MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPad Air and Rock Paper Pencil Kit From Astropad

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Astropad to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an M2 iPad Air, an Apple Pencil Pro, and Astropad's best iPad accessory, the Rock Paper Pencil.

astropad rock paper pencil 1
Rock Paper Pencil is an all-in-one kit that features a textured screen protector and ‌Apple Pencil‌ tip. The two components of the kit make writing and drawing on the ‌iPad‌ feel like you're writing on a piece of paper instead of on a glossy display.

astropad rock paper pencil 2
Writing or drawing on an ‌iPad‌ feels distinctly different from writing or drawing with a paper and a pen, and Rock Paper Pencil does a great job at making you forget you're using a tablet. It feels like writing on paper, and it also sounds like writing on paper.

astropad rock paper pencil 3
The screen protector uses NanoCling technology so it adheres to an ‌iPad‌ using static cling, and it can be taken off and put back on as needed with no residue left on the ‌iPad‌'s screen. With NanoCling, the screen protector fits right up to the display of the ‌iPad‌ to provide a flat surface with no gaps or ridges. Because of the slight friction from the texture of the screen protector, there's much more control over stroke output.

astropad rock paper pencil 4
Rock Paper Pencil's pencil tip fits on the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro (and other ‌Apple Pencil‌ models) and it can hold up to heavy daily use. The tip features a wear-resistant copper alloy core with a palladium exterior coating, and it is equivalent to an 0.7mm ballpoint pen for precision writing and sketching. Astropad includes two pencil tips with the kit, along with a protective storage sleeve so you can tuck away the screen protector when you're not using it.

astropad rock paper pencil 5
Priced at $45, the Rock Paper Pencil kit works with all of Apple's modern iPads, including the ‌iPad Air‌, both iPad Pro models, the sixth-generation iPad mini, and the 7th-generation and later ‌iPad‌.

astropad rock paper pencil 6
We have an ‌iPad Air‌ 2, Rock Paper Pencil, and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (January 17) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 24. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after January 24 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 18 Pro Leak Adds New Evidence for Under-Display Face ID

Monday December 8, 2025 4:54 am PST by
Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker. According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Monday December 8, 2025 10:18 am PST by
Apple today seeded the second release candidate version of iOS 26.2 to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming one week after Apple seeded the first RC. The release candidate represents the final version iOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found. Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Johny Srouji

Apple's Chipmaking Chief Johny Srouji Responds to Report About Him Potentially Leaving

Monday December 8, 2025 9:23 am PST by
Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji has reportedly indicated that he plans to continue working for the company for the foreseeable future. "I love my team, and I love my job at Apple, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon," said Srouji, in a memo obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Here is Srouji's full memo, as shared by Bloomberg:I know you've been reading all kind of rumors and...
Johny Srouji

Apple Chip Chief Johny Srouji Could Be Next to Go as Exodus Continues

Sunday December 7, 2025 10:41 am PST by
Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design ...
google pixel 10

Switching Between iPhone and Android Will Get Easier With New Apple and Google Collaboration

Monday December 8, 2025 11:10 am PST by
Apple and Google are teaming up to make it easier for users to switch between iPhone and Android smartphones, according to 9to5Google. There is a new Android Canary build available today that simplifies data transfer between two smartphones, and Apple is going to implement the functionality in an upcoming iOS 26 beta. Apple already has a Move to iOS app for transferring data from an Android...
Apple Fitness Plus expansion hero

Apple Fitness+ Coming to 28 New Regions With Digital Voice Dubbing

Monday December 8, 2025 6:19 am PST by
Apple today announced that Fitness+ is expanding to 28 new markets on December 15 in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre. Apple Fitness+ will become available in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions on December 15, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year....
top stories 2025 12 04a

Top Stories: iOS 26.2 Coming Soon, Apple Execs Depart, and More

Saturday December 6, 2025 6:00 am PST by
You'd expect things to be starting to wind down for the holidays by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case yet in the world of Apple news, with Apple just about ready to release iOS 26.2 and other operating system updates to the public. There was also a flurry of news this week about Apple executive departures, some expected and some not so expected, while we also learned that Apple and...

Top Rated Comments

JMStearnsX2 Avatar
12 months ago
I'd love to win this! Good luck everyone!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
12 months ago
Background:
• From note-taking to sketching concepts, my iPad mini 6 and Pencil 2 combo are invaluable components of my professional creative workflow.
• I've never owned a screen protector for any devices I have ever owned, dating back to that '07 iPhone and several iPads along the way (side note: also not a case guy for my devices).

I use my iPad mini 6 & Pencil 2, daily. Without hesitation, it's my favorite iPad I've used/owned to date. The slightest of nuisances - the sound of the constant plastic tapping of the Pencil tip-on-glass and the smooth sensation of said plastic tip gliding across the glass - were, on some levels, uncomfortable. Unnerving. Added more of a synthetic layer between me and the act of writing/sketching than anticipated. It was noticeable enough, apparently, that I eventually found myself looking into potential solutions. And you know how that goes: once I put that into the universe, my algorithms started bombarding me a relentless slew of options ready to take my money. So, this past August, I caved and placed an order for Rock Paper Pencil - fully expecting to send it back.

I don't use the term game-changer lightly. But this has made the act of using my Pencil + iPad something I still - some 6 months later - find myself noticing how much I enjoy this enhancement. The sound of the plastic tip-on-glass has been muffled (the pitch not as high) and the drag offers just enough friction that I forget I'm writing/sketching on glass. That subtle yet tangible difference has been a game-changer. Another unexpected aspect of adding this screen protector to my iPad is the device feels a tinge less precious - which, on some level, makes it more enjoyable (for me) to use. I also like how easy the screen protector is to remove and reinstall (something I have only done maybe twice). I did run into one issue: I was recently taking some notes when the metal replacement tip that ships with Rock Paper Pencil placed a small, 1/4" nick in the screen protector. Shocked, I immediately inspected the tip of the Pencil, expecting to find that I [somehow] developed a sharp edge (or something) on the Pencil tip. Nope. This nick introduced a slight divet I now noticed whenever my Pencil passed that spot. Bummed, I reached out to Rock Paper Pencil's customer service to see if I had any options and they were quick to ship a replacement. So on top of a great product, their customer service was/is refreshingly competent. In short - if you're on the fence about this product, I can't recommend it more. If you have the means, treat yourself.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
12 months ago
Cool beans :p
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LukeHarrison Avatar
12 months ago
This would be a lovely way to start the year! Best of luck all.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ronntaylor Avatar
12 months ago

An iPad Air 2 ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_2')? The one that was discontinued in 2017 and isn't supported after iPadOS 15?

I applaud MacRumors' change (a year or two ago?) so that companies wanting to have contests here, need to include the related Apple product (e.g. a watch band and the corresponding Apple Watch). But if this contest really does include a museum piece, that's a substantial step backwards.
Looks like a mistake. The first sentence mentions a M2 iPad Air


For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Astropad ('https://astropad.com') to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an M2 iPad Air, an Apple Pencil Pro, and Astropad's best iPad accessory, the Rock Paper Pencil ('https://astropad.com/product/rock-paper-pencil').
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)