The stylus is very stiff but it works. The stylus itself feels firmer and has significantly more friction on the screen, reducing drag and therefore sloppy strokes. You'll feel more precise and have more control. (The HP Active Stylus' factory tip has virtually no friction.) This tip greatly improves the Active Pen's pressure sensitivity, which may take some time to get used to. Soft, precise strokes are random, but sharper, more even strokes are easier to make with light pressure on the screen. I needed this because HP doesn't sell replacement nibs at all and the factory nib has become dull and protrusions have formed on it. Contact point (which is bad. The screen can be scratched if the stylus is worn enough). I took a chance after some advice that the Surface Pro 3 tips fit the HP Active Stylus and thankfully the replacement parts I ordered worked fine.