Apple Pencil Gen 3 may just make illustrating easier; here’s how

The Apple Pencil has been an important accessory for illustrators and graphic designers using the iPad for their projects. Late last year, Apple unveiled its Apple Pencil Gen 3 with USB-C. However, several rumours talk about Apple unveiling an updated Apple Pencil Gen 3 with a slate of fresh features. Along with facilitating better integration with the iPad, the new stylus could even enhance your overall drawing experience. Here’s what you need to know:

Apple Pencil Gen 3: Features you should look out for

A report by 9to5Mac mentions how the rumoured Apple Pencil Gen 3 could have a ‘squeeze’ gesture, as per references observed in the code for iPadOS 17.5 beta. The gesture could be instrumental in saving time while taking notes or annotating and it may only take a squeeze to add shapes, signatures and even a text box. 

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The squeeze gesture may not be a part of the Apple Pencil Gen 2, as the gesture seems to be a part of a variant that has pressure sensors on the surface of the pencil along with the tip — something that the former doesn’t include. The report further mentions how this could instead be a part of an unannounced Apple Pencil Gen 3 that could potentially launch alongside new iPads in May.

Other indicators within the code mention the Apple Pencil being supported by the Find My app, which currently supports Apple devices, AirPods and AirTags. Lastly, the findings also point to an updated version of the PencilKitAPI within the iPadOS 17.4, which makes certain apps compatible with the Apple Pencil. 

The Apple Pencil Gen 3 will likely also bring pressure sensitivity back to the stylus. The feature was retracted from a scaled-down, more affordable version of the Apple Pencil, which was unveiled in October 2023. Pressure sensitivity is instrumental in determining the thickness of the lines or strokes, and typically depends upon how hard you press the Apple Pencil on the iPad screen. While there aren’t any other features unveiled yet, don’t forget to visit Unboxed by Croma for more updates within the segment.