What is the best universal stylus for any iPad model?

Question

So I am in a total bind because my family has like three different iPads floating around the house and none of them are the same model. My son has an older 9th gen and my daughter just got the new Air for her birthday and I use an older Pro for work stuff. The problem is we keep losing the chargers or the pens and I am honestly sick of buying different versions of the Apple Pencil because its way too expensive and the pairing is a nightmare when they switch devices.

We are leaving for a 12-hour road trip this Friday and I desperately need to find one universal stylus that just works across all of them instantly without messing with bluetooth settings. I have been looking at:

Logitech Crayon

Zagg Pro Stylus

The Crayon seems durable for the kids but I saw the Zagg at the store and it looks more like a real pen for when I need to use it for work. Im really torn between those two. The Zagg has that dual tip thing which seems cool but I heard the Crayon is basically bulletproof and wont break when my son inevitably drops it on the floor of the minivan. My budget is strictly under $70 since I might need to buy two if they actually work well. Has anyone tried using these across different iPad generations back to back? I need to go to Best Buy tomorrow morning so I gotta decide fast...

_TheOneMagic · Accepted Answer

Yeah I totally agree with the durability point on the Crayon, it's basically a tank for kids. But since you're heading to the store tomorrow and need something that feels a bit more professional for your work sessions too, I've found a couple other reliable ones over the years. Honestly, the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro 4 with Multi-Mode Charging is a sleeper hit that usually flies under the radar. It works across different generations just by tapping the top to turn it on, no bluetooth pairing required. I prefer it because:

it magnetically sticks to the side of the Air and Pro models

the nibs are replaceable and feel really smooth

it uses USB-C so you dont need extra cables Another solid pick if you can find it is the Adonit Note Plus with Tilt Support. It feels much more like a premium pen in your hand compared to the Crayon. In my experience, these third-party ones are way less stressful than Apple Pencils because you can just hand it to your son and then use it on your Pro two seconds later without digging through settings menu. Just make sure to double check the box for compatibility with that older 9th gen, but most of these newer universal ones handle it just fine.

koglxufnvx · Answer

Honestly, I've gone through a few of these and unfortunately, neither is perfect. The charging port on some cheaper ones gave me issues before, but for your road trip, these are the best bets under $70.

Logitech Crayon for iPad with USB-C is definitely the most durable for kids. It worked with a 9th gen and a Pro and switched instantly. Unfortunately, it feels a bit chunky for long work sessions.

ZAGG Pro Stylus with Universal Capacitive Tip looks much more professional for office stuff. The dual tip is handy, but it's not as good as expected for fine detail since it lacks pressure sensitivity.

If you're really trying to save money, check out the Adonit Note 2 Waterproof Stylus instead. It's pretty disappointing that these lack pressure sensitivity, but for kids doodling in a minivan, they're way better than buying multiple Apple Pencils. You wont have to worry about the pairing nightmare anymore...

Mia Bergeron · Answer

ugh honestly i have this exact same issue at my place and its been driving me crazy for months. we have three different gens of ipads floating around and i still havent found a single stylus that actually handles the switching without a massive headache.

my kids always lose the specific chargers

the bluetooth pairing is a total disaster when they swap devices

i refuse to drop another 100 bucks on a pencil they will probably lose in the car anyway im basically just as stuck as you are tbh... been looking for a solid answer forever and still havent found anything that just works across the board. it really sucks that there isnt a simple universal option that actually feels reliable for everyone.