CROSS Tech3+ Metallic Blue Multi-Function Ballpoint Pen with Stylus incl. Premium Gift Box – Refillable Ballpen & Pencil

NOTE: This version of the pen (Cross Tech-3) DOES NOT have the stylus attachment which replaces "normal" cap at the top of the pen.The pen contains a black, red and 5mm pencil function.Twisting the pen clockwise allows the user to change function, so turn it once and the black nib pops out, turn clockwise again and it disappears, turn it again and the red nib appears and so on.Replacing the ink is easy, you just pull the top half of the pen away from the bottom half (it might feel a bit stuff but just keep pulling) and then can pull out the inserts as necessary.I'd recommend using these as replacements : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008DRZ548/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3VJ1GOX51LFQ9They are much cheaper and give equal, if not superior, writing quality as Cross branded refills.PROS:There is the option to turn counter-clockwise and retract the nib you are using so it appears when you turn clockwise again (saves having to scroll through all 3 again).Build quality is superb - the black matt finish is extremely nice to hold in the hand and doesn't get sweaty/greasy from extended use. I personally don't find the pen heavy, it seems a good weight considering it's cast from metal.The ink writes well and hasn't smudged or blobbed on the page.The presentation case that the pen comes in is a nice touch; makes it ideal for a gift.The top of the pen has a cap which can be unscrewed to reveal a rubber at the top which can be replaced pretty easily.CONS:The pencil function is a bit confusing - I can't figure out how to refill it without manually pushing the leads into the nib end whilst holding the pen in a "clicked" position. I haven't had the guts to pull the insert out yet.The clip on the pen is stiff and probably wouldn't last too long if it was being clipped onto a shirt every day. It would likely bend out of shape or snap. Not a problem for me personally but others will use the pen differently.CONCLUSION:Extremely good pen. Great build quality. Writes extremely well. Handy having 3 options in 1 slim pen. Well priced if you get it below £30. Will last a lot longer and feels much nicer than the standard biro pens lying around.

Excellent purchase.Writes very nicely as you would expect from a Cross pen. Both inks flow smoothly and the pencil is a great added touch.Easy to use, with a single turn right to rotate between Black, Red and Pencil and left to retract whichever is in use. Despite having 3 functions, the pen retains a slim profile but still has a nice weight and sits very comfortably in the hand, particularly with the satin finish, no feel of it slipping out.The stylus is OK, still quite squidgy and doesn't work great if you have a screen protector on your tablet, but still much better than a cheap £1 stylus available everywhere. Not sure how much I'll use this bit and you can get a standard cap instead if desired. I did try it on a colleagues Windows 8 Touch laptop and it worked much better.The rubber for the pencil is neatly hidden under the stylus (but doesn't impact the stylus performance)The only concern I (may) have is that to retain the slim profile, the individual ink cartridges are very slim, so I am unsure how long the ink will last - As I use the pen every day, I'll update the review when they run out.....

Overall a good pen... Nice functions, nice thin form factor. The lustrous chrome is a slight finger print magnet, which I thought wouldn't matter but it really can be quite obvious on the pen.I was a little disappointed with the Cross quality though. I found the changing mechanism wasn't as smooth as the reviewers have stated. Also I found that within a few weeks of using this pen, the pocket clip has become quite loose, which I would not expect to happen with a high quality pen.The ink I found was good, but definitely not as nice and smooth as the Parker range.Everything else with the pen is good though; the pens work, pencil is great, and the stylus works pretty well with capacitive screens. The stylus tip seems to have held up with a few weeks of moderate use so far. Overall while not perfect, this seems to be a good option that provides 2 pens, a pencil and stylus in one.

I've always liked the IDEA of multifunction pens, but found the execution to be lacking - they're bulky, clunky, and not especially cool. This one, though, is slim enough to pass as a single-function pen, and therefore excellent for confusing people who borrow it from you, fiddle with it absently, then carry on writing only to find the ink is now a different colour. That never gets old.The build quality feels good, it writes well, and it looks neat. My only complaint was the stylus tip, which feels like a bit of a gimmick, and wears through fairly quickly. But I can't really even deduct a star for that, since when I sent Cross an email about it, they dug out a non-stylus tip from an earlier model and posted it to me free of charge. Outstanding service, strongly recommended.

Great pen for me to use as it is so easy to alternate between black ink, red ink and pencil. It also feels nice in the hand being ever so slightly heavier and wider than a conventional pen. The twisting mechanism feels sturdy and is reliable. My only worry is that I will misplace it but so far so good on that front!December 2019 updateI still have the pen and use it each day. The twisting mechanism is quite soothing and I tend to play with it in meetings. The only problem was that the touch screen bit on the end wore out but I picked up a replacement on Amazon for less than a fiver. The other thing about these pens is that the price fluctuates quite a lot so you are better off monitoring prices for a while before taking the plunge. But it is a great pen!

Ordered the pen to add to my collection of the same style. Looks the part but much smaller than the old tech+ I had, I noticed there was a tech 4+ available in the same style but appears to be discontinued? Returned and hope Cross re-introduce the tech 4+.