Rumor has it that Apple Pencil 3 could make it easier than ever to draw on iPads
Apple could unveil a new and improved Apple Pencil, equipped with a brand new ‘pinch’ gesture, offering extra control without taking your hand off the pencil.
According to 9to5Mac, there are references to a new gesture called ‘squeeze’ in the code for iPadOS 17.5 beta, which was recently released to developers. This gesture appears to be used to add shapes, signatures, stickers, or a text field, saving time for those taking notes or quickly annotating a sketch or document.
It is unlikely that these pinch gestures refer to the Apple pencil 2, because it only has pressure sensors on the tip and not on the surface of the stylus. This suggests that the gesture is for an unannounced Apple Pencil 3 that could appear alongside some new ones Rumor has it that iPads will be launched in May.
Other indicators of a possible new model include mention that the Apple Pencil is supported by the Find my app, as current Apple Pencils cannot be tracked through this app. This feature lets you track the Pencil just like you can track AirPods and AirTags, which is useful for something as easily lost as a pen.
Another possible indication that a new Apple Pencil is on the way is that iPadOS 17.4 added an updated version of the PencilKit API, which developers use to make apps compatible with the Apple Pencil. However, the exact new features are unknown.
The Apple Pencil 3 will likely feature the return of pressure sensitivity, which was missing from the more scaled-down Pencil released in October 2023. This feature allows you to change the thickness of your movements depending on how hard you press on the screen and is invaluable for digital artists.
Tipster Majin Bu posted on X that the Apple Pencil 3 will come with interchangeable magnetic tips to support drawing, technical drawing and professionals such as digital artists and photo editors. While the most extreme rumor is out MacRumors claims that the Apple Pencil 3 is the Apple VisionPro and allows you to use your environment as a canvas instead of touching a tablet screen and even still use pressure sensitivity.
Based on what my source reported, the new Apple Pencil 3 will come with interchangeable magnetic tips (for drawing, technical drawing and painting) pic.twitter.com/AXUdpbZFVhSeptember 30, 2023
The potential price is currently unknown, but is expected to be similar to the Pencil 2, around £139 / $129 / AU$199. Hopefully Apple will opt for some color variations this time around rather than just offering a white option as we would like to see black, silver or gold options or some other color.
The original Apple Pencil was released on November 11, 2015, while the second generation Pencil was released on November 7, 2018. On October 17, 2023, Apple launched an entry-level Pencil for iPads with USB-C.
However, we may not have to wait until November for the Apple Pencil 3. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the next generation of iPads is expected in early May, and that the Apple Pencil 3 will likely launch alongside a new iPad Pro.