil Pro casts a shadow on the iPad, which is a neat trick to add. It’s nothing extravagant, but it’s a nice feature to have.

Oh, the Pencil is now also traceable. If you manage to lose the Pencil somehow, you can use Apple Find My to locate where you last place your Pencil (or who took it). It’s a feature that’s absent from the previous models, so I assume people often lose their Apple Pencils that often.

It’s RM599 (USD$127.90) though, so keep that in mind.

Which Model is The Apple Pencil Pro for?

Before you think about buying the new Apple Pencil Pro to use with your existing iPad, bear in mind that the Pencil is only supported by a few models. The ones that support the Pencil are the iPad Pro M4 (13- and 11-inch models), and the iPad Air M2 (13- and 11-inch models). So, the Pencil won’t work with the standard iPad, or iPad mini models. If you have those models, my advice is to consider the regular Apple Pencil (2nd generation) as a more affordable option.

Of course, the Apple Pencil Pro offers several advantages over the regular Apple Pencil, including higher pressure sensitivity for more natural sketching and shading, and tilt support for creating depth and shading effects. These features can be particularly beneficial for artists, designers, and anyone who takes handwritten notes or creates detailed illustrations on their iPad.

Anyway, if you’re interested in reading more about something else that might entice you, maybe consider reading about the latest Samsung Unbox and Discover event. Otherwise, I have a full catalogue of articles for you to read here. Until next time!