Perhaps one of the most sensible alternatives to the Apple Pencil stylus for iPads is the SonarPen, and it’s now getting a second generation. The SonarPen 2’s main selling point is its battery-free design and support for a number of advanced features at a fraction of the price of the Apple Pencil.
The SonarPen 2 is powered by a cable that you plug into the iPad’s USB-C port, which is a bit annoying, but it’s a pretty simple and straightforward solution. That makes it cheap and particularly useful for classrooms that use iPads, for example. You don’t have to charge all the styluses and you don’t have to pair them with the iPads.
In addition to the pressure sensitivity and palm rejection features, the SonarPen 2 offers tilt sensitivity, a hotkey, and a new pointed tip design for improved precision.
The SonarPen 2 can be paired with iPads from 2018 and later, while apps such as ibis Paint Other apps like ZoomNotes, Zen Brush 2 and others still support the pen, but some features are missing. SonarPen is also in talks with other app developers.
Supported apps
The asking price of the SonarPen 2 is HKD 245, which is less than $32, making it a much cheaper alternative to the Apple Pencil. Pre-orders are now open on Kickstarter.