Apple is preparing two new Apple Pencil models for 2027 with replaceable batteries

Apple has not touched the Apple Pencil since 2024, but that is about to change. According to Mark Gurman's report in Bloomberg, the company is preparing two new models —the Apple Pencil with USB-C and the second generation of the Apple Pencil Pro— for the first half of 2027. They would arrive alongside a refreshed iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

It sounds like a routine update, but the deeper change is not in what the Pencil does, but in how it is built inside: a battery that, for the first time, you will be able to replace. And behind that decision is a European law.

Two new Apple Pencil models for 2027

The current models have gone a while without changes. The Apple Pencil with USB-C launched in November 2023, and the Apple Pencil Pro in May 2024. Since then, the lineup has been frozen. What Gurman is previewing are two direct replacements: a standard version that keeps USB-C charging, and a second generation of the Pro model.

The launch would be tied to the schedule for the next iPad Pro, which Apple would position in the first half of 2027 with an M6 or M7 chip manufactured on a 2-nanometer process, plus a new MacBook Pro. It is the usual pattern: every Apple Pencil leap comes alongside an iPad change; it does not launch on its own.

Why now: a battery you will be able to replace

Gurman mentions that the new Pencil models would have "new battery systems" designed to make them easier to replace. This is not a design decision Apple made just because it wanted to.

The reason is Article 11 of the European Union Battery Regulation, which requires portable batteries in devices to be removable and replaceable by the end user. The rule has existed since 2023, but it becomes legally applicable in February 2027, exactly the window in which Apple plans these launches. The timing is not a coincidence: the company is redesigning the accessory to comply on time.

What changes for repairability

A current Apple Pencil is, inside, a plastic tube sealed with adhesive. It is not designed to be opened. When the battery reaches the end of its useful life —something that happens to any lithium cell after enough cycles— there is no spare part and no possible repair: the entire accessory becomes e-waste. For a product that, in its Pro version, is not exactly cheap, that is an absurd ending.

Making the battery replaceable changes that equation. It extends the product's real lifespan, opens the door to technical service, and reduces disposal. It is one of the few cases where regulation directly improves what the user gets.

Still, expectations should be kept in check. "Replaceable" does not always mean you will swap it yourself at home: it may involve a service procedure, not a compartment that opens by hand. The rule also has exceptions for devices with certain sealing and charge-retention characteristics, although the Pencil does not obviously fit into them. And there is something Gurman did not clarify: beyond the battery, he did not provide any details about specs or new features. Everything else, for now, is unknown.

Conclusion

If you were hoping for an Apple Pencil with revolutionary features, there is still nothing to support that: the only solid change is the battery. For anyone who draws or takes notes, there is no reason to delay a purchase while waiting for features no one has confirmed. But for those who look at these accessories in terms of durability and avoiding accumulated waste, this is the change the lineup has needed for years.

The real question is not what the new Pencil models will do, but how far Apple will go with the battery: whether it designs a replacement the user can truly handle, or the bare minimum needed to comply with the law. That decision will determine whether this is real progress or just a formality.

Frequently asked questions

When will the new Apple Pencil models be released?

Gurman's report places them in the first half of 2027, alongside the next iPad Pro and a new MacBook Pro. There is no exact date or official confirmation from Apple, so the timing could still shift.

Will my current Apple Pencil stop working?

No. Current models will continue to work normally and receive support. The arrival of new versions does not force you to replace the one you already have; it simply expands the options for people buying a new iPad.

Why does the battery have to be replaceable?

Because of the European Union Battery Regulation, whose Article 11 requires devices with a portable battery to allow it to be removed and replaced. It applies to accessories such as styluses and takes effect in February 2027.

Which iPad models will they work with?

That has not been confirmed. They are expected to arrive alongside the new iPad Pro, and they will most likely follow the current compatibility logic (the Pencil Pro needs the side magnetic connector). The definitive list of compatible models will be known at the announcement.