Apple's newly announced MacBook Air with Retina display and upgraded 8th-generation Intel processors features the best battery life out of any of Apple's notebooks, MacBook Pro and MacBook included.
The new machine, which features a 50.3 watt-hour lithium polymer battery, offers up to 12 hours of battery life when web browsing, 13 hours when watching iTunes movie playback, and 30 days of standby time.
Comparatively, the MacBook Pro models offer up to 10 hours battery when browsing the web and 10 hours of iTunes movie playback, while the MacBook offers 10 hours of battery when browsing the web and 12 hours of iTunes movie playback.
The MacBook Air is going to provide two extra hours of battery life for web browsing compared to other models, and an hour to three hours more when watching movies. Details on Apple's battery testing procedures are below:
Testing conducted by Apple in October 2018 using preproduction 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based MacBook Air systems with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The iTunes movie playback test measures battery life by playing back HD 1080p content with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The standby test measures battery life by allowing a system, connected to a wireless network and signed in to an iCloud account, to enter standby mode with Safari and Mail applications launched and all system settings left at default. Battery life varies by use and configuration.
The MacBook Air is equipped with two USB-C ports and charges over USB-C. It ships with a 30W power adapter, much like the 12-inch MacBook.
You can order the new MacBook Air today, and prices start at $1,199. The first orders will arrive next Wednesday, November 7.
Apple today updated its Shortcuts app for iPhones and iPads to version 2.1, introducing new capabilities that can be used to create various automations and shortcuts using first and third-party apps.
The new 2.1 version of the app brings new options for creating weather and forecast shortcuts, setting alarms and timers, converting between units, and importing recent photos.
Apple's full release notes for the update are below:
- Use the latest weather in your shortcuts with the new Get Current Weather and Get Weather Forecast actions - Set alarms and timers with the new Create Alarm, Toggle Alarm, and Start Timer actions - Convert between a variety of units with the new Measurement and Convert Measurement actions - Get the most recent set of imported photos from the Photos app using the Get Last Import action - When running a shortcut from HomePod using Siri, media will now automatically play back from HomePod using AirPlay - Bug fixes
Learn more and see the full list of changes at https://support.apple.com/HT209087.
Siri Shortcuts, introduced in iOS 12, is a feature designed to let you create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command.
So, for example, you can create a shortcut to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you're on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single "I'm going home" Siri command.
Shortcuts are deeply customizable and can be created and found through Apple's Shortcuts app, available from the App Store. [Direct Link]
With the Mac mini getting a long-awaited update today, Apple took the opportunity to highlight the use of the tiny computer in a number of unique areas where full-size machines might not quite fit — literally.
In The Secret World of Mac mini, Apple takes a look at country star Dierks Bentley's live show, the touring production of the Finding Neverland musical, and the Mac mini-focused datacenter provider MacStadium.
When Dierks Bentley performs live, Mac minis travel with the show to monitor the band's 18 wireless guitar rigs. According to the piece, Dierks' sound engineer uses a Mac mini to power his equipment — well, actually it appears to be a Mac Pro in the picture, weirdly. Not sure what's going on there, but there is a Mac mini with a banana sticker on it:
“If Dierks is out in the crowd and this setup alerts me that his guitar’s wireless strength is going down, I can adjust it and avoid an issue,” says Gutierrez. “And I’ve always run this setup on Mac mini — I’ve been using the same Mac mini for five years, and I’ve never had a problem.”
The Finding Neverland performance uses a Mac mini running software to produce sound that can't be sung or played live, including electronic music and sound effects.
Finding Neverland is the true story of how author J.M. Barrie conceived the fantastic world of Peter Pan. The production takes the audience on a journey that floats between the author’s real life and the make-believe world of his imagination. And bringing that imagination to life requires a lot of sound effects — from ticking clocks and thunder claps, to cannon booms and the sound of Tinkerbell’s…well, Tinkerbelling. All those effects are possible because of Mac mini, triggered throughout the show by the conductor.
Finally there's the Mac-only datacenter MacStadium, which manages thousands of Mac minis across several data centers for its clients. The firm manages almost 8,000 minis, for a wide range of developers who want Macs for development work and more.
"Candy Crush, Shopify, Day One — so many of your favorite apps and games run on Mac mini. It’s truly the Swiss Army knife of computers," says Brian Stucki of MacStadium.
The new Mac mini is available for preorder today, shipping on November 7. It starts at $799, but fully loaded, it prices out to a decidedly not-mini $4,199.
Apple today released iOS 12.1, the first major update to the iOS 12 operating system designed for the iPhone and the iPad. iOS 12.1 comes more than a month after the September release of iOS 12 and a few weeks after iOS 12.0.1, a bug fix update.
The update is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings -> General -> Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.1 is free to download.
Today's update adds quite a bit of new functionality to iOS devices, especially Apple's newest models, the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
iOS 12.1 brings support for the eSIM, a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan from a carrier without the need to use a physical SIM card.
With eSIM support, dual-SIM functionality is available on the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, enabled through the existing physical SIM slot and the eSIM in all countries with the exception of China. In China, the new iPhones have two SIM card slots.
Carriers will need to implement support for eSIM functionality to work even after it's been turned on in iOS 12.1. In the U.S., AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile plan to support eSIM.
Also for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, the iOS 12.1 update introduces a new real-time Depth Control feature, which lets you adjust the depth of field of your Portrait Mode photos before you capture them.
In earlier versions of iOS 12, Depth Control is only available for post-capture editing purposes. To use Depth Control when composing an image, tap on the "F" icon at the top of the screen and then drag the slider to adjust the amount of background blur in the image.
There are also new features that are coming to all iPhones and iPads. iOS 12.1 reintroduces the Group FaceTime feature that was removed from iOS 12 during the beta testing period because Apple needed more time to finish it.
Group FaceTime is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users conduct video and audio chats with up to 32 participants at one time, with new camera effect features like filters, stickers, Animoji, and Memoji included.
Group FaceTime will be limited on older Apple devices. On iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it will be available in an audio-only capacity with no video. Group FaceTime is not available on iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad Air. Group FaceTime with video works on all other devices with an A8X processor or later.
Other FaceTime features are included in iOS 12.1 as well, such as automatic detection of active speakers to surface the icon of the person who is speaking, ringless notification to let you join a call without being disruptive, and Messages integration for starting a Group FaceTime call right from the Messages app from a group chat.
iOS 12.1 brings support for Unicode 11, adding more than 70 new emoji to iPhones and iPads. Options include face with hearts, woozy face, pleading face, red hair, white hair, superhero, raccoon, llama, peacock, mango, cupcake, bagel, and more.
We have a full list of all of the new emoji coming in the iOS 12.1 update available here.
Apple told iPhone XR reviewers that the iOS 12.1 update will also introduce camera tweaks to address complaints of excessive skin-smoothing by the front and rear-facing cameras in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
These phones use a "Smart HDR" feature combine multiple images at different exposure levels, which can result in excessive noise reduction that creates a smoothing effect over the image, which is noticeable on skin. Apple is addressing this issue by using a shaper base frame for Smart HDR, as outlined in the release notes.
iOS 12.1 also addresses several bugs and improves performance. Notably, iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR users will be pleased to hear that the update improves cellular connectivity. Apple's full release notes, complete with bug fixes included in the update, are below:
iOS 12.1 introduces Group FaceTime, adds over 70 new emoji, and includes support for Dual SIM with eSIM for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.
Group FaceTime Adds support for video and audio calls with up to 32 participants simultaneously Encrypted end-to-end so your conversations remain private Start Group FaceTime right from a group Messages conversation, or join an active call at any time
Emoji Over 70 new emoji, including new characters with red hair, gray hair and curly hair, new emoji for bald people, more emotive smiley faces and additional emoji representing animals, sports and food
Dual SIM support Introduces Dual SIM with eSIM which allows two numbers in one device for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
Other improvements and fixes - Introduces Depth Control in Camera preview for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR - Improves cellular connectivity for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR - Adds the ability to change or reset your child's Screen Time passcode using Face ID or Touch ID - Fixes an issue where the sharpest reference frame was not always selected in front-facing photos for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR - Resolves an issue that caused messages to be merged into one thread when two users were signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones - Addresses an issue that prevented some voicemails from appearing in the Phone app - Resolves an issue in the Phone app that could cause phone numbers to appear without their corresponding contact name - Fixes an issue that could prevent Screen Time from reporting specific websites in the activity report - Addresses an issue that could prevent adding or removing family members from Family Sharing - Adds a performance management feature to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down, including the option to disable this feature if an unexpected shutdown occurs, for iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - Adds the ability for Battery Health to inform users that it is unable to verify if a genuine Apple battery is in iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR - Improves reliability of VoiceOver in Camera, Siri, and Safari - Fixes an issue that could cause MDM Device Enrollment to report an Invalid Profile error for some enterprise users
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
For more information on all of the new features that were introduced in Apple's iOS 12 update that preceded iOS 12.1, make sure to check out our iOS 12 roundup.
Apple today released watchOS 5.1, the first major update to the watchOS 5 operating system that runs on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 5.1 comes more than a month after the release of watchOS 5 and a few weeks after the launch of watchOS 5.0.1, a minor bug fix update.
watchOS 5.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.
To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 5.1 introduces support for the Group FaceTime feature also coming in iOS 12.1 and macOS 10.14.1, but in an audio-only capacity on the wrist. You can answer Group FaceTime calls using FaceTime Audio, and switch over to the iPhone for video. Group FaceTime is designed to let you chat with up to 32 people at one time.
Today's update introduces a new full-screen "Color" watch face option for the Apple Watch Series 4 models, with users able to choose between dozens of shades. There's also a filled-in circular option for older Apple Watch models that joins the standard Color clock face.
Alongside iOS 12.1 and macOS 10.14.1, watchOS 5.1 introduces support for more than 70 new emoji characters, like face with hearts, red hair, gray hair, curly hair, super heroes, kangaroo, peacock, parrot, lobster, cupcake, mango, and more.
The watchOS 5.1 update also includes several bug fixes, as outlined in Apple's release notes:
This update includes improvements and bug fixes:
- Apple Watch Series 4 automatically contacts emergency services if you are immobile for about a minute after detecting a hard fall. The watch will also now play a message that informs the responder that the Apple Watch has detected a fall and shares your location coordinates when possible. - Fixes an issue that could cause an incomplete installation of the Walkie-Talkie app for some users. - Resolves an issue that prevented some users from being able to send or receive invitations on Walkie-Talkie - Addresses an issue where some previously warned Activity awards were not showing in the Awards tab of the Activity app for some users.
For a full look at all the emoji available in the new software updates, make sure to check out our dedicated emoji article. For more information on watchOS 5, our watchOS 5 roundup has all of the details you need to know.
Members of the media have now had a chance to get their hands on Apple's latest 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro following today's event in New York. The new iPad Pro includes an updated Liquid Retina LCD display, slimmer bezels, Face ID, a thinner body, and A12X Bionic chip.
Image via Dan Seifert/The Verge
So far, it appears that initial impressions of the new tablet are largely positive, with The Verge describing the iPad Pro as "just a giant, beautiful screen" thanks to the reduced bezel size. The edges of the iPad are now flat instead of rounded, which reminded The Verge of the iPhone 4 through 5S design, and the overall feel of the tablet was "much denser and pro" than previous generations of the iPad Pro.
The transition to Face ID allowed Apple to make the iPad’s side bezels slimmer than ever before, and the result might be the truest embodiment of a “tablet” yet. This thing is just a giant, beautiful screen. The 11-inch display is housed in a device similar to the size of the previous 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and the 12.9-inch model is physically smaller than its predecessor. The rounded edges of the last few iPads have switched over to flat edges reminiscent of the very original (or the iPhone 4 through 5S).
The overall feel of the thing is way more squared off than I was expecting — it feels much denser and pro than before. The LTE version has large antenna lines on the back, you’ll definitely notice them.
Engadget says the iPad Pro is starting to feel more like a proper computer, thanks to the angular "no-nonsense design" and the A12X Bionic chip. The site says the iPad Pro is shockingly comfortable to hold, far more comfortable for long sessions of drawing with Apple Pencil than the previous 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Image via Chris Velazco/Engadget
At the risk of sound a little repetitive though, this design still feels like a huge step forward. That's thanks in large part to the edge-to-edge display Apple adopted this year — it's a Liquid Retina panel like the ones we recently saw in the iPhone XR, but it retains the same high resolution as last year's big Pros. That was a very long-winded way of saying that the iPad Pro's screen looks amazing, but that's hardly anything new here — I never really had an issue with earlier Pros, and Apple's ProMotion screen tech still allows for a super-slick, 120Hz refresh rate.
Despite liking the overall design and performance of the iPad Pro, Engadget did question Apple's removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack:
Much as I like this new design, there is one thing that rubs me the wrong way, and it has a lot to do with the mixed messages Apple is sending. In its presentation, Apple made it clear that music professional like DJs have been fans of the iPad for a while, and that the new power afforded to them by the A12X Bionic chipset would help them spice up their performances. That's cool and all, but I wonder how those DJs feel about the iPad Pro lacking a headphone jack. Seems kind of important, no?
SlashGear agrees that the new iPad Pros feel easier and more comfortable to hold, and the tablet's palm detection means that you won't accidentally interact with the touchscreen as you handle the device. For the site, the biggest downside of the new iPad Pro was Apple's pricing:
Image via SlashGear
Therein lies the new iPad Pro’s downside: the price. The range kicks off at $799 for the 11-inch and $999 for the 12.9-inch. Those numbers spiral up dramatically as you add more storage and cellular connectivity. Want the new Apple Pencil 2? That’ll cost you another $129. The fancy new Smart Keyboard Folio – which hooks to to relocated connectors now on the rear of the tablet, not the edge – is $179 for the 11-inch model, or $199 for the 12.9-inch.
All in all, you’re looking at MacBook Air pricing at least, or easily MacBook Pro levels if you go crazy with the options. Apple’s argument is that, for creative professionals, the arrival of apps like true Photoshop in 2019 will make this not only a replacement for your notebook but the better choice.
We're going hands-on with the new iPad Pro at Apple's event in New York, so be sure to keep an eye out for more coverage about the new tablets, MacBook Air, and Mac mini on our front page and by following @MacRumors on Twitter.
Apple today released tvOS 12.1, the second update to the tvOS 12 operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 12.1 comes just over a month after the release of tvOS 12.0.1 and six weeks after the September launch of tvOS 12.
tvOS 12.1 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System -> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.1 automatically.
It's not clear what new features or bug fixes are included in the tvOS 12.1 update. We didn't find any major new changes during the tvOS 12.1 beta testing period, and Apple doesn't provide release notes for tvOS releases, so there's not often a lot to go on.
If we discover what's new in tvOS 12.1, we'll update this post with additional information.
tvOS 12.1 follows the tvOS 12 update, which introduced support for higher-quality Dolby Atmos sound, zero sign-on, and new aerial screensavers created in collaboration with the International Space Station.
Apple today released macOS Mojave 10.14.1, the first major update to the macOS Mojave operating system available on Apple's Mac lineup. macOS Mojave 10.14.1 comes a little over a month after the release of the macOS Mojave update.
macOS Mojave 10.14.1 can be downloaded by going to the "Software Update" section of System Preferences, a new installation method that was introduced with the Mojave update.
The 10.14.1 update introduces support for Group FaceTime, a feature that was removed during the beta testing period. Group FaceTime, which lets you chat with up to 32 people at once, is also available in iOS 12.1.
macOS Mojave 10.14.1 brings more than 70 new emoji characters that are also available in iOS 12.1 and watchOS 5.1. There are new options for red hair, curly hair, no hair, and gray hair, along with characters to represent superheroes, cold face, party face, pleading face, and face with hearts.
There are a number of new animals and food items like kangaroo, parrot, lobster, mango, lettuce, and cupcake. Tweaks have been made to some existing emoji as well. The iPhone emoji, for example, has been updated to look like the iPhone X with no bezels or Home button.
Apple today introduced a long-awaited refreshed Mac mini, which has been reengineered to take advantage of the newest hardware available on the market.
The Mac mini features 4 and 6-core 8th-generation Intel processors, up to 64GB RAM, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and up to 2TB of flash storage space.
The entry-level Mac mini with a 3.6GHz quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, Intel UHD Graphics 630, and a 128GB SSD is available for $799, which is $300 more expensive than the most affordable Mac mini was previously.
A middle-tier base model is available with a 3.0GHz 6-core processor, 8GB RAM, Intel UHD Graphics 630 and a 256GB SSD for $1,099.
Apple has added plenty of upgrade options aimed at pro level Mac mini users who want the fastest desktop-class machine in the smallest package.
A maxed out Mac mini with a 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 630, 64GB RAM, a 2TB SSD, and upgraded 10 Gigabit Ethernet is priced at a whopping $4,199.
Despite the high price tag, the upgrade options should make Mac mini customers who were awaiting more powerful features happy with this year's refresh. Prior to today, the Mac mini had not been updated since 2014.
Apple today announced a new MacBook Air with 8th-generation Intel chips, a Retina display, USB-C ports, and up to 16GB of RAM, a machine that, all in all, sounds a lot like the 12-inch MacBook.
Apple did not announce updates to its smaller notebook machine, but it did quietly remove the Rose Gold color as a purchase option. The 12-inch MacBook can now be purchased in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold, but not Rose Gold.
It's not clear why Apple has removed Rose Gold as a color option, but no other Macs are available in the pinker shade, suggesting the Rose Gold color is out at Apple. The MacBook Air, like the MacBook, can be purchased in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.
Apple does not appear to have made any other changes to the 12-inch MacBook and its future is somewhat unclear with the addition of a powerful $1,199 MacBook Air with a Retina display.
The new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that Apple debuted today will ship with an 18W USB-C power adapter, an upgrade from the 12W USB-A power adapter that shipped with the previous-generation models.
Apple's 18W USB-C power adapter should charge new iPad Pro models faster, and it will also be able to be used for fast charging for Apple's newest iPhones when paired with a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Apple is including a 1m USB-C charge cable along with the 18W USB-C power adapter that comes with the iPad Pro, and while the cable is available for purchase separately, the 18W power adapter can't be bought as a standalone product just yet.
Rumors suggested that supply of the power adapter could be low at first, which may explain why it's not available for purchase separately from the iPad Pro. Apple is likely to offer the 18W adapter for sale in the near future, though.
Following today's Apple event in New York, the company has now opened up pre-orders for the second generation Apple Pencil, as well as numerous other accessories. You can order your new Apple Pencil right now for $129.00, and the accessory will ship on November 7. Free engravings are also available for Apple Pencil.
Secondly, the new Smart Keyboard Folio for iPad Pro is available for pre-order in two sizes: 11-inch at $179.00 and 12.9-inch at $199.00. There is only one Space Gray color for the Smart Keyboard Folio.
Keyboard language options include U.S. English, Arabic, British English, Chinese, Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portugese, Russian, Swiss, Traditional Chinese, and Spanish. These will also launch and start delivering on November 7.
Lastly, Apple rolled out a new set of Smart Folio cases for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The 11-inch option comes in Charcoal Gray, Pink Sand, and White for $79.00, while the 12.9-inch version only comes in Charcoal Gray and White for $99.00.
The Smart Folio accessories are shipping faster, and orders made today will be delivered as soon as Thursday, November 1.
Apple's iPad and Mac-centric event that saw the launch of new iPad Pro models, a refreshed version of the MacBook Air, and a new Mac mini has officially wrapped up, and with the culmination of the event, Apple has posted the full video of the new product unveilings on its website.
For those who were avoiding news of the event because of being unable to watch the video due to work or school, the full event video will offer the chance to catch up on all of the announcements.
Apple will eventually publish the event video on its YouTube channel, but in the meantime, the company has shared several of the videos that were shown on stage, which we've included below.
iPad Pro
Mac mini
MacBook Air
Introductory Mac Video
We'll have plenty more coverage of all of the new iPad and Mac announcements today, including a video of everything that debuted, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors for all of the details you need to know.
Prior to today's event, iPad Pro rumors suggested Apple would remove the headphone jack from the updated tablet, and as it turns out, those rumors were accurate.
Apple's newly redesigned 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models do not feature a headphone jack, with the port now officially eliminated from all flagship iPhone and iPad models.
Apple's new tablets are just 5.9mm thick, a slim size that was likely enabled through the removal of the headphone jack. To allow customers to use 3.5mm headphones with their new tablets, Apple is selling a $9 USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack, which will plug in to the USB-C port on the bottom of the device.
The USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack is not included with an iPad Pro purchase and must be bought separately if you want to use 3.5mm headphones with the new tablet.
The headphone jack has been missing from the iPhone since the introduction of the iPhone 7, which upset many customers at the time of its removal. Since then, people have become accustomed to using Bluetooth headphones like the AirPods, which may be why Apple felt that it was also time to eliminate the port from its new iPads as well.
Apple's iPad Pro models feature its latest technology with edge-to-edge displays, Face ID, super fast A12X bionic chips, and USB-C connectivity rather than a Lightning port.
Tucked away in a press release, Apple revealed it is bringing AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics to MacBook Pro for the first time. The company says these new graphic options deliver up to 60 percent faster graphics performance for the most demanding video editing, 3D design and rendering workloads.
The new configurations are set to be custom-order only from Apple's online and retail stores, with availability at Apple Authorized Resellers also expected, from Wednesday, November 14. Apple has yet to release pricing details.
Apple has also introduced a $9 USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter to allow standard 3.5mm headphones to be connected to the tablet, which no longer features a headphone jack.
Last week, Apple introduced a 0.3m USB-C version of the Apple Watch charger, which will work with the new iPad Pro models. The iPad Pro with USB-C is able to charge an Apple Watch or an iPhone over a USB-C cable.
Apple's online store is now listing a new Blackmagic eGPU "Pro", following several major product launches today.
The new Blackmagic eGPU Pro features a Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics processor with 8GB of HBM2 memory, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DisplayPort 1.4 port, allowing for 85W of power to charge a MacBook Pro at the same time.
Alongside the new iPad Pro, Apple also announced a new Apple Pencil available for $129 (preorders today, shipping November 7). The second-generation pencil magnetically attaches to the new iPad Pro for both pairing and wireless charging.
The biggest addition to the Pencil, aside from the new magnetic charging feature, is a double-tap gesture — a finger tap on the pencil itself while you hold it — that can do different things depending on the app. In Notes, for example, a double-tap changes the tool. In Photoshop for iPad, a double-tap zooms in or out of the image. Taps are customizable, though, for better personalization. Tap a locked iPad with the pencil, and it wakes up the device and opens right up into the Notes app.
There are no connectors or moving parts now, just the simple pencil itself. Apple also offers engraving through the Apple Store, to personalize it further (helpful for telling Pencils apart in a design studio).
Like the previous pencil, it works with no perceptible lag, is pressure sensitive for drawing and sketching, and is aware of tilt for shading.
The second-generation pencil is available for $129 with free engraving, and is compatible with the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The first-generation pencil sticks around for $99, for owners of older, compatible iPads. (iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st and 2nd generations, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and the 6th generation iPad)
