Apple Pencil could get smarter with a camera, touch support and more

• The Apple Pencil could be getting a major upgrade soon, based on patent filings by Apple.
• Advanced gestures are almost a certainty, but Apple could also include biometric support and even a camera.
• The Apple Pencil 3 could be launched with the next iPad Pro.

Apple Pencil might undergo a massive upgrade to include advanced gestures, biometric support and even a camera. This assumption is based on the patents filed by the Cupertino-based company.

Apple had launched the Pencil back in 2015 to go with the iPad Pro. While the first-gen Apple Pencil was a basic stylus that worked well, Apple introduced double-tap support with the Pencil 2. However, if Apple’s patents are anything to go by, the Pencil 3 could bring massive upgrades to the table.

Apple Pencil 3 could be an artist’s delight

According to a new patent spotted by Pocket Lint, Apple references a touch sensor that can detect a single, double or even a triple tap. These tap gestures can be used to perform certain pre-programmed functions. Some examples of these functions include changing the colour, copy/paste, undo/redo, or changing drawing tools like a pen or an eraser.

Apple Pencil 3 could be a lot smarter

The Apple Pencil 3 could also be a lot smarter than its predecessors. In addition to advanced gestures, Apple’s patents also reveal a sensor that is used in Touch ID. Apple could use it for two purposes – fingerprint authentication and detecting movement of a finger.

Could the Apple Pencil 3 also come with a camera?

Another patent revealed that the Apple Pencil 3 could come with a camera, a biometric sensor, a processor, memory, power supply and more.

This patent is fairly broad, so it is not clear if Apple has included these features just to cover all its bases, or if any of these features will actually be available on the Apple Pencil 3.

It is likely that the Apple Pencil 3 could be launched with the next iPad Pro.

See also:

How to pair either version of the Apple Pencil with your iPad for precise drawing and writing

How to charge either Apple Pencil model with your iPad, and what to do if it won't charge