It’s been almost four years since the Apple Pencil 2 was released, and rumors keep pouring in for its long-awaited follow-up. While we’re still awaiting a firm release date and official details for the next-generation Apple Pencil, it’s not stopping the leaks, rumors, and speculation about what Apple is planning for its next stylus.
The next Apple Pencil is important because this stylus changed the way most artists work and, for many, helped the transition from traditional to digital art. The introduction of Apple Pencil for iPad Pro allowed high-end technology, usually reserved for Wacom users, to enter the mainstream. The big question now is which one to get, but the Apple Pencil 3 could replace the Apple Pencil vs. Apple Pencil 2 debate.
A new patent discovered by Patently Apple (opens in a new tab) and reported on Yanko Design (opens in a new tab) details a twisted swivel cap for the end of Apple’s new stylus. Apple’s idea is to allow even more natural control of your devices without overcomplicating the Apple Pencil’s slim and clean design. You can get up to speed on how this works in our detailed Apple Pencil 2 review.
Apple Pencil 2 already features some great ideas, like double-tapping to control aspects of your apps. Apple’s new patent shows that the Cali company is looking to extend this even further. One idea seems to be the option to toggle functions in an app by twisting the next-gen Apple Pencil with your fingertips, which is known as the “roll gesture” in Apple’s patent. (opens in a new tab).
This is a complex idea that would see the Apple Pencil 2’s current single-touch sensor replaced with multi-touch sensors across the entire axis of the stylus. This could lead to new gesture controls being used, and even different areas of the new Apple Pencil stylus could feature bespoke gesture control; for example, the bottom of the shaft and the top of the pen could house different programmed gesture controls.
However, this rather amusing full-length gesture control feature seems to be extended by using a simple twist cap to click through the touch sensors at the top of the stylus. The new patent shows how users can, for example, twist the cap, or the ‘elastic insert’, and rotate through brushes and pens found in a digital art app, say Procreate. Artist Sarang Sheth (opens in a new tab) has created a wonderful render to show how this feature might work (above).
Selecting new brushes isn’t the hardest part, but I’d love being able to skip my favorites without needing to touch the menus with a stylus. Whether this is controlled by using touch sensors to switch between thumb and finger options or by using a cap, as Sheth suggests, to directly control functions, this is a great idea from Apple that retains the simplicity of the Pencil design.
If you haven’t tried Apple’s current stylus yet, take a look at our guide to the best cheap Apple Pencil deals available now and grab a great deal. We also have a guide to the best iPad apps that make the most of Apple Pencil to see what you can do with one.
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