Apple has announced a new, more affordable Apple Pencil with a hidden USB-C charging port.
The latest version is “ideal for note-taking, sketching, annotating, journaling and more,” according to a company press release.
According to Apple, the new pencil has a matte finish and a flat side that magnetically attaches to the side of an iPad for storage.
It will be available from the beginning of November and will cost $79.
The new pencil is also available for $69 to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff and homeschool teachers at all grade levels.
In addition, existing owners of the 1st generation Apple Pencil can purchase the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter separately for $9.
“Combined with the versatility of iPad, the new Apple Pencil opens up another great way to experience the magic of digital handwriting, annotation, document markup and more,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the release.
Apple touts the new pencil’s “pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency and tilt sensitivity,” but it doesn’t have the pressure sensitivity, wireless pairing and charging, double-tap tool switching or free engraving features of the second-generation Apple Pencil.
The company says this is the most affordable model and it works well with the 10th generation iPad, as well as iPad Pros, iPad Airs and iPad Minis, as they have USB-C ports.
