A Hong Kong-based company Greenbulb released SonarPen, a $30 stylus pen. Apple released the Apple Pencil but older iPad models were not supported by this. As a result, Greenbulb made a solution for people who doesn’t want to buy a new iPad model. The SonarPen senses pressure via the headphone jack. So it’s a really big help to those who have iPad released after 2011.
The SonarPen works by turning pressure information into sound waves sent to the iPad through the audio cable. Then the iPad interprets it back into the digital information. Greenbulb claims that this stylus pen can deliver a wide range of pressure sensitivity than a standard Bluetooth. That is because it uses analog signal. The SonarPen works when you plug it into a 3.5mm audio jack or through a Lightning adapter.
It works with iPads such as the fourth-gen iPad, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. It also works with the iPhone X using the dongle. But the cable seems to get in the way sometimes.
Developers will have to individually add support for the SonarPen to their apps, which could become a big limitation. The stylus only supports two apps so far which is the ZenBrush 2 and GoodNotes. Though it’s an unreleased product but it still works on any other app. The Kickstarter has already surpassed its $25,573 goal in just seven days and it’s expected to ship in June.
The Adonit Jot Pro is the closest thing in the market when it comes to the price range which is also around $30. But the difference from the two, the Adonit Jot Pro is wireless. And it also doesn’t support palm rejection or pressure sensitivity. You have to purchase a $75 stylus pen to have a pressure sensitivity support as well as a wireless pen.
But I actually prefer SonarPen especially those who are on a tight budget. It’s pretty good to use and the fact that you don’t need to buy a new iPad model. For it being an alternative to the Apple Pencil, it’s actually not that bad.