iPhone Ultra was tested for Apple Pencil support, but don’t expect it at launch
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to bring a new form factor to the company’s smartphone lineup, but a stylus could give it another way to compete with Samsung’s foldables. Apple had reportedly tested a smaller Apple Pencil specifically for the upcoming device, although the accessory is unlikely to launch alongside the phone. If Apple eventually brings Pencil support to the iPhone, it could make the foldable more useful for work and creativity rather than limiting its appeal to the new hardware design.
Apple Pencil for iPhone Ultra was reportedly tested
According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple has internally prototyped and tested a digital pen for its foldable iPhone. The reported accessory is shorter than Apple’s existing iPad-specific Apple Pencil models, with its size designed around the wider form factor of the foldable. The Pencil was also reportedly designed to attach magnetically to the side of the iPhone Ultra for storage and charging. That could create a practical problem, however, as a pen attached to the side could interfere with opening the phone.
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There are also questions around using a stylus on a foldable display. The flexible inner screen is more vulnerable to scratches and pressure than conventional smartphone glass, so Apple would need to ensure the Pencil does not damage the panel. Samsung has previously used a retractable-tip S Pen on compatible foldables, offering one possible solution.
Gurman doesn’t expect Apple to release the Pencil with the iPhone Ultra. That means buyers should not consider stylus functionality a launch feature unless Apple confirms it at its September 9th event.
However, stylus support could nevertheless give Apple’s foldable an advantage over Samsung. The company has dropped S Pen support from its foldables in the 7th generation, leaving the larger inner display focused primarily on apps, multitasking and media rather than pen-based input.
Apple’s reluctance to include a stylus at launch would also be notable given Steve Jobs’ criticism of smartphone styluses when the original iPhone was introduced in 2007. Apple now sells the Apple Pencil for its iPads, so a foldable iPhone with Pencil support would not be entirely out of step with its current product lineup.
The lack of a launch stylus should not necessarily be a reason to avoid the iPhone Ultra, particularly if its display, cameras and software are the priorities. But those who want a foldable specifically for handwriting, sketching or precise on-screen work may want to wait for confirmation of Pencil support.
