Mobile Phones & Tablets
Apple Pencil Pro Review: The Squeeze Gesture Actually Changes How You Use an iPad
- Brand:
- Apple
- Ages:
- 13+ years
- Updated:
- 2026-07-29
The verdict
The Apple Pencil Pro's headline features — squeeze, barrel roll, haptics — sound like gimmicks on paper but genuinely change the workflow for anyone who draws or sketches regularly on an iPad. For note-taking alone, the improvements are nice-to-have rather than essential.
Pros
- Squeeze gesture brings up a tool palette instantly, cutting down on trips to the toolbar mid-drawing or mid-note
- New gyroscope enables barrel roll for shaped brushes and pens, giving real pressure and angle control artists notice immediately
- Haptic feedback confirms gestures with a light pulse, making the Pencil feel more like a responsive tool than a passive stylus
- Attaches magnetically for pairing, storage, and wireless charging — no separate cable or charging case to lose
- Find My integration means a misplaced Pencil can actually be located, unlike most third-party styluses
Cons
- At $129, it costs as much as the previous-generation Pencil despite the added features, and it's a real added expense on top of an already pricey iPad
- Only works with specific recent iPad models (iPad Pro M4/M5, iPad Air M2/M3/M4, and iPad mini A17 Pro) — it won't pair with older iPads
- The barrel roll and squeeze features are most valuable to artists and illustrators; casual note-takers may not notice much difference from the older Pencil
This review is based on Apple's published specifications for the Apple Pencil Pro and the consistent patterns across independent creative-app testing and artist feedback since its May 2024 launch.
Squeeze and barrel roll are more than marketing features
The squeeze gesture for pulling up a tool palette sounds minor until you're mid-drawing and don't want to break focus to tap a toolbar — it genuinely speeds up creative workflows in apps that support it. The barrel roll, enabled by a new gyroscope, lets shaped brush and pen tools respond to how you naturally rotate a pencil in your hand, which illustrators in particular have praised.
A real cost on top of an already expensive iPad
At $129, the Pencil Pro doesn't come cheap, and it's compatible with only the newest iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini models — anyone with an older iPad will need the second-generation Pencil instead, if their model supports it at all. Check compatibility carefully before buying.
Who it's for
Best for artists, illustrators, and anyone doing serious creative work on a compatible recent iPad who will actually use the squeeze and barrel roll gestures. Skip it if you mainly take basic notes — the functional gap versus the older, sometimes cheaper Apple Pencil is smaller there.
Frequently asked
- Which iPads work with the Apple Pencil Pro?
- It's compatible with the iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch (M4 and M5), iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch (M2, M3, and M4), and the iPad mini (A17 Pro). It does not work with older iPad models.
- What does the squeeze gesture actually do?
- Squeezing the Pencil brings up a floating tool palette in supported apps, letting you quickly switch tools, colors, or line weights without reaching for an on-screen toolbar.
- Does the Apple Pencil Pro need to be charged separately?
- No, it pairs and charges wirelessly by attaching magnetically to the side of a compatible iPad — there's no cable or separate charging case involved.
- Is the Apple Pencil Pro worth buying?
- Yes, if you draw, sketch, or do detailed creative work on a compatible recent iPad — the squeeze and barrel roll features genuinely improve the workflow. It's a harder sell for buyers who only take basic notes and don't need the extra gestures.
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