Apple’s 3rd-gen iPad Pro tablets are up for pre-order today for $799 and up. But that’s just the price for the tablet. If you want accessories like the Folio Keyboard and Apple Pencil you’ll have to pay extra… even if you already have an Apple Pencil.

That’s because the new iPad Pro doesn’t support the older Apple Pencil. So if you plan to write or draw on your fancy new tablet, you’re going to have to shell out an extra $129.

I suppose the move shouldn’t be a huge surprise — the original Apple Pencil was designed to be charged by plugging it into the Lightning port on a compatible iPad.

The latest iPad Pro tablets don’t have Lightning ports. They’re the first iOS devices with USB Type-C ports instead. So Apple could have gone with a new Pencil that charged via USB-C or the company could go wireless. Apple chose the second option.

Still, that’s rather inconvenient for folks who already have a perfectly good Apple Pencil and want to upgrade to the latest iPad Pro for its new design, faster processor, and other improvements.

That said, in addition to wireless charging, the newest Apple Pencil does have a few new tricks.

  • It has a matte finish to make it easier to grip.
  • There’s one flat side that lets you place the pencil on the side of an iPad Pro when it’s not in use. It’ll be held in place magnetically.
  • When it’s magnetically docked the pen will charge automatically.
  • You can use a double-tap to switch tools withing apps to do things like alter brush strokes or tools.

The new iPad Pencil is up for pre-order for $129 and ships November 7th. It’s not compatible with any older iPad devices.

Meanwhile the original Apple Pencil is still available for $99. It works with 6th-gen iPads, the iPad Pro 9.7 inch and 10.5 inch tablets, and the 1st-gen and 2nd-gen 12.9 inch iPads.

Apple’s new Folio Keyboards for the 3rd-gen iPad Pro tablets sell for $179 and up and features an updated design that protects both the front and back of an iPad Pro and lets you stand up the tablet at one of two different angles.

That’s $20 more than the price for the older Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro 10.5.

 

 

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9 replies on “Upgrading is expensive: Old Apple Pencil doesn’t work with new iPad Pro”

  1. The old Apple Pencil charging by sticking out from the port just looked like something ready to break. I’m glad they made this change, but it should have been designed this way from the start.

  2. I don’t get it.
    Surely they work on each other’s tablets, its just the charging that’s different… right?

    I mean, if you have an older Apple Pencil you can just charge it with a Lighting cable and an adapter.
    Or has Apple software-locked it so that they don’t even pair?

    1. Pairing? Wacom and N-trig active pens don’t require pairing on compatible devices, they just work. Does apples magic pen have any additional benefits over these systems that requires pairing?

      I doubt it, Apples track record suggests otherwise.

      1. That’s why I asked, it’s possible they’re using a Bluetooth connection. I don’t have one.

        Still weird tho

  3. Planned obsolescence. This is going to be a hot keyword phrase in the very near future. There is only one entity that can keep corporations in line. Consumers in general are too ignorant on the subject or have enough spare cash to throw around without care. It’s a simple conversation. Justify the reasons for making something obsolete. Create some accountability. Apple provides a lot of commission money to the big brand websites so expecting the media to ruffle feathers just ain’t happening. There is no story here because big sites like CNET would NEVER suggest planned obsolescence is a real “thing”. Oversight required now, but it will still take some time. It’s a shame what the internet is in some ways. I’m hoping for a slow correction and people put credibility above profits.

    1. The flip side of planned obsolescence is planned stagnation. We are living in a day and age when technology progresses very rapidly. There is only so much legacy hardware that can be sustained. Look, I agree that they aren’t doing enough to support older hardware, but we have to accept a certain reality of the nature of exponential progress in tech.

  4. Maximizing profits at the expense of users! Apple shareholders will love it!!!

Comments are closed.