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The SonarPen 2 is an affordable wired Apple Pencil-alternative stylus

The SonarPen 2 works with 2018 iPads and newer. (Image source: SonarPen)
The SonarPen 2 works with 2018 iPads and newer. (Image source: SonarPen)
The SonarPen 2 stands apart from other Apple Pencil alternatives with its interesting design. It also offers premium features at a fraction of the price of Apple's own stylus.

Other than the Apple Pencil, there are a multitude of styluses available for Apple's iPads that come in a variety of designs, sizes, and price. Among the unique ones is the SonarPen 2, a stylus that not only packs a lot of features but also balances it with an interesting design and a super affordable price tag.

The SonarPen 2 is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter but is still a long way from reaching its goal of $25,698. Nevertheless, the stylus is touted as the most affordable iPad Pen with pro features. Sporting a white design (there'll be a black variant if it reaches $100,000) with a replaceable pointy nib, it has support for pressure sensitivity (selected apps), palm rejection, hover support on the iPad Pro, and tilt angle detection.

Unlike a lot of styluses including the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) that need to be paired to the iPad, the SonarPen 2 requires no pairing. It also doesn't need to be charged as it lacks a battery. Instead, it connects to a compatible iPad via the USB-C cable attached to its top. When connected, the SonarPen 2 works just like an Apple Pencil.

The SonarPen 2 is fully compatible with some apps. (Image source: SonarPen)
The SonarPen 2 is fully compatible with some apps. (Image source: SonarPen)

The stylus is compatible with 2018 iPad models and newer. While some of these iPads don't have a USB-C port, there's a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter that will be sold separately. The SonarPen 2 also has built-in cable management, so users can safely store it.

The SonarPen 2 is also pretty cheap. Early backers can score one for as low as $31.5 which gets them the stylus and a free nib set (three extra nibs). If it eventually reaches its goal and launches, it will sell for $45 which is still cheaper than the $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C) (curr. available on Amazon for $69) and less than half the price of the $129 Apple Pencil 2nd Generation (available on Amazon for $124).

The Kickstarter page says the goal is to begin production in January 2025 with shipping scheduled for April 2025.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 11 > The SonarPen 2 is an affordable wired Apple Pencil-alternative stylus
Habeeb Onawole, 2024-11-21 (Update: 2024-11-21)