I have been a part of the iPad Pro ecosystem for a while now . For the most part , it comes out of professional obligations , rather than personal necessities . It ’s a rather expensive spot to be in , to be fair .
The worst part ? Finding a competitory , budget - friendly choice is like depart on a unreasoning , combine - first - regret - later purchase spree . The stylus position is no exception . There is always some caveat , if you put your trust in almost any other recording label .
This twelvemonth , ESR came to CES 2025 with a rather sheer intersection . A pencil withFind My financial support . It looks like an Apple Pencil , bond magnetically , and even supports nicety like controversy recognition .
All that — under $ 30 — a fraction of what Apple currently asks forits tinny stylus . That ’s not all . ESR ’s stylus even leapfrogs Apple with a facility that even the earthly concern ’s most worthful party has n’t essay so far .
Find My is here. And it works!
I latterly lose myApple Pencil Pro . It costs $ 129 in the US , while my cheeseparing Apple Store deal it for $ 137 . I bought it predominantly because I forget hooey faster than my cat disregards the fact that it just had its supper and lunges at my snacks .
Support for Apple ’s Find My location tracking system was the self-aggrandising draw of Apple Pencil Pro for me , but I still could n’t locate the misplaced stylus . It shortly ran out of barrage , and that was the end of the tarradiddle for me .
I never bribe a transposition . I do n’t have the heart for it , even though I miss it terribly . The only grounds is the high ask , especially for a style . ESR gave me the perfect solution for that FOMO .
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is the man ’s first non - Apple style that propose reinforcement for the company ’s expansiveFind My internet . The only other stylus that serves this installation is the Apple Pencil Pro . Even the price - fit second - gen Apple Pencil miss the fringe benefit .
Any person who has ever lost their Apple geared wheel , and finagle to recover it , knows just how useful it can be . There is no dearth of cases where mass have tracked and found their belongings using AirTags , which rely on the Find My web to do their job .
For the same reason , you may have issue forth across Find My compatibility baked at the centre of haversack , pocketbook , and even outback controllers that are fitted with an AirTag . by nature , getting the perk on a $ 30 stylus is nothing short of a pleasant surprise .
On the ESR Geo Digital Stylus , the whole scheme works cleanly . The Bluetooth pairing process is straightforward , and a nimble trip-up to the pre - install Find My app on the iPad did the task in less than a minute .
All you have to do is pick a name for the stylus , add up an emoji during the setup process ( for reasons only know to the occult master in Cupertino ) , and you ’re good to go .
And here is the nicer part . The ESR style comes with its own speaker assembly onboard . While tracking the style using the determine My web , you’re able to select to play a beep so that you’re able to find it using audio cues .
I had some concerns . Is Find My financial support merely a namesake selling ploy with watered - down functionality , give the fractional cost you pay for the ESR style compared to Apple ’s choice ? I was wrong .
You get the full Find My instauration here . And in my trial , it worked just fine . I am bright that I do n’t miss this one , but if it is misplace , I would at least harbour on to the splinter of Bob Hope that is Find My , instead of giving up completely on yet another fiscal hit .
Is it a good stylus, though?
So , what do you overleap compared to the second - gen Apple Pencil , which cost $ 129 ? Pressure predisposition , magnetic charging , and double hydrant for change the drawing cock . None of those are a make - or - expose aspect for me . I have used the Apple Pencil USB - C , and it offers none of those restroom , either .
Moreover , for my basic needs , the ESR choice hatch it all . With a $ 30 style , that ’s a lot more note value than what you would get pay for an old Apple stylus , or even the latest model with a USB - C interface .
The ESR style abide by the same pattern language as Apple . But unlike Apple ’s all - white approaching , ESR also has pink and dark nicety on the tabular array .
The weight distribution seems well - balanced , and the magnetised attachment is secure . While moving with an iPad mini , and an iPad Pro , the pencil securely latched to the magnetic connexion and did n’t shine off even while walking with the Apple slating .
As far as stimulation go , I do n’t have any complaints . There is no observable lag and disceptation sensitiveness exercise just okay . I handed over the ESR style to a friend who does Arabic and Iranian penmanship .
After using the style on my13 - inch M4 iPad Pro , he was cheerily surprised with the fluidness and “ near - zero latency . ”
“ This is very nice for the price . Just ensure you put a matt filmdom shielder on your iPad , and the sketching experience will jump a notch , ” he told me . He was good .
I tried sketching on my sister’sM1 iPad Pro , which has a paper - similar screen protector , and I loved the experience . The bestow surface - level clasp really induce a difference , compared to the nude field glass open .
rock identification was also mostly on point while using a variety of brush stroking and playpen style . Overall , if you ’re eye a budget - friendly style that is antiphonal and accurate , the ESR Geo Digital Stylus wo n’t leave you with a case of the capitalist regret malady .
A few other niceties
The ESR stylus only attaches magnetically to the iPad , but does n’t transfer power , like the second - gen Apple Pencil or its Pro variate . That ’s not much of a tussle .
Support for fast wired charging assure that the ESR Geo Digital Pencil can be full top up in approximately 30 minutes , rough matching the pace of Apple ’s stylus portfolio .
ESR foretell a fuel consumption rate of around 12 60 minutes per bursting charge . Realistically though , you wo n’t have to worry about those numbers . I have n’t charged the stylus so far , despite taking notes deserving over 40 Page during interviews .
That ’s because I often plug it into the spare USB - C cable on my desk , every metre I took a break . For college students who utilize an iPad as their primary note - taking equipment for lectures — like my own babe — this stylus should well last 3 - 4 days on medium .
Another ready to hand design chemical element — which is again missing from the Apple Pencil — is the halo band at the top . A still low luminousness entail the stylus is power on and connect . When punch in , the light blink away , while red is an indicator of a scurvy battery .
I love these great short feature film .
There is one more surprise . The round button at the top is not merely a world power key . or else , it ’s a multifunction button for a couple of UI shortcuts on iPadOS .
A single tap takes you to the Home Screen , while a quick double spigot launch the software multi - task sentiment . That ’s a readiness you do n’t even get on the iPad .
Ideally , this button should have been customizable for more stylus control , like brush alteration or undo gesture . I believe Apple is keep the necessary stylus software stack or the hidden API sauce limit to its own ecosystem . Sigh !
Worth it? Heck yeah!
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is a endearing peripheral . If you are look for a style that wo n’t distribute a setback to your wallet ( take : Apple Pencil ) , this is the one to find fault .
Heck , I would advocate it solely for the Find My facility alone . Surprisingly , the core sketching and note - taking experience is also marvelous . too , the multi - function strong-arm clitoris and magnetic attachment facility are just the cherry on top .
In a nutshell , if your budget is just $ 30 , this is the only stylus I would recommend . Even a comparative analysis with pricier stylii will put down you at ESR ’s doorsteps .
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is now up for snatch fromAmazon .
