A fine point for writing and drawing
An active stylus has a battery inside. The pen makes the signal the screen feels, instead of relying on a broad tip to carry a touch, so its point can be fine, about the width of a ballpoint. That makes handwriting, small notes and line drawings far neater than with a finger or a soft-tipped pen. This range suits students, note-takers and anyone who sketches on a tablet or a large phone.
What is in this range
- Universal rechargeable pens. These work as soon as they are switched on, with no Bluetooth pairing. Their tips are between 1.5mm and 1.6mm, and they charge by USB-C. One has palm rejection, so you can rest your hand on the screen while you write, and its page lists iPad models from 2018 onwards and Samsung, Apple and Huawei phones.
- Pens for one tablet. One pen here is made to be compatible with Xiaomi Redmi Pad tablets, with spare tips and a charging cable in the box.
- A 2-in-1 pen with no battery. There is also a metal pen with a clear disc tip at one end and a fibre tip at the other. It is a simple capacitive stylus, so it never needs charging, and the disc lets you see exactly where you are touching.
Choosing an active stylus
Start with your phone or tablet. A universal pen works on most touchscreens, but each product page lists what it is compatible with, so check yours is there. Then look at what the pen does and does not do. The pens here are made for writing, drawing and tapping; the universal pen with palm rejection says it has no pressure sensitivity, so lines stay the same thickness however hard you press. Last, think about charging. A battery pen needs a USB-C cable now and then, and stops working when it runs flat, so charge it before a lecture or a long journey.
Spare tips are in stylus tips, and pens made only for tablets are in tablet stylus pens.
Questions people ask about active stylus pens
Is an active stylus the same as an Apple Pencil?
No. Apple lists the Apple Pencil for iPad models only. The pens here are general pens compatible with many phones and tablets, and none of them is an Apple Pencil.
Do I need to pair it by Bluetooth?
Not for the pens here that say so: you switch them on and write.
Will it work on my phone as well as my tablet?
Most universal pens work on both. The product page lists the phones and tablets each one suits.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
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