Review – I bought an 11-inch iPad Pro and plan to convert all my favorite analog activities into digital activities. I want to write a diary on the iPad and draw on the iPad. In order to do this, I needed a stylus, so I squandered an Apple Pencil. At $129, this is not an easy task, because I still remember how popular and cheap a stylus was a few years ago. Of course, the Apple Pencil is not as simple as the capacitive stylus of the past. However, is there a cheaper alternative to Apple Pencil that can still provide a great experience on the iPad? The Adonit Dash 4 stylus was offered to me for a trial, and today I want to show it to you. Let’s see.
What is it?
The Adonit Dash 4 stylus is a stylus that can be used with iPad and Android tablets, but does not require you to pair with Bluetooth. It also has a special iPad mode that provides an anti-palm touch mode that artists and writers will appreciate.
What’s in the box?
- Adonit Dash 4 stylus
- 2 Replace the nib
- USB-C charger
Design and features
The Adonit Dash 4 stylus is made of aluminum and plastic and weighs 15 grams. It is available in matte silver, and as I show here, it is also available in graphite black. It also has a chrome-plated metal pocket clip.
The nib can be easily replaced after unscrewing. Dash 4 comes with 2 extra nibs.
On the other end of Dash 4 there is a power button with a status LED, which is also the “plug” of the charger.
How to charge the Adonit Dash 4 stylus? Use the supplied proprietary magnetic USB-C charging adapter. Please make sure you don’t lose this adapter when you buy this stylus, because you won’t be able to charge it without it.
Fortunately, the stylus can be fully charged in 1 hour and can be used for up to 15 hours between charges. When the battery charge drops to 20%, the top status LED will start to glow red, and at 10%, it will start flashing red, letting you know that it is best to charge as soon as possible.
To use the Adonit Dash 4 stylus, press the top button to turn it on. By default, the LED built into the button will emit blue light. Blu-ray means that it is in a mode that supports the new iPad version that prevents accidental palm touch.
If you press the button again, the stylus LED will turn green. This is the mode for 2017 iPad and/or earlier models or Android devices. This mode does not provide anti-palm touch function.
I tested the Adonit Dash 4 stylus with my 2012 11-inch iPad Pro and I am glad you don’t have to pair this stylus with a tablet. It does use Bluetooth, but you don’t have to bother to pair it. It just automatically pairs when it is turned on.
See it in action
Please note that I referred to the Dash 4 stylus as a capacitive stylus many times in the video. Adonit Dash 4 is not a capacitive stylus. This is an active stylus.
If your main purpose is writing and quick sketching, the Adonit Dash 4 stylus works fine. However, if you are an artist, when you try to draw straight lines, you will be disappointed by the way this stylus draws wavy lines. It also has no pressure-sensitive line widths, and no shortcuts/erase gestures.
what do I like
- Automatic Bluetooth pairing
- Anti-palm touch for newer iPads
What will i change
Final thoughts
The Adonit Dash 4 stylus is well-made and very suitable for writing. I particularly like that it has a mode suitable for newer iPads, which can increase the function of preventing palm touch. I recommend the Adonit stylus without any problems, but having said that, I still prefer the Apple Pencil because it is more convenient to carry and charge with the iPad. I also think that Apple Pencil is much better for artists because it has a pressure-sensitive line width and does not draw wavy straight lines. But Apple Pencil is $70 more expensive than Adonit Dash 4, so it’s the same! It ultimately depends on your budget and why you want a stylus.
price: $59.99
Where to buy: Adoni and Amazon
source: The sample of this review is made by Adoni.
