Ive been using iPads for my digital art for like six years now, mostly sticking with the Apple Pencil 2 on my Pro. But here is where it gets annoying. I just picked up an older 9th gen iPad for my kid to mess around on and I also have this mini that I use for quick sketches when Im on the train in Chicago. I dont want to buy three different Apple Pencils because the compatibility is a total mess right now—like why does the USB-C one not have pressure sensitivity? It drives me crazy. So I was thinking about just getting one solid universal stylus that I can just pick up and use on whatever screen is in front of me without the pairing dance.
My logic was that there has to be something out there that actually feels good for drawing. Most of the cheap ones I see on Amazon are just those basic capacitive tips that are basically like using a finger but skinnier. I need something with actual precision. I tried a cheap Adonit a while back but the offset was terrible and it made my lines look like a zig-zag. Im looking for something that has decent palm rejection or at least works well enough with a glove because I do a lot of heavy layering in Procreate.
I checked out the Logitech Crayon because everyone says it uses Apple tech but it lacks pressure sensitivity too which is a dealbreaker for my line work. Is there literally anything that works across different iPad versions that actually supports pressure? Or am I just chasing a ghost here? My budget is around 60 bucks because I already spent way too much on the tablets themselves. Im just so frustrated with Apples proprietary lock-in. I just want one pen for everything that doesnt feel like a toy. Does the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 actually hold up for drawing or is it just for taking notes? I need real-world feedback from someone who actually draws, not just tech reviewers who scribble for five seconds...
Regarding what #1 said about "In my experience drawing on these things since...", they're basically right on the money. I went through this exact same headache trying to find a one pen to rule them all setup for my kids iPad and my own Pro. Tbh, it is a bit of a trap. I tried to go the budget route with the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 because I loved the idea of it working on everything, but you really have to be careful. It is a great tool for clicking around or taking quick notes, but for digital art? Its pretty frustrating. Without that pressure sensitivity, your lines just look flat and lifeless. It feels like you're drawing with a marker that never runs out of ink but also never changes size. I would suggest staying away from anything that claims to be universal if you actually care about line weight. Most of those active pens just mimic a finger touch. If you really want pressure on a budget, you might want to look into the Adonit Pixel Precision Stylus but even then, it only works via Bluetooth in specific apps and the lag can be kind of a nightmare compared to the native stuff. My quick tip: if you are doing serious layering in Procreate, just hunt for a refurbished Apple Pencil 1st Generation for that 9th gen. It is annoying to carry two pens, but it saves you the headache of bad palm rejection and wonky lines. Make sure to double check the charging situation tho... the dongle life is real and it is easy to lose those tiny adapters.
In my experience drawing on these things since the early days, that universal dream is a tough one to catch. I think you're basically hunting for a unicorn because Apple locks pressure sensitivity behind their proprietary tech. IIRC, most third-party pens that work across different models just act like a fancy finger without any real line weight control. It's honestly the most annoying part of the ecosystem, ngl.