people's choice

The Best iPad Styli on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

Photo: Courtesy Retailer

Here at the Strategist, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing. While we’ve covered iPad cases, pens, and wireless mouses before, here we’re zeroing in on the best iPad styli on Amazon — many of which can be used with other tablets and smartphones. (Note that reviews have been edited for length and clarity.)

“Without a doubt, the best stylus I’ve ever used. I bought these styli a year ago and have used only one of them on my iPad for about three hours a day, every day. I still haven’t had to replace the tip and the other two are still unused (as well as the extra ten tips I bought). These are more responsive than the rubber-tipped styli, and I haven’t had to replace tips on a regular basis like I was doing with other brands.”

MEKO Universal Stylus (2 Pieces)
$13

“Excellent product. Odds are, unless you’re into graphic design, this stylus is more than enough for your needs. This stylus has two tips — one larger mesh one, and a more accurate fine-point rubber one (with a disc). Both of these tips are accurate and just glide across the screen, unlike other rubber-based ones. They also work with just about every single touchscreen they come into contact with, regardless of if you have a screen protector or not. It’s nice to switch from using this on my iPad, to using it on my phone, to tapping at something on my laptop. And the best part is that it comes with two [styli].”

“These stylus pens work great. I originally bought them for my son for his computer schoolwork. I ended up taking a couple to work. They are awesome for me, too! I love the fact that the pen tip and stylus are on opposite ends.”

“These are full-length styli that you hold as you would a pen. They are comfortable to hold and easy to grip well. There are two outstanding features for the stylus: Each one is double-ended, so you get the standard-width rubber tip plus a narrow tip on the other end, which is much better for more precise clicking on smaller devices. The second feature is the replaceable tips. With my old stylus, I had to throw away the entire thing when the tip wore out. With these, you just screw on a new tip and go on with what you were doing.”

“This stylus is fantastic! It has a little bit of weight to it and feels wonderfully balanced and controlled in the hand. Having three sizes to switch between with ease is one of those features that you never knew you needed until you experienced it (especially with multiple devices or screens in use, simultaneously). The largest of the three is attached to the cap, which snaps onto either end of the stylus’s body piece. The cap is not the least bit difficult to snap into place, nor is it difficult to remove it. On the same note, I very much need to clarify that the cap does stay snug and securely in place and most certainly will not be falling off by accident or moving around while using it. The clip is nice and sturdy and serves its purpose as it should. Finally, and I believe most importantly, all three pads work exceptionally well. I’ve used this for several hours on my iPad, iPhone 7 Plus, and on my fifth-generation Kindle Fire. I couldn’t be happier with the product, and I believe that saying the price is reasonable would be a substantial understatement.”

Mixoo Capacitive Stylus Pen
$8

“I love drawing with pencil, so when I started using Adobe Illustrator Draw on my iPad, I wanted a near-pencil drawing experience. Regular styli would not cut it. I ordered this in hopes that it would be precise enough for it to be like drawing on paper. I love it so far. I’ve been able to conjure up more detailed drawings than I was with my finger or any other stylus I have owned.”

Lynktec TruGlide Mesh Fiber Stylus
$33

“I’ve used a number of different brands of styli over the last two years, and until the TruGlide I always liked the rubber-tipped stylus best. The problem is that I take a lot of notes, and most brands would only last me 45 to 60 days before the tip starts to get loose or the rubber starts to melt onto my iPad. As a result, I’ve gotten into the habit of buying two or three styli at a time. The TruGlide has been different; after 90 days I’m still on the first of the three I bought, and it’s showing no signs of wear. It still writes smoothly and doesn’t leave any residue on my iPad glass. I highly recommend this product.”

CCIVV Stylus Pens, 4 Pieces
$10

“Great stylus. I had a smaller, more expensive stylus from another brand, and it didn’t react well with my iPad. It made unintended things happen like opening links when scrolling a website. Very annoying. These are longer and heavier than their little-brother model — and much bigger and heavier than the common and supercheap rubber-tipped styli … The fabric tips respond exactly as I intend and not like the other one I had. Using fabric instead of rubber really makes a difference on a tablet. No marks or streaking. Just smooth scrolling and touching. Wish I had spent just a little more money and gone over to fabric-tipped styli years ago.”

Stylus Pen LIBERRWAY 10-Pack
$6

“Perfect for our needs. We have a small business and use an iPad-based [point of service] system, and I wanted something so our customers wouldn’t have to sign with their fingers when making a purchase with their cards. It’s also nice to minimize fingerprints on the screen!”

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The 9 Best iPad Styli, According to Amazon Reviewers