How long does an apple pencil last

One of the most interesting contemporary debates is on the following question: when to replace the Apple Pencil tip? It has puzzled people since the Apple Pencil came out in 2015. In the last 7 years, a lot of data has been gathered, and we at PenTips have reached a conclusion. 

If you’ve ever wondered, “when should I replace my Apple Pencil tip?”, here’s the answer. Search no more. 

In many cases you can use your eyes to figure out if it is time to change the tip. The Apple Pencil comes out of the box smooth, but after a while you might see some wear on it. The surface will look a bit jagged, and in the worst cases you might even see the metal underneath the otherwise smooth surface. 

In these cases, it is time to switch out your Apple Pencil tip for a new one. If not, you might damage your iPad’s display. 

Sometimes you might feel as if the Apple Pencil does not glide over the screen as smooth as it once did. You might also notice the iPad doesn’t respond to your input as you would expect. These are signals that the Apple Pencil tip is worn out, and needs replacing. 

Once every two years is a good rule of thumb. Replacing the Apple Pencil tip at this interval will be smart for most users. Perhaps if you use your pencil very much, you should consider doing it more often. Also, if you only use the Pencil to take the occasional screenshot, perhaps after two years the tip is still top. 

Now that we know when, the “how” becomes the important question. Luckily this is a lot easier to answer. All you need to do is unscrew the old tip and screw on the new one. And remember, Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosey!

You want to take care of your Apple Pencil Tip, because they do not come very cheap. Also, Apple stopped providing a replacement tip in the box. Obviously, don’t drop it. It might have horrible consequences. Another way to prevent wear is using PenTips. This way, the Apple Pencil Tip is protected, and it will keep the tip in good condition for longer. 

Follow what your eyes or your senses tell you, and keep two years as a rough guideline. If you do that, you will be fine. Also, you can protect your Apple Pencil tip by putting a PenTip on top of it.  

Owners of the second-generation Apple Pencil have it easy. To check the battery, magnetically attach the Apple Pencil to the side of your iPad. A pop-up notification indicating battery status will appear at the top of the iPad's display once the second-generation Apple Pencil is attached.

The status only appears briefly, though, and doesn't help owners of the first-generation Apple Pencil. If you want to check the battery on the first generation or check the second generation's battery while it's detached, you'll need to use the Battery widget.

This method requires iPadOS 13 or newer.

1. Swipe right from the Home screen to open Today View.

2. Scroll to the bottom of Today View and tap the Edit button.

3. Tap the + button at the top of Today View.

4. A menu with a selection of widgets will appear. Find and tap the Batteries widget.

5. The next menu will give you several options for the widget. Choose the one you'd like to use and then tap Add Widget.

6. The widget will now appear in Today View. You can reference it whenever you want to check your Apple Pencil's battery.

On iPadOS, widgets that appear at the top of Today View will also appear on the Home Screen when an iPad is used in landscape orientation. You can keep a (nearly) constant eye on your Apple Pencil's battery by moving the Batteries widget to the top of Today View.

Is There a Battery in the Apple Pencil?

Yes, there is a battery in the Apple Pencil. To be more specific, the Apple Pencil has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It's no different from your phone or laptop, but much smaller.

This is a bit different from the Apple Pencil's competitors, like the Microsoft Surface Pen. Many have a replaceable, disposable battery, such as a AAAA battery or a watch battery. These disposable batteries last longer than the Apple Pencil's built-in battery (for several months up to a year), but replacing them can be a hassle.

It's not possible to replace the Apple Pencil's battery. The Pencil must be replaced if the battery fails.

FAQ

• How long does the Apple Pencil battery last?

  A fully charged Apple Pencil should last you about 12 hours. If your battery is dead, charging for about 15 seconds can get you around 30 minutes of use. While there's no official word on exactly how long an Apple Pencil lasts before it completely drains, you can probably get at least a few years out of it as long as you take care of the battery (keep it charged and don't let it go unused for very long periods of time).

• How do you pair the Apple Pencil with an iPad?

  First, connect the Pencil to your iPad using the magnetic connector (2nd Generation) or the Lightning connector (1st Generation). A Pair button should pop up. Tap on it. If the Pencil won't pair this way, go into Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Tap on the Pencil, then tap the info button > Forget. Connect your Pencil to the iPad again and tap on the Pair button.

• Which iPads work with the Apple Pencil?

  The 2nd Generation Apple Pencil is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation), the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), and the iPad Air (4th generation). The 1st Generation Apple Pencil is compatible with the iPad (6th, 7th, and 8th generation), the iPad Air (3rd generation), the iPad mini (5th generation), the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation), the iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch.

  How many years can Apple Pencil last?

  Once every two years is a good rule of thumb. Replacing the Apple Pencil tip at this interval will be smart for most users. Perhaps if you use your pencil very much, you should consider doing it more often.

  How often should you replace Apple Pencil?

  The life of an Apple Pencil tip depends on your usage and how well you maintain it. If you are a heavy user, you should replace the tip within 6 months. On the other hand, if you don't use the Pencil often, it will last you more than a year without any replacement.

  Do Apple pencils wear out?

  There's no set amount of time that it takes to wear out an Apple Pencil. If you barely ever use your Pencil, the tip might last for years; if you're a Procreate whiz who draws every day, it might not make it six months. But in general, the average Apple Pencil user should replace the tip at least once every two years.

  How long do apple pencils last before breaking?

  The pencil should last several years if you're careful with it. The two ways it will fail are physical damage and eventual consumption of the batteries. One way you won't get long life out of a pencil is if you don't use it and keep it charged monthly.