Refreshed Apple Pencils May Arrive Next Year With Improved Repairability

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Apple Pencil Gets a Repairability Focus

Apple is reportedly preparing two new Apple Pencil models for the first half of 2027, with one major improvement that longtime users have been clamoring for: replaceable batteries. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upgrades are being driven in part by incoming European Union regulations on consumer electronics repairability.

It’s been nearly three years since Apple introduced its refreshed entry-level Apple Pencil with a USB-C port and two years since the launch of the more premium Apple Pencil Pro. Now, the company is gearing up for the next generation of its popular stylus lineup.

Two New Models on the Horizon

According to Gurman’s report, Apple has two new Apple Pencil models in active development. The first, carrying the internal codename B582, is expected to be an update to the entry-level Apple Pencil that currently charges via a USB-C port. The second, codenamed B632, will refresh the higher-end Apple Pencil Pro.

The existing Apple Pencil Pro introduced a novel squeeze sensor in the barrel that lets users trigger contextual tools and actions. While the new iteration is expected to retain that functionality, Gurman indicates that the real headline feature lies elsewhere — in the device’s internal design.

EU Regulations Push Replaceable Batteries

The driving force behind the improved repairability appears to be new European Union regulations that require consumer electronics manufacturers to make batteries easier to replace. Apple is reportedly working hard to conform to these rules, which could finally make the Apple Pencil a device that doesn’t need to be tossed when its internal battery inevitably dies.

For Apple customers, it would mark a welcome shift. iFixit, the popular repair advocacy group, has deemed every Apple Pencil model a “repairability fail” due to the sealed internal batteries that cannot be replaced without destroying the device. Once the battery degrades beyond a usable state — typically after a few years of regular use — the entire unit becomes e-waste.

This wouldn’t be the first time EU regulations have reshaped Apple’s product design decisions. The bloc’s push for a universal charging standard famously forced Apple to adopt USB-C on the iPhone 15 lineup, a change the company had resisted for years.

A Growing Right-to-Repair Movement

The Apple Pencil news comes amid a broader shift in the tech industry toward repairability and sustainability. The right-to-repair movement has gained significant momentum in recent years, with legislation spreading across the United States, Europe, and beyond.

Apple itself has become more accommodating to the movement, launching a Self Service Repair program and expanding the availability of genuine parts and repair manuals. Making the Apple Pencil serviceable would extend the trend to one of Apple’s most popular accessories, potentially saving thousands of devices from ending up in landfills.

What to Expect

With a target window of the first half of 2027, there’s still plenty of time for the designs to change before they reach consumers. Gurman’s track record on Apple reporting, however, lends significant credibility to the claim. The new models are expected to launch alongside Apple’s updated iPad lineup, though exact timing and pricing remain unknown.