New iPad Only Supports First-Gen Apple Pencil, Requires Adapter to Charge - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

New iPad Only Supports First-Gen Apple Pencil, Requires Adapter to Charge

The new, 10th-generation iPad only supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, meaning that it requires an adapter to charge separately via a wired connection since the device has moved to USB-C.

usb c apple pencil adapter
The new iPad has no magnetic wireless charger on the side to connect to the second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌. Only the first-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ is supported by the device, which normally needs to be plugged into a Lightning port to charge. The ‌iPad‌ now has a USB-C port, meaning that the ‌Apple Pencil‌ can no longer be charged directly via the ‌iPad‌.

Entry-level ‌iPad‌ users who want to use the ‌Apple Pencil‌ will need to charge the accessory using a USB-C cable and a separate adapter. The smallprint on Apple's 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ press release states:

Apple Pencil (1st generation) is compatible with the new iPad. A new USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter is required for pairing and charging and is included in the box with a new version of Apple Pencil (1st generation) for $99 (US).

For existing owners of Apple Pencil (1st generation), the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter is sold separately for $9 (US).

The first-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ came with a female to female Lightning adapter allowing it to be charged separately, but now Apple is offering a new variant of the accessory called the "USB-C to ‌Apple Pencil‌ Adapter" that enables ‌Apple Pencil‌ users to charge. The adapter is available separately at a price of $9 for existing ‌Apple Pencil‌ users, while new ‌Apple Pencil‌ units include the adapter in the box.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forums: iPad, iPad Accessories

Popular Stories

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...
Apple Logo Sketch Feature

Apple Has Now Unveiled Eight New Products This Month

Tuesday March 17, 2026 9:25 am PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping eight 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, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, and now the AirPods Max 2 this week. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's...
ios 26 4 yellow

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4

Wednesday March 18, 2026 11:56 am PDT by
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update. Apple Music - Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your...

Top Rated Comments

asdex Avatar
45 months ago
This is beyond ridiculous 🤦‍♂️
Score: 110 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Expos of 1969 Avatar
45 months ago
Tim.....Retire and get out of here. You have no clue.
Score: 76 Votes (Like | Disagree)
45 months ago
Sorry but what a bad move. Should have been 2nd gen pencil given the price increase. That and the price made me pass on this for an air instead. Which was their plan all along I suppose?
Score: 75 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiiDSmoker Avatar
45 months ago
WE LOVE TO BE GREEN.
PLEASE BUY THIS NEW ADAPTER
Score: 61 Votes (Like | Disagree)
45 months ago
wow...that's a terrible decision.
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
45 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Entertainment | Politics | Mac | Travel | Ipad