The Big iPad Stylus Review

We enlisted 5 iPad Doodlers to test 5 top capacitive stylus models over a 3 week period. They were the oStylus from oStylus.com, the P501 from Dagi, the Zero 2 from Touch Pensys, the Pogo stylus from TenOne Design and the rubber tipped, Exspect capacitive stylus. There are distinct differences in the way each of the above examples allows you to connect with the iPad's surface. With such a variety of capitative styluses out there now, we wanted to help you in deciding which would suit your needs best. We looked primarily for accuracy and control over your mark making, as well as a smooth stroke and all round natural feel.

oStylus

Good points

• If there were a design icon in the world of styluses, this would be mine. The oStylus's unique and striking design makes you feel like a professional draughts man, even when you're doing the quickest of doodles. Built entirely from solid, anodised and sandblasted aluminium with titanium wire connecting the ring shaped contact point to the main body, the materials used make this feel like a high-end and durable tool.
• The unique design of the ring donut shaped tip allows you to see exactly what marks you're making, as you make them. This is great for accuracy and let's you feel in complete control. The flexible hinge on the contact point pivots back and forth with the movement of your hand, allowing for smooth and uninterrupted movement across the surface of the iPad. It's weight (12 grams) and handle length (14cm) really do mimic well, the feel of a paint brush. Very natural feel to it.

Not so good points

• The oStylus comes with replacement ring shaped vinyl stickers for the bottom of the donut. The metal, when in contact with the iPad's screen, feels smooth, but a little harsh. It could be interesting to see how the stylus performs when this vinyl is replaced with a thin conductive lining of foam around the bottom of the ring perhaps (The manufacture's notes state that this vinyl feels smoother by providing less resistance than foam).
• oStylus comes in a solid, box case. It feels like a pro tool and doesn't act like any old pen you'd just shove in your pocket. This means it's not the most portable.

Price: $37.50 / £23.40

Rating: 4/5

P501 stylus from Dagi

Good points

• It looks like a normal everyday fine tip marker and will fit in your top pocket just like one too.
• The Dagi has taken a different approach from the oStylus in a bid to gain pin point accuracy. It has a thin transparent plastic tip, moulded to act as a flexible hinge. The circular end appears like a target with a single red dot at it's centre. All you need to do is take aim at the iPad's canvas. Unlike the foam tipped styluses, this simple, yet affective method works great when you really need to see exactly the path of your stroke.

Not so good points

• We were a little weary of snapping the transparent tip, especially when it was left in your pocket for any amount of time. Maybe like it's felt marker pen cousins, it needs a lid?
• The tip's moulded hinge shape, felt flexible, but not flexible enough. Contact with the iPad's surface felt smooth, but a little rigid.

Price: $23.00 / £14.30

Rating: 3.5/5

Pogo stylus from TenOne

Good points

• The Pogo stylus design is incredibly simple, and materials used, very basic. The Pogo appears to be the most popular stylus according to the 100 or so iPad artists we've surveyed. Giving the Pogo stylus to friends and family, it was also the easiest for them to pick up and immediately feel as if they were drawing naturally.
• Out of all the styluses we've had our hands on, it's for me, the best example of form = function. The conductive foam tip does everything it needs to. It's flexible enough for it to feel like a brush, yet just about accurate enough when you need it to be.
• Although This is a great example of form = function, it's also not bad in the looks department either. Available in 4 anodised metal colours, it takes after the iPod Shuffles and Nanos multi-colour aesthetic. A lot has been made of these basic materials to make this a slick looking product.

Not so good points

• The iPad is a new creative tool and achieving the accuracy you get with a pen or pencil on paper, with every stroke, can be a bit of a challenge. Although the Pogo is easy to pick up and use, if you're looking for a tool that will provide you with a pin point accurate stroke everytime, then the Dagi, or oStylus will be more for you.

Rating: 5/5

Price: $14.95 / £9.30

Rubber tipped stylus from Exspect

Good points

• Back in early 2010 when I was first introduced to the concept of an iPad and using a stylus with it, I had fears that the glossy screen would feel slippery. I wondered would drawing on it be made difficult due to the lack of resistance? With these fears in mind, I bought my first capacitive stylus and envisioned a rubber tipped version eliminating any slip factor. Indeed, the rubber did the job and has been found during our review to be the most resistant of any of the materials used in a stylus tip.
• It's compact and good for navigating the iPad's user interface.

Not so good points

• A little on the resistant side, the rubber tip made it feel to me like I was constantly using an eraser rather than a brush or pen.
• If you're a little overzealous with your pressure then you'll begin to find a rubber residue left behind on your screen. In fact, the first Exspect stylus I tested actually had it's rubber tip wear down so thin, it split.

Price: $8 / £4.99 (Available from Maplin)

Rating: 2/5

Zero 2 stylus from Touch Pensys

Good points

• The Touch Pensys Zero 2's foam tipped stylus is shaped in such a way as to resemble a Sharpie, Chisel Tip marker. Cut to a finer point than say the Pogo's foam, it does allow for a degree of greater accuracy.
• The Zero 2 is great when it comes to portability, it's compact and comes with a clip that lets you snap the stylus conveniently to the side of your iPad.

Not so good points

• Although it's body has been extened from it's predicessor (The Zero 1), it still feels a little short in your hand when you're trying to make broad, bold strokes.

Price: $12.90 / £8

Rating: 3/5