Lauren Goode, writing for The Verge:
The Pencil is just plain fun. It is indeed Apple white, and there are Apple-y things about it — for example, the fact that it is weighted, and won’t roll away on a table top, and always stops rolling with the word “Pencil” facing upward on its metal band (seriously, I’ve tried this at least a dozen times).
Got to love the attention to detail here.
The Pencil’s greatest feature, then, is its precision. In my experience there was almost no latency between the Pencil and the screen; it really felt like I was using a pencil or pen. Unlike styluses that rely on Bluetooth connectivity, the iPad Pro senses when a stylus is near the display and scans for a “tip signal” 240 times per second, Apple says.
The vast majority of Apple Pencil reviews I’ve read have been extremely positive. Unfortunately, the shipping dates are still 4-5 weeks out. Is what it is.
Note that there is a steady stream of Apple Pencils for sale on eBay. If you have to have one soon, and are willing to pay the premium, it’s an option.
For digital artists and tablet note takers, the iPad Pro’s palm rejection software is nearly as important as the stylus, if not more so. I pressed and dragged my palm along the iPad Pro’s display while using four different apps — Apple Notes, Adobe Sketch, FiftyThree Paper, and Notability — and I couldn’t leave a palm mark no matter how hard I tried. I was also able to switch between using my finger and using the stylus without any lags.
Same with palm rejection, extremely positive reviews all around. The iPad Pro is a remarkable achievement.
I have reservation about the ergonomic design of the Pencil. Having used thousands of pencils for drawing and drafting in my life, I know that a round pencil is a poor ergonomic design. This is reminiscent of the Magic Mouse, which also looks great with the round contours, but tires the user’s hand too easily. It’s interesting that for all Apple’s design prowess, their products are not noted for the best ergonomics.
You don’t say what it should be besides round. I can only assume you mean six-sided, like a No.2 Ticonderoga. Round is probably the most compatible shape for most people, while still being ‘on brand.’
The first software shop that develops a really good “coloring book” app for the iPad Pro is going to make a killing.