Apple reportedly explored building a new Apple Pencil designed to work with the upcoming iPhone Ultra, the company’s first foldable iPhone. According to the latest reporting, however, the accessory is unlikely to ship, even as the device itself prepares for its debut in a little over a week.
The details come from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who cautions that this stylus almost certainly will not be announced alongside the new phone. Still, his account outlines how the accessory would have looked and functioned had Apple moved forward with it.
How the iPhone Ultra Apple Pencil Would Have Worked
The device would not have simply reused the existing designs found across the iPad lineup. Instead, it reportedly took on a “stubbier” shape to match the shorter height of the iPhone Ultra. Like current iPad models, it would have attached magnetically to the side of the phone for both storage and charging.
That side placement introduced practical drawbacks. Holding the stylus while using the iPhone Ultra would reportedly have felt awkward, since it clings to the side of the device. By comparison, the Apple Pencil attaches to the top edge of an iPad when the tablet is held in landscape orientation, making it easier to manage.
Why Apple May Have Held Back
There were concerns beyond ergonomics. The report notes that the stylus likely would have left “unsightly marks” on the more delicate interior screen of the foldable device, a surface that is inherently more vulnerable than a standard display.
The reporting also points to a philosophical hurdle. Apple may be reluctant to introduce a stylus for the iPhone in order to avoid contradicting Steve Jobs’ famous stance during the original iPhone launch, when he questioned the appeal of a stylus with the line, “Who wants a stylus?”
For now, the takeaway is that an Apple Pencil built for the iPhone Ultra is not expected to reach the market, at least in the near term, even though the foldable phone itself is set to arrive soon.
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Image: 9to5mac.com
