Unfortunately, those cheap Amazon pencils lack pressure sensitivity, which is a huge failure for illustration. They are just not as good as expected for line work. I had issues with generic glass protectors too; they cause bad parallax. Pick up the <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Logitech+Crayon+for+ iPad+Digital+Pencil&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Logitech Crayon for iPad Digital Pencil and the <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ESR+ iPad+Air+Case+Military-Grade+Protection&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">ESR iPad Air Case Military-Grade Protection. Any matte film will unfortunately ruin your display clarity tho, tbh.

I've been drawing on tablets for a decade and you can definitely make $100 work if you're smart about it. For an illustration class, pressure sensitivity is non-negotiable or you'll just be frustrated with your line work. I'm super satisfied with my current budget setup and it stays right in your price range. Grab these:

• A refurbished Apple Pencil 2nd Generation from a reputable reseller... usually about $80 and it's the only way to get proper pressure response.
• <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ProCase+ iPad+Air+Protective+Case+with+Pencil+Holder&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">ProCase iPad Air Protective Case with Pencil Holder has solid corner bumpers and doesn't feel bulky.
• <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mothca+Matte+Glass+Screen+Protector+for+ iPad+Air&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Mothca Matte Glass Screen Protector for iPad Air gives you the protection of glass but with a frosted finish so it isn't slippery like ice. That matte glass is a total game changer tho. It doesn't wear down your pencil tips like the plastic film ones do. It's the best middle ground for art students on a budget... no complaints here, it just works well.

Re: "Unfortunately, those cheap Amazon pencils lack pressure sensitivity,..."

• I disagree on glass; I'm satisfied with the <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Spigen+Rugged+Armor+Pro+ iPad+Air+Case&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Spigen Rugged Armor Pro iPad Air Case and <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Paperlike+ iPad+Air+Screen+Protector&linkCode=osi&t=t=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Paperlike iPad Air Screen Protector for better haptic precision.

Following this thread

Regarding what #4 said about Following this thread - honestly, you are right to watch this closely because so much of the budget gear out there is disappointing. I have run tests on several third-party styluses and the jitter performance is usually way worse than the technical specs suggest. Even the ones claiming palm rejection tend to fail during long drawing sessions, which is frustrating when you are trying to actually get work done. I totally agree with the earlier points about the lack of pressure sensitivity in the generic brands. It is a massive hardware limitation that software just cannot fix. Unfortunately, I have had issues with the signal-to-noise ratio on the cheaper digitizers too, which leads to some pretty ugly line wobbles. Before looking at more technical specs, I have a couple questions. Are you mostly going to be working on high-resolution raster illustrations, or is your class focused more on vector-based design? Also, what is the lighting situation in your studio? Some of those screen covers really kill the color accuracy and peak brightness in well-lit rooms.

Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.