Astropad is out with Rock Paper Pencil 4.0, a refresh of its matte screen protector and Apple Pencil tip system that finally offers a graphite-like feel alongside the classic ballpoint experience. The new bundle blends nano-textured surface material with custom Apple Pencil tips to simulate both the tooth of graphite and the slickness of a gel pen.
Graphite or ballpoint? Your choice
The company’s latest kit includes new graphite-style tips designed to mimic the drag and feedback of a 2B pencil, ideal for sketching, shading, or expressive strokes. The regular steel ballpoint tips are still part of the package for tasks needing precision, like fine-lining or note-taking. Each 4.0 bundle ships with four tips total: two graphite and two ballpoint.
Screen texture, tip material, and fit
The screen protector retains its NanoCling backing system, which eschews adhesive in favor of static cling. It sticks cleanly, can be removed and reused without residue, and supposedly holds stronger than magnets while still offering easy, bubble-free installation. Its micro-etched surface is intended to simulate fine-grain paper with enough friction to enhance control.
The graphite tips are constructed from polyoxymethylene (POM), while the steel ballpoint ones use, unsurprisingly, steel. Astropad designed the custom tips specifically for use with its textured screen protector—it doesn’t support mixing these tips with a regular iPad screen if you want the full effect.
Pricing and availability
Rock Paper Pencil 4.0 is priced at $49.99, with international shipping options available. The previous version, Rock Paper Pencil 3.0, is still being sold at a discount until supplies run out.
Why this matters: Many digital artists and everyday users have long craved better feedback from their Apple Pencil without permanently altering their iPad. Rock Paper Pencil 4.0 addresses this by offering the texture and feel of graphite without adhesive—or commitment. The dual-tip design lets you switch between precision and expressiveness without swapping tools.
What to watch: The durability of the graphite tips under heavy sketching will be a point of evaluation, as will whether the NanoCling protector can retain its strength and texture after repeated removal. If these hold up, this could be the best way yet to combine iPad’s clean screen with realist drawing sensations.
