Zagg Pro Stylus 2 review: An Apple Pencil alternative for everything but Photoshop

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
ProsInductive charging abd magnetic hold on iPadTwo different tips at both endsAvailable in five colorsConsSerious lag with Adobe PhotoshopOur VerdictThe Pro Stylus 2 is a good alternative to the Apple Pencil. It attaches magnetically to the iPad Air and iPad Pro and is charged at the same time. The Pro Stylus 2 also performs perfectly well—unless you’re using Adobe Photoshop.

The Pro Stylus 2 has many similarities to the Apple Pencil when it comes to specifications. These include wireless charging, a replaceable tip, and the flattened side for magnetic attachment to the iPad. This alone makes the Pro Stylus 2 an alternative.

What it has over the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil is that it can be used on any iPad since 2018, not just the iPad Pro, but also the standard iPad and the iPad Air. With its flattened edge, it holds magnetically to the iPad Air and iPad Pro and is also charged at the same time. For iPads without wireless charging, the Pro Stylus 2 comes with a matching wireless charging station. Alternatively, any Qi charger can be used.

Practical test with a surprise

The Pro Stylus 2 sits comfortably in the hand thanks to its matte finish. It has two tips; one is the replaceable stylus tip and the other is the capacitive rubber tip at the rear end of the pen. When turning pages, the capacitive rubber tip is more practical than the drawing tip.

The rubber tip also has a second function as the power button to turn it on/off. This is particularly useful when using normal iPads, as there is no magnetic charging surface and the stylus does not switch on automatically when it is removed. To save power, the Pro Stylus 2 switches off automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity. The battery should last for around 6.5 hours.

In addition to the usual note-taking apps, we also tested the stylus in many creative apps. There was hardly any difference to the Apple Pencil 2 in use. However, as with the other competitors, the Pro Stylus 2 fails in Adobe Photoshop. When painting, for example, the brushstroke is executed with a significant delay. This makes the Pro Stylus 2 unusable for Adobe Photoshop.

Zagg brings colour into play with its Pencil alternative: in addition to white, the Pro Stylus 2 is also available in blue, grey, pink, and yellow.

Should you buy the Zagg Pro Stylus 2?

The Pro Stylus 2 is convincing in practice. The capacitive rubber tip allows sensitive scrolling. The actual stylus tip also behaves like the Apple original. Whether in Notes, Notability, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe Fresco. Writing, drawing, and coloring are possible without any restrictions. But if you use a lot of Adobe Photoshop, the Pro Stylus 2 won’t be a good Apple Pencil replacement.

This article originally appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola.

iPad, Tablet Accessories