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If you’ve got an iPad, chances are you’ve considered getting an Apple Pencil or a similar stylus. While they all do the same thing on paper, the market offers numerous options. The Apple Pencil lineup certainly takes the cake in terms of popularity, but they are expensive — even on sale.
Also: The best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals: Live updates on last chance offers
Right now, my favorite Apple Pencil “dupe” is the ESR Geo Pencil, and it’s on sale starting at $28, depending on the color you choose. Thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (which ends tonight), the already affordable stylus is now 22% off.
I’ve written a full comparison of the Geo Pencil and the Apple Pencil Pro (and other Apple Pencil models). Still, the basic takeaway here is that the ESR Geo Pencil packs a lot of value into a single stylus that’s hard to ignore.
Also: Last chance to shop the best Amazon Spring Sale tablet deals
The ESR Geo Pencil is compatible with most iPads made after 2018, including the latest models. While it doesn’t offer everything some of the pricier Apple Pencil models do (it lacks wireless charging, automatic power-off, or intuitive features tied to iPadOS), it does offer fast 20-minute charging, a 12-hour battery, and some elevated aspects like shortcuts, handwriting, shape sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, and more. It also has replaceable tips, FindMy technology, and magnetic attachment. The white model is also just $28 now, which is still $72 cheaper than the Apple Pencil Pro, which is on sale for $99.
Also: Apple Pencil Pro vs ESR Geo Pencil: I tested both, here’s what I recommend
For students, kids, note-takers, and most casual iPad users, I don’t find many reasons to splurge on the Apple Pencil when the Geo Pencil does the basics so well. I personally use the Geo pencil in my everyday routine with my iPad Air M2, and it’s exactly what I need. The battery is great for my regular tasks like browsing, streaming, note-taking, and more, and I love that it magnetically secures to the side. I paired my Geo Pencil with ESR’s $20 Folio iPad case, and it’s been the perfect setup for light use. I’m not a heavy stylus or iPad user to begin with, so do keep this in mind if you are, but for most people, this stylus offers everything you really need.
How I rated this deal
According to our deal-rating system, this 22% off deal should be rated 3/5 by editors. I’ve chosen to downgrade it to a 2/5 Editors’ deal rating, since not every color is discounted by the same amount, and I would have really loved to see at least a 25% discount. But this is still an affordable buy that works great.
When will this deal expire?
I’m not sure if this 22% off deal will expire at the end of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, but if you’re considering it, I wouldn’t wait. Amazon’s sale ends at 11: 59 p.m. PDT tonight, so we’re heading into the last few hours to shop for spring savings.
How do we rate deals at ZDNET?
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Last year, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.
At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors, such as frequency, brand, or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.
