The GoSmart 200 Series Stylus-Review

Go Smart is another company that is really thinking outside the box to produce a really innovative line of iPad/ iPhone styluses. They currently have 2 series available – the 200 series which is reviewed here and the 300 series which is similar but has a rocket shaped body instead of a straight barrel.

The Go Smart 200 series is a pretty space-age looking stylus (the 300 even more so). Instead of the typical rubber stylus tip it has a spring-loaded circular metal tip. The metal tip has a larger outer circle with cross hairs leading to a tiny central circle; the whole thing is coated with Teflon so it glides smoothly across the screen.

The tip does look very different from a standard rubber tip and it performs very differently too. With this tip you can see very precisely where are drawing and as a result draw very precise detailed images. The tip is attached so that it is at a 45-degree angle to the screen, which is the most natural position for writing or drawing (some rubber or foam tips only work well at 90 degrees to the screen). Because of the spring you can vary the angle a lot, it’s not quite as flexible as the Adonit Jot Pro on this score but still has a good range of motion. This stylus is more suited to adults and older children than young children, the angle of the tip means there is a right way up to hold it and the tip could become damaged by applying a lot of pressure whilst holding it wrongly.

I glides very smoothly and evenly across the screen – comparing it to my other two favorite styluses the LYNKtec Truglide and Adonit Jot Pro they all slide equally well on an unprotected screen, with a shiny Zagg Invisible Shield on the Go Smart still performs well (as does the Truglide) but the Adonit does not.

The Go Smart is a nice size and weight- it is longer wider and heavier than many styluses (similar to the Adonit but slightly narrower), which makes it feel like you are holding a quality pen. The barrel is brushed aluminum with a plastic lid to protect the tip when not in use. Replacement tips are available from the Go Smart Website for $6. The stylus also has built in magnets that allow it to cling to the iPad (directly on the iPad or through a smart cover, does not work with many protective covers).

My one complaint about this stylus is that the magnets aren’t flush with the barrel but stick out a little, depending on where you hold the stylus this may or may not be an issue for you. The lower magnet falls just inside the spot where I typically hold the stylus, so it can get uncomfortable for prolonged writing/ drawing, if you hold it lower down this probably won’t be an issue for you. I would love to see the addition of a rubber grip that could go over the magnets -that would make holding it for long periods more comfortable.

When writing I tend to use cursive and not pick my pen up a lot (and use the stylus for drawing more than writing), but if you write and take the pen off the screen frequently then you may be interested in what sound it makes when doing so. The Go Smart is quieter than the Adonit in this regard, and has more of a springy sound than a tap.

Overall, a very innovative stylus, I love that is very precise, glides smoothly, easy to see where you are drawing, works with sticky screen protectors, nice weight and size and has replaceable tips. I would love to see the magnets recessed or covered with a rubber grip to make it more comfortable when holding for long periods. The innovative Teflon coated flexible, see-through metal tip glides smoothly, allows good visualization and precision. One of my favorite styluses.

This is the Go Smart 200 next to other styluses so you can see the different tips and the size comparison. From left Adonit Jot Pro, LYNKTec Truglide, Go Smart 200, Zoogue combo pen/ stylus.

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Mary

Mary is originally from England but now lives in California with her husband and three children, an 8 year old boy and 5 year old boy/girl twins. Mary and her family love soccer, camping, hiking and playing with their iPad which is also used for therapy for their daughters Apraxia (speech disorder).

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You can email me direct at mary(at)theimums.com