The new Apple Pencil might be packed with some astoundingly advanced technology — including a logic board that some critics have concluded is the smallest they've ever seen — but that doesn't make it any easier to repair once it's incurred some damage, especially if you want to see how Apple's eraser-less pencil works. As iFixIt said in its takedown of the product, Apple had always been "resolute that the iPad is meant to be enjoyed sans-stylus" — so was it worth it for Apple to create one in the first place?
The answer is a mixed bag: even though the technology that goes into creating the Apple Pencil is overwhelmingly complex, it's been a tough road to successfully manufacture the smart pen in the first place, as iFixIt and websites like Apple Insider have pointed out.
The Apple Pencil logic board is a testament to the tech company's ingenuity. Weighing in at exactly 1.0 grams, the board is inserted into the stylus after it is folded in half. As for specs, the board contains an ARM-based CPU, a Bluetooth Smart radio, an ST Microelectronics AS5C Y533 (which is also found in the Apple TV), among other things.
Another standout technological complexity is the actual tip of the Apple Pencil, which comes equipped with three minute sensor ticks, which iFixit presumed helped with measuring movement and detecting levels of pressure; the chip embedded in the nib reads "8529043 343S0008-A1."
However, like an old nursery rhyme goes, once you take the Apple Pencil apart, you can't exactly put it back together again: the teardown team at iFixit had to literally cut it in half to access the innards of the gizmo to examine how it works. Accordingly, if the cylindrical lithium battery (which contains about 12 hours of battery life) bites the dust, it can't be replaced, and it's more or less impossible to switch out parts if they malfunction or fail. So, if you break it, you've really, really bought it.
So, when it comes down to it, was it a good idea for Apple to launch its inaugural stylus or to make it in the first place? With a relatively high demand, according to the smart pen's estimated shipping time (if you order it now, you won't see it until after the holidays are over), we'll definitely be hearing more feedback from customers and grassroots reviewers, which will ultimately determine if Apple's stylus is a success or a flop.
Via: iFixit
