Wacom today announced the Bamboo Sketch, a new precision stylus for drawing and sketching on both iPad and iPhone devices through a Bluetooth connection. The company said that the stylus mimics a traditional pen-and-paper writing and drawing experience thanks to two customizable shortcut buttons and two interchangeable pen nibs, in both soft and firm.

The Bamboo Sketch can be used within apps like Bamboo Paper, ArtRage, Autodesk SketchBook, Concepts, and MediaBang Paint, and when it's in use the stylus boasts 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity.

wacom bamboo sketch

“Visual thinkers who use an iPad or iPhone for their notes and sketches require a pen that offers precision and individualization,” said Mike Gay, Senior Vice President of the Wacom Consumer Business Unit. “Bamboo Sketch offers an advanced writing and drawing experience for those whose first instinct is to reach for a pen and paper as soon as inspiration strikes.”

To charge the stylus, users will be able to connect the magnetic charging port on the pen to a USB dongle accessory, which can be plugged into any traditional USB 3.0 port. The company said that the Bamboo Sketch stylus can last for up to 15 hours on one charge.


The stylus comes with a carrying case that holds the Bamboo Sketch, two pen nibs, and the USB charger. Wacom said that the Bamboo Sketch will launch online and in select retailers at a price point of $79.95 beginning in June.

Tag: Wacom

Top Rated Comments

MadeByApple Avatar
89 months ago
Interesting. Wonder how it compares to the pencil
These solutions are crap. I've been fooled once by bamboo. Never again.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amazing Iceman Avatar
89 months ago
Only advantage I see is that this will work with non-Pro iPads.

Otherwise, if you own an iPad Pro, get the Apple Pencil.
I don't have an iPad Pro, but based on experience, I would rather spend the $$$ on an iPad Pro than getting cheap headaches for trying to cut corners.

Also, the supported apps are mainly toy apps. I don't see support for Procreate or Sketchbook
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rudychidiac Avatar
89 months ago
No Procreate support, useless to me
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
89 months ago
When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.
Pencil should eventually be made to support the iPhones, especially the iPhone Plus (which many have opted for in place of a tablet/iPad).

In fact, if Apple wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales, it should also encompass support for all iPads, not just the Pro.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
satchmo Avatar
89 months ago
Yes, I understand that. I should have been more clear that I was implying (Pencil compatibility) with all future iPads… if Apple ever wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales again. Everyone knows the tablet market has been declining lately.
And as I've chimed in the past, adding a bundled Pencil/iPad Pro package could spur additional sales.

Understanding it won't be a huge discount (this is Apple after all), but even a $25 savings won't hurt Apple's margins. It will make the Pencil an automatic buy vs maybe later.

And it will grow stylus adoption from both developers and users.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bbqthis Avatar
89 months ago
When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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