The 8 Best Active Styluses
Updated by · How we research
Eight active styluses for iPads, Surface tablets, Windows 2-in-1s and phones, compared by pressure, tilt and power. The Apple Pencil Pro leads for newer iPads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An active stylus carries its own electronics and talks to a matching sensor under the screen, which is how it knows pressure, tilt and where your palm is. The catch is that it only works on screens built for its system, so check your device before you buy. This list covers iPads, Surface tablets, Windows convertibles and phones.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Apple Pencil Pro now leads, but the most useful thing we can tell anyone shopping for a pen is to look up their screen first. An active pen talks to a sensor under the glass, and Apple, Microsoft, Wacom-style laptops and Chromebooks each use their own system, so a great pen on the wrong device does nothing.
Only the SonarPen survives from the previous list, because nothing else gives a phone pressure sensing without a battery. You can't buy the Heiyo Dia, Heiyo Beryl, Ciscle Pen, Lenovo Pen 2, Adonit Note Plus or Wacom Bamboo Ink Plus new anymore, and Logitech stopped selling the Crayon in 2026. The Surface Slim Pen 2 replaces the older Surface Pen, and two current Apple pencils replace the second-generation one. New are the LAZARITE M Pen, the HP Tilt Pen MPP 2, the Dell Active Pen PN5122W and the Metapen A8.
We ranked from Apple's iPad compatibility page, Microsoft's Slim Pen 2 fact sheet, Dell's user guide and LAZARITE's laptop list, then weighed what owners report about pairing, tips and battery life.
Earlier notes
November 10, 2020, by Fred Naumann:
The biggest limitation for any active stylus is compatibility. Unlike passive models, which make use of a touch screen's capacitive sensing without needing to involve software, these pens must connect with a device and a program in order to make use of their advanced features. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a truly universal active stylus, since the biggest tech manufacturers use incompatible systems, and not all pens will work with all apps. The Microsoft Surface Pen and the Apple Pencil 2nd Generation are purpose-built for the tablets and hybrid devices of their respective companies, and it shows. They're precisely configured for the built-in software of their companion machines, meaning they pair seamlessly and draw smoother lines than their competitors. The Surface Pen was previously ranked lower due to the fact that it only works with a specific line of devices, but that's ultimately true of any smart pen until a universal standard emerges. We moved it up to reflect its excellent performance.
However, the #1 spot on the list goes to the Heiyo Dia Surface Pen, one of the few budget options that can challenge the performance of the name-brand choices. It offers the same pressure sensitivity and automatic pairing as the Microsoft Surface Pen, at a much lower price. It doesn't auto-charge while in use the way the more expensive model does, but with 500 hours of battery life, that's not too much of a sacrifice.
One interesting new addition is the GreenBulb SonarPen, which sidesteps the potential issues with Bluetooth connections and battery life by physically plugging in to a headphone jack. It does have some downsides: it won't work with some of the more popular apps for professional creatives, and its palm rejection could be better. Still, it's extremely budget-friendly for a pressure-sensitive stylus, and it will never run out of battery while you're using it.
If you're in creating digital art, you may want to review our list of the best drawing tablets, as well as looking into a stand to go with your device. Or if you need a good solution for note-taking, check out these digital pens that can record and upload what you write.
November 22, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
Active styli are different from passive ones in that they have an internal power source that enables features like tilt recognition and pressure sensitivity. The Apple Pencil is by far the highest-quality option available, but as you might expect it's only compatible with iPads, and only recent ones at that. On the Windows side of things, the OEM Microsoft Surface Pen is a great piece of equipment as well, but it reportedly does not work with laptops from any other manufacturers. For Lenovo users, the Lenovo Pen 2 is among the most highly recommended. And while the Nintendo Switch is notoriously picky about which aftermarket accessories it works with, the BoxWave AccuPoint does appear to be completely compatible.
If you're using an Apple device and don't want to spring for the pricey Apple Pencil, the Logitech Crayon is slightly less expensive and almost as full-featured. The Heiyo Dia Surface Pen and Heiyo Beryl are both reasonably priced and work great with quite a few different devices; in fact, the Beryl works for even more laptops and tablets than it's advertised for use with. The Ciscle Pen is impressively low-priced and while it isn't terribly fancy, it does work quite well with most devices. Overall, though the Vorcsbine 4096 is one of the best deals, as it feels and operates like a high-end tool despite its relatively low cost.
Special Honors
Samsung S Pen Galaxy tablets and some Galaxy phones work with Samsung's own S Pen, which uses a battery-free sensor system that the pens on this list can't talk to. Many Galaxy Tab models include one in the box, and Samsung sells replacements and creator versions for its devices. samsung.com
Match The Pen To Your Screen First
Other Windows laptops, including many Dell and Lenovo models, use Wacom's AES.
An active stylus only works with a screen that speaks its language, and "touchscreen" on a spec sheet isn't enough. HP's pen and stylus glossary explains the split: a passive, or capacitive, stylus is a soft tip that acts like a fingertip on any screen, while an active pen has electronics inside and needs a matching sensor in the device.
iPads take only Apple Pencils or pens built for iPads, and each Apple Pencil fits a different set of models; Apple keeps the list on its compatibility page. Surface tablets and many Windows 2-in-1s use the Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP). Other Windows laptops, including many Dell and Lenovo models, use Wacom's AES. Chromebooks and some Android tablets use the Universal Stylus Initiative standard, and Samsung's S Pen and e-ink notebooks use a battery-free system called EMR. Penplusone's protocol guide lays the four side by side.
To find yours, search your exact laptop or tablet model plus "pen protocol", or check the maker's accessory page. If a Windows laptop's documents name both MPP and AES, or you can't tell, a dual-mode pen such as the LAZARITE M Pen is the safer buy.
Pressure, Tilt, Palm Rejection And Hover
Pressure sensitivity lets a line get thicker or darker as you press harder. Windows pens commonly read 4,096 levels, which is plenty for sketching. Note-takers don't need it at all, which is why cheap iPad pens such as the Metapen A8 skip it and still sell well. The Apple Pencil (USB-C) skips it too, so if you draw on an iPad, pick a Pencil model with pressure.
Tilt lets you shade with the side of the tip, like a pencil. Palm rejection lets your hand rest on the screen while you write, and it depends on the pen and the device working together. Hover shows where the tip will land before it touches, which helps with small buttons and precise lines.
Extras vary by maker. Microsoft's Slim Pen 2 fact sheet notes that its haptic buzz and zero-force inking only work on certain Surface models, and it rates the pen at up to 15 hours. Battery type matters too: rechargeable pens need a cable or dock, while AAAA pens like Dell's PN5122W run for months but need a less common cell.
How To Run An Active Stylus Test
A few minutes in a blank drawing or notes app tells you whether a new pen is working right. Draw a slow line while pressing harder as you go: on a pressure pen, it should thicken smoothly with no jumps. Rest your palm on the glass and write a sentence; stray marks under your hand mean palm rejection isn't on, often because the app's setting is off. Tilt the pen and shade a patch to check tilt.
Next, draw a slow diagonal line with a ruler. A wavy line, sometimes called jitter, points to a worn tip, a screen protector or a weak connection. Scribble fast to see how far the ink trails behind the tip, hover the pen to see if a cursor follows it, and try the side buttons. Then put the device to sleep, wake it and make sure the pen still works without re-pairing.
Tips wear, especially on matte screen protectors, so buy a pen whose replacement tips you can find. Use the maker's cable for rechargeable pens, and stop charging any pen that swells or gets hot. The CPSC is the place to check for recalls; we found none for the pens on this list. Keep spare button cells and AAAA batteries away from small children.
How we researched this
We compared 21 active styluses and styluses sold as active pens, read the makers' compatibility lists, fact sheets and user guides for the 8 finalists, analyzed owner feedback, and checked each brand against the CPSC recall database. Prices were checked on November 1, 2026.
Sources (11)
- Apple: Apple Pencil compatibility
- Microsoft: Surface Slim Pen 2 fact sheet
- Dell: PN5122W user guide, specifications
- Dell: PN5122W datasheet
- LAZARITE: M Pen compatibility
- HP: pens and styluses glossary
- Penplusone: EMR, AES, MPP and USI explained
- Wikipedia: Universal Stylus Initiative
- Logitech: Crayon end-of-sale notice
- LaptopMag: best styluses
- CPSC recalls
Frequently asked questions
What is an active stylus?
It's a pen with electronics inside that talks to a sensor in the screen. That lets it sense pressure, tilt and your palm, and offer buttons. A passive stylus is just a soft tip that acts like a finger.
Will an active stylus work on any touchscreen?
No. It works only with screens built for its system: Apple Pencil for iPads, MPP or AES for Windows laptops, USI for Chromebooks, S Pen for Samsung. Check your exact model first.
What's the best active stylus for Windows 10 or 11?
On a Surface, the Surface Slim Pen 2. On other Windows laptops, the maker's own pen, or the LAZARITE M Pen if you're not sure whether your screen uses MPP or AES.
Do I need pressure sensitivity?
Only for drawing or hand lettering. For notes, markup and signing, a pen without it, such as the Metapen A8, is fine.
How do I test an active stylus?
Draw a line while pressing harder, write with your palm on the glass, shade with the pen tilted and draw a slow diagonal with a ruler. Thickening lines, no stray palm marks and a straight diagonal mean it's working.
Are there budget-friendly styluses that work on phones?
Apple Pencils don't work on iPhones, and most phones have no pen sensor. The SonarPen adds pressure sensing through the headphone jack; a basic passive stylus works on any phone for tapping.
