Apple Pencil friction optimisation with silicone rubber nibs

I have been looking for improved tip to surface friction for the Apple stylus "pencil" for a while now and despite all the screen protectors like the "paperlike" I had to try these originally unsatisfying silicone-rubber nibs. Interestingly enough hey ove not provided by the system's mmanufacturer, but only third parties.

Actually I have been wondering why they come in packs of ten to forty, especially after slipping them over the pencil's tip they only provide a soft and spongy response.

Honestly, only comment of another user on this site unveiled how to use them correctly. Funnily haven’t found out the proper use as well. Nonetheless, the user stated that a stretched rubber band hard by driving the tip through the rubber-film that was fixed by tape did the trick, looking ugly, but giving a good writing experience. This didn’t seem to be the right solution for me, but some weeks later, when re-reading the comment again with one of the spongy, unsatisfying nibs on my pencil’s tip, I found out that I have been using them wrong all along!

These silicone-rubber nibs have to be pushed hard, together with some rotation into the pencil’s tip!

The intensity of the force applied here will allow the user to control the tip’s friction and “freeze” it until the nib is actively removed and reapplied. Simply slipping them on is only the setting they are advertised for (silent writing), but in fact, pushing them on is what the user desires.

As side note, tilting the pen now also improves the drag, which somehow resembles the behaviour of a original graphite pencil. Please note that one still has to choose between “completely silent” operation with high friction and only slightly reduced contact noise with reduced friction.

I still wonder why no one advertises this fact and Apple does not recommend these upgrades, or replacement tips made from different materials, but hey - using these cheap nibs correctly really changed the writing experience drastically - to the better!

Enjoy!