The Reed Pen tool, now available in the Notes app and compatible drawing interfaces in iPadOS 26, mimics the look and feel of a traditional calligraphy pen. With dynamic stroke variation based on pressure and angle, the tool gives users a refined writing style perfect for headlines, flourishes, and stylized titles.
This tool stands apart from the standard Pen or Marker tools by delivering thin upstrokes and broad downstrokes, closely resembling ink written with a flat, flexible nib. The result? More visually impactful writing without needing third-party apps.
Designed with Apple Pencil in Mind
The Reed Pen tool takes full advantage of Apple Pencil’s pressure sensitivity and tilt capabilities, translating subtle hand movements into natural variations in stroke width. For users with the latest Apple Pencil Pro, haptic feedback adds a tactile sensation that mirrors writing with real-world calligraphy instruments.
It’s especially well-suited for:
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Calligraphy practice
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Annotated headings
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Elegant title writing in Notes
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Digital journaling and bullet journaling
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Sketching ornate lettering or logos
Artists and note-takers alike can enjoy fluid, expressive writing that previously required exporting to dedicated art apps like Procreate or Adobe Fresco.
Streamlined, Native Integration
One of the key strengths of the Reed Pen tool in iPadOS 26 is that it’s built into the native Notes app—no additional downloads, plug-ins, or purchases required. It lives alongside the existing pencil, pen, highlighter, and marker tools in the toolbar.
This aligns with Apple’s broader effort in iPadOS 26 to bring more pro-level tools directly into default apps, lowering the barrier for users to create polished content with minimal setup.
More Than Aesthetic: Function Meets Form
While the Reed Pen adds a stylish visual edge, it’s more than just eye candy. For students, professionals, and digital planners, the ability to emphasize structure or hierarchy in notes through beautiful headers or accented annotations boosts both readability and organization.
Combined with iPadOS 26’s other writing enhancements—like smarter handwriting cleanup, inline AI summarization, and improved search across handwritten content—the Reed Pen becomes part of a larger upgrade to the iPad’s writing ecosystem.
Why It Matters
The Reed Pen tool in iPadOS 26 reflects Apple’s evolving focus: enhance the user experience through natural, intuitive tools that don’t require workarounds. Instead of relying on complex apps or steep learning curves, users now have a sophisticated, stylized writing option built into their workflow.
For Apple Pencil users—especially those who use the iPad as a creative journal, sketchbook, or academic tool—the addition brings new artistic flexibility with zero friction.
