The Apple Pencil could one day make its way to the company’s first foldable phone, but buyers should not expect the stylus to appear when the device is unveiled next week. According to reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has internally prototyped, tested, and considered launching an Apple Pencil for the foldable iPhone, though the accessory is unlikely to accompany the phone at its debut.
Apple is set to introduce the device, widely referred to by analysts as the iPhone Ultra, at its “Surprise and Shine” product launch event on Sept. 9. Apple has not confirmed that name, and the iPhone Fold has also circulated as a possible title. An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why a Stylus Makes Sense for a Foldable
A foldable phone occupies the space between a smartphone and a tablet, which makes stylus support a logical fit. The Apple Pencil is a digital stylus currently compatible with the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. It charges by attaching magnetically and offers pixel-perfect precision, low latency to reduce lag between stylus movement and screen response, and tilt sensitivity for shading and other effects.
No iPhone model has ever supported a Pencil. During the launch of the original iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs famously said, “Nobody wants a stylus.”
Design Hurdles Still to Solve
Gurman noted several obstacles to pairing the Pencil with the foldable device. Users who open the phone without needing the stylus would have nowhere obvious to store it. There is also concern that the stylus could scratch the foldable display, which may be more delicate than the screens found on other iPhones and iPads.
If the accessory does reach the market, Gurman said the foldable’s Pencil would be “stubbier” than the versions used with iPads. For comparison, the Pencil Pro measures 6.53 inches long.
Apple Enters the Foldable Race Late
The device will mark Apple’s first entry into the foldable category, arriving years after competitors including Samsung, Google, and Motorola. Several rival phones already ship with styluses, among them the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Moto G Stylus 5G.
Apple is scheduled to reveal the foldable phone on Sept. 9.
