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ryan

What's the best capacitive pen / stylus for iPad?

For a while I've been wanting to pick up a capacitive pen stylus for note-taking / sketching ideas on my iPad, but most seem to have a pretty blunt end (intended to emulate a fingertip, no doubt). I'm looking for something light, perhaps with a tip for finer detail work (and a clip might be nice, I suppose). Any suggestions / experiences with capacitive styluses?
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ryan's pick
mheitke

I have been really happy with the Jot Pro (adonit.net­/product­/jot­-pro/) I bought through their Kickstarter campaign. The fine point helps a ton. I would love to try out their new bluetooth model.

adonit.net/
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ryan's pick
jsnell

Not to self promote, but: www.macworld.com­/article­/1164854­/iphone­_and­_ipad­_s...

Basically, Wacom Bamboo, Hypershield 3-in-1, Cosmonaut, Or Nomad Compose.
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community pick
andrelamelas

The Cosmonaut, by Studio Neat. www.studioneat.com­/products­/cosmonaut
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47 more answers
kevingilmartin

I have a JotPro too, and it's definitely the best one I've used. I use it with Noteshelf and Penultimate, and it works brilliantly - no more notebooks in meetings for me!

It has a very fine tip, almost biro-like with a protective plastic disc to stop it scratching your screen. The pro is also magnetized, so instead of clipping you can just stick it to the side of the iPad's casing and it sticks to the internal magnets that were put in for the smartcovers.

I've also heard good things about the Wacom Bamboo, but I haven't tried it.
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justin

It's not out yet Ryan. But here it is:

www.theverge.com­/2012­/3­/7­/2851562­/blue­-tiger­-ten­-o...

It's a pressure sensitive Bluetooth 4.0 pen. I'm hoping that it will be better or as good as a digitizer common on Windows tablets. The best part is that you can actually rest your hand on the screen. I refuse to use a pen that I can't do that with. AND every pen mentioned here hopes that the software does the job, rather than hardware. No bueno.
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cmason

Well its not the Pogo Sketch stylus. I own it, and never use it any longer. It's tiny, which seems like a good idea until you use it for a while, then it becomes hard to hold. It is too short, which means that it doesn't fit in your hand like a pen or pencil, and you end up using your wrist too much. The tip is a mushy foam that doesn't last a month.

Get one that is meatier and has a rubber tip.

I am considering the Wacom Bamboo Stylus for iPad, the Boxwave or the Amazon Basics Stylus. I have the Amazon in my cart, but still considering. Great timing on this question

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dyu

If you are interested in a stylus with a fine tip for a more precise response then fingertips or the large nibs that most stylus have, I recommend the Jot Classic, Jot Pro, Jot Mini, or Jot Flip from Adonit at adonit.net/. They are made out of metal and they have a little ball at the tip where it fits into a 5mm circular flat plastic transparent disc. You can see through the disc and you basically know where it's writing on your screen.
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atmasphere

it's like you were reading my mind with this question as I've got the same one. I downloaded Paper for iPad today and immediately want a stylus.
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dombarnes

The Bamboo Pen from Wacom is nice. Its the one used in the Paper video. Has a clip, a small soft tip and is quite small. I'm not sure how i feel about these chunky marker-pen style styli. Apart from the Cosmonaut by Studio Neat.
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ikelleigh

I just picked up the Bamboo stylus. Has a good weight and size to it. And you can get it in a variety of colors:

www.amazon.com­/Bamboo­-Stylus­-for­-iPad­-CS100K­/dp­/B0...

Works great with Draw Something (which I'm guessing is what you are going after).
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roessnakhan

I use the Nataal stylus, and it works really well: www.amazon.com­/gp­/product­/B004HNCRNO­/ref­=as­_li­_ss­_...
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bethsteffel

I tested the JotPro and the Wacom Bamboo. I ended up sending the Bamboo back because it felt like drawing/writing with a fat crayon. The JotPro is great because of the control with the small tip, it looks very professional, and I love rolling it across the smart cover of my iPad and watching the magnets snap it in place (no need for a clip).
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groovechicken

You could try DIY, and then you could shape the tip to match your needs:

lifehacker.com­/5480040­/make­-a­-diy­-touchscreen­-styl...

Plus, this carries way more geek cred than a packaged solution. ;)
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woodworkerman

Go with the Jot Pro. It is a great device and allows fine resolution drawing.
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mahshahrnet

go to site: graphicssoft.about.com­/od­/iphoneandipodtouchapps­/s...
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Ski7

You should check out the TruGlide stylus from lynktec.com! It has a really cool (and unique) microfiber tip instead of the more commonly found rubber tip. It kind of looks like steel wool, but it feels very soft and works very efficiently! The stylus itself is lightweight, and in my opinion the tip is the perfect size! Not too big, and not too small. Oh, and it has a clip! Which is something you mentioned you were looking for.

I have tried a lot of different styluses and this one is BY FAR the best! I think it meets all of your criteria, too! You should definitely check it out! I love my TruGlide!
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Egy

I also frequently use my iPad for sketching ideas. I've tried numerous styli and like the Möbius Pro by www.v23next.com the best. It cost more than most, but it's made from solid aluminum and has a smaller tip than most. It also comes with replacement tips. Being solid aluminum, it feels great to hold.
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ChrisGRiM

I just wanted to let everyone know about a site I came across they have a stylus that they say is very effective with a smaller tip which you can change the Nib out on from a Soft or Firm Nib. (Also Bamboo also now offers Soft or Firm Small Nibs for there Stylus as well) Check out this site I just ordered a few for my employees and myself, I will let you know how it works!

IT HAS A 3MM TIP, SMALLEST ONE I HAVE SEEN!!
www.iclooly.co.kr/
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artgoi

ipen seems pretty good. You need app support to use it though...and I believe there are others like it.

Check it out here: www.cregle.com/
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Jazza

I like the Cosmonaut from Studio Neat, but maybe a bit big for what you are after, but I find it very useful
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martymankins

I use several styluses, mostly the blunt tip variety (4 for under $6 at buy.com makes them easy to have them anywhere)

But for a finer tip, I like the Pogo stylus.

www.styluscentral.com­/shopexd.asp­?id­=263

This model doesn't have a clip, but the tip is more defined for drawing and sketching. Plus it fits very comfortable in your hand. And it's light yet has a solid feel to it.
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aaronaut

I have spent time using neat's cosmonaut, the alupen, the more/real stylus pencap, the whole range of pogo stylii and the jot classic. out of them all I've like the cosmonaut best. My understanding from being a kickatarter investor on the cosmonaut and more/real Is that there is a limit to how small the tip can be before the iPad no longer registers a touch and that that point is what has determined the blunt tip seen on so many existing stylii. Whether that is hardware or software I'm not sure but it means we are far from pixel perfect manipulation on the iPad. Even on the jot, it gives you the impression of a finer point but that disc is there to activate touch recognition. I like tha cosmonaut because there is no cap to loose and it makes me hold my wrist up and away from the screen, preventing accidental touches.
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BIoodBIade

I have the Targus one and it's awesome matches the style of the iPad very well
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skynol

Not a fine tip - but the best one I've used is the Bamboo from Wacom - www.ilounge.com­/index.php­/reviews­/entry­/wacom­-bamb...
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maj8614

I have used several styli on the iPad. My go-to stylus of choice for the past year or so has been the Kensington Virtuoso because it's light, but well-built, has a ballpoint pen on one end, easily fits in my jeans pocket, and has a clip, too. One thing to keep in mind is that the tips wear out rather often if you use the stylus regularly. The rubber and silicone-based tips tend to collect oils and other debris left behind on the screen, leading to more friction and less recognition by the iPad.
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etchedvinyl

Targus Stylus for Apple iPad
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will5

I use the Adonit Jot Pro and likie it quite a bit. No clip, but is magnetic and attaches to my iPad cover. Tip is excellent.

adonit.net­/product­/jot­-pro/
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dcefrance

I purchased quite a few stylus in order to compare. These include the following:
  • Pogo Stylus
  • Pogo Sketch
  • Targus
  • Nomad Play
  • Noma Brush
  • Kensington w/pen
  • Wacom Bamboo
  • Adonit JotPro
I have put them in my list in my order of preference. Although I like the Bamboo for drawing it lacks the precision I like for writing. However the JotPro is just perfect. Excellent look and feel and precision. I think it has actually improved my Draw Something scores!
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connorg

I've heard really good things about the Cosmonaut, and personally I have a Jot Pro and love it. These are the only two I've heard of that are really worth getting.

Basically, if you want precision, get the Jot and if you want fun, quick sketching get the Cosmonaut.
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skyman375

I'm waiting for my Lunatik pen (via Kickstarter); I'm hoping that's the best one...

www.kickstarter.com­/projects­/1104350651­/lunatik­-to...
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tekitsune

I've tried a few, but I'm currently using the Wacom Bamboo Stylus and it's been the best one I've tried so far. It has a good feel and just the right amount of heft. It doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart on you. It's got good, solid construction. I also like the fact that you can replace the tip if it eats itself.

I've been meaning to get my hands on the JotPro too. That looks like the best idea that I've seen for a stylus on the iPad. The fine tip is what I've been looking for in a stylus. Just need to snag one now.
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dLee

similar to atmasphere, wondering if this question coincides with the release of Paper by FiftyThree. I was playing with it last night and was really jonesin' for a stylus. The Verge review mentioned the Blue Tiger, a BT 4.0 stylus that supports pressure sensitivity. Unfortunately that will only work with the latest iPad (3/HD).
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archie4oz

Another vote for the Jot Pro... I've also used the Cosmonaut which isn't bad, and the Bamboo as well. The Bamboo and Cosmonaut are nice for general use since they're padded, however I still prefer the Jot Pro for more "precision" work, and am looking forward to the Jot Touch.
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tobiasg

I have used a friends cosmonaut a bit and every once in awhile I notice a bit of lag - visibly noticeable in skitch and skitch like programs when you place the tip on the pad and begin to draw a line, when the lag happens the line doesn't actually appear until you have moved it an inch or so OR you can let it sit still for a second and it will be fine. Anyone else experience anything similar? This is the only stylus I have tried so can't compare it to any others and I have never been able to recreate the lag with my finger.
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trixxxter750

I really like the Wacom stylus, but I am hopeful this kickstarter project with pressure sensitivity works out..... that would be awesome....
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kenbauer

My Favorite is the Cosmonaut. It was originally a kickstarter product, but you can get it from Studio Neat now www.studioneat.com­/products­/cosmonaut
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wrlee

Since no one has mentioned the Griffin, I'll put in a vote for it. It does have a pencil eraser sized rubber nub, which might be the kind that you say you don't like, but it is durable and smooth. I've tried some super cheap ones that look similar, but the rubber was sticky, so not very usable.
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HiggsBoson

Pogo Sketch Plus or Pogo Sketch Prot
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kongzilla

I like my Bamboo.
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agabot

An Adonit Jot pen would be nice. It's got the finer detail tip you speak of, and it comes in several models, including a Pro pen and a mini pen.
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iHawk

I have the Jot, Bamboo, and HardCandy but until they solve the palm rejection problem you are not going to be happy with any of them.
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tsmyther

Unless the app has some sort of alternate input, a finger is just as good as a stylus. The thickness of the line does nothing to the software. Choosing a line width tells the software how wide to paint the line, and the stylus/finger merely translates that into the image on the screen. You may be able to see your work better, but touching or not touching is an on/off affair, not a gradual one like with a pressure-sensitive tablet for Mac or PC.
There are several projects trying to build pressure-sensitivies into software, but this will be done via flexibility and pressure on the nib, not from the size.
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mgetzski

If you choose to go with the Cosmonaut, use the code 5by5 when checking out to receive a $5 discount.
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geekosupremo

I realize I'm late to this game. That said the More/Real Stylus Cap is still worth a look. It makes your ordinary pen a stylus! Double prizes!
more­-real.com/
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eboyhan

The nature of the capacitive technology is that it is impossible to get a stylus with a sharp point. The narrowest I have come across with a decent length is the Pogo sketch (which is not to be confused with the Pogo stylus which is equally narrow, but is on the short side). The Pogo is adequate for selecting text on small virtual keyboards, or selecting icons, etc on small displays. It is not adequate for drawing or cursive writing. AFAIK there is no capacitive stylus that will do a good job for drawing or cursive writing.
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mikepalmer

I bought a draw something stylus. It says its for the game draw something but it works for everything really. I use it on my ipad and my iphone. It works really well and does not scratch the screen at all. It has a soft tip. www.amazon.com­/Draw­-something­-cheat­-stylus­-works­/d... is where I bought it from. I don't know why it says draw something cheat. It is a good product though and it has free shipping. Can't complain for 10 bones. I use it to draw all the time and it is accurate.
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HANZg

I bought 3 different types of styli - a targa, a bamboo and a unknown cheap -- they roughly have all the same features -- The weight is the biggest issue for me. I also found that the APP performance is more unreliable than the stylus. These guys just released a kids stylus - that at least has some fun nostalgia . www.no2stylus.com I guess we will try these.. can't have too many.. at least in my house. :)
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danyell

If sketching is what your interested you should check out the Mobius Pro Stylus sold at Amazon. This is by far the most comfortable and ergonomically pleasing stylus I have found. It glides smoothly with virtually no drag with extremely accurate response.
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roger5

Here's a great stylus review by artists that create comic illustrations on the iPad.

#1 - v23next - Mobius Pro
#2 - Wacom Bambo Pocket
#3 - Just Mobile - AluPen

masterdigitalcolor.com­/2012­/12­/which­-stylus­-should...
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ams53087

My favorite is the TruGlide Stylus. It has a soft microfiber tip instead of the standard rubber tips you tend to see that really don't work that well for writing and drawing. They tend to skip, especially when writing quickly, but the TruGlide doesn't do that at all - it really glides and is very accurate, even with my screen protector! I will never use another stylus after getting the TruGlide. It's amazing!
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