Enso XS Titanium vs Ultim 89 Limited Edition: Two Pocket Fountain Pens Compared

Introduction

Two limited-edition pocket fountain pens face off here: the Enso XS Titanium and the Ultim 89 Limited Edition. Both are small, both are light, and both are genuinely well made, but they take slightly different approaches to what a pocket pen should feel like.

Because both are limited editions, neither is the easiest pen to track down. Availability changes, so if either one interests you, it is worth checking the makers’ websites directly and acting when stock appears.

Two Very Small, Very Light Pens

Let’s be clear about scale first. These really are pocket pens. A Pilot Metropolitan looks larger next to them, and the Ultim 89 in particular is about as wide as a pencil. If you like a girthy pen, neither of these is for you.

What they lack in girth they make up in portability. Slip either one into a dress shirt breast pocket and it disappears completely, which is exactly the point of this format.

Ultim 89 Limited Edition

The Ultim 89 launched in July 2023 as a limited edition, priced at £150. It is made from a very strong but extremely light material, and it ships with either black coated or chrome colored nibs and matching clips.

One genuinely nice touch: the clip is removable. It slides off the barrel, so if you prefer a clipless, minimalist look, you can strip the pen down to nothing but the pen itself. It is a little finicky to do, but it works.

The Ultim can also be eyedroppered. Fill the barrel directly, add silicone grease, and rely on the built-in O-ring to prevent leakage. It has been tried and it works well.

Enso XS Titanium

The Enso XS Titanium is another limited edition, with 99 units made, and it was still listed as available on the Enso website at the time of writing. As the name suggests, it is machined from titanium, which is lighter than steel but carries noticeably more weight than the Ultim.

That slight heft is the key difference. The Ultim is so light that it nearly vanishes in the hand; the titanium XS has just enough presence to feel more substantial. The Enso also ships with a couple of spare O-rings in a small bag, which suggests they are replaceable as they wear.

Posting and the O-Ring Detail

Both pens are designed to be used posted, thanks to an O-ring at the end of the barrel that grips the cap for a secure fit. Unposted, both are quite short, and comfortable daily use really benefits from posting.

In practice, the titanium Enso posts more easily. Its O-ring appears slightly wider, and the cap pops on with a satisfying, solid click. The Ultim’s O-ring needs a firmer push, though that may soften with use. Either way, once posted, the pen becomes a decently sized writing instrument rather than a stubby pocket toy.

How They Write

Both pens use a number 5 Bock nib, which is good news for anyone worried about longevity: these nibs are ubiquitous and easy to replace or swap for a different grade. Both take standard cartridges, or a very small converter, so plan your ink supply accordingly.

The Enso XS with its black coated nib writes really quite smoothly, even with no pressure applied, and offers some line variation. The nib is fairly stiff, so forget about flex writing; this is a pen for quick notes, not expressive scripts. On the Ultim, the nib initially feels finer, though the difference is small, and it is equally pleasant, with smooth strokes and modest line variation.

Honest verdict on the writing: these are simple, unassuming pens, and there are pens that cost a lot more that do not write this well.

Everyday Carry Appeal

If you carry a pen in a dress shirt or jacket pocket, both models fit the brief perfectly. Neither sticks out, neither weighs your pocket down, and the O-ring posting means the cap should not come loose in transit.

The titanium EDC crowd will find a lot to like here. Just note one practical caution: the titanium Enso is not an ideal eyedropper candidate, since keeping ink in constant contact with metal is asking for trouble over time.

Which One Should You Buy?

If forced to pick one, the Enso XS Titanium is the easier recommendation. The choice is not about metal versus plastic; it is about feel. The titanium model has just enough weight to feel pleasant in the hand, while the Ultim is so light that it borders on imperceptible.

That said, if featherweight is what you want, the Ultim 89 delivers it in a beautifully minimal package, with the bonus of the removable clip and eyedropper capability. At £150 it is pricey for a pocket pen, but the same applies to the Enso at roughly the hundred-pound mark: you are paying for machining quality, limited-edition exclusivity, and a genuinely pleasant writing experience in a format almost nothing else fills.

Conclusion

Both pens are fun, functional, and far better writers than their size suggests. The Enso XS Titanium wins on feel and posting ease; the Ultim 89 wins on raw lightness, removable clip flexibility, and eyedropper potential. Either way, you get a well-made pocket pen that will not outstay its welcome in a shirt pocket.