Getting your Apple Pencil linked with your iPad is easy, as long as they're compatible.
By Roger Fingas Nov. 7, 2026 3:00 pm EST Apple Add Engadget on Google: Google DiscoverWe may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Contrary to the impression Apple gives, you don't need an Apple Pencil to use an iPad. As input accessories go, you're probably better off picking up a keyboard and mouse for your iPad first. But with a giant touchscreen, illustration and handwritten notes are obvious selling points, and you need some sort of stylus to make that work. The company is naturally going to upsell you on its own accessories, regardless of whether cheaper alternatives might get the job done.
