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iPad Pro Anyone used the Radtech Pencilclip for Apple Pencil?

iPaddington

iPaddington

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 28, 2016
8
2
Hey Guys,

Longtime stalker here. I saw news about the pencilclipz for Apple pencil last week, but have yet to see any hands-on reviews. Has anyone here used or seen one in person? I'm trying to find out how stable it secures in the lightning port. Also, is the pocket clip pretty sturdy or does it feel flimsy?

Thanks for feedback!
 
iPaddington said:
Hey Guys,

Longtime stalker here. I saw news about the pencilclipz for Apple pencil last week, but have yet to see any hands-on reviews. Has anyone here used or seen one in person? I'm trying to find out how stable it secures in the lightning port. Also, is the pocket clip pretty sturdy or does it feel flimsy?

Thanks for feedback!
Click to expand...
I would also like to hear if anyone has
 
I'd imagine, much like the other one that attaches to the Lightning port, the risk of it breaking and the plastic insert becoming permanently stuck in the Lightning port is too high to risk.

There's plenty of other, safer, ways of attaching your Pencil that don't use the Lightning port as a means of attaching.
 
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I had something similar that was a Kickstarter campaign called the Quarter and it was a disaster! Ruined my Ipad pro 12!

To make a long story short, I backed this campaign, it took a long time to receive it. When I got it and used it once and only once because the dam thing broke off inside my iPad Pro 12. I could not get it out and had to take it to Apple who told me that once they removed the cheap piece of plastic from inside the unit it had ruined the lighting connector copper wires inside the unit so it was virtually ruined.

I was lucky they could have charged me for a repair, out of warranty obviously, but the Apple guy was sympathetic and replaced it. Lesson learned, never ever stick anything inside your unit unless it is a lighting cable and is going to charge your unit. Other wise you risk ruining your unit over a $7.95 piece of plastic to hold your Apple pencil. It's not worth the risk so buyer be warned!!!!
 
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Thanks 3goldens! I've already ordered this and it should be arriving tomorrow. I'll check out how the plastic inserts into the iPad. I don't see how the Apple Pencil can charge the way it does and not hurt the Lightning port but plastic can?
 
TrueBlou said:
There's plenty of other, safer, ways of attaching your Pencil that don't use the Lightning port as a means of attaching.
Click to expand...
Any suggestions that'll work for someone with the silicone case and the Smart Keyboard?
 
KylePowers said:
Any suggestions that'll work for someone with the silicone case and the Smart Keyboard?
Click to expand...


There's a couple of options I can think of depending on your preference.

One is to get a piece of elasticated material and some double sided tape. Stitch the ends of the elastic together to make a small loop. Then attach it wherever you like with the tape. If you use tape that's not too strong it's removable without causing damage.

What I use is a pen clip. I've also got the Smart Keyboard. I just found a pen with a removable clip that I liked of the right size. Slipped it into my Pencil and I attach it to the thinnest part of the cover. I'm actually using two clips, a plastic one for attaching to the cover so there's no chance of damage. And a metal clip for clipping the pencil into holders, shirt pockets, the usual stuff.
 
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Hey guys, I'm the designer of the PencilClipz accessory and happy to address any concerns about the product.

I used polycarbonate for this item so that it would absolutely not fracture, nor break easily. the two elements that extend from the main body; pocket clip and the tab that inserts into a Lightning port, can be flexed to their extremes dozens of times before the material will weaken to the point where it could be physically pulled apart (like the cap/pocket clip of the disposable Bic ballpoint pens - the ones you can literally gnaw on for months and never break).

And just to add an even greater margin of safety, I designed the Lightning port tab so that even if it were flexed to its extreme numerous times, the shear line will develop well past the Lightning port that it's inserted into, thereby making it easy to remove.

Rest assured, PencilClipz is as well designed as the rest of our line. And if by some freakish chance anything would become 'stuck' in your Lightning port, we'll remove it at zero cost to you.

Best regards,
John Grzeskowiak, Chief Engineer, RadTech LLC
 
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radtech.com said:
Hey guys, I'm the designer of the PencilClipz accessory and happy to address any concerns about the product.

I used polycarbonate for this item so that it would absolutely not fracture, nor break easily. the two elements that extend from the main body; pocket clip and the tab that inserts into a Lightning port, can be flexed to their extremes dozens of times before the material will weaken to the point where it could be physically pulled apart (like the cap/pocket clip of the disposable Bic ballpoint pens - the ones you can literally gnaw on for months and never break).

And just to add an even greater margin of safety, I designed the Lightning port tab so that even if it were flexed to its extreme numerous times, the shear line will develop well past the Lightning port that it's inserted into, thereby making it easy to remove.

Rest assured, PencilClipz is as well designed as the rest of our line. And if by some freakish chance anything would become 'stuck' in your Lightning port, we'll remove it at zero cost to you.

Best regards,
John Grzeskowiak, Chief Engineer, RadTech LLC
Click to expand...
How do we know that the insertion part won't mess up the Lightning connector inside the iPad like others have
 
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Hello npolly0212,

I believe the 'others' had their Lightning port conductors bent/mangled while having a broken piece of some material extracted from deep within the port, not from normal insertion and removal - the port is, after all, designed to accept a mating male connector of similar size. This simply cannot occur with the Lightning tab on PencilClipz.

Additionally, we've subjected several female Lightning ports to thousands of insertion and removal cycles prior to release with no damage noted of any kind, and we've continued to ratchet up the cycle count post release.

And if anyone is truly worried, don't insert the tab - use the device for it's other benefits; pocket clip, enhanced grip when doing detailed drawing and the elimination of the pencil rolling when placed on an inclined surface. And if you don't love it, we'll take it back - just as we've done for the last 14 years.

Regards - John G
 
radtech.com said:
Hello npolly0212,

I believe the 'others' had their Lightning port conductors bent/mangled while having a broken piece of some material extracted from deep within the port, not from normal insertion and removal - the port is, after all, designed to accept a mating male connector of similar size. This simply cannot occur with the Lightning tab on PencilClipz.

Additionally, we've subjected several female Lightning ports to thousands of insertion and removal cycles prior to release with no damage noted of any kind, and we've continued to ratchet up the cycle count post release.

And if anyone is truly worried, don't insert the tab - use the device for it's other benefits; pocket clip, enhanced grip when doing detailed drawing and the elimination of the pencil rolling when placed on an inclined surface. And if you don't love it, we'll take it back - just as we've done for the last 14 years.

Regards - John G
Click to expand...


I think the main worry is, as we've seen in other threads here and elsewhere, the tab that's inserted into the Lightning port can snap off without too much force on the other product. And it's getting this broken piece of the holder out of the Lightning port that has caused the damage.

In principle I do like the idea of them. The Lightning port is of course designed to be able to take a load. But that's only in a stationary position. In a dock or charger on a desk for instance. It's the putting something potentially brittle that could shear off when you're out and about with your iPad being jostled around that concerns me.
 
TrueBlou said:
I think the main worry is, as we've seen in other threads here and elsewhere, the tab that's inserted into the Lightning port can snap off without too much force. And it's getting this broken piece of the holder out of the Lightning port that has caused the damage.

In principle I do like the idea of them. The Lightning port is of course designed to be able to take a load. But that's only in a stationary position. In a dock or charger on a desk for instance. It's the putting something potentially brittle that could shear off when you're out and about with your iPad being jostled around that concerns me.
Click to expand...
Well I was reading people who say sliding the plastics piece from the other products ruined the Lightning connectors and can no longer charge the iPads and it is then useless
 
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npolly0212 said:
Well I was reading people who say sliding the plastics piece from the other products ruined the Lightning connectors and can no longer charge the iPads and it is then useless
Click to expand...

Really, I hadn't read that yet. They must be incredibly badly designed to do that. You should be able to insert and remove anything that has the same physical dimensions as the Lightning connector. Provided it's perfectly smooth without causing damage.
 
TrueBlou said:
Really, I hadn't read that yet. They must be incredibly badly designed to do that. You should be able to insert and remove anything that has the same physical dimensions as the Lightning connector. Provided it's perfectly smooth without causing damage.
Click to expand...
Yep, that's what I thought.
I backed the other kick starter and threw the package into the garbage after seeing all the reviews and many people with useless iPads lol
 
I completely agree with everyone's concerns - I hope to allay them by offering up the facts on the product. I'm a Pro and Pencil user myself, so really not interested in causing any problems with my own gear or reputation.

Final thought:
We've always stood firmly behind our products (for over a decade) - should you experience any problems at all, we'll make it right. PencilClipz will not break off and get stuck in your port, nor will it damage the port's internals. You can sit on it, flex it, twist it, etc - all while inserted, the material will not break or affect the connector.

Regards - John G
 
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I've spent some time researching the Kickstarter product that some have reported lead to the inability to charge their iPads after using for a brief period of time (not the result of the tab breaking off inside the port).

My initial impression is that the Kickstarter device is made from a material that is rubbing off and coating / insulating the copper contacts within the Lightning port - likely Polylactide. This residue can probably be removed by repeatedly inserting and removing (then wiping) a common Lightning male and avoiding further docking of the device.

Again, this is only an educated observation based on what was available online at the time of this writing.
If anyone wishes to forward a unit for a thorough eval, I'm happy to do so - address can be found on the RadTech web site.

The Polycarb used in the construction of PencilClipz will not adhere to and subsequently insulate the copper contacts inside the port.

Best regards - JG
 
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radtech.com said:
I've spent some time researching the Kickstarter product that some have reported lead to the inability to charge their iPads after using for a brief period of time (not the result of the tab breaking off inside the port).

My initial impression is that the Kickstarter device is made from a material that is rubbing off and coating / insulating the copper contacts within the Lightning port - likely Polylactide. This residue can probably be removed by repeatedly inserting and removing (then wiping) a common Lightning male and avoiding further docking of the device.

Again, this is only an educated observation based on what was available online at the time of this writing.
If anyone wishes to forward a unit for a thorough eval, I'm happy to do so - address can be found on the RadTech web site.

The Polycarb used in the construction of PencilClipz will not adhere to and subsequently insulate the copper contacts inside the port.

Best regards - JG
Click to expand...


That's what I was assuming
Heck I have one that will not be touching my iPad
 
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Ok so I got my clip from Radtech yesterday. I was reluctant to put it into my lightning port but after reading the company's response here and comparing the size to my Apple lightning cable I went ahead and did it. It's a nice fit, feels about the same as a lightning cable. The plastic is strong and doesn't appear it would be able to break inside the port, so I'm much more confident now. Check out my pics to see a comparison to lightning port and how it fits in the port.
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iPaddington said:
Ok so I got my clip from Radtech yesterday. I was reluctant to put it into my lightning port but after reading the company's response here and comparing the size to my Apple lightning cable I went ahead and did it. It's a nice fit, feels about the same as a lightning cable. The plastic is strong and doesn't appear it would be able to break inside the port, so I'm much more confident now. Check out my pics to see a comparison to lightning port and how it fits in the port
Click to expand...
Maybe someone addressed this earlier or in other threads, but does it work when you use a cover (like the silicone one)?
 
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