Astropad Launches Updated Rock Paper Pencil Kit for Realistic Writing Experience on iPad - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Astropad Launches Updated Rock Paper Pencil Kit for Realistic Writing Experience on iPad

Astropad is launching a new version of the Rock Paper Pencil kit that it came out with last summer, bringing some notable improvements that will allow for a better paper-like writing experience on the iPad.

rock paper pencil
Rock Paper Pencil combines a screen protector and a unique Apple Pencil tip so that writing on the ‌iPad‌ feels like writing on a piece of paper. The new version of Rock Paper Pencil has a NanoCling Screen Protector that attaches to an ‌iPad‌ using static cling rather than a magnetic edge like the prior version.

Astropad says that NanoCling is stronger than magnets, and it provides a thinner bezel and a flatter surface on the ‌iPad‌. The NanoCling Screen Protector is 40 percent thinner than the magnetic version, so there are no gaps or ridges to contend with. The screen protector continues to be easily removable and reusable so you can take it off when you're not writing, and it is not adhesive so it leaves no residue.

The Pencil tip has also been redesigned to withstand heavy daily use. It has a wear-resistant copper alloy core and palladium coating, and it is able to hold up to more pressure. The Pencil tip has been slimmed down too, so it's equivalent to a standard 0.7mm ballpoint pen. The Rock Paper Pencil ships with two of the pencil tips and a protective storage sleeve for the screen protector.

Rock Paper Pencil can be purchased from the Astropad website for $40. It is compatible with the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, the third-generation 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and later, the seventh-generation 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ and later, the 10.9-inch ‌iPad‌, and the sixth-generation iPad mini.

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by
While the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...
Pinched iPad Mini

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by
In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...

Top Rated Comments

35 months ago

Maybe it's just me, but I have found the best experience is the Apple Pencil and no screen cover at all. Every cover I have used that claims better writing experience doesn't seem to be as good as just going naked.
Nah, it’s wayyyy too slippery.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago

Man uses pencil and paper. Man gets rid of pencil and paper in favor of digital screen and digital pencil, then spends eternity trying to make them feel like original pencil and paper.

Sigh.
If you don't use the pencil heavily, you don't understand. The apple pencil tip slipping around on glass takes away some of the line control and after awhile, you feel the strain in your hand, in your wrists. You need that friction that a paper like surface provides. Just as I think that something the Apple Pencil and iPad needs that I see in other tablets is the ability to adjust the pressure curve. You only see it locally in apps like Procreate, but I think it's needed, because that's another thing that creates strain. I'm an artist who uses tablets to draw for hours at a time and things like tennis elbow and wrist and hand pain are a real issue
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago
Man uses pencil and paper. Man gets rid of pencil and paper in favor of digital screen and digital pencil, then spends eternity trying to make them feel like original pencil and paper.

Sigh.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago

Astropad is trying to emulate writing on a piece of paper with a pen(cil)? Why not just use the real thing? Or learn to type. Doesn't everyone type with their thumbs at least?
A lot of artists want the pencil on paper feel as it allows for more control of the line and ultimately less strain on the wrists. It's why I love the etched glass surface of Wacon tablets, especially coupled with their felt nibs. THAT's what I'd love to see on the next iPads. I don't care about OLED displays, I want displays that have a bit of texture to them, and pencil tips that creates some friction to the tip
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
35 months ago

Bomb still wins though

🪨🗞️✂️✏️💣
🪨
🗞️
✂️
🦎
🖖
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago

Astropad is launching a new version of the Rock Paper Pencil kit ('https://astropad.com/product/rock-paper-pencil/?sca_ref=5507981.N2my3G8kPZ') that it came out with last summer, bringing some notable improvements that will allow for a better paper-like writing experience on the iPad.

astropad rock paper pencil 2 image

Rock Paper Pencil combines a screen protector and a unique Apple Pencil tip so that writing on the iPad feels like writing on a piece of paper. The new version of Rock Paper Pencil has a NanoCling Screen Protector that attaches to an iPad using static cling rather than a magnetic edge like the prior version.

Astropad says that NanoCling is stronger than magnets, and it provides a thinner bezel and a flatter surface on the iPad. The NanoCling Screen Protector is 40 percent thinner than the magnetic version, so there are no gaps or ridges to contend with. The screen protector continues to be easily removable and reusable so you can take it off when you're not writing, and it is not adhesive so it leaves no residue.

The Pencil tip has also been redesigned to withstand heavy daily use. It has a wear-resistant copper alloy core and palladium coating, and it is able to hold up to more pressure. The Pencil tip has been slimmed down too, so it's equivalent to a standard 0.7mm ballpoint pen. The Rock Paper Pencil ships with two of the pencil tips and a protective storage sleeve for the screen protector.

Rock Paper Pencil can be purchased from the Astropad website ('https://shop.astropad.com/collections/shop-astropad/products/rock-paper-pencil?sca_ref=5507981.N2my3G8kPZ') for $40. It is compatible with the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and later, the seventh-generation 10.2-inch iPad and later, the 10.9-inch iPad, and the sixth-generation iPad mini.

Article Link: Astropad Launches Updated Rock Paper Pencil Kit for Realistic Writing Experience on iPad ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/21/astropad-rock-paper-pencil-2/')
I have this product V1 and really like it. I am using the pencil again!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
4 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
22 hours ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
23 hours ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
23 hours ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
1 day ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
1 day ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
1 day ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
2 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
2 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
2 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
2 days ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
2 days ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
2 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
2 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
2 days ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
2 days ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
2 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
2 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
2 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
2 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
2 days ago
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
2 days ago
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
3 days ago
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
3 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors