Inconsistent friction on 2021 iPad Pro using Apple Pencil

As it turns out, cleaning the screen largely resolved the issue. I can only assume the friction I was feeling everywhere was a direct result of the plastic that the iPad was wrapped in out of the box, and that it left enough residue to interfere with the pencil itself.

After using a suitable cleaning cloth, I noticed an immediate improvement. I then used a drawing app to pinpoint and mark the other areas of significant friction / resistance on the screen and then focused on those spots with the cleaning cloth. Again, an immediate and noticeable improvement. It's not perfect yet, but it's much, much better.

Thankfully, all of this happened minutes before I received a call back from Apple to initiate a replacement.

I appreciate your reply...I couldn't imagine I was the only case with the new models, but I'm sorry for your experience.

Before you return it your current one, try using an Apple-approved / appropriate cleaning cloth. It took some effort, but I was able to remove 99% of the (impossible-to-see) friction spots. In fact, I just found a few more yesterday and had to repeat the process, and was successful. I suspect it's residue from the adhesive plastic covering, but I could be wrong. The important part is that my screen is MUCH better as a result.

That said, it's crazy that that's the out-of-box experience for such a premium product. Hopefully cleaning the screen w/ a cloth can resolve it for you...

Thank you for the reply. :)

I am not using, nor have I ever used, a screen protector. I have also never cleaned the screen with anything, as it was just purchased earlier this month. I haven’t as much as wiped a fingerprint off of it yet…it was like this from the moment I took it out of the box.

Having ruled out the pencil by switching tips, using a different pencil, etc, my best guess is that it’s the coating of the screen itself somehow.

I’ve opened a case with a senior advisor.