Apple Pencil — Which fits my iPad? | Picker for all 4 generations

Apple Pencil 1, Pencil 2, Pencil USB-C, Pencil Pro — each with different shape, charge mechanism and feature list:

• Apple Pencil 1st gen — Lightning plug hidden under a removable cap, round barrel (rolls off the table), pairs directly with the iPad's Lightning port. Pressure-sensitive and tilt-sensitive, but no MagSafe snap, no double-tap, no hover.
• Apple Pencil 2nd gen — flat side with MagSafe magnet strip for snapping and wireless charging, double-tap on the barrel for tool switch, hover on newer Pros. Modern standard for 2018-2022 Pros and mid-range Air/Mini generations.
• Apple Pencil USB-C — cheapest Apple Pencil, USB-C plug under sliding cap, magnetic snap (for storage, not charging). NO pressure, NO double-tap, NO hover — the entry-level Pencil for notes.
• Apple Pencil Pro — top model with squeeze gesture, barrel roll, haptic feedback and Find My. Compatible exclusively with Pro M4/M5, Air M2/M3 and Mini 7 — Pencil Pro magnet is positioned differently than Pencil 2.

Sorted by iPad family and year (everything at a glance):

• Mini 1-4 — no official Pencil support
• Mini 5 (2019) — Pencil 1
• Mini 6 (2021) — Pencil 2 + Pencil USB-C
• Mini 7 (2024) — Pencil Pro + Pencil USB-C (Pencil 2 NO)

• Air 1 + Air 2 — no Pencil support
• Air 3 (2019) — Pencil 1
• Air 4 (2020) + Air 5 (2022) — Pencil 2 + Pencil USB-C
• Air 11" M2 (2024) + Air 13" M2 (2024) + Air 11" 2025 + Air 13" 2025 — Pencil Pro + Pencil USB-C (Pencil 2 NO)

• Pro 9.7" (2016) + Pro 10.5" (2017) — Pencil 1
• Pro 11" 2018 through Pro 11" 2022 + Pro 12.9" 2018 through Pro 12.9" 2022 — Pencil 2 + Pencil USB-C
• Pro 11" M4 (2024) + Pro 13" M4 (2024) + Pro M5 (2025) — Pencil Pro + Pencil USB-C (Pencil 2 NO)

• iPad 6th/7th/8th/9th gen + iPad 10.9 (10th gen 2022) + iPad 11" 2025 — Pencil 1 (with USB-C adapter on the 10th gen!) + Pencil USB-C

Pencil choice is not only compatibility, also use case:

• For students and note-takers — Pencil USB-C is enough. No pressure, no hover, but cheap and the pairing works.
• For creative pros (Procreate, Affinity, ZBrush) — Pencil 2 on 2018-2022 generations or Pencil Pro on M4 models. Pressure, tilt, double-tap on the barrel are essential.
• For architects and illustrators with M4 iPad — Pencil Pro with squeeze, barrel-roll and haptic feedback. Find My tracking if the pen disappears in a bag.
• For families with an older iPad — Pencil 1, often bundled with iPad-9-gen sets, compatible with Pro 9.7", Pro 10.5", Mini 5, Air 3 and basic iPads up to 9th gen.

For sketches and layouts on the go we recommend Pencil USB-C — cheap and compact. Illustrator pros need Pencil 2 or Pro with pressure sensor and double-tap. 3D modelling in Nomad or ZBrush lives on the barrel-roll of Pencil Pro — brush axis rotation. Note-app users (GoodNotes, Notability) get by with any Pencil, but hover previews exist only on Pencil 2 with Pro 2022+ and Pencil Pro. Sustainable choice: every Pencil generation is a repairable device — tips are replaceable, no throwaway stylus.

• Pencil 1 — directly in the iPad's Lightning port or via the included adapter into a Lightning cable.
• Pencil 2 + Pencil Pro — wirelessly via MagSafe magnet on the side of the iPad (Pro/Air from 2018, Mini 6+).
• Pencil USB-C — USB-C plug under sliding cap, charges via any USB-C cable.

All Apple Pencil generations in stock in Basel. A-mail in 1–2 working days nationwide or free pickup in Basel, Aarau or Olten via click & collect. We are also happy to advise you in person — we help with pairing and show the difference between Pencil 2 and Pencil Pro in a direct comparison.