Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus Review: A Universal and Utilitarian Stylus That Would Benefit from More Style

Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus Review

The $59.90 Penoval USI 2.0 stylus is a versatile and advanced digital pen, primarily designed for tablets, Chromebooks and other devices supporting the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) standard. This stylus represents the next generation of USI pens, offering enhanced precision, lower latency, and better overall performance compared to earlier models.

My review unit came with the excellent Google Pixel Tablet for test drive purposes. The strong fit and finish of the Google Tablet did no favors for the more pedestrian USI stylus, which also pales in design next to any Apple Pencil.

The problem with standards is they hit a lowest common denominator, and then they usually stop. While the USI 2.0 device does what it says, it doesn’t push the stylus design, nor does it offer anything more than a jumping-off point for divergent features, such as hovering, context buttons or touch controls that product marketers might still want to differentiate their products. I see the standard going forward not as a device but as a basic chipset and protocols that will end up in many styli that also offer additional features beyond the standard. The standard will likely always lag the market.

The Penoval USI 2.0 does its job. If you are looking for a mid-priced stylus and have several devices and want to eliminate the proprietary stylus investment across them, it’s the only game in town if you happen to have a compatible device. If you have an Apple iPad and a Microsoft Surface Pro, then this isn’t going to be your solution. If, however, you have one of many Chromebooks and a Google Pixel Tablet, then you can migrate across the devices easily. The Penoval stylus also makes sense in the case of a device like the Google Pixel Tablet that doesn’t come with a stylus and happens to support the USI standard.

I am unconvinced, at this point, that a standards-based pen is a consumer product. While the Apple Pencil is just a white stick, it has an aesthetic synergy with Apple’s brand. Most other stylus products are just metal tubs that are difficult to differentiate from one another. The entire stylus market needs to take a cue from the pen world and create objects that seek to be more than utilitarian. I see the Penoval offers a good solution for those who rent or loan out devices, buying in bulk and not caring which stylus goes out with which device because they work across devices.

However, for consumers, proprietary features may be more meaningful than cross-platform compatibility, as few likely own more than one stylus-based device, and today, at least, those all come with a stylus. For the consumer, if the hardware manufacturer chooses the USI standard, that would be great. If they don’t, and the device comes with a proprietary stylus, I’m not sure they will care if it doesn’t work on a device they don’t own. Apple released an Apple Pencil Pro to support new hardware features on its iPad Pro line that its current flagship Apple Pencil could not handle. The stylus market is far from set, so standards will be hard to craft except at the most basic level.

That makes the stylus an interesting standards target, as many brands and types of styli exist, most of which are based on proprietary technologies such as those from Wacom (a USI member). It is a more complex technology than many imagine, and that makes for subtle issues related to UI and UX that may be more driven by application needs than hardware needs.

I have been involved with several standards bodies over the years, and the real power comes when the proprietary features become standard. Standards bodies must lead by design on basic feature parity and cross-platform compatibility. The real power of a standards organization arrives when it negotiates the incorporation of branched features from member companies into the standard, thereby expanding the reach of innovation.

Most tech standards do not include a call for aesthetics. I think the entire stylus market has missed the opportunity to learn from pens. Over the years, Cross has attempted several stylus products that ultimately failed as their underlying technology ceased to exist, and many have placed rubber nubs on their caps or tops for passive touch screens. But pens continue to be a divergent market with a connoisseur constituency.

Styluses can and should be more stylish. USI should help shape market perception. A stylus is not just a functional option but a collectible, beautiful, and ideally lasting, accessory that might well outlive the device it was acquired for. I’d like to see USI articulate that strategy on its website.

Key Features of the USI 2.0 Stylus:

1. Compatibility: Works with a wide range of Chromebooks and other USI-compatible devices, making it a flexible option for users with multiple devices. USI 2.0 is compatible with over 50 devices.
2. Pressure Sensitivity: With improved pressure sensitivity, the Penoval USI 2.0 stylus offers a more natural drawing and writing experience, responding to 4096  levels of pressure via its conical tip.
3. Tilt Functionality: Allows for shading and drawing from different angles, providing an experience closer to traditional pen-and-paper.
4. Rechargeable Battery: Unlike many styluses that rely on disposable batteries, the Penoval USI 2.0 includes a rechargeable battery, which can be powered via USB-C. This feature is environmentally friendly and convenient. The battery will run up to 90 hours on a 50-minute charge. It turns off after 5 minutes to reduce discharge.
5. Palm Rejection: Enhanced palm rejection technology ensures that resting your hand on the screen won’t interfere with your drawing or writing.
6. Durability: Built with a sturdy, ergonomic design that feels comfortable in hand and is designed to withstand regular use.
7. Magnetic Attachment: Some versions offer magnetic attachment, making it easier to carry around with your device without needing an additional holder.

Use Cases:

• Students: Ideal for note-taking, highlighting, and annotating textbooks on Chromebooks or tablets.
• Professionals: Useful for sketching, signing or annotating documents, and making quick notes during meetings.
• Artists: Provides a responsive and intuitive drawing experience supporting various pressure levels and angles.

I only reviewed the Penoval USI 2.0 stylus. USI standards are also implemented in stylus products from other makers, including Hanvon, Chicony, Maxeye, Sunrex, Sunwoda and Waltop International.

What we like

Pros

• Less expensive than some proprietary styli
• Works with multiple devices without a pairing process
• Magnetic attachment for some devices
• Good drawing/notetaking experience

At $59.90, the Penoval USI 2.0 stylus is in the middle range for a stylus. HP, for instance, sells the HP MPP 1.51 Pen for $43.99. They also sell the HP Rechargeable Active Pen G3 for $94.00. The Penoval USI 2.0 is competitively priced, but it’s not the lowest price. However, I would, and as I think USI would argue, the cross-platform feature makes the USI option more compelling. But then again, if you only have one device and want a cheap stylus, buy the one that serves the needs of the moment.

The primary value proposition for a USI stylus is its cross-platform compatibility. I tested the Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus, and it works well on the new Google Tablet and on my aging Lenovo Duet Chromebook. I do not doubt that it also works on the 50+ devices listed as compatible, though I only tested it on these two. It paired on both without an intervention of any kind.

Magnetic mounting of stylus-to-tablet worked with the Google Pixel Tablet. Magnetic attachment is a design option. It was not perfect, as the magnets don’t run the length of the device or the stylus, leaving the unbalanced attachment somewhat tenuous.

The writing experience was fine. The Penoval stylus captured shade at angles and mimicked my pressure against the screen with bolder or thinner lines.

As noted in the introduction. The Penoval USI 2.0 stylus did what it was supposed to do, but with little style.

What could be improved

Cons

• Does not address general design flaws found in other styli
• Requires wired charging
• No function button
• More environmentally friendling packaging
• Apple and Microsoft are not members

The Apple Pencil is the stylus upon which all others are judged, and most are found wanting—and even the Apple Pencil has its deficiencies, which include the overly smooth tip surface and its price. While the Penoval USI 2.0 costs significantly less than the Apple Pencil, it does not advance the idea of a stylus by creating a better, more functional device. As with most standards, UniversalStylus.org focuses on basic features, but the only innovation is the software interface and accompanying electronics that allow it to be used across multiple devices. That is a positive feature, but I don’t think that is a feature that outweighs the other innovations needed in the market.

One of those innovations that Apple and some others have addressed is wireless charging. The Penoval USI 2.0 is, thankfully, a USB-C wired charging device (vs. micro-USB or some other option). Wireless would be preferred, perhaps following the work from Zagg that integrates Qi into their device, thus leveraging an existing standard and eliminating the wire.

The other missed opportunity is the lack of any definition for a button that provides additional functionality. Apple’s Pencil Pro, which is touch-sensitive, supports a double-tap, for instance, to switch from drawing to eraser. Windows and Chromebook users would benefit from a context or right-click button, which is common on the styli that accompany 2-in-1 Windows devices with pen input enabled.

I would love to see USI adopt full paper packaging rather than a non-recyclable plastic insert in an otherwise thin-cardboard-based box.

Apple and Microsoft are not USI members, which means two market leaders in pen-based computing do not offer USI-compatible devices, which puts the USI stylus in the market camp of a stylus for everyone else except for the market leaders, which is a tough place to be.

Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus Pen: The bottom line

The Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus is a viable alternative to a proprietary for those looking to enhance their digital writing or drawing experience on a pen-enabled device that does not ship with a stylus. It also offers an alternative replacement stylus for compatible devices.

Unfortunately, the capabilities of the USI 2.0 don’t progress stylus design. It is a good, basic stylus that will serve the purpose for most who want to take notes, sketch, or annotate documents. Still, it doesn’t make drawing a better experience than any other stylus except for those who own multiple USI-compatible devices.

As an emergent standard, USI would benefit from rethinking the stylus rather than just making a universal one.

USI provided the Penoval USI 2.0 Stylus for review. Images courtesy of USI unless otherwise noted.

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