Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro introduces a squeeze gesture and a barrel roll feature for the first time in the stylus lineup. These allow artists to instantly switch tools and change brush orientations without having to tap or navigate menus on the iPad screen. This creates a much more seamless and tactile workflow for digital art.

The Apple Pencil Pro is designed exclusively for newer iPad models that demand professional-grade precision, such as the M4 iPad Pro. Older iPads do not have the necessary hardware sensors to register the new squeeze gesture or barrel roll features. You will need a compatible modern screen to experience its ultra-low latency.

The barrel roll function works by detecting the physical rotation of your hand, allowing you to dynamically change the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools. Combined with the ultra-low latency, it gives digital artists a feel that closely mimics holding a traditional calligraphy pen or flat brush. It allows for instant orientation changes mid-stroke.

Yes, alongside the new squeeze gesture and barrel roll, it retains familiar functionalities to ensure seamless workflow navigation. The addition of the squeeze gesture actually acts as a more advanced, customizable version of the older double-tap feature. These combined tools ensure artists can keep their focus entirely on the screen.