Apple Pencil 2 Not Compatible With Older iPads and Original Apple Pencil Won't Work With New Models - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Pencil 2 Not Compatible With Older iPads and Original Apple Pencil Won't Work With New Models

by

The new second-generation Apple Pencil that Apple introduced today alongside new iPad Pro models includes support for tap gestures and inductive charging when attached to an iPad Pro via magnets, a major upgrade from the previous model that had a built-in Lightning port.

Given all of the changes introduced in the Apple Pencil 2, it only works with the new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models and it is not compatible with older iPad Pros or the sixth-generation iPad.

applepencilcompatibility
Likewise, the current Apple Pencil will not work with the new iPad Pro models and is limited to older iPad Pro models and the sixth-generation iPad.

That means if you're upgrading to the new iPad Pro from an older iPad Pro model and already have an Apple Pencil, you're going to need to buy a new second-generation model if you want an Apple Pencil to use with the upgraded tablets.

The new second-generation Apple Pencil is priced at $129 and can be ordered starting today, with the accessory set to be delivered on November 7.

Apple's new Apple Pencil is $30 more expensive than the existing Apple Pencil, which is priced at just $99.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad Accessories

Top Rated Comments

CalBoy Avatar
97 months ago
The new pencils are cool, but this almost feels like an intentional move to punish people who bought either product before today.

There’s a lot about Apple’s recent decisions that honestly come across as taking customers for granted.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kobayagi Avatar
97 months ago
Makes sense. Older iPad owners wouldn't be able to charge the new Pencil 2 as they don't have inductive charging. And new iPads don't have Lightning to charge the older Pencil.
Hmmm, okay... charging won't work. We agree on that. But why won't usage work? Let's say you have and use the previous and this new iPod Pro. Then this means you also need two pencils.

Seems more like a money grab.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
Can you not use a lightning cable to charge Apple Pencil 1.0? If you are on-the-go, are you not carrying a lightning cable? Is inductive charging different from wireless charging that iPhones use?

These are -terrible- reasons to make the pencils not compatible with each other. Naked money grab.

Makes sense. Older iPad owners wouldn't be able to charge the new Pencil 2 as they don't have inductive charging. And new iPads don't have Lightning to charge the older Pencil.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
97 months ago
Makes sense. Older iPad owners wouldn't be able to charge the new Pencil 2 as they don't have inductive charging. And new iPads don't have Lightning to charge the older Pencil.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
Missed opportunity by Apple.

Think of the $$ that could be made from the adapters.

Apple Pencil Lightning to USB-C adapter $39

Apple Pencil lightning to inductive charging adapter $69
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bilibug Avatar
97 months ago
I'm really disappointed with today's event. I was planning to buy a new large iPad Pro and pencil, as well as maybe a Mac Mini. Now I don't think I will get any of them, and live with my older models until they die. For one, the price gouging is a major turnoff. But more so, the Apple Pencil incompatibility screams of a company which lacks a clear product development path. The products released the last few years seem rushed. I got burned once before with my iPad 3, which was obsoleted within 6 months. As many have said, the new fragmentation is overwhelming. If the new iPads were going to have USB C, then the new phones should have had them. Other than product development in a silo, there was no valid excuse to hold back on the change of technology. And all the hot wind about the notch on the iPhone X being iconic. If that is the case, why isn't there a notch on the new iPads. If the excuse is the availability of space due to the larger bezel, then why does the iPhone XR have a notch? All signs is of a company that lacks cohesion in their design team, something that violates everything the old Apple under Jobs stood for. I miss the simplicity and uniform design of those products.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...
Related Apple News: South Africa | Local News | World News | Mac | Travel