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iPad Q&A
Update Published November 18, 2021
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Do the regular iPad models support pen input? Which ones? Do they support the Apple Pencil?
Pen input now is common for regular iPad models. Originally, the iPad was intended to support finger-based multitouch input, but even in the early days, there were numerous styli created for the iPad, like the once popular Pogo Stylus to emulate a skinny finger.
Photo Credit: Ten One Design LLC (Pogo Stylus)
Some Regular iPad Models Support Apple Pencil
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Original Apple Pencil)
Full-size iPad models from the iPad 6th Gen, 7th Gen, 8th Gen, and current 9th Gen lines support the original Apple Pencil (A1603, MK0C2AM/A):
Regular iPad Model |
Model No |
No regular iPad models support the newer Apple Pencil 2 (A2051, MU8F2AM/A) that charges more conveniently via a magnet connection on the side of some iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro tablets.
Best Third-Party Pens for Regular iPad Models
For the iPad 6th Gen, 7th Gen, 8th Gen, and 9th Gen models, the original Apple Pencil likely is your best bet. However, for those with an older iPad that is capable of running at least iOS 8 (all iPad models except for the original A1219 and A1337 tablets), there are other good options.
Based on personal use, the EveryiPad.com third-party favorite is the Wacom Bamboo Fineline, although it is getting hard to find these days. When it was first released, it was not cheap, but it connects via Bluetooth and supports pressure sensitivity and palm rejection in a number of compatible graphic design and note-taking apps.
Photo Credit: Wacom, Inc. (Bamboo Fineline)
If you want an inexpensive pen and have modest expectations, you might like generic options like the XIRON Stylus Pen or Meko Universal Disc Stylus. They do not pair via Bluetooth and do not support pressure sensitivity or palm rejection, but they can work well enough.
Photo Credit: XIRON (Left), Meko (Right)
Naturally, these pens from XIRON and Meko are not nearly as sophisticated or as accurate as the Apple and Wacom options, but they generally are well regarded for the price.
Apple Authorized site sponsor Adorama sells the original Apple Pencil that is compatible with the iPad 6th Gen, 7th Gen, 8th Gen, and 9th Gen models.
Does the iPad support handwriting recognition?
The iPad has long supported handwriting recognition for Simplified Chinese input as well as some other languages that do not use Roman Characters. Starting with iPadOS 14, the iPad supports a "Scribble" feature that turns handwritten English into typed characters, as well.
Do the iPad models support Voice Control or Siri?
The iPad models do not support Voice Control -- which allows one to speak commands to make phone calls and play music on the vintage iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM) and iPhone 4 (CDMA).
As originally shipped, the iPad models also did not support the "Siri" assistant that the iPhone 4S and subsequently released iPhone models do, either. All iPad models support VoiceOver, which is a screen reader designed for the visually impaired.
Additionally, the iPad 3rd Gen models originally supported "Dictation," which transcribes speech to text.
However, with iOS 6 installed, the aforementioned iPad 3rd Gen models do support Siri. All subsequent iPad models support Siri as shipped. Even running iOS 6 or later versions of the iOS, however, the iPad 2 models still do not support Siri.
This is visualized most conveniently as a chart:
Siri Support |
iOS 4 |
iOS 5 |
iOS 6 |
iOS 7 |
iOS 8 |
iOS 9 |
Original iPad |
No |
No |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
iPad 2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
iPad 3rd Gen |
-- |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad 4th Gen |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad mini |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad mini 2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad mini 3 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad mini 4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
iPad Air |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad Air 2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
Yes |
iPad Pro |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Yes |
All models capable of running iOS 10 or later versions of the iOS are capable of running Siri.
If you are not sure which iPad you have, please refer to EveryiPad.com's iPad Identification section.
Do the iPad models support Skype? Can they be used to make VOIP calls?
All iPad models support Skype, as well as other programs, for VOIP calls.
However, the original iPad models -- the iPad (Wi-Fi) and iPad (Wi-Fi/3G/A-GPS) -- do not have a webcam, so they could not be used for video conferencing. All subsequently released iPad models have an integrated webcam and support Skype and other apps for video communication, too.
Do the iPad models support Flash?
These days, this is effectively a non-issue because Flash is dead. However, when the iPad first was released, it was a matter of concern for some users.
The iPad models do not support Flash, which means that websites dependent on Flash for navigation or content cannot be used with the device. Apple was opposed to Flash performance (as well as on ideological grounds), and instead preferred that video websites migrate content to HTML5.
Also see: Does the iPhone support Flash?
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