> One has a cap, one has a slider thing, and then there are these cheap ones on Amazon but I'm scared they'll scratch the screen or just not work at all. Honestly, if you are taking a digital art class, you HAVE to go with the official Apple brand! I tried a cheap knockoff once and it was a total disaster for drawing. You need pressure sensitivity to make your art look good, and those budget pens usually don't have it. Since your iPad has a home button, you almost definitely need the Apple Pencil 1st Generation with Lightning Connector. I love it because the response time is just fantastic and there is zero lag when you're sketching. It’s the one with the little cap on the end! It fits your budget perfectly too. Don't risk a random brand that might skip or lag while you're trying to learn. Just get the official one, it makes everything so much easier and feels amazing to use!

Just caught this thread today. You really need to check your exact model number in Settings under General and then About before spending any cash. Getting the wrong hardware is a total headache. Since your budget is tight but you need something reliable for a class, I would suggest the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil for iPad. It is basically the only third-party stylus that uses official Apple technology, so it is very stable and wont lag or scratch the glass. Just be careful tho because it lacks pressure sensitivity, which might be a problem for certain digital painting techniques. If you decide you need that feature for your class, you might want to consider a certified refurbished Apple Pencil 1st Generation to stay under your $90 limit. Always stick to known brands because the cheap knockoffs often have terrible battery life and random connection drops...

Building on the earlier suggestion, the best stylus is definitely going to be the official brand name one that matches your specific port, mostly because of the technical safety. I went through the exact same thing when I picked up my first used tablet for hobby work last year. I spent way too much time worrying about the screen getting ruined or the connection dropping mid-stroke. I'm honestly very satisfied with the route I took because reliability is everything when you're just trying to learn.

• My current setup uses a stylus that connects instantly without me having to mess with Bluetooth settings every five minutes.
• I learned that for art, you really need to look for something that supports pressure sensitivity because without it, your lines basically look like you're drawing with a mouse.
• The charging situation was my biggest hurdle since some older tablets use different ports than the newer ones, so I had to make sure the connector matched exactly what was on the bottom of my device. Honestly, the most important thing I found was that some of those super cheap alternatives on the market dont have palm rejection. Its a nightmare trying to draw when your hand keeps making marks on the canvas. I'm much happier having something that feels like a real tool rather than a toy. Just make sure whatever you get actually handles the tilt function if you're planning on doing any shading in that Chicago class. It makes a massive difference in how natural it feels. I havent had any complaints since I figured that out... just gotta be careful about the battery health over time.