The Best iPad Stylus

Though styluses have been the butt of jokes over the iPad’s lifespan—many of which incorporate Steve Jobs’s infamous dismissive comments—these tools make it easier to draw, sketch, doodle, write notes, and use devices in cold weather, and they help people with accessibility issues that might make touchscreen navigation difficult. A stylus isn’t for everyone. If you use an iPad largely for browsing the Web, watching video, or playing games, you’re likely better off manipulating the screen with your finger. But even if you’re just a casual iPad or iPhone user, a simple stylus might be in the cards for you: When it comes to taking notes, using a stylus to write is faster and easier for many people than tapping away at the iPad’s screen. And most people have been writing since they were young, so it’s hardly a surprise that some would rather write with a pen-type instrument than their index finger. (People who don’t enjoy handwriting have other options, such as a Bluetooth keyboard or iPad keyboard case). And with the right stylus, digital artists can enjoy an experience closer to that of a pencil on paper than they would get by simply using a finger on the tablet’s glass display.