TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen review

If you're LYNKtec, how do you follow up the incredibly well received TruGlide Stylus for iPad? If you answered with a TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen, then you're absolutely right. The TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen takes everything that was great about the original, and doubles the functionality by adding a traditional ink pen to the new fangled capacitive pen. And it does it with balance and style.

First, I just have to say that the box the TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen comes in is really nice. Sure, it looks a bit like Dracula's coffin, but I'm absolutely going to keep it to store earrings in.

As with the original TruGlide Stylu, the TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen uses woven capacitive fibers making for a very different feel than regular stylus pens -- stronger, more durable, and not as mushy. I've already gone on at length about it in my original TruGlide review, and much of that applies for this new model as well.

I'll explain -- no, no, there is to much -- I'll sum up. The capacitance is very good, and remains one of the best I've tested. But... this one has a slightly crunchy sound when you press down on it. I can't really explain it. It's just... crunchy. Watch the video, you'll hear it.

The new news here is the traditional ink pen. And LINKtec certainly didn't cheap out here. The writing experience is great and the ink flow is smooth and consistent. There's a well constructed cap to keep the pen from leaking when not in use, and everything is just really well built and balanced. And even with all of that, the stylus and the pen, it remains exceptionally light.

The good

  • Durable woven tip
  • Good capacitance
  • Nice design
  • Includes traditional ink pen

The bad

  • Not as consistently precise as some other pro-level stylus

The bottom line

If you just want a stylus, the less expensive, single-porpose TruGlide, or one of the other pro-level stylus pens will serve you well. If you need a traditional pen as well as a stylus, however, the TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen is the way to go. It's my favorite combination stylus pen to date.

$39.95 Buy now

Georgia

Senior Editor at iMore and a practicing therapist specializing in stress and anxiety. She speaks everywhere from conferences to corporations, co-host of Vector and Isometric podcasts, follow her on Twitter @Georgia_Dow and check out her series at anxiety-videos.com.