Accessory maker ESR this week introduced the Geo Digital Pencil, a low-cost Apple Pencil alternative that has support for Apple's Find My functionality.
Priced at $30, the Geo Digital Pencil connects to an iPad with Bluetooth, and it supports writing, drawing, sketching, and more much like the Apple Pencil. The Geo Digital Pencil connects to an iPad using a magnetic attachment to keep it from being lost, but charging is done using a USB-C charger.
Supported features include tilt sensitivity and shortcuts, but pressure sensitivity, Apple Pencil hover, and other Apple Pencil exclusive features are not available.
Find My integration allows the Geo Digital Pencil to be located using the Items tab in the Find My app on any Apple device, with options for playing a sound, marking an item as lost, and seeing the last known location of the pencil when Bluetooth is unavailable.
ESR says the Geo Digital Pencil is compatible with all 11-inch iPad Pro models, the third-generation iPad Air and later, the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and later, the iPad mini 5 and later, and the iPad 6 and later. It is available for purchase from Amazon, and it is priced at $30.
ESR has also introduced a case designed for the iPhone 16 models with Camera Control button and the MagMouse, a mouse with a built-in USB-C cable that can attach magnetically to an iPad or Mac for storage purposes.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
Looks like the Goojodoq GD14 that’s been available for a while.
Correction: ESR launches a stylus that looks like an Apple Pencil but does almost nothing the Apple Pencil can do.
It does most of the things the Apple Pencil does. Save for the pressure sensitivity - though that’s overrated to not really useful for mere note-taking.
Digital artists should get the Pencil Pro (if compatible). Most other people will be well-served with a good-enough third-party Pencil at a fraction of Apple‘s price.
Plus, they won‘t be subject to Apple‘s whims on making their accessories with future iPad generations. Prepare to write off your Magic Keyboards and Pencils once Apple yet again changes a few magnets.
God people here are insane and love giving Apple their money.
If you want an Apple Pencil Pro, this is obviously not for you. But it is very comparable to an Apple usb-c pencil (better even) while being significantly less expensive. It’s a good option for a lot of people who are very casual (or occasional) pencil users.
Im using a $12 3rd party pencil right now. The first one I got didn’t write well on my iPad mini 7 without skipping but the second one works like a charm and feels exactly like my old Apple Pencil 1. I don’t think anyone should be buying the usb-c Apple Pencil. Get the Apple Pencil pro if you care about all the fancy features, or get a 3rd party pencil like this one by ESR which is probably going to be slightly nicer than the cheaper one I got.
