Review: The Moko Stylus is a good low-cost alternative to Apple Pencil
The Moko Stylus emulates the Apple Pencil experience with a slim form factor and easy pairing system with a few notable compromises.
Moko Stylus
The Moko Stylus functions very similar to the Logitech Crayon but in a much cheaper and sleeker package. Overall the stylus is great for general purpose uses, but professional artists may want to look elsewhere.
The lack of Lightning is likely due to the cheap nature of the product-- licensing that port would bring the cost much higher.
A clicky button sits right where your fingers would rest while holding it, but it only functions as an on/off switch. When the stylus is on, a blue light shines through the button.
This is a distraction to the design, and while useful for determining power-state, it is an overall-ugly addition.
The tip is replaceable, and the box comes with a replacement. The product description says that it will not scratch your screen, but the instruction pamphlet included says a screen protector is recommended.
No scratching occurred on the iPad Pro or iPad mini tested when used without a screen protector.
The Moko Stylus, Logitech Crayon, and Apple Pencil
The Moko Stylus appears to be using the same pairing system as the Logitech Crayon. When powered on, it will work on any iPad 2018 or newer with iOS 12.2 or more recent.
If you have an Apple Pencil paired to the iPad, you must turn it off in settings or cycle Bluetooth with the Apple Pencil disconnected -- only then will the Moko Stylus work.
Since it is using similar technology to the Logitech Crayon, you can switch between iPads without pairing. For example, the iPad Pro and iPad mini both accepted input from the Moko Stylus without any prompt or pairing.
Not all the features of the Logitech Crayon are here, however. The chart below defines the capabilities of each iPad stylus.
The Moko Stylus on the iPad Pro
The Moko Stylus feels fine in-hand, although the power button is right under your finger, which can be uncomfortable. The feeling of using the Moko Stylus is not very different from using the Apple Pencil, except Apple's stylus is weighted more evenly.
The stylus mounts to the side of the flat-sided iPad Pros for convenience but does not charge this way. It uses micro-USB to charge, which is very disappointing despite the lower cost.
Unless you already have a reason to carry a micro-USB cable, this is just one more cable to have.
There is an LED indicator in the power button. A blue light shows when it is powered on and working, a red light shows that it is charging, and a green light indicates it is 100% charged.
Do not buy if you plan on doing more than a simple sketch. Tilt and pressure control are absent, so most artistic endeavors will be challenging.
Pros
Moko Stylus
The Moko Stylus functions very similar to the Logitech Crayon but in a much cheaper and sleeker package. Overall the stylus is great for general purpose uses, but professional artists may want to look elsewhere.
Design
At a glance, the Moko Stylus could easily be mistaken for a second-generation Apple Pencil, with its smooth cylindrical white finish with one flat side. It has a flat top where an eraser would be to allow for a micro-USB port for charging.The lack of Lightning is likely due to the cheap nature of the product-- licensing that port would bring the cost much higher.
A clicky button sits right where your fingers would rest while holding it, but it only functions as an on/off switch. When the stylus is on, a blue light shines through the button.
This is a distraction to the design, and while useful for determining power-state, it is an overall-ugly addition.
The tip is replaceable, and the box comes with a replacement. The product description says that it will not scratch your screen, but the instruction pamphlet included says a screen protector is recommended.
No scratching occurred on the iPad Pro or iPad mini tested when used without a screen protector.
Technology
The Moko Stylus, Logitech Crayon, and Apple Pencil
The Moko Stylus appears to be using the same pairing system as the Logitech Crayon. When powered on, it will work on any iPad 2018 or newer with iOS 12.2 or more recent.
If you have an Apple Pencil paired to the iPad, you must turn it off in settings or cycle Bluetooth with the Apple Pencil disconnected -- only then will the Moko Stylus work.
Since it is using similar technology to the Logitech Crayon, you can switch between iPads without pairing. For example, the iPad Pro and iPad mini both accepted input from the Moko Stylus without any prompt or pairing.
Not all the features of the Logitech Crayon are here, however. The chart below defines the capabilities of each iPad stylus.
| Pressure Sensitive | Tilt/Angle sensors | Double-Tap Gesture | Charging Method | Paring Method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moko Stylus | No | No | No | Micro-USB | Specialized Bluetooth |
| Logitech Crayon | No | Yes | No | Lightning | Specialized Bluetooth |
| Apple Pencil | Yes | Yes | Yes | Magnetic connector | Magnetic connector |
Using the Moko Stylus
The Moko Stylus on the iPad Pro
The Moko Stylus feels fine in-hand, although the power button is right under your finger, which can be uncomfortable. The feeling of using the Moko Stylus is not very different from using the Apple Pencil, except Apple's stylus is weighted more evenly.
The stylus mounts to the side of the flat-sided iPad Pros for convenience but does not charge this way. It uses micro-USB to charge, which is very disappointing despite the lower cost.
Unless you already have a reason to carry a micro-USB cable, this is just one more cable to have.
Battery life
The manufacturer promises long battery life -- up to 20 hours of continuous use and a year of standby time for a full battery. Moko also says it can fully charge in 100 minutes, and to maintain battery life, the stylus will go to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity.There is an LED indicator in the power button. A blue light shows when it is powered on and working, a red light shows that it is charging, and a green light indicates it is 100% charged.
Compatibility
The Moko Stylus works with the following devices:- 11-inch iPad Pro (2018 and 2020 models)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018 and 2020 models)
- 6th-generation and 7th-generation 10.2-inch iPad
- iPad mini 5
- iPad Air 3
Should you buy the Moko Stylus?
If the Apple Pencil is out of your price range or the Logitech Crayon is too bulky or expensive, the Moko Stylus is a great alternative. The stylus may not be a good choice for artists, but anyone who wants basic note-taking or precision control in photo editing tools could benefit from it.Do not buy if you plan on doing more than a simple sketch. Tilt and pressure control are absent, so most artistic endeavors will be challenging.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Slim design
- Long battery life
- Charges via Micro-USB
- Screen scratching possible without protector
- Distracting indicator light
- No tilt or pressure
Comments
Insane stretch of an argument.
USB C may be a newer connector, but micro USB is far from obsolete and still very much used. Since the Moko stylus can be used with several different models of iPad, some of which have USB C and others that have lightning ports, an adapter would have been required no matter what connector they chose.
MicroUSB also requires adapters from USB-A devices and chargers, and is inferior in every way to USB-C, including but not limited to port stability, geometry, charging, and data speeds. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.
You are correct that USB C is faster and more powerful than micro USB, but for charging a low power device like this it’s perfectly acceptable and it actually does have a slight size advantage over USB C. Looking at both my Apple Pencil and pictures of the Moko stylus it appears a USB C connector would be too large for either one.
Even if it used a lightning or USB C port, it would need adapter for the iPads not using those ports, and the ‘digital lollipop’ design of the original Apple Pencil was frankly quite poor. Since the Moko stylus comes with a micro-USB A cable it can be charged virtually anywhere there’s a USB port.