As an Apple Pencil user, I’ve been frustrated by the fact that the pencil tip wears out over time. The tip can become blunt, and eventually it will need to be replaced. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share what I’ve learned about when you should change the Apple Pencil tip.
You should change the Apple Pencil tip if it is damaged, it is visibly worn down, or if it is giving you a lot of friction when drawing on the iPad.
Some people will tell you that you should change the Apple Pencil every x amount of months or every year. However, depending on your particular use case and how you use the Apple Pencil, how frequently you should be changing the Apple Pencil tip will vary significantly.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Change the Apple Pencil tip if it is damaged, scratched, worn down, or causing too much friction while drawing on the iPad. |
| Friction is the main reason why the Apple Pencil tip wears down, and using a plastic screen protector can accelerate the process. |
| The lifespan of Apple Pencil tips varies depending on usage, but they typically last about 6 months without a plastic screen protector. |
Table of Contents
When should you change the Apple Pencil tip?
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.
How to get the Apple Pencil tip to 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.
Read more: does the Apple Pencil need to be charged?
If you use a plastic screen protector, that is designed to give you a more paper-like experience, when drawing on the iPad, your Apple Pencil tip will wear down faster.
The reason for this is that plastic screen protectors cause 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: Is my Apple Pencil battery dead?
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 long do the Apple Pencil tips last for? (Gen 1 and Gen 2)
How long the Apple Pencil tips will last for 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 or so, 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.
How often is it necessary to change the Apple Pencil tip?
As mentioned above, how often you will need to change the Apple Pencil tip will depend a lot on how you are using it.
If you are using the Apple Pencil a lot with a plastic screen protector, it might only last you 3 months or so. Wheras, if you are using it infrequently and are not using a plastic screen protector, it could last you a year or longer.
For most people, the Apple Pencil tip will last for at least 6 months.
Pros
- The Apple Pencil tip is designed to last for a long time.
- It can give you a more precise drawing experience.
- Using a plastic screen protector can give you a more paper-like experience.
Cons
- The Apple Pencil tip can wear down if used too much.
- Using a plastic screen protector can cause the Apple Pencil tip to wear down faster.
- It can be difficult to tell when to replace the Apple Pencil tip.
Pros
- Provides a step-by-step guide for solving the issue of an Apple Pencil battery dying
- Gives a number of potential causes for an Apple Pencil battery dying
- Explains what to do if the Apple Pencil is still in warranty
- Provides tips for connecting the Apple Pencil
Cons
- Does not provide a solution for non-warranty Apple Pencils
- Does not provide a solution if the iPad’s Bluetooth is not the issue
- Does not provide a solution if the problem is not related to the battery
