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iPad Air (5th) + Apple pen (1st) compatible?

Does the iPad Air 5th generation work with the Apple pen 1?

Posted on Sep 15, 2022 4:51 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 16, 2022 3:22 AM

No. The first and second generation Pencil use an entirely different pairing and charging interface. 


The first generation Apple Pencil uses the physical Lightning port of the Pencil and host iPad for both pairing and charging the first generation Pencil. The first generation Pencil can also be charged using an inline charging adapter and the iPad’s Power Adapter. This pencil can only be used with compatible iPad models that have a Lightning connector; recent models of iPad that feature a USB-C port, such as the iPad Air5, lack any means by which to pair with a first generation Pencil.


The second generation Pencil can similarly only be used with iPad models that have the magnetic/inductive dock that is exclusively designed for the Pencil. Charging an pairing is controlled via the iPad magnetic dock.


In summary, the Apple Pencil models are not interchangeable - and can only be used with the iPad that has appropriate internal hardware.


Here is the definitive compatibility list for Apple Pencil and iPad:

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 16, 2022 3:22 AM in response to Sows360

No. The first and second generation Pencil use an entirely different pairing and charging interface. 


The first generation Apple Pencil uses the physical Lightning port of the Pencil and host iPad for both pairing and charging the first generation Pencil. The first generation Pencil can also be charged using an inline charging adapter and the iPad’s Power Adapter. This pencil can only be used with compatible iPad models that have a Lightning connector; recent models of iPad that feature a USB-C port, such as the iPad Air5, lack any means by which to pair with a first generation Pencil.


The second generation Pencil can similarly only be used with iPad models that have the magnetic/inductive dock that is exclusively designed for the Pencil. Charging an pairing is controlled via the iPad magnetic dock.


In summary, the Apple Pencil models are not interchangeable - and can only be used with the iPad that has appropriate internal hardware.


Here is the definitive compatibility list for Apple Pencil and iPad:

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support

iPad Air (5th) + Apple pen (1st) compatible?

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