Microsoft’s new Surface pen feels prefer it’s alive

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8 has a beautiful 120Hz show and up to date internals, however it’s actually the brand new Surface Slim Pen 2 that has caught my consideration. Microsoft has added haptics options to its stylus for the primary time, due to a brand new customized chip inside. It has reworked inking on the Surface Pro 8.

I believed the haptic suggestions can be a gimmick till I began testing it this weekend. In the Sketchable Windows app, you possibly can choose from quite a lot of drawing instruments, like brushes, pencils, markers, inking nibs, and even chalk. They all really feel completely completely different now, due to the haptics within the Surface Slim Pen 2.

This isn’t the buzzy haptic suggestions you’re most likely used to from a telephone, the haptics are extra delicate right here and modify to provide you a barely completely different sensation of drawing relying on the software chosen. It’s tough to explain with out feeling it your self, however the chalk feels… chalky, and the inking nib has the slight little bit of rigidity you’d anticipate to really feel on actual paper.

This tactile suggestions strikes past simply drawing instruments, although. In Microsoft Office, you possibly can really feel delicate vibrations by means of the pen that allow you to know when gestures are detected, like drawing shapes after which having them robotically transformed. There are delicate haptics that allow you to know an motion has been taken or whenever you’re deciding on objects. It’s very understated in Sketchable, however it’s a welcome enchancment.

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

Unfortunately, not each app helps this haptic suggestions but. Developers might want to replace their apps to incorporate assist, and to this point I’ve solely been capable of get it working in Excel, Whiteboard, and Sketchable. I used to be anticipating to see it prominently in Microsoft’s note-taking app, OneNote, however it’s unusually absent. Microsoft says LiquidText, Shapr3D, and Journal all embody assist for the haptic suggestions.

The Surface Slim Pen 2 additionally has a slight redesign over the unique, with a sharper and longer tip. I’ve solely had a short while to do that out and I’m actually not a digital artist, however total it feels a bit extra responsive and correct than the Slim Pen that shipped with the Surface Pro X.

The massive disadvantage to the Surface Slim Pen 2 is its worth, at $129.99 or as a part of the brand new Surface Pro Signature keyboard priced at $279.99. The common keyboard is $179.99, so in the event you actually need the Surface Slim Pen 2, then the bundle saves you $30 on an already costly buy.