Comparing the Microsoft Surface Pen against Dell's Premium Active Pen

Best versatility

Dell Premium Active Pen



$100 at Dell

Pros

4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity
Three programmable buttons
Tilt support
Works with both Wacom AES and MPP protocols
Cons

No eraser functionality
Though it lacks a working eraser, the fact that Dell's Premium Active Pen works across both Wacom AES and MPP protocols makes it an excellent choice if you own two or more devices that use them.





Best performance

Microsoft Surface Pen



$100 at Microsoft

Pros

4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity
One programmable button (three inputs)
Tilt support
Eraser functionality
Cons

No support for other pen protocols
If you have a Surface and you're looking to get the best of the best in terms of performance, Microsoft's Surface Pen is the best option available. However, it's worth pointing out that it only works with devices that use Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP).





Overall, the Microsoft Surface Pen is the better choice in terms of sheer performance — provided y...