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Having a stylus for your tablet can really augment the experience, especially if you want to use it for work. We typically associate iPads and Galaxy Tablets with stylus capabilities. However, thanks to USI (Universal Stylus Initiative), many more tablets have access to advanced stylus capabilities. For example, the Amazon Fire 11 Max is compatible with USI styli. Here’s a rundown of three great options you should consider.
In this piece, we’ll be going over the HP USI Wireless Pen G2, Lenovo USI Pen 2, and Penoval USI stylus. There are all sorts of USI pens out there along with devices compatible with them. So, if the pens in this piece aren’t whetting your appetite, you can look for other devices with the USI symbol.
First off, what is USI?
USI (Universal Stylus Initiative) is a nonprofit organization that defines industry-wide standards for interoperable communication between an active stylus and touch-enabled devices such as phones, tablets, and computing and entertainment platforms.
It defined standards for styli to work across different devices. Many times, like the case of the Apple Pencil and Samsung’s S Pen, styli are proprietary devices. They only work with devices from their company.
However, USI has members including leading OEMs, stylus, and touch controller manufacturers such as Lenovo, Intel, Google & more. It makes high-quality styli more accessible to more users around the world.
The Amazon Fire 11 Max is a great tablet to use
This is the latest and most advanced Amazon Fire tablet on the market. As the name suggests, this tablet has an 11-inch 1080p display that’s perfect for watching content.
That’s what the Fire tablets are mostly for, so the software is closely integrated with the Amazon Prime video platform. You’ll see recommended movies and shows along with games that you can download from the Amazon Fire Store. It’s a central hub for media consumption.
You’ll love consuming this content because of the quad speakers that come with the Fire 11 Max. They deliver a powerful sound to boost the media consumption experience. Also, you’ll be able to enjoy your content for a long time with an up to 14-hour battery life.
You can have all of this for only $229.99.
To clear up any confusion, these aren’t your typical styli
So, it seems odd that companies are advertising their pens as the greatest thing. Styli only do one job, and that’s to make contact with the screen. Well, these styli aren’t the typical pens you’d find at your supermarket.
Store shelf styli needs to have larger tips so that your tablet can register them. However, this leads to a reduction in precision. However, the styli in this piece are powered. This means that a phone or tablet can detect them from a few centimeters away. More importantly, the tips are able to be much thinner in comparison. This means that you’re able to use them with much more precision.
So, if you’re looking for a plain old stylus to tap and swipe, then typical styli will do. However, if you’re looking for a pen to use for writing, signing documents, and drawing, then you’ll want to look into the more advanced powered styli in this piece.
HP USI Wireless Pen G2
This is a stylus to use if you want to have pen-tip precision. Since this is a powered stylus, the point is allowed to be much thinner than your run-of-the-mill store shelf stylus. It’s a lightweight device that feels really nice in the hand when you’re using it. While it’s lightweight, there’s still a bit of a heft to it letting you know that it’s well-built.
It feels like it’s made from metal, but it’s actually a textured plastic that feels cool to the touch. So, while it’s plastic, it still feels nice when you’re using it. Speaking of using it, the tip of this stylus is not much thicker than what you’d have on a pencil. This allows you to draw and write with ease. You won’t have to guess what part of the screen will register the touch like with store shelf styli. It’s just like writing using pen and paper.
Since this is a powered stylus, you’ll need to charge it every now and then. The charging port is cleverly hidden with this pen. The bottom of the stylus (the side opposite the tip) extends revealing the USB-C port. You’re able to get a few weeks of usage before you’ll need to charge it. A quick 30-minute charge will give you a few days of usage.
As an added bonus, there are magnets in the stylus that allow it to attach to the right side of the Amazon Fire 11 Max. This allows you to carry this stylus around with the tablet without worrying about it falling.
Lenovo USI Stylus 2
Lenovo is a reputable company in the tech industry, and its tablets typically have stylus support. The company also has its own line of USI-compatible styli that give you a high-quality experience, and the Lenovo USI Stylus 2 is one of them. This is a premium stylus that you can use with other USI-compatible devices as well. So, if you don’t have a Lenovo tablet, you can still use it.
Just like the HP USI Wireless Pen G2 stylus, this one is lightweight, and that lends to the usability. However, this pen has a metal body that adds to the overall premium feeling in the hand. Since it’s metal, it can be a little slippery if your hand is dry. That’s something to keep in mind.
The tip of the pen is pretty precise, which is always welcome. It’s about as thin as the tip of the HP Pen G2 stylus if not just a tiny bit thicker. In any case, you’re getting incredible precision.
This stylus comes with a handy clip that you can use to attach it to your clothes. Unfortunately, there aren’t any magnets to attach it to your tablet. So, you’ll want to either attach it to your clothes or slip it into your pocket.
When it comes to the battery life, it has exceptional endurance. Rather than using a rechargeable battery, this stylus uses a AAA battery to run. You’re able to get months of battery power before you need to replace it.
This stylus will give you a nice experience whether you’re using one of the company’s tablets or not. It’s worth the $49.99 if you’re a person looking to push your tablet experience to the next level
Penoval USI 2.0
The last pen on this list is the Penoval USI 2.0. It’s the heaviest of the three pens, but it avoids being too heavy, so you won’t mind using it for extended periods of time. The thing lending to its heavy feeling in the hand is the metal build. So, this is a well-built stylus that will last you a while of usage.
Just like the other pens on this list, the tip is rather fine, so you can expect top-notch precision. You’ll be able to use it just like a regular pen. Also, the tips are replaceable, so you’ll be able to get more longevity out of this stylus. The tips are easy to remove and install.
When it comes to the battery and charging, you’ll see a USB-C charging port near the bottom of the pen. On a single charge, you’re able to use this stylus for weeks, so you won’t have to worry about charging it too often. Overall, this is a great stylus and a wonderful tool to use if you need a high-quality and reliable stylus.