As an Apple Pencil enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how long the Apple Pencil tip lasts before it needs to be replaced. After a lot of research and some trial and error, I’m here to share what I’ve found out about how long an Apple Pencil tip can last, as well as some tips on how to prolong its life.
With regular use, you can expect the Apple Pencil tip to last for 6 months to a year. If you use the Apple Pencil regularly and you use a plastic screen protector, you may have to replace it every 3 months due to increased friction caused by the screen protector.
There are a number of things you can do to extend the lifespan of the Apple Pencil tip.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Regular use of the Apple Pencil tip lasts for 6 months to a year. |
| If you use a plastic screen protector with the Apple Pencil, you may need to replace it every 3 months due to increased friction. |
| Using a glass screen protector or no screen protector at all, and not pressing down too hard, can extend the lifespan of the Apple Pencil tip. |
| Replace the Apple Pencil tip if it is visibly damaged, scratched, worn down, or causing a lot of friction when drawing. |
Table of Contents
How long does the Apple Pencil nib last?
How long the Apple Pencil tip will last for you will depend significantly on your particular use case and how you are using the Apple Pencil.
With regular use, you can expect the Apple Pencil tip to last for 6 months to a year, if you are not using a plastic screen protector.
If you are using a plastic screen protector and you use the Apple Pencil daily, you can expect to have to replace the Apple Pencil tip more frequently and you might have to replace it as much as every 3 months.
Whereas, if you are not using a plastic screen protector and you do not use the Apple Pencil every day, it will likely last you for a year or longer.
I personally have been using the Apple Pencil for a year or so and the tip still looks like new. I do not use a screen protector, but I only use the Apple Pencil for about 3 hours each week.
Read more: can you damage the Apple Pencil?
How to make the Apple Pencil tip last longer
The main reason why the Apple Pencil tip wears down is due to friction. The more friction there is the faster the Apple Pencil tip will wear down.
If you use a plastic screen protector, that is designed to give you a more paper-like experience when you draw on the iPad, your Apple Pencil tip will wear down faster.
The reason for this is that plastic screen protectors result in more friction. The advantage though is that they can give you a better drawing experience if you need to do precise drawings.
If you use a glass screen protector or you don’t use any screen protector and just draw directly on the iPad’s screen, the Apple Pencil will last longer because there is much less friction. This gives you a smooth drawing experience, but it can be bad if you need to do precise drawings.
Additionally, how hard you press down will impact how much friction gets created. If you press down too hard, it will cause your Apple Pencil tip to wear out faster.
Read more: does the Apple Pencil 2 tip wear out?
Also, if there is debris on the iPad or on the Apple Pencil tip, it could also cause the Apple Pencil tip to wear out faster. This will also risk the iPad’s screen getting damaged. So, it is best to wipe the screen down before use or to just make sure that the screen is clean before using it.
How often should you change the tip of your Apple Pencil?
As mentioned above, with regular use you will likely need to replace the Apple Pencil tip every 6 months to a year.
However, your Apple Pencil tip may last longer than that if you do not use it very often. If you use it a lot and use a plastic screen protector, the tip will not last as long due to increased friction.
How do you tell if your Apple Pencil tip is worn out?
You should change the Apple Pencil tip if it is visibly damaged, it has scratches on it, it is worn down, or if it is causing a lot of friction when you are drawing on the iPad. You can also tell if the tip is worn out, if you are having trouble drawing with it accurately or if it is not always working properly.
Can the Apple Pencil tip be broken?
It is possible to break the Apple Pencil tip. It can be broken by being dropped or it can be scratched. To avoid this, it would help to leave the Apple Pencil attached to the side of the iPad when not in use and it would help to regularly clean the iPad’s screen.
