I am frustrated by the fact that the new Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the latest 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air models. Even if you invested in the 2022 iPad Pro two years ago for $1,099, you cannot use the new Pencil on that model. You will need to upgrade to the more expensive 2024 iPad Pro models, starting at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,199 for the 13-inch.
Furthermore, if you were thinking of upgrading to the new iPad Pro or iPad Air from an older iPad and continuing to use your second-gen Apple Pencil, you will be disappointed. The new tablets only work with the recently released Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the new Apple Pencil Pro.
Apple did not provide a clear explanation for this decision at the iPad hands-on event I attended. The company mentioned a “new magnetic interface” for the Apple Pencil Pro, but it seems to offer no significant improvement over the existing system.
It is frustrating that Apple, known for its user-friendly products, would not make the Apple Pencil backward compatible. While some new features may not work on older iPads, it should still be possible for customers who invested in the previous generation of Apple Pencil to use it on the new models.
The lack of compatibility might be due to the processing power of older devices, but if the M2 chipset in the 2022 iPad Pro cannot handle a few new stylus features, it raises concerns about Apple’s performance capabilities.
Overall, this situation seems unnecessary. The Apple Pencil Pro, second-gen Apple Pencil, and USB-C Apple Pencil should be compatible with all current Apple devices, even if some functions are limited. Having four different Pencil options to choose from complicates the issue further.
The motto “It just works,” often associated with Apple, does not seem to apply to the Apple Pencil in this case.
