I had already been using the regular Adonit Jot Pro for about a year, so when I got my hands on the Jot Touch, the big question was simple: does adding Bluetooth and pressure sensitivity actually make this stylus better for real iPad use?
This was a first look, not a final review. I wanted to see what came in the box, how hard it was to pair, which apps recognized it, and whether the pressure sensitivity felt useful right away.
Quick Answer
The Adonit Jot Touch paired with the iPad pretty easily, worked in supported apps like Noteshelf, SketchBook Pro, and Procreate, and felt like a solid, well-made stylus. The smaller disc tip was an immediate improvement, and the magnetic USB charger was a nice design touch.
That said, I was not fully sold on the pressure sensitivity during the first test. It worked, but it felt like I had to press harder than I expected, and app support varied. My early take was that the newer Jot Pro might be the better value for many people, while the Jot Touch needed more real use before I could recommend it at around $100.
What Comes In The Box
The packaging was pretty straightforward. Inside the box was the Jot Touch stylus, a magnetic USB charging dock, documentation cards, app promotion cards, and an extra tip.
The extra tip was tucked under the cardboard, so it would have been easy to miss if I had not pulled everything apart. From what I could tell during the unboxing, it looked like the same style of replacement disc tip that was already installed on the stylus.
The stylus itself felt close in weight to my older Jot Pro. I expected it to feel heavier because of the battery and Bluetooth hardware, but in the hand it felt about the same.
The Smaller Disc Tip
One of the first things I noticed was the smaller disc on the Jot Touch. The older Jot Pro already gave me better precision than a typical soft rubber stylus, but the smaller disc made the Jot Touch feel even more refined.
The newer Jot models also include a dampened tip, which helps with the feel of writing or drawing on glass. My older Jot Pro did not have that, so this was one of the more noticeable hardware updates.
If you have never used a Jot-style stylus before, the clear disc can take a little time to get used to. For me, it was worth that adjustment because of the precision. I would give it about half an hour before deciding whether you like it or not.
Charging And Power
The charging setup was one of the nicer parts of the design. The end of the Jot Touch connects to a small USB charging dock with a magnet, somewhat like the magnetic connector idea people associate with older MacBook chargers.
The magnet held the stylus firmly enough that it felt like it would work well in normal use. I also noticed a small sticker over the charging port, which had to be removed before charging.
The power button was not immediately obvious. It sits between the two plastic side buttons. That same button is also used for pairing.
Pairing With The iPad
Pairing was straightforward once I found the power button. I held the button until the light started blinking, then opened the Bluetooth settings on the iPad Mini.
The stylus appeared in Bluetooth, asked for a pairing PIN, and worked with the simple code 0000. After that, it connected without much trouble.
The important catch is that Bluetooth support depends on the app. The Jot Touch can pair with the iPad, but individual apps still need to support the stylus features.
- Hold the small center button between the side buttons until the light blinks.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the iPad.
- Select the Jot Touch when it appears.
- Use 0000 as the pairing PIN if prompted.
Testing In Noteshelf
Noteshelf recognized the Jot Touch and offered stylus settings. It showed options for precision and pressure sensitivity, and it also allowed the two side buttons to be assigned to actions.
The side buttons were more flexible than they first looked. Each button could have a normal press action and a press-and-hold action, so you effectively get four possible controls.
I tested undo as one of the button actions. That kind of shortcut can be useful if you are writing or sketching and do not want to keep reaching for the toolbar.
Pressure Sensitivity
The pressure sensitivity did work. When I barely touched the screen, the line was lighter or thinner. When I pressed harder, the line became darker or heavier depending on the app and brush.
My hesitation was the feel. To get a clear difference, I felt like I had to press harder than I normally would. I do not think it was going to hurt the screen, but it felt a little unnatural at first.
That may simply be something that takes time. I was used to drawing lightly and going over the same area again to build up darker lines, so pressure-sensitive drawing required a different habit.
SketchBook Pro And Procreate
SketchBook Pro recognized the Jot Touch through its third-party pen support. The stylus worked, and the smaller disc still felt like a nice improvement over my older Jot Pro.
What I did not immediately find in SketchBook Pro was button customization. That could limit the usefulness of the side buttons depending on how you like to work.
Procreate also found the Jot Touch after enabling accessories in the app settings. I could see pressure differences with different brushes, especially with inking-style brushes where pressing harder made the line darker.
I also ran into one of the reasons I was not a huge fan of Procreate at the time: my pinky touched the screen and moved the canvas. That was not really the stylus itself, but it affected the drawing experience during the test.
Is It Worth The Price
At this first-look stage, I was not ready to say the Jot Touch was worth around $100. It felt solid, it paired easily, and the hardware design was good, but the pressure sensitivity did not immediately convince me.
The regular Jot Pro was still the safer recommendation for many people, especially the newer version with the dampened smaller disc. At around $30, it offered the precision benefit without asking you to pay for Bluetooth features you may or may not use.
For artists who use supported apps and really want pressure sensitivity, the Jot Touch had potential. I just needed more time with it before calling it a must-buy.
Key Takeaways
- The Adonit Jot Touch is a Bluetooth stylus for iPad with pressure sensitivity and side buttons.
- Pairing was simple: hold the center button, connect through Bluetooth, and use 0000 if asked for a PIN.
- App support matters. Noteshelf, SketchBook Pro, and Procreate recognized it, but button options varied by app.
- The smaller dampened disc tip felt like a real improvement over the older Jot Pro design.
- Pressure sensitivity worked, but it required more pressure than expected during the first test.
- The Jot Touch felt well made, but the less expensive newer Jot Pro looked like the better value for many users.
Watch the Video
The video above above for the full first-look walkthrough, including the unboxing, Bluetooth pairing, app tests, and my initial drawing impressions with the Jot Touch.
