Skip the Apple Pencil and Get This Under-$35 Option Instead
Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.
Photo: Jordan McMahon
I've been using an Apple Pencil with my iPad Pro since 2018, mostly to draw illustrations for my newsletter and occasionally to mark up a PDF or two. I replaced it with the Pencil Pro last year to take advantage of the latter's wireless charging, pressure sensitivity, and low latency — all of which make it an excellent tool for lifelike pen strokes. But even the $79 Apple Pencil (much less the $129 Pencil Pro) is too expensive for anyone who just needs something to write notes with. I haven't always had a good alternative recommendation for those folks, but that's changed now that I've spent some time with ESR's Geo Digital Pencil. It costs $35 or less, looks and feels similar to the Pencil, has Find My built right in, and even has a useful Home button — something you won't find on any Apple Pencil.
ESR Geo Digital Pencil
On first glance, you could easily confuse the Geo for Apple's Pencils — they look almost identical — and like Apple's styluses it attaches to the side of an iPad. But overall, the Geo has more in common with the regular Apple Pencil. For instance, you have to charge it over USB-C instead of magnetically like the Pencil Pro (charging only takes about 20 minutes, though). The Geo is barely noticeable in the hand, while the Pencil has a more satisfying heft that feels more like a nice pen. That said, those with mobility issues or anyone who uses a stylus for extended periods may prefer the ESR's lighter weight.
Photo: Jordan McMahon
The ESR feels noticeably different to use with the iPad as well. You get about the same amount of friction as you do with the Pencil when writing, but because the Geo lacks pressure and tilt sensitivity (built into all Apple Pencils aside from the budget USB-C version, which only senses tilt), the lines you draw won't vary in width or pigmentation based on the position of your stylus. And while neither the regular Pencil nor the Geo support gestures like the Pro, the Geo does have a button at the top that takes you back to the home screen with one tap, and opens iPadOS's multitasking view with two taps. That's especially handy if you switch apps a lot while you work and is something you can't do with Apple's own styluses.
Although the Geo has more in common overall with the standard Pencil, it does have one feature that Apple reserved for the Pro version: support for Apple's Find My service. You have to manually add the Geo in the Find My app, but only once, and it takes just a few minutes. After that, you can see its location on a map, and even play a sound using the built-in speaker. And if you want someone to be able to contact you if they find your pen, you can have it show others your contact info in their Find My app.
For those who want to do full-blown illustration work on their iPads, I still recommend the Apple Pencil Pro. But at $129, it's quite expensive, and the regular Apple Pencil isn't much cheaper at $79. If all you need is something to take handwritten notes for classes or meetings, the Geo Digital covers all the basics, and it doesn't feel like quite as big a deal if you lose it.
Other iPad accessories we recommend
Apple Magic Keyboard
Logitech MX Master 4
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
