Review on 🖊️ Rechargeable Stylus Pen for iPad 2018-2020, with Palm Rejection, Magnetic Design, and Compatibility for iPad 6th-8th Gen, iPad Pro 11''&12.9'', iPad Mini 5th Gen, iPad Air 3rd&4th Gen by James Cash

TL:DR I have used this product as well as the Apple Pencil and in this review I extensively compared those who are undecided between this and the Apple Pencil are. I consider the similarities and differences and explain the factors that influence decision making from the perspective of a pilot using his iPad as an e-bag for a flight and a student taking notes in college. If you're reading this, you're probably still sick of that iPad purchase you've made or have already made and want to use it for drawing or note-taking instead of buying the $120 Apple Pencil (V2). I originally bought this pen to save some money since I'm already spending $700 on an iPad Air 4. However, after using it for about 3 months, today I decided to get an Apple pencil. However, I will not say that this pencil was a bad buy. In this review, I will detail how it compares to the Apple Pencil. I'll tell you exactly what features you're missing out on so you know what you're getting. First the basics. The pencil is durable, with a metal body, most likely aluminum. The Apple Pencil is made of durable plastic, but it's not flimsy. Both are well built. I think this pencil seems a little more substantial, but not by much. Both write fantastically on a compatible iPad, with no skipping or lag. Both use Apple's Scribble feature, which allows you to handwrite in text fields (such as the Google search box) and have them automatically converted to text. That's a good thing, too, because typing on an iPad is pretty awkward, and the Scribble feature makes it a little easier. This stylus also attaches magnetically to the side of a compatible iPad (Pro and Air versions after 2018). Also, there are no pairing issues and it works instantly with the iPad, just like the Apple Pencil. These are the core features of the Apple Pencil that make it a fantastic alternative to the Apple Pencil, and for $30 you can't beat the price. However, there are some features that the Apple Pencil has that it doesn't, and you can sacrifice those features for a cheaper price. I'll list them here and then describe my process to decide if I should choose an Apple Pencil instead. 1) Built-in charging. Unlike the Apple Pencil, this stylus does NOT automatically charge when connected to the iPad. You have to charge it yourself via a USB-C charging cable. This pen comes with a charging cable. My practical experience is that this is a minor inconvenience that's easily overcome by simply charging it every few days or so, depending on how often you use it. I've never been stuck in class with a dead battery, and you only need to charge it for a few minutes to get a couple of hours of writing. However, you have to be careful about charging, while the Apple Pencil doesn't have to think about charging while it's connected to the iPad (which should always be with you anyway). Note that the Apple Pencil has a battery level indicator when you connect it to an iPad, while this stylus does not have a battery indicator. So you have to guess how much charge this pin has. 2) Power button. This is a feature that this Pencil has but lacks in the Apple Pencil. However, this is more of an inconvenience than anything. The "button" is pressed with a light touch of the fingertip. It doesn't click or give an audible or tactile notification that it's on, just a visual cue in the form of a very small blue light. It will automatically go into standby mode if you don't use it for a few minutes. After that, you need to turn it back on to use it. The Apple Pencil doesn't have an on/off switch, so it never turns off and you can always write with it. I found it annoying having to keep turning this thing on all the time and also turning it off when I put it away. The Apple Pencil makes this whole process easier. 3) Pressure sensitive. This is a game changer if you plan to use your pencil and iPad for any type of drawing or art. Unlike the Apple Pencil, this pencil is not pressure-sensitive. If you want to draw, don't look at that pencil and use the Apple Pencil. Those who take notes (like me) won't be much affected by this feature. However, after using the Apple Pencil for a day, I find it easier to write more accurately because of this feature, but it's something that can easily be done without if you want a $90 difference in lieu of this feature. 4. ) Durability of tips. When I received my iPad, I put a paper-like protective film over it. I don't know if the slick protective film affects durability, but I've found that the tips on this pencil wear out pretty quickly. After about a week of very intense note-taking, I noticed that the tip had worn out and was losing its original shape. In three months I've used up almost two clues. The replacements are pretty cheap, about $8 for 4 replacements, but I didn't want to replace them that often. Without the paper-like protective sheet, I would have expected the tips to last longer, but I didn't test it. The reason I chose the Apple Pencil was because I decided I couldn't live without the magnetic charging feature and auto on/off feature. As a pilot, I need the ability to record information at all times with guaranteed reliability, as well as confidence in the charge to not drain the battery during flight. However, for the note-taking student, if you're willing to ignore relatively minor inconveniences, this is a perfectly acceptable alternative. If you're an artist or a pilot, I think an Apple Pencil is worth the extra money as the lack of these features is often unjustified. I hope you find this review helpful. Anyway, I wrote what I want to hear before I buy. EDIT: I just found a feature on the Apple Pencil that this one doesn't have. This is a double tap action. So you can switch between the current tool and the eraser, the current tool and the previous tool, or change the colors of the current tool. This feature is *very* handy as erasing is even faster than using this pen or changing colors. I have to say that personally I think the Apple Pencil is worth the extra money, but if you can do without the 4 features I've described then go for this Pencil.