Abstract:
Apple is not expected to offer Apple Pencil support for its first foldable iPhone, the rumored iPhone Ultra, nor is it expected to release a dedicated stylus with the device.
When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007, he said that if the device required a stylus, there was something wrong with the product design, because fingers are the most natural input method. Although the iPad later supported Apple Pencil, Apple didn't appear to be planning to bring the feature to the iPhone Ultra.
Bloomberg’s “Power On” newsletter stated that Apple has indeed tested a stylus-like device and has produced at least a shorter Apple Pencil prototype that can be magnetically attached to a folding iPhone. However, test results show that this design is not coordinated with the folding body shape.
Because the short Apple Pencil aligns with the taller side of the phone when the phone is closed, it becomes inconvenient for users to open the phone while the stylus is still attached to the phone. Even if the user does not intend to use the stylus at the time, they may need to remove it first to unfold the screen normally.
The display itself is also one of the reasons why Apple gave up on this plan. Folding the iPhone's screen structure and its sensitivity to input is said to be risky, with the Apple Pencil potentially leaving "unsightly marks" on the screen.
Apple may still change its decision in subsequent models in the future, but as it stands, the first-generation folding iPhone will not be equipped with a stylus. Consumers also shouldn't expect it to support any model of Apple Pencil, including the USB-C version.
For users who originally planned to use iPhone Ultra to replace both iPhone and iPad mini, this limitation deserves special attention. If users are accustomed to using iPad mini as a drawing tablet, this feature will not be carried over to iPhone Ultra.
However, ordinary capacitive styluses introduced by third parties are still expected to be used on foldable iPhones. Some of these products use rubber pen tips and some support charging, but they essentially only simulate the electrical signals generated by fingers, so they do not bring much improvement in accuracy.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro at a special "Surprise and Shine" event on September 9. The pre-order activity will start after the press conference, but the specific pre-order time and official launch date have not yet been determined.
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