Photo: Apple
Rumours suggest Apple is testing a new Apple Pencil compatible with the Vision Pro headset. This information comes from MacRumors, citing an anonymous source. While details are scarce, the possibility is exciting. Imagine turning the world into your canvas with the Apple Pencil in augmented reality!
The report suggests the Pencil would work on real-world surfaces like desks, with pressure and tilt sensitivity for precise control in Vision Pro's art apps. Software updates would be needed (potentially with visionOS 1.2 or the upcoming visionOS 2 at WWDC 2024), but the exact timeline remains unclear.
An Apple Pencil refresh is also rumoured alongside new iPads. Whether these updates are connected is unknown.
One thing's for sure: the Apple Pencil could be a game-changer for the Vision Pro. The headset's hands-free control, with eye and hand tracking, is great for most tasks. But for artists, it creates conflict. Eye movements between reference images and the canvas disrupt the creative flow. Current art apps also have bug issues.
The Apple Pencil's role would be to stabilize the canvas and streamline control. This would eliminate the awkward back-and-forth between eye tracking and hand gestures, allowing artists to focus on their creations.