Drawing on the iPad: 12 touchscreen styluses

06.05.2011

Both Ten One styluses use a capacitive nib (the tip that actually makes contact with the touchscreen) rather than the silicone more-recent models have adopted. This works to their advantage when navigating smaller links on a Safari page or within an app; however, when drawing or writing, the foam generates more friction against the touchscreen, making it more difficult to keep a steady hand while trying to execute clean lines. At the same time, the Sketch and Stylus excel at precision work. When zoomed in on your canvas, the relatively smaller radius of their nibs makes it easier to see what you're working on and what you need to do next.

The major difference separating the Pogo Sketch and Stylus is the Sketch's longer body is designed for writing and sketching on a touch device or trackpad, while the Stylus is shorter and aimed at the general "I want to use a stylus with my touchscreen device" market. The Stylus is just barely long enough to fit comfortably in your hand, much like a well-worn, sharpened pencil--you must hold it almost vertically during use to avoid accidentally brushing against the screen. In other words, the Stylus is great for browsing apps or tapping on a virtual keyboard, but not so much for drawing.

(Both models provide a way to secure the stylus when not in use: the Sketch sports a traditional pen-style clip; the Stylus includes two clips that attach to your iPhone--one for a bare phone and the other to fit thin cases. The Stylus's iPhone clips can each double as an iPhone stand.)

The Pogo Sketch and Pogo Stylus are great tools for iPhone navigation and detail work, but the foam nib may produce too much friction for your liking. Additionally, the Stylus's short stature makes it difficult to write or do much in the way of long-form sketching, although it works well as a substitute for a fingertip for navigating your touchscreen.