'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
This $30 stylus could be the Apple Pencil alternative I've been waiting for
ESR has unveiled a new affordable iPad stylus option at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and it looks super promising for the price.
Also: CES 2025: The 15 most impressive products so far
ESR's Geo Digital Pencil
Apple's popular Apple Pencil lineup is often the first choice for many iPad users, but they aren't the most affordable, ranging upwards of $130 for the newest Pencil Pro. And while there are certainly alternatives on the market, ESR just shook it up with its latest release at CES 2025.
ESR's Geo Digital Pencil is equipped with Apple-certified FindMy integration, which means you won't have to worry about losing or misplacing your stylus. A simple tap of a button will allow for easy location, "blending high performance, peace of mind, and functionality perfect for creative professionals," according to ESR.
Apple Pencil alternative
The stylus is widely compatible with all iPad models released after 2018 (excluding iPad 10th Gen for magnetic attachment), making it an affordable choice for plenty of iPad users.
The Geo Digital Pencil offers real-time location tracking just like Apple's Pencil Pro, an integrated speaker for location accuracy, Bluetooth connectivity for customizable shortcuts and battery status monitoring, fast charging, and top features like palm rejection, tilt sensitivity, and fine tips for writing and drawing. A full charge (which takes 30 minutes) can deliver up to 12 hours of use.
Also: Apple Pencil Pro vs. Apple Pencil 2: Which is right for you?
Availability
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is available now for $30 at Amazon and a USB-C cable is included.