Astropad Studio Gains Apple Pencil Hover Integration on M2 iPad Pro

Astropad today announced an update to the Astropad Studio app, which adds support for the Apple Pencil hover feature that Apple introduced with the new M2 iPad Pro models. Astropad Studio is designed to allow you to draw on your Mac using your iPad, so the hover gesture can be used with the macOS software on the ‌iPad‌.

m2 ipad pro apple pencil hover
Astropad says that users have been asking for ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover support for years, and it is one of the last features that Wacom tablets offered that the ‌iPad‌ did not. With the hover option, the ‌iPad‌ serves as a more feature rich Wacom alternative for digital artists.

The update adds 3D gestures for panning, zooming, and rotating the 3D canvas, along with support for new default shortcuts. There are also a range of new Magic Gestures that use combinations of tap, touch, and the ‌Apple Pencil‌ to trigger actions. Per-app custom gestures are available, so users can set up different gesture sets for apps like Photoshop and Blender, and there is a new one-finger tap gesture.

Astropad Studio is currently offering a 30 percent discount off annual subscriptions with the promo code FESTIVE. Subscriptions are priced at $70/year. Astropad's Luna Display software has also been updated with ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover for the ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Related Forum: iPad Accessories

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Apple TV Color

Apple TV Announces 12 New Shows and Films Coming This Year

Wednesday February 4, 2026 12:29 pm PST by
Apple on Tuesday previewed 12 new shows and films that will be premiering on the Apple TV streaming service throughout 2026. The new series: Imperfect Women — March 18, 2026 Margo's Got Money Troubles — April 15, 2026 Widow's Bay — April 29, 2026 Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — May 20, 2026 Cape Fear — June 5, 2026 Lucky — July 15, 2026 The new films: Eternity — ...
iphone 16 pro colors 1

Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Models at Lower Prices

Wednesday February 4, 2026 7:44 am PST by
Apple today began selling certified refurbished iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models on its online store in the U.S., with prices discounted by 12% to 22% compared to Apple's current or former pricing for the devices. Here were Apple's starting prices when the devices launched in September 2024: iPhone 16: $799 iPhone 16 Plus: $899 iPhone 16 Pro:...

Top Rated Comments

nwcs Avatar
42 months ago
Maybe I’m too old school but I like the textural feel and resistance of actually pressing against a screen rather than just hovering over it like a hologram.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJR Avatar
42 months ago

It is a good feature on my new 12.9" iPad Pro. The Pencil feels like a wand.

Is Apple working on 'continuity trackpad' for iPad where I can easily-quickly use my iPad as a large trackpad for my Mac when I need it.
That would be cool!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
42 months ago

You still need to press the screen even with hover. Hover just gives you feedback on the position of the pencil before it touches the screen.
Sounds like a feature like this would work great with a haptic engine in the pencil.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
42 months ago
Good to see more apps supporting hover feature. Unfortunately it is available only on the newest iPad Pro.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
airbatross Avatar
42 months ago
I love it on my M2 iPad.. It's like mouse hover on websites - the ability to preview a brush on a drawing app or navigating menus without pressing is awesome.. Also makes it easier to touch the exact position you want..
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cppguy Avatar
42 months ago

Maybe I’m too old school but I like the textural feel and resistance of actually pressing against a screen rather than just hovering over it like a hologram.
Hover is not for drawing or painting, it's for previewing an effect before touching the screen. For example, it's imperative for clone stamping, where you frequently need to preview the precise alignment before starting to paint, especially when you're cloning along sharp edges. For inking you're not going to benefit from the hover feature.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)