Microsoft's Surface devices are some of the most popular Windows PCs, particularly the Surface Pro line, which includes some of the best Windows tablets released each year. One of the best features that make Surface Pro devices — as well as the rest of the Surface family — so popular is support for the Surface Pen, which makes it possible to draw and write more naturally on the screen.

Over the years, there have been a few iterations of Surface PCs, however, as well as different versions of the Surface Pen, so it may be hard to know which model you should get. We're here to help with that and to let you know which pen you should get depending on the Surface device you have. While most Surface pens are compatible with the majority of Surface devices, certain features and design quirks make some models more suited for specific PCs. There are also plenty of third-party pens you can buy if you don't want to get Microsoft's official ones.

  • Surface Slim Pen 2
    Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2
    Best for Surface Pro 9

    The Surface Slim Pen 2 is the ideal pen for Microsoft's latest Surface models starting with the Surface Pro 8 and Laptop Studio. It has 4,096 levels of pressure, tilt support, and tactile signals on the Surface Pro 8, Pro 9 (including the 5G model), and Laptop Studio.

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    Microsoft Surface Pen
    Best for Surface Go 3 and older Pro models

    The original Surface Pen is still the best choice if you have an older Surface device. It's cheaper, but it still has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, and it only misses out on haptic feedback and a rechargeable battery. It also has a magnetic design that's ideal for the Surface Pro 7 or Go 3 and earlier.

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    Wacom Bamboo Ink Plus
    Best Surface Pen alternative

    The Wacom Bamboo Ink Plus supports both AES and MPP protocols so it works with the majority of Windows tablets, including the Surface lineup. With an aluminum construction and a full suite of features including 4,096 levels of pressure and Bluetooth support, this is a fantastic choice.

  • Renaisser Raphael 530
    Renaisser Raphael 530
    Best without Bluetooth

    The Renaisser Raphael 530 is a fantastic pen in many ways, with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, though it comes without Bluetooth support, so you can't use button shortcuts to launch apps, for example. Still, it has a premium aluminum construction and it's one of the best pens for a fantastic price.

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    Wacom Bamboo Ink (2nd Gen)
    Best Value

    If you don't want to spend the $100 that the Wacom Bamboo Ink Plus costs, the standard Bamboo Ink is a great alternative at half the price. It still supports both MPP and AES, Bluetooth, and 4,096 levels of pressure, but instead of a rechargeable battery, it uses a replaceable AAAA unit, and the design isn't quite as sleek.

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    Uogic Pen for Microsoft Surface
    Budget pick

    If you want a cheap alternative to the Surface Pen, this Uogic pen gets the basics, with 1,024 levels of pressure, plus support for palm rejection so you can draw and write naturally. It's not ideal for advanced art, but it does the job if you just want to take notes and it's super cheap.

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    LAZARITE M Pen
    Great dual-protocol alternative

    The Lazarite M Pen is yet another multi-protocol pen that supports both Wacom AES and MPP, so it works with almost any Windows laptop that supports active pens. It has a premium aluminum construction that looks and feels sleek, though it does lack Bluetooth support. It also uses a AAAA battery that lasts up to 1,000 hours.

  • Dell Premium Active Pen PN579x
    Dell Premium Active Pen
    Premium dual-protocol alternative

    If you want a more high-end option with dual-protocol support and Wacom doesn't feel like the right option for you, the Dell Premium Active Pen is another excellent choice. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt, and it can last up to a full year on an AAAA battery,

How to choose the right Surface Pen

All of these options will technically work on any modern Surface device, and in fact, on a lot of modern Windows laptops. Many of these devices, including any Surface PC released after the Surface Pro 3, feature the Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP), which all these pens support. Prior to that, Surface devices used Wacom technology, so these pens won't be compatible, but any of these is technically functional for other devices. However, there are some things to be aware of.

The Surface Slim Pen 2 is ideal for the latest models

Starting with the Surface Pro X, Microsoft made some significant changes to the design of its devices, and, to go along with it, the accompanying pen. While you can use the original round Surface Pen, the Surface Slim Pen 2 is ideal if you have one of these:

  • Surface Pro X
  • Surface Pro 8 and 9 (including 5G models)
  • Surface Laptop Studio 1 and 2
  • Surface Duo 1 and 2

The first reason for this, as we've mentioned, is the design. For the Surface Pro models, starting with the Pro X, Microsoft removed the magnetic attachment from the side of the tablets. Instead, you're supposed to store the Surface Slim Pen 2 inside the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, where it also stays charged. At the same time, the Surface Laptop Studio and Laptop Studio 2 are designed to store the Surface Slim Pen 2 on its underside, and with the Surface Duo 2, you can attach the Slim Pen 2 magnetically to the outside using the Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover. All of these options also charge the pen at the same time.

Another factor that specifically applies to Surface Pro 8, Pro 9, and both Laptop Studio models is support for Tactile signals, a form of haptic feedback that simulates the feel of writing with a pen on paper. Only the Surface Slim Pen 2 supports this feature, but only on those three devices. The Surface Slim Pen 2 is also the only one that supports Bluetooth pairing on the Surface Duo and Duo 2, so that's another point in its favor.

The classic Surface Pen is better for everything else

For the majority of Surface devices, especially older ones, the classic Surface Pen is still the best option. It's designed to attach magnetically to the side of a lot of these devices, and it supports the same writing and drawing capabilities except for Tactile signals. You're going to want to pick this one if you have one of these devices:

  • Surface Pro 3 - Surface Pro 7+
  • All Surface Laptop models
  • All Surface Go models
  • Surface 3
  • All Surface Book models
  • All Surface Studio (desktop) models

Some older devices will be limited to support for 1,024 levels of pressure due to limitations of earlier MPP protocols, but for the most part, all these devices will support the Surface Pen. It's also worth noting that the Surface Laptop lineup, as well as the Surface Pro 3, do not support magnetic attachment for the pen. All the others let you store the pen on the side in some way.

Aside from magnetic attachment, third-party pens also support all of these features, so they're a great choice too if you don't think you need to store the pen magnetically on your device.

The Surface Laptop Go series doesn't support active pens

One last thing to note is that the Surface Laptop Go family doesn't support active pens at all. While it does have a touchscreen, it lacks the hardware to enable support for MPP, so you can't use an active pen with it. The best you can do in this case is to use your finger or buy a passive pen that simply acts as a finger. It won't give you the smooth and more detailed writing experience of an active pen, but it's a potential workaround if you want to draw on one of these devices.

Best pens for Surface devices: Final thoughts

And that's about it! This should help you choose the right pen for your Surface device or even other Windows PCs that support MPP-based pens. Of course, things like magnetic attachment and Tactile signals may not be available or work the same way as with Surface devices, so you may need to look into specifics for the device you have. If you haven't yet, you can check out the latest Surface devices below or take a look at the best laptops you can buy today.