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I have an iPad Air 2, but that model isn't on either of the Apple Pencil compatibility lists. Does that mean I cannot use an Apple Pencil with an iPad Air 2, or is it just not on the list for some reason?
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi
The iPad Air 2 is not compatible with Apple Pencils. It precedes the Pencil's release by several years.
You can use some 3rd party styluses with it however. Adonit is a highly recommended maker of stylii for iPads, even for those that don't support the Apple Pencils.
See here:
No Pencils work with any old/er 6-10-year old iPad models, as well as the 2017, iPad 5th generation.
That includes your nearly 7-year old 2014 iPad Air 2, vtw.
These old/er iPad models lack the crucial and necessary internal screen hardware layer needed for an Pencil to be recognised by an iPad's screen and to properly function/interact with an iPad’s screen.
If you are looking similar Pencil functionality, the ONLY third party, smart Bluetooth stylus that I can, honestly, recommend that actually works well with any older iPad, that is NOT compatible with any Pencils, is the Adonit smart Bluetooth stylus.
https://www.adonit.net/jot/pixel/
This smart, Bluetooth stylus works across a wide range of iOS devices.
The Bluetooth connection is stable and its Bluetooth pressure sensing technology is very smooth, natural feeling and has consistent line drawing ability.
Plus it's a quality made, aluminum stylus with two programmable buttons.
I had been using this stylus for well over 3 years now and it is/was really good on my iPad Pro.
This stylus worked wonderfully for me with all compatible apps.
The Adonit Pixel works with iPads all the way back to the 2012, 1st gen iPad Mini and iPad 4th generation!
Has ON/OFF/app shortcut buttons.
Has a nice fine, textured pen tip AND a nice rubber grip.
Magnetically charges on its own magnetic charging adapterand has an auto 15 minute shutdown feature ( to preserve battery life ), charges in a hour, or so.
Has both a small USB charger that that plugs into any USB charging block OR you can purchase an optional charging dock.
I find it only lasts for anywhere between 9-12 hours, but Adonit claims up to 16 hours of continuous use on a single charge cycle.
Made of very high quality aluminum materials.
The Adonit Pixel ONLY works with approx. 24 of the major/popular drawing/sketching/painting apps (the Pixel works with, but currently no longer “officially” supported with Procreate, but it still works and works pretty well in Procreate ), and approx. half dozen of the popular note taking apps, a half dozen writing apps and about a half dozen PDF style/compatible apps.
You WILL have to perform some pairing and setup parameters in each of the Adonit Pixel compatible apps.
You just DO NOT simply turn on Bluetooth on an iDevice and turn on the Adonit stylus and start writing.
The Adonit Pixel stylus is NOT an Pencil in this regard/respect.
You have to initially Bluetooth pair the Adonit Pixel, setup the hand/palm position and in many apps, set up the stylus screen pressure sensitivity for each and every compatible app!
Once you have, initially, done all of this, all Adonit Pixel compatible apps will remember these settings for future use!
Some Adonit Pixel users claimed their stylus doesn’t work, but it does work well IF you properly know how to set up the Adonit Pixel!
If interested, to make sure you get the latest installed stylus firmware, you must order the Adonit Pixel stylus directly from the Adonit website, when possible and available.
This stylus has just become available, once again, after about year of absence from availability from Adonit.
So, get this stylus while it is in stock and while supplies last.
Here’s my “up to date”, comprehensive, but still incomplete, list of Adonit Pixel compatible apps for the iPad/iPad Pro.
MOST apps listed support both screen pressure sensing and palm rejection, unless otherwise noted
Compatible Adonit Pixel apps for drawing
Animation Desk
Amaziograph
Adobe Photoshop Sketch ( palm rejection ONLY, with NO screen pressure sensing/line width variations with older iPad Pro models. Palm and screen pressure sensing/variable line width drawing and writing with all other non-Apple Pencil compatible iPad models.
A great app with a lot of free brushes without having to pay monthly to subscribe )
Get this app before Adobe discontinues it from the iOS App Store by July, 19, 2021!
Adobe Draw
ArtRage
Art Studio Pro ( fully supports the Adonit Pixel and is just as great as Procreate on the iPad )
AutoDesk SketchBook
Colored Pencil
Comic Draw
Concepts
Forge ( drawing/sketching/concept/ideation app )
Interactive SketchBook
Medibang Paint
Procreate
(Adonit Pixel has been supported as an “unsupported stylus”, for some time now, but all Adonit Pixel stylus features still work as they should in Procreate, palm rejection IS improved using special, non-body electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove )
Tayasui Sketches/Sketches Pro ( Full support for the Adonit Pixel )
Tayasui Sketches School ( FREE! )
( this new, free version works with this stylus, but without any palm rejection or pressure sensing, so you need to use a special, non-body electrical conducting drawing glove with the Sketches School version to lay your hand/palm down on the iPad’s screen while writing or drawing )
Vectornator
Zen Brush 2
Compatible Adonit Pixel apps for Notes and Notes with drawing types of apps.
GoodNotes
INKredible
Note Shelf 2
Notes Writer ( palm rejection improved using special, non-electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove )
QuickNotes X Pro ( palm rejection ONLY. No pressure sensing for light/dark or thin/thick lines )
uPad
Zoom Notes
PDF Pen
This is pretty much it for Adonit Pixel compatible note-taking apps.
This stylus works with other non-compatible apps, too, but without any palm rejection and/or pressure features.
You can use this stylus with other apps but will not be able to lay your palm on the screen, while you write or draw, unless you use special, non-body electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove that works by isolating your hand/palm and allow you to lay your hand/palm on the screen as you draw in these non-compatible Adonit stylus apps.
Something like these found on Amazon.
Many more makers of these types of gloves found on Amazon and in different hand sizes, as well!
Best of Luck to You!
Well,
Let me tell YOU a little something, then.
I have NO idea why?
Again, if users had no clue how to properly set it up and use this stylus, I am not responsible for that.
As I already explained in my reply.
I own 3 of these and the two I used regularly worked just fine.
I fully outlined how this stylus is supposed to work and how to get it properly setup AND I listed all of that stylus’ compatible apps to be used with a through explanation of its capabilities and what to expect using this stylus in these stylus comaptible apps.
Using a thick drawing glove makes the experience with the Adonit Pixel a much better experience, as well.
Why other purchaser could not get theirs to work properly is beyond me.
Adonit has been making this particular stylus for many years!
Follow all of my steps and directions and use all of the compatible apps and this stylus should just work fine.
in addition, as an FYI, do NOT use this stylus with any matte screen protectors.
The tip of the Adonit Pixel is a soft mesh tip that will NOT stand up to the increased friction caused from a matte screen protector.
Give this one a fair shot before knocking It! This stylus should work fine.
I have used one of these with my nearly 6-year old iPad Pro for nearly 4 years before I switched to the Pencil when iPadOS 14 more fully integrated the Pencil to be able to be more useful with iPadOS 14.
That is correct. The iPad Air 2 does not support either of the Apple Pencils. Support for the iPad Air did not start until the 3rd Generation.
Let me tell you, that stylus has the worse reviews in Amazon.
Can I use the Apple Pencil with my iPad Air 2?
