Stabilo SMARTball – A Ballpoint for the Smartphone generation

The new Stabilo SMARTball his been created with tech lovers in mind.

This latest offering from the experts in pens for the prolific writer, is more than just a writing instrument.  An innovative design that incorporates a stylus for use on touch screens, created using the abundance of experience gained in ergonomics through working with teachers, scientists & students.

Stabilo Smartball 2 0 Kiwi

The SMARTball is available for left & right handed users, they each have a black barrel sporting the company logo & there is a choice of orange, cyan (a turquoise blue) & kiwi or lilac features for lefties.  At approximately 15cm in length this is a standard sized pen. The splash of colour is introduced in the pocket clip section, which can be rotated a full 360° there is also a ring between the grip & nib section.  Choose between blue or black ink.

I am checking out a right handed Kiwi SMARTball, which I would call a lemony/lime shade.  The medium 0.5mm ballpoint writes a smooth line & can be refilled.  The characteristic grip section provides the comfort I would expect from Stabilo, & apparently has been said to aid the grip of those with arthritis,  something I am fortunate not to be able to comment on.

Moving on to the stylus, Stabilo claim it is a must have for all those with smart phones, iPads & kindles, I took it through its paces on an iPhone.

The tip is approximately 5mm in diameter, probably smaller than the average fingertip.  As with most things I have seen negative as well as positive comments, one of which is that a finger tip is more accurate.  I just can’t agree, when I’m in a hurry, without a stylus I often find myself touching letters either side of my intended choice.  In my experience texting at speed was definitely more accurate using the SMARTball, just my personal opinion you understand.  I didn’t find a lot of pressure was necessary, this was helpful for freehand writing & basic drawing.  On a few occasions I did need a second tap on icons for them to open, but it was certainly not the norm.

My conclusion is that the SMARTball could be a good choice for those that need to combine digital with analogue, good old fashioned writing or note taking with frequent touchscreen use, with the added bonus of a clean smudge free screen.

Photo of author

Peter Warrior: Pen & Pencil Expert

With nearly a decade of experience in the pen industry, I successfully ran an online pen business for 9 years. My deep-rooted passion for pens and pencils led me to become a part-time blogger, where I've dedicated myself to sharing the wealth of knowledge I've amassed over the years. I'm a firm believer in the power of the written word, as echoed by Malcolm Forbes: "Putting pen to paper lights more fire than matches ever will." My expertise is not just rooted in business, but in the genuine appreciation and understanding of the art of writing instruments.

4 thoughts on “Stabilo SMARTball – A Ballpoint for the Smartphone generation”

  1. Sorry you didn’t like it Josh, I mentioned in the review needing a second tap on a few occasions but still found it useful – another case of each to their own I guess!

    Reply

Leave a Comment