The Pinecil was the first iron I really used extensively and I think it's fine for a beginner. Plug it in, press plus, it heats up. Press plus more if you want

The Pinecil was the first iron I really used extensively and I think it's fine for a beginner. Plug it in, press plus, it heats up. Press plus more if you want to set it hotter, minus to go back down after pressing plus. It can use any USB-C PD power supply, so many will have one from a phone or laptop, you can even run it off a power bank if you want. The default tip is very good and my most-used of all the tips (built a whole keyboard kit using it as my first project), even after getting more. If you set the iron on its side on a flat surface, the tip does not touch the table. This can be used in a pinch, but also Pine64 sells little sponge holders with the positionable metal bar to rest on, or if you get your own brass sponge it should have the same.