Writing on iPad: should the mine of the Apple Pencil be changed?

Apple slips a « pointe » spares in the box of the first generation Pencil, but do not bother to provide any with the second generation. This begs the question: how do you know that a mine is worn out? How to replace it? Do you absolutely have to use the (expensive) Apple tips? Can replacement leads affect how the pen glides across the screen?

The lead, referred to as a “tip” by Apple, screws around the shaft of the stylus. Pressure and tilt are calculated by measuring the deformations of the screen’s shaft and electromagnetic grid, as well as the relative distance between the screen and the metal parts of the stylus. Image iGeneration.

A mine at the forefront

If you don’t use your Pencil much, you won’t notice any signs of lead wear for two or three years. More regular users will probably need to replace it every six to twelve months, and professional illustrators have been known to switch a set of four replacement nibs per year ! In any case, don’t wait until you have removed the plastic down to the metal “ball” to replace the lead.