Zebra Stylus Two-Way Writes on iPad and Paper With the Same Tip
The Stylus Two-Way fills a gap for users who need to switch between digital and analog note-taking without swapping pens, offering a seamless experience that no other iPad stylus currently provides.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
Zebra, a long-established pen maker, will release the Stylus Two-Way on July 31. Developed with Elecom, the pen uses a ballpoint mechanism that writes on paper but not on the iPad's smooth glass, allowing the same tip to work on both surfaces. It charges via USB-C, lasts about seven hours, and costs around 15,000 yen. The special ink refills are initially limited to 0.5mm black.
Zebra's Stylus Two-Way is not a direct competitor to the Apple Pencil Pro. It lacks pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and haptic feedback. Instead, it solves a specific problem: writing on both iPad and paper with one pen tip. The trick relies on the ballpoint phenomenon called tsurunuke, where the ball stops rotating on very smooth surfaces, preventing ink from flowing on the iPad screen. Zebra tested over 400 ink formulations to get the balance right. The pen requires charging-30 minutes for seven hours of use-but needs no pairing or app setup. The initial refill lineup is limited to 0.5mm black, with more colors possible based on demand.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.