The next Apple Pencil could detect colors and textures

We are only a few days away from 2023 and we are already hearing regarding the next Apple products!

Although the Apple Pencil is a fairly advanced stylus, it hasn’t changed much from generation to generation. But thanks to a recent patent, it looks like future versions of the smart pen might pack some extra features.

In a patent filed in the United States, Apple details a future Apple Pencil that samples colors and textures from the real world. The stylus would use color sensors in the tip to detect the color of objects, then send that information back to a connected iPad. Ambient light sensors and light emitters would also help the pencil detect an object’s surface texture.
With the Apple Pencil being used mostly by creatives, this upcoming feature might bring great functionality to the stylus. This would make it easier to design or draw objects, with colors and textures applied with just a tap of the pencil. We would certainly expect this to increase the popularity of the stylus as well.

Since it’s currently just a patent (and one recently filed), it’s unclear when we might see the feature. The second-generation Apple Pencil launched in 2018, so a third-generation option should be coming soon. We expect to release alongside the new iPad Pros – and we’re set for a big iPad Pro refresh in 2024 with the M3 chipset and OLED panel.