adonit pixel pressure sensitive ipad stylus

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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2016

Color: Black Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )

The Adonit Pixel Pressure Sensitive iPad Stylus advertises itself as being better than the Apple Pencil. Is it? That depends... If you have an iPad Pro, then I would say, "no." If you have any other supported iPad, then definitely - because the Apple Pencil doesn't work with them at all and this works very well. One big trade off is that if you have an iPad Pro, then the Apple Pencil works pretty much with any app at all. The Adonit Pixel only works with apps that support it - it will still "work" with other apps, but no better than your finger. You could argue that the Apple Pencil is similar, but really, there is a difference. The Apple Pencil just works - with an iPad Pro. On the other hand, it doesn't work AT ALL with the other iPads.

For this review I started out with my iPad Pro. I disconnected my Apple Pencil as recommended by Adonit. I downloaded one of the recommended apps, MediBang Paint, which I had not used before. It is a neat paint app with some features I have not seen before. I paired the Adonit Pixel stylus with no problem. However, I had huge problems DRAWING with the Adonit Pixel. Quite often, when I would start to draw, it wouldn't register that I had started pressing the stylus against the screen and it would not draw. I would have to re-draw two or three times before it registered. I almost gave up and was prepared to write a terrible review. I still haven't fixed this problem yet, but before I wrote the review - I decided to try it with one of my IPad Air tablets. I have an iPad Air 2 and loaded MediBang Paint onto it and paired the Adonit Pixel stylus to the iPad Air 2 and starte to draw.

To my surprise, it worked perfectly! It did not have the problem of not registering the strokes and making me redraw one out of every two or three lines. The buttons worked well and I set them to UNDO (which I use a lot) and toggle paint color and tried them. They worked well, but I found them difficult to access during normal drawing. The strokes are smooth and precise and the stylus accurately adjusts the line you are drawing based on the pressure you are applying. It feels like you are using a real pen or paint brush or pencil or whatever. It is amazingly good!

On the other hand, I'm not sure what the problem with the iPad Pro is caused by. I am going to play with it and see if I can figure it out. According to Adonit, having an Apple Pencil paired with your iPad can cause problems, but I carefully uninstalled my pencil. Maybe there is still some remnant there that is causing trouble with their device.

At this time, I would say that the Adonit Pixel is easily the best non-apple stylus I have ever used. If you have anything but an iPad Pro, I would go out and buy this immediately if you like to use your iPad to doodle, draw, paint, sketch or take notes with.

I will update this review if I figure out what is wrong with the iPad Pro pairing.

Pros:
Works with "regular" iPads.
Less expensive than Apple Pencil by $20
Works very well with iPad and gives precise control and pressure sensitive drawing.
Looks very nice.
Recharges easily with an attractive charger design.
Programmable buttons

Cons:
Having trouble using it with iPad Pro
Only works with a small number of apps right now, will hopefully expand soon
Buttons aren't easy to access while drawing.

Overall, this is a really good choice for a stylus for IPad devices. I would easily recommend it to anyone who doesn't have an iPad Pro with a Pencil. If it pairs better with iPad Pro

I will try to post some better pictures later this afternoon. I try to make my reviews helpful to my fellow Amazon shoppers. I DEPEND on other reviewers when I make a purchase and I try to return the favor with good reviews on the products that I buy or receive for review. If I have helped you, please mark my review as helpful. If I was NOT helpful, PLEASE tell me why in the comments below. I try to follow up on any questions you may have and I try to take constructive criticism of my reviews so that I can create better reviews in the future. Thank you so much. tsteele93

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2018

Color: Black Verified Purchase

The most important thing I want to impart about this stylus is that you need to keep a close eye on the tip to catch when it has worn out.

The Pixel's tip is a metal cone with a small rubber cap on the end. This little piece of rubber is what you ordinarily drag around on your screen. When the tip wears out, the rubber detaches on one side and flops away from the metal cone, leaving you with a squared-off metal edge that is now the physical interface with your i-device's screen. Not good! Beware!

And while the undo/redo buttons are great, this means you will usually hold the stylus in a certain position and therefore you won't wear the rubber evenly around its circumference. Instead, it'll wear away at the spot that's usually in contact with the screen. In my case, I had had this stylus for five months, using it fairly sparingly, before the rubber on the tip gave out. I had to order replacement tips directly from Adonit, which took about three weeks to arrive from the UK.

One other complaint I have is that there is a small amount of give to the tip – it pushes back toward the body when there is pressure applied – which takes some of the fineness away from operating a pressure-sensitive stylus. Your first little bit of effort is being translated into physically moving the tip, not conveying pressure info to the stylus and device.

This stylus, at $75 MSRP, is not dirt cheap. If you're shopping for a stylus for your iPad Pro, just spend the extra 25 bucks and get the superior Apple Pencil. If you don't have an iPad Pro, the imperfect Pixel is nevertheless one of the best options for you. Artists will find the pressure sensitivity to be worthwhile. Just make sure you're checking the tip often enough so that you don't wind up scratching up your screen with that metal edge.

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2017

Color: Black Verified Purchase

I was concerned the Adonis Pixel wouldn't have pressure sensitivity with my brand new 2017 iPad which doesn't have a pressure sensitive screen, but it works as advertised. All the painting apps listed on Adonit's website pair up with the Pixel pen via Bluetooth and utilize the pressure of the pen on the screen. The buttons, which I use for undo and redo, work fine, though I'm still getting used to the feel of the buttons. If you can't afford the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil combo, no worries, you can still create art without spending double the price. I had considered purchasing one of Adonit's lower priced non-Bluetooth pens, which doesn't utilize pressure sensitivity, but I'm glad I went with the Pixel. I've attached two screenshots of squiggles from Zen Brush 2 and Sketchbook (with the $4.99 Pro Brushes add-on) to show the variation of line resulting from pressure change.

On a side note iPhone 7 Plus: the pressure sensitivity also seems to work in MediBang (which pairs specifically with the Pixel), Adobe Sketch and Adobe Illustrator Draw on my iPhone 7 Plus which already has a pressure sensitive screen (3D Touch.) I compared my Cosmonaut non pressure stylus to the Pixel and there is a difference in line widths attainable from the two different pens. Zen Brush 2 doesn't seem to pair with the Pixel on my iPhone and since I'm not paying for the subscription for multiple devices in SketchBook I can't test the Pixel in that particular app. Other painting apps such as Procreate aren't available on the iPhone for testing and comparison purposes

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4.0 out of 5 stars Great smart stylus for those on an older IPad - close enough to the Apple Pencil but not quite.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2018

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Overall Verdict:
A solid smart stylus that gets you close to the functionality of an Apple Pencil. If like me you have an IPad that doesn't support the Apple Pencil but want to add some extra functionality then this is just the job - just don't expect it to be as seamless or integrated as the Pencil.

Product Overview:
I bought this because I have an IPad 9.7 (2017) and wanted some extra functionality for taking notes and basic drawing. Rather than pay over the odds for an IPad Pro and Apple Pencil I wondered if there was something out there that does 95% of what the pencil does that is compatible with my tablet.

The product comes nicely packaged so feels quite premium although it was little tricky to get the stylus out of the plastic packing insert. It has a metal body that is nicely weighted with a plastic grip. It is a little thicker than a ballpoint pen but sits in the hand nicely. It comes with a USB charger to enable you to charge from a laptop but I charge mine using a phone charger at a wall socket which seems to work just fine (see photos).

The stylus features a 1.9mm tip which provides good accuracy. It supports palm rejection and has good pressure sensitivity. The built in grip recognises when you pick up the stylus so no need to keep reconnecting and it has two re-programmable action buttons integrated into the grip so you can do a fast undo or redo.

To connect the device via Bluetooth you simply hold down one of the buttons on the grip until the green light comes on and then you are ready to go. There are quite a few apps that support this product but it is not as seamlessly integrated as the Apple Pencil. But unless you want to splash out on a new IPad this gets you 95% of the way there.

What I liked:
When I first started using this I have to say I was disappointed but once I'd had a play and got used to it I actually really like it. The build quality is really good and the battery lasts for absolutely ages so no worrying about it running out of steam. Even when the battery does die "mid-notes" you can still carry on using it although it turns into a "dumb" stylus until you recharge. Recharging is really quick.

A few tips that I found useful:
1. turn off multitasking gesture controls in the IPad settings (you won't miss them) - seems to help with accuracy, sensitivity and palm rejection
2. In GoodNotes (best app for not taking) turn off line smoothing - this really helps if you are using a cursive style (or have terrible writing like mine - see attached video.
3. Don't hold the stylus in the same way you would a pen - you might have to adjust your grip slightly to accommodate how it interacts with the screen and to help with palm rejection
4. For apps that support palm rejection - play with the settings in the app to get to the best grip style
5. I recently put a tempered glass screen protector on my IPad (TechGear) - this actually helps the stylus work better as it improves the drag on the screen.
6. Zoom in to write in a notebook - when you zoom out it will look like your writing in a notebook. If you try and write too small the stylus doesn't cope too well

What I don't like:
Charging via USB dongle - why would I turn on a laptop just to charge the stylus? Luckily I found a solution and can use phone charger plug to charge but it is a bit daft (see attached pics).
The buttons on the grip are too easily pressed which is a bit annoying when you've been undoing sections without realising.
The tip is hard so makes a tapping noise on the screen - slight niggle.

Final thoughts:
I would definitely recommend this to anybody wanting to add a bit of functionality to their older IPad but don't want to splash out on a new one that supports Apple Pencil. The features work well and it has a great battery life. It gets you pretty close to the Apple experience once you set it up but don't expect a truly seamless experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars Works better than I expected - certainly useable for note taking on iPad Air 2

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2017

Color: Black Verified Purchase

Works well with IPad Air 2 and GoodNotes

After reading a lot of reviews and watching videos of various people's thoughts on the Adonit Pixel, I thought I would give it a go.
It is not as fluid or fully integrated as the Apple Penci, but certainly comes very close!

Minimal lag, lines are drawn straight, palm rejection on supported apps is fantastic! I've had minimal problems with the use I've had.
I would have no problems taking notes with this at university, or using it when I'm at work.

Make sure you use the apps that fully support the stylus, to get the true user experience with palm rejection and pressure sensitivity, apps that do not support the stylus can be somewhat less pleasing to use.

I would prefer an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, but without upgrading my iPad at great expense this is a fantastic alternative.

To note I do have a matte screen protector on my iPad, which gives slightly higher friction and a more "paper like" feel than when I tried it On my iPad 3. I would recommend one of these to both protect the screen from scratches over time, as well as a nicer user experience.

Thanks Adonit I think they've made a great product that will stop me from rushing to replace my iPad 2

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy if you want to use it on an iPad air 2

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2016

Color: Black Verified Purchase

Useless if you own an iPad air 2, has the same issues as previous models with skipping lines, mediocre palm support and having to press very hard on the screen for the strike to be recognised. Also only a handful of apps are compatible with the pixel and procreate is not one of them. Overall a disappointment, I returned it and went back to my jot pro that lacks pressure sensitivity but at least I can use to draw.

1.0 out of 5 stars If you have used an Apple Pencil dont buy this.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

I use an Apple pencil to draw using an iPad Pro. It's great. The APencil doesn't work with my older iPad mini 4 so I bought this thinking it would be a handy portable sketching tool.
It's utterly frustrating. Palm rejection doesn't work well at all on any app (e.g. Procreate). Pressure sensitivity is inconsistent. I also don't know how to hold this thing as the two buttons are too easy to press. I've taken notes (Goodnotes) and then accidentally pressed the button to undo.
I'm sure there's people who like this thing as I found a series of positive reviews and YouTube videos but my experience has been disappointing.
If you want a stylus, a cheap £3 one will be no worse and the Wacom possibly better than this one.
It does look nice though.

3.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to like this pen :/

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

After I had watched some videos on youtube i decided to try it with my IPad Air, and happy days, it works... Kinda!?!
I am admittedly brand new to digital art. I have always been a traditional artist with oils as my medium and only recently after discovering that I wouldn't have to upgrade my Ipad ( just yet ) I could pair a "pencil" to my iPad Air.
I was using a basic £6 rubber ball tipped MiTEC stylus that I bought at my supermarket 2 weeks ago that works fantastically, but thought I would probably be better off with a fine pencil tip after discovering how amazing the Apple Pencil works on the newer IPads but I was definitely wrong. ordered it Tuesday evening, arrived Wednesday afternoon ( awesome ) I had tried it on procreate and I was instantly disaticfied. Within 20 minutes it was repackaged and my return labels were printed. Here's why.
After it not registering after a couple of attempts and finally it connecting, I immediately noticed the lag. I didn't think lag would really bother me as hey, I'm brand new to digital art so my expectations haven't been spoilt by better experiences. naaaahh.. this has some serious lag. and if I were drawing a straight line or any shape for that matter at a slow pace, it had some serious wiggle going on. Moving it across the screen in a faster motion however corrected this but I like to take my time when I'm drawing.
It also claims to have palm pressure rejection but that isn't the case in my experience. As soon as my palm touched the screen all sorts of weird things started to happen. I did however have less of a problem when I put on my artist glove.
So I boxed it up and decided to return it. A few hours later I decided to cancel my return and give it another go as I had only tried it on procreate and felt I probably hadn't given it a fair enough chance and I Really wanted to like it so I downloaded Adobe Draw, Sketches and Clip Studio.
I have all the same problems on the other drawing apps as I did on procreate. I did some comparison lines, circles basic sketches on all 4 apps with the £62.25 Pixel Pressure Stylus and the basic supermarket bulky rubber ball head MiTEC stylus that cost me £6 and I had no problems with the basic cheap pen. my lines were straight on all 4 apps. yes I have to pay more attention to where I place the tip for precision to save me erasing lines later on, but that really isn't a problem. I have ZERO lag nor wobble from my £6 stylus. I imagine that the Pixel stylus would probably work better on other iPad models maybe? iPad Air series one is pretty old now after all. Either way I expected a better experience for that price at £62.25p and even more so because it is marketed and States that it works on the iPad Air and has palm rejection. yes it works.... but it does not work well. Definitely being returned this time around.