To make its iconic stylus more accessible, Apple today unveiled a budget-friendly Apple Pencil that features USB-C charging. Priced at $79, this accessory is designed for the masses and offers a convenient sliding cap that exposes the USB-C port. It even boasts magnetic attachment capabilities, ensuring compatibility with the 10th-generation iPad, released just last year.

While the lower price point may be enticing, it comes with a few trade-offs. The entry-level Apple Pencil lacks some of the advanced features found in its pricier counterparts. Notably, it doesn’t support pressure sensitivity, wireless pairing & charging, or the handy double-tap feature for quick tool switching. However, it still offers hover support when used with M2-equipped iPad Pro models.

This marks a significant departure from the original Apple Pencil, which used a Lightning connector for charging and protruded awkwardly from the iPad‘s port. The second-generation model brought improvements, including wireless charging and a magnetic attachment system, but was not compatible with the 10th-generation iPad. This caused confusion among iPad accessory enthusiasts.

The new USB-C Apple Pencil is compatible with various iPad models, including the third- to sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the first- to fourth-generation 11-inch iPad Pro, the fourth- and fifth-generation iPad Air, the 10th-gen iPad, and the sixth-gen iPad Mini. Consumers can expect to get their hands on this affordable stylus in early November.

Apple’s original Apple Pencil, released in 2018 as the Apple Pencil 2, brought significant enhancements, such as wireless charging and magnetic attachment capabilities. These features eliminated the need for plugging it into an iPad and prevented it from rolling off tables. Gesture controls were also introduced, allowing users to switch tools within apps. However, these enhancements came at a cost, with the price jumping from $99 to $129.