Apple Pencil 2

The best Apple Pencil alternatives on a budget

Mehak ∙ December 9, 2022

No stylus can exactly replicate the magic of an Apple Pencil with your iPad. But the good news is, there are many that come quite close, and at a fraction of the price. If you're a designer or artist, chances are you can't do without your Apple Pencil. But for other tasks like notetaking, casual doodling, or browsing, an affordable Apple Pencil alternative is more than enough.

Check out the list below for our selection of the best Apple Pencil alternatives that come as close as possible to the real thing while perfectly fitting any budget.

Some of the best Apple Pencil-inspired jailbreak tweaks for iOS & iPadOS 14

Anthony Bouchard ∙ July 22, 2022

One thing that jailbreak hobbyists are always trying to do is squeeze a little additional performance out of their device and accessories by way of jailbreak tweaks, and iDownloadBlog takes this ambition very seriously.

Pencil Pro can help you reimagine what’s possible with your iPad’s Apple Pencil 2

Anthony Bouchard ∙ July 15, 2022

Got a jailbroken iPad with Apple Pencil 2 compatibility? If so, then you might be leaving handy functionality on the table if you haven’t already installed iOS developer PoomSmart’s Pencil Pro jailbreak tweak.

How to fix Apple Pencil (1st and 2nd gen) not charging

Ankur Thakur ∙ February 14, 2022

Apple Pencil not charging via your iPad can be due to basic software issues or significant hardware problems. In this tutorial, we show you what to do if your Apple Pencil 1st generation or Apple Pencil 2nd generation isn't charging and hindering your productivity.

When and how to replace your Apple Pencil tip

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ Updated June 9, 2022

If you own your first Apple Pencil and wonder when you should replace the tip or how to do it, iDB is here to help. We’ll give you some recommendations on when you should replace the Apple Pencil (1st and 2nd generation) tip, along with simple instructions for doing so.

5 ways to use your Apple Pencil in the Books app on iPad

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ January 20, 2021

If you use the Books app on your iPad for reading manuals, textbooks, or PDFs, then you’ll be glad to know you can use your Apple Pencil with it. You can add highlights, include notes, search, and use lookup for books, and of course, annotate PDFs.

Here, we’ll show you the ways you can use Apple Pencil in the Books app on iPad.

Apple Pencil won’t pair with your iPad? Try these fixes

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ Updated May 26, 2022

Maybe you just got an Apple Pencil or a new iPad and want to use this convenient combo. But for some reason, unknown to you, you can’t pair your Apple Pencil with your iPad. In this tutorial, we’ll explain several methods to remedy this situation, beginning with which Apple Pencils work with which iPads.

How to copy and paste handwritten notes as typed text on iPad

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ September 16, 2020

If you own an Apple Pencil and take advantage of handwritten notes, a terrific feature with iPadOS 14 turns your jotted down notes into typed ones. And even if you use your finger to scribble a note, you can use the feature without an Apple Pencil.

This is a convenient way take your note and convert it for easier reading, for yourself or someone you’re sharing your note with. Curious? This tutorial shows you how to copy and paste handwritten notes as typed text on iPad.

Hands-on video walkthrough: 8 cool new things you can do with your Apple Pencil in iPadOS 14

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 6, 2020

The iPadOS 14 software brings nearly a dozen cool new handwriting features with the Apple Pencil, including Scribble for iPad. Here's our video walkthrough of what we think are the eight most compelling Apple Pencil improvements available with the iPadOS 14 update.

Apple Pencil 2 now available from Apple’s refurbished store

Evan Selleck ∙ September 23, 2019

The Apple Pencil 2 has been available for a bit of time already, but if you've been waiting for a refurbished option, the wait is over.

This tweak ports the Apple Pencil 2 charging interface to other devices when charging

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated July 15, 2022

Ever since getting my 2018 iPad Pro, and an Apple Pencil 2 to go along with it, I’ve become mainly accustomed to seeing the Apple Pencil 2’s charging status when it magnetically snaps to the side of my tablet. On the other hand, this beautiful charging interface often left me wondering: why hasn’t Apple implemented a similar charging interface for other devices?

Enter PencilChargingIndicator, a free jailbreak tweak created by iOS developer shiftcmdk that brings the Apple Pencil 2-esque charging interface to other devices. Once installed, it makes the interface appear whenever the host device gets connected to a power source, as shown above.

More of my favorite accessories for the 2018 iPad Pro

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 28, 2019

The 2018 iPad Pro was (and still is) a game-changer for me, as it quickly became a mobile companion to my home computer when I first started using it. While the iPad Pro isn’t a complete laptop replacement by any stretch, it certainly makes it possible for me to leave home without my laptop at times; but like most things, the iPad Pro works best in tandem with great accessories.

Earlier this year, I compiled a roundup of my favorite accessories for the 2018 iPad Pro. But as you might come to expect, I’ve accumulated several more since that time that can seriously augment the iPad Pro user experience. With that in mind, I’m excited to share some more of my must-haves with you in this part-two roundup.