According to Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman, Apple is reportedly working on two new Apple Pencil models that, for the first time, prioritize easier repairability over new input features. This is due to new EU regulations on replaceable batteries.
Two new models codenamed B582 and B632
According to Gurman, Apple is internally preparing two successors: The B582 model is set to replace the USB-C-charged entry-level Pencil, while the B632 represents the next generation of the Apple Pencil Pro. Both are expected to launch in the first half of 2027 alongside redesigned iPads—about three years after the USB-C Pencil and two years after the debut of the Pencil Pro.
Focus on Repairability Rather Than New Sensors
While the original Apple Pencil Pro stood out primarily for its new sensors for pressure and rotation detection as well as haptic feedback, Gurman reports that the successor, the B632, will feature hardly any new input functions. Instead, improved repairability is at the heart of the redesign.
EU Battery Regulation as a Driving Force
The backdrop to this is the EU Battery Regulation, which will require consumer electronics manufacturers to include easily replaceable batteries in the future. So far, iFixit has rated every Apple Pencil as “poor” for repairability, since the built-in battery cannot be replaced once it wears out. A repairable Pencil Pro would therefore mark a significant shift for Apple, which already had to switch from Lightning to USB-C for the iPhone 15 in 2023 due to EU regulations.
Apple Isn’t the Only One Affected
Apple isn’t the only manufacturer making changes due to the new EU rules: Nintendo is also planning an EU version of the Switch 2 with a replaceable battery, including replacement batteries for Joy-Con 2 and Pro controllers. This shift is likely to set a precedent across the industry, while Apple is simultaneously emphasizing greater sustainability in the casing and battery of products like the iPad Air with M4.
