Microsoft announces new Surface Pen, twice as responsive as the Apple Pencil

Microsoft today at an event in Shanghai announced a new Surface Pen. The new pen drops the pen clip seen on older pen versions, and now features tilt detection and 4,096 pressure levels and 21 milliseconds of latency. It’s being called the fastest digital pen on the planet and “natural and impressive.” according to Panos Panay.

The total of 4,096 pressure levels is more than quadruple the 1,024 in the current pen. Panos Panay also explained that the activation force has been reduced, and use of the pen now requires less on-screen pressure. Coming in Platinum, Black, Burgandy, and Cobalt Blue, the pen is compatible with most Surface models, including the Surface Studio, Surface Laptop, Surface Book, Surface Pro, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 3, and Surface 3.  It keeps the same AAAA  battery, and right click button, and eraser, and you can read the official description below.

The new Surface Pro provides people with the most responsive and natural digital inking experience thanks to the new Surface Pen. Writing and drawing on your new Surface Pro with the new Surface Pen feels like writing or drawing on paper, with features such as tilt for shading, increased pressure sensitivity levels and faster inking. The new Surface Pen not only helps you express your thoughts, ideas and drawings on screen, it reflects your personal style with four new color choices.

Microsoft says that the new Surface Pen doubles the accuracy of the previous pen, and the latency is so low that it is “virtually imperceptible to the human eye.” This, in turn, makes the Surface Pen twice as responsive as the Apple Pencil, according to the company.