Astropad Studio Gains Apple Pencil Hover Integration on M2 iPad Pro

Astropad today announced an update to the Astropad Studio app, which adds support for the Apple Pencil hover feature that Apple introduced with the new M2 iPad Pro models. Astropad Studio is designed to allow you to draw on your Mac using your iPad, so the hover gesture can be used with the macOS software on the ‌iPad‌.

m2 ipad pro apple pencil hover
Astropad says that users have been asking for ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover support for years, and it is one of the last features that Wacom tablets offered that the ‌iPad‌ did not. With the hover option, the ‌iPad‌ serves as a more feature rich Wacom alternative for digital artists.

The update adds 3D gestures for panning, zooming, and rotating the 3D canvas, along with support for new default shortcuts. There are also a range of new Magic Gestures that use combinations of tap, touch, and the ‌Apple Pencil‌ to trigger actions. Per-app custom gestures are available, so users can set up different gesture sets for apps like Photoshop and Blender, and there is a new one-finger tap gesture.

Astropad Studio is currently offering a 30 percent discount off annual subscriptions with the promo code FESTIVE. Subscriptions are priced at $70/year. Astropad's Luna Display software has also been updated with ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover for the ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Related Forum: iPad Accessories

Top Rated Comments

nwcs Avatar
9 months ago
Maybe I’m too old school but I like the textural feel and resistance of actually pressing against a screen rather than just hovering over it like a hologram.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJR Avatar
9 months ago

It is a good feature on my new 12.9" iPad Pro. The Pencil feels like a wand.

Is Apple working on 'continuity trackpad' for iPad where I can easily-quickly use my iPad as a large trackpad for my Mac when I need it.
That would be cool!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
9 months ago

You still need to press the screen even with hover. Hover just gives you feedback on the position of the pencil before it touches the screen.
Sounds like a feature like this would work great with a haptic engine in the pencil.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
9 months ago
Good to see more apps supporting hover feature. Unfortunately it is available only on the newest iPad Pro.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
airbatross Avatar
9 months ago
I love it on my M2 iPad.. It's like mouse hover on websites - the ability to preview a brush on a drawing app or navigating menus without pressing is awesome.. Also makes it easier to touch the exact position you want..
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cppguy Avatar
9 months ago

Maybe I’m too old school but I like the textural feel and resistance of actually pressing against a screen rather than just hovering over it like a hologram.
Hover is not for drawing or painting, it's for previewing an effect before touching the screen. For example, it's imperative for clone stamping, where you frequently need to preview the precise alignment before starting to paint, especially when you're cloning along sharp edges. For inking you're not going to benefit from the hover feature.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Rapid Security Response Feature 1

Apple Releases Rapid Security Response Updates for iOS 16.5.1 and macOS 13.4.1 to Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerability [Updated]

Monday July 10, 2023 10:31 am PDT by
Apple today released Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates that are available for iPhone and iPad users running the iOS and iPadOS 16.5.1 updates and the macOS Ventura 13.4.1 update. Rapid Security Response updates are designed to provide iOS and macOS users with security fixes without the need to install a full software update. Today's updates address an actively exploited WebKit...
iPhone 15 Pro Two Volume Buttons and Titanium Feature Blue Green

iPhone 15 Pro's Top Rumored Features: USB-C Port, Titanium, and More

Tuesday July 11, 2023 6:37 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 lineup in September. As usual, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to have a wide range of new features, including a USB-C port, A17 Bionic chip, titanium frame, and more. Below, we have recapped the top five new features rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models. USB-C port: iPhone 15 Pro models are widely rumored to feature a USB-C port, providing...
Rapid Security Response Feature 1

Apple Pulls iOS 16.5.1 and macOS 13.4.1 Rapid Security Response Updates Due to Safari Bug

Monday July 10, 2023 8:39 pm PDT by
Apple earlier today released new Rapid Security Response updates for iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, and macOS Ventura 13.4.1 users, but Apple has pulled the software, likely due to an issue that caused certain websites not to work after the RSRs were installed. According to reports on the MacRumors forums, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Zoom, and other websites started giving a warning about not ...
primeday2020 feature3

Amazon Prime Day: The Best Apple Deals

Tuesday July 11, 2023 5:30 am PDT by
Amazon Prime Day is back again, and this summer it will last for two days. During this time, you'll find a large selection of deals and offers across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...
iPhone 15 Pro Blue Side and Back 2

iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Come in Blue

Friday July 7, 2023 2:12 pm PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro models that are set to be introduced this September will be available in a unique dark blue color that has a gray tone, according to Unknownz21, a source that has provided multiple details on what we can expect from the next-generation iPhones and accurate information on other Apple devices like the Vision Pro. Available in a new titanium material, the blue shade will have...