Do the iPad Air models support pen input? Which iPad Air models? What Apple Pencil models are compatible with which iPad Air models?

The original and iPad Air 2 models do not support any Apple Pencil.

The iPad Air 3 and later models support an Apple Pencil, but they do not support the same Apple Pencil. These Apple Pencil models have differing capabilities and functionality, as well.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Original Apple Pencil & Apple Pencil 2)

Differences Between Apple Pencil Models (Skip)

There are four currently sold Apple Pencil models:

Apple Pencil	Model	Order	Charging	US Price
Original	A1603	MK0C2AM/A	Lightning	US$99
2nd Gen	A2051	MU8F2AM/A	Magnetic	US$129
USB-C	A3085	MUWA3AM/A	USB-C*	US$79
Pro	A2538	MX2D3AM/A	Magnetic	US$129

* The Apple Pencil (USB-C) attaches magnetically to the side of iPad Air models with this capability but it only charges via a physical USB-C connection.

The four different Apple Pencil models also support a motley assortment of different capabilities:

Apple Pencil	Original	2nd Gen	USB-C	Pro
Removable Cap	Yes	No	No*	No
Pressure Sensitivity	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Magnetic Attachment	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Magnetic Charging	No	Yes	No*	Yes
Hover Support	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Double Tap Change	No	Yes	No	Yes
Barrel Roll	No	No	No	Yes
Squeeze	No	No	No	Yes
Haptic Feedback	No	No	No	Yes
Find My	No	No	No	Yes

* The Apple Pencil (USB-C) has a non-removable cap that slides to reveal the USB-C port for charging.

Apple Pencil Compatibility with Different iPad Air Models

The four iPad Air models that support an Apple Pencil support different versions:

Apple Pencil	Original	2nd Gen	USB-C	Pro
iPad Air (Original)	No	No	No	No
iPad Air 2	No	No	No	No
iPad Air 3	Yes	No	No	No
iPad Air 4	No	Yes	Yes	No
iPad Air 5	No	Yes	Yes	No
iPad Air 11" M2	No	No	Yes	Yes
iPad Air 13" M2	No	No	Yes	Yes

If you are not certain which iPad Air you have, the easiest way to identify each is by its Model Number; externally displayed toward the bottom on the back of each device.

Original & iPad Air 2 Third-Party iPad Air Pen Option

Based on personal use, our preferred third-party pen was the Wacom Bamboo Fineline, available before Apple released their own Apple Pencil options.

Although the Wacom Bamboo Fineline is getting more difficult to find and it can be a bit flaky from time-to-time (sometimes requiring a reset), it connects via Bluetooth and supports pressure sensitivity and palm rejection in a number of compatible graphic design and note-taking apps. It generally works well with any iPad Air with iOS 8 or newer installed.

Photo Credit: Wacom, Inc. (Bamboo Fineline)

If you're on a very tight budget, you might give a cheap no-name option a try for your increasingly vintage iPad Air. These simple pens typically do not pair via Bluetooth and do not support pressure sensitivity or palm rejection, but can work well enough as a pen with the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 if you are not picky.

Choosing the Best iPad Air Compatible Pen for You

For the newest iPad Air 11" M2 or iPad Air 13" M2, the Apple Pencil Pro is the best choice, and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) charges so awkwardly that it really isn't worth considering unless you are on a very tight budget.

For those with an iPad Air 4 or iPad Air 5, Everyi.com definitely recommended that you buy the excellent Apple Pencil 2 when it was initially released. The only issue now is that it will not work with a newer iPad Air, so keep that in mind for the future. We are not really a fan of the Apple Pencil (USB-C), but if you bought one today for the iPad Air 4 or iPad Air 5, you probably would be able to use it with your next iPad, as well. If you can tolerate the awkward charging, you would save a bit of money.

For the iPad Air 3, the original Apple Pencil likely is the best choice, even though it charges quite awkwardly and won't work with your next iPad, either. If your budget and expectations are modest, you might make do with a cheap generic option for the time being.

For the original iPad Air or iPad Air 2, we would suggest trying to find a Wacom Bamboo Fineline, but if you have a modest budget and expectations, inexpensive generic options may be good enough for you, as well.

Apple Authorized site sponsor Adorama sells all Apple Pencil models -- the original Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Apple Pencil Pro.