The Best iPad to Buy (and What to Avoid) in 2026: Air, Pro, Mini

The Apple Pencil is a must-have for any iPad owner who takes a lot of notes or likes to draw. (You can even use it to sign documents.) iPadOS also supports handwriting in certain search fields and apps (like Notes), so you don’t need to switch to the keyboard every time you want to type. Apple debuted a new Pencil in 2024, so you now have four options to choose from, depending on the iPad you have. Here are the key differences:

Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $79: The USB-C Apple Pencil is a bit perplexing. It launched in 2023 to support the switch to USB-C across iPads, but it lacks some features. It doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity, so it’s better suited for note-takers than artists.