Why You Can Trust CNET Best Apple Pencil Deals 2023: Apple Pencil 2 Hits New All-Time Low Price
Shopping for a new stylus? Here are top shops to find an Apple Pencil for your iPad.
If you're a creative who uses an iPad or other Apple devices, then there's a good chance you'll want to invest in an Apple Pencil as well. Apple's sleek stylus offers precise pressure sensitivity and is designed to pair seamlessly with Apple's tablets for a fluid experience. However, like most Apple devices, this premium tech doesn't come cheap, with prices starting at $99. That's why we've scoured the web to bring you the very best Apple Pencil deals available so you can get one in your hands for less. We've also gathered up some of the best alternatives out there in case you're looking for an even more affordable option.
Below is a current breakdown of the best Apple Pencil deals available right now, with a quick look at historic low pricing for both models.
Get the best price with CNET Shopping.
Add CNET Shopping
Apple Pencil pricing 2023
| Model | Apple Store price | Best price right now | Best all-time price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Pencil (1st Gen) | $99 | $79 | $70 |
| Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) | $129 | $85 | $85 |
Beyond the Apple Pencil, there are a few great Apple Pencil alternatives that are also worth considering, and there are frequent deals on those, which we've highlighted farther down the page.
Best Apple Pencil (1st gen) deals
Apple's first-gen Apple Pencil was originally released in November 2015 and has stuck around since then. At its debut, it worked only with the first iPad Pro model before support was added to subsequent models. It has a Lightning connector built into the end for charging the Apple Pencil right from your iPad and has a removable tip that can be changed out after your current one starts to get worn down.
The first-gen Apple Pencil is compatible with all pre-2018 iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 3, the iPad Mini 2019 and all base-model iPads since 2018. It's also the one to get to use with the new 2022 10th generation iPad. Awkwardly, there are two versions of the first-gen Apple Pencil for sale at most retailers: one with a Lightning adapter and one with a USB-C adapter. Other than the adapter, the Apple Pencil is the exact same so the deciding factor between them is purely how you wish to charge the device back up. The USB-C version hasn't been on the market as long and tends not to be discounted. Here are the best first-gen Pencil deals you can buy right now.
Both Amazon and Walmart have the first-generation Apple Pencil available for $79 right now, which saves you $20 compared to the Apple Store price, and is just $9 more than the all-time lowest price we've seen. It comes with the USB-C adapter, which is required to pair with the newest iPad model.
Best Apple Pencil (2nd gen) deals
The second-gen Apple Pencil was launched in October 2018 alongside the third-gen iPad Pro, and while it may look similar on the surface, there are quite a few differences between the two models. One big difference is that the Apple Pencil 2 charges magnetically while attached to newer iPads, meaning there's no Lightning connector. The design is slightly refined as well, with one flat side that's used to charge and a sensor near the tip that enables Double-Tap features.
The second-gen Apple Pencil works with all 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros (2018 and later models), as well as newer iPad Air (2020 and 2022) models and the iPad Mini 6. Here are the best Apple Pencil 2 deals you can get right now.
The Apple Pencil 2 has hit a new all-time low price of $85 at Amazon and Walmart, which saves you $44 compared to the Apple store price. If you've been holding out for a sale on the latest Apple stylus, now's the time to pick one up.
Best cheap Apple Pencil alternatives
While the Apple Pencil offers one of the best experiences when paired with the iPad, it may not be the best choice for everyone. There are a number of cheaper Apple Pencil alternatives that you can take a look at. Here are some of the best ones that are on sale right now.
The Logitech Crayon works with just about every iPad, unlike the Apple Pencil. It doesn't have the fancy instant pairing or magnetic charging, but other than that it works very similarly to the Apple Pencil for a fraction of the price.
This stylus is a great cheap alternative to the Apple Pencil if you want the overall style of the Pencil without the price tag. It has removable tips, can be turned on and off and even recharges via USB-C. It's lists for $40 but you can grab select colors for as little as $25 right now at Amazon.
Zagg's Pro Stylus offers an Apple Pencil-like experience without the price tag. It features palm rejection and tilt-recognition tech like the first-party option, offers automatic pairing and even attaches magnetically to the side of your iPad Pro or iPad Air (though you'll need to charge it via USB-C).
This stylus pen has a nice sleek design and offers a black option that Apple does not currently have for its Pencil models. It offers up to 12 hours of battery per charge, and a 4-minute charge can give you an extra hour of battery life. It uses Micro-USB for charging and can charge and write at the same time. There aren't any discounts on this stylus at the moment, but it's still a solid value at less than $50.
Apple Pencil vs. Apple Pencil 2: Which should you buy?
The decision here is simple: You have to buy the one that's compatible with your iPad. Unfortunately, Apple does not let you pick which Apple Pencil you want to use with which iPad. Instead, iPads are only compatible with a specific model of the Apple Pencil.
As outlined above, the original Apple Pencil works with the first- and second-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air 3 and fifth-gen iPad Mini and all of the base-model iPads since the sixth-gen model. If you have a newer iPad Pro, fourth- or fifth-gen iPad Air or the sixth-gen iPad Mini, you'll need to opt for the Apple Pencil 2.
If you want to avoid this confusion, you can select from one of the non-Apple alternatives listed above, which generally have broader compatibility.
Get the best price with CNET Shopping.
Add CNET Shopping