Apple Tested Special Pencil for iPhone Ultra
Before Apple's first foldable iPhone is officially introduced, interesting details continue to emerge about how the device will be used. According to information provided by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple prepared a special Apple Pencil prototype for the foldable iPhone during the development process, tested it and evaluated the idea of turning this accessory into a product. However, current information shows that it is unlikely that the pen will be released together with the iPhone Ultra.
Therefore, it would be a bit misleading to read the news as "Apple Pencil is coming to iPhone".
The more interesting question is:
Why did Apple first consider developing Pencil for an iPhone?
The answer largely lies in foldable form.
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to have a book-like design and offer a large internal screen approximately the size of a small tablet when opened. Current rumors indicate that the device may have an internal display of around 7.8 inches and an external display of around 5.5 inches. The “iPhone Ultra” name has not yet been confirmed by Apple; But in recent reports, he stands out as one of the strongest candidates.
In this form factor, the idea of Apple Pencil suddenly makes a lot more sense.
Because the device, which is an iPhone when closed, starts to approach a small iPad when opened.
And as soon as you see a small iPad, the idea of a pen naturally comes to the table.
What Would the Apple Pencil Tested for iPhone Ultra Be Like?
It is stated that the pen developed by Apple as a prototype is not a miniaturized copy of the existing iPad Apple Pencil models. According to the information provided by Gurman, the prototype had a shorter and squatter design to adapt to the shorter physical structure of the iPhone Ultra. It was also thought that it would magnetically hold onto the edge of the device and be charged from there, similar to some Apple Pencil models on the iPad.
Although this detail seems small, it is important in terms of Apple's product design approach.
The company simply:
“Let's use iPad Pencil on iPhone too.”
He didn't say.
He considered a separate accessory that was physically redesigned for the new form factor.
Because the standard Apple Pencil is approximately the length of a pencil and is designed to fit on the long side of the iPad. The foldable iPhone will have a much shorter body, especially when closed.
Attaching the Standard Pencil to the side may look visually strange and make it difficult to carry.
So it makes sense that Apple would try a shorter Pencil.
However, this very reduction process may have created new ergonomic problems.
The Problem Isn't the Pencil Itself, It's the Size of the iPhone
Where to place the Apple Pencil on an iPad is not a big problem.
The tablet is wide.
The side edge is long.
The user usually uses the device with both hands or at the table.
The same is not true for a foldable phone.
You hold the phone with one hand.
You put it in your pocket.
You are constantly opening and closing it.
A short pencil attached to the side of the body can fit within the natural grip area.
According to the evaluation reported by AppleInsider, it is stated that the stylus solution tested by Apple may have created strange and unusable results in terms of form factor. This is one of the possible reasons why the product is not expected to be released.
An important design principle for Apple comes into play here:
A feature may be technically possible.
But if it doesn't feel natural to use it, it doesn't have to be in the product.
This is the approach we see frequently, especially in the physical accessories of this company.
It may be possible for Apple Pencil to work on the foldable iPhone.
The real question:
Does the user really want to carry such a pen with him/her?
Bigger Problem: Pressing the Foldable Screen with a Pen
The mechanical side of the job is even more important.
On traditional iPhone screens, the glass surface is quite hard. The iPad screens for which Apple Pencil is designed offer a similarly hard usage surface.
The situation is different with foldable screens.
In order for the screen to be folded, the panel structure must be more flexible than the traditional phone screen. This causes the inner screen surface to have different requirements against pressure and scratching.
Therefore, the user does not just touch while writing on the screen with a stylus.
It applies constant pressure to certain points.
Taking notes.
While drawing.
When signing.
When editing images.
While dragging the pen across the screen.
This usage behavior may create a separate durability problem for the foldable panel.
There have been reports for a long time that Apple tried to reduce screen wrinkles as much as possible in the first foldable iPhone. Latest leaks suggest that the device will have a design that opens in book form, has a larger internal screen and aims to minimize the problem of visible crease.
When you add Apple Pencil to such a sensitive display system, it is necessary to take into account the point pressure that users will apply to the screen.
This may be one of the most logical explanations for Apple testing the pen and shelving it.
Let us point out that there is no technical reason confirmed by Apple yet. Therefore, it is more accurate to consider the cause of screen damage as one of the engineering problems caused by the foldable design, rather than as a definitive cause.
So Why Did Apple Reconsider Pencil?
I think the real important part of the news is here.
Because the Apple Pencil experiment may show us how the iPhone Ultra is positioned within Apple.
If the device only:
“Large iPhone that can be folded in half”
The stylus idea would make much less sense if it were thought of as such.
But if the device will offer a small tablet-like workspace when opened, different usage scenarios emerge.
Taking notes.
Signing a document.
Marking on PDF.
Photo editing.
Drawing.
Working on the presentation.
Using Freeform.
Adding notes to the screenshot.
Making precise choices in professional applications.
These are all scenarios where Apple Pencil is used on the iPad today.
If the foldable iPhone offers a large enough internal screen, some of the same usage habits could be carried over to the phone.
Therefore, Apple's preparation of a pen prototype tells us something very simple but important:
The company may not see the open version of the iPhone Ultra as just a phone screen.
The Boundaries Between iPhone and iPad May Be Blurred
The Apple product family has had a very clear distinction for many years.
iPhone is the device in your pocket.
iPad tablet.
Mac computer.
Apple Watch on your wrist.
Vision Pro spatial computer.
The foldable iPhone disrupts this order a bit.
Phone when turned off.
Almost a tablet when opened.
This is where the idea for Apple Pencil emerges.
If Apple Pencil support were truly implemented, the iPhone Ultra would further blur the physical line between iPhone and iPad for the first time in the Apple product family.
This is both an opportunity and a risk for the company.
Because a big screen iPhone can do more work.
But it could also start to overlap with products like the iPad mini.
Apple has been acting very carefully here for years.
For example, not bringing Apple Pencil to the iPhone until now can be seen not only as a technical restriction but also as a strategic decision that distinguishes product categories from each other.
The foldable iPhone necessitates the re-evaluation of these old boundaries.
Is Steve Jobs' Famous Stylus Quote No Longer Valid?
With this news, Steve Jobs' famous criticism of the stylus, which he said while introducing the first iPhone in 2007, inevitably came to the fore again on social media.
While describing the smartphones of the period, Jobs clearly belittled the use of stylus and argued that the most natural pointing tool that humans are born with is the finger.
There is an important historical distinction here.
The stylus, which Steve Jobs criticized, was a necessary navigation tool to use the small phone screens of that period.
Apple Pencil is a completely different product.
You don't need Pencil to use iPad.
You can do everything with your finger.
Pencil is an optional input method for precise drawing, handwriting, and professional work.
Therefore, it would be a bit simplistic to say "Apple has given up on its own philosophy."
Apple had already created a different category in stylus by launching the first Apple Pencil in 2015.
The real question here is not whether there is a stylus or not.
Whether the phone screen has become large and productivity-oriented enough to require a stylus.
Foldable iPhone takes this question seriously for the first time.
Samsung Acted on this Issue Years Before Apple
Apple's foldable Pencil trial naturally brings Samsung to mind.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series has been positioning the large foldable screen as a productivity space for years and supported the use of S Pen in some generations.
In fact, the problem Samsung encountered here was quite similar to the problem that Apple is now considering.
The foldable screen is not as hard as normal phone glass.
Therefore, it is risky for the standard stylus tip to create too much pressure on the panel.
Samsung therefore used a more flexible tip and certain pressure protections in S Pen solutions designed specifically for foldable devices.
This is an important example for the sector.
So pen support is not impossible on a foldable phone.
But it is not enough to carry the normal tablet pen directly to the foldable phone.
If Apple really develops a Pencil for the iPhone Ultra in the future, it will most likely have to be a different product than the iPad Apple Pencil.
Shorter.
Lighter.
Softer tip.
Maybe it has different pressure characteristics.
And probably a design with additional hardware and software security to protect the foldable screen.
The prototype reported to be tested today already shows that Apple is thinking in this direction.
What Happens If the Pen Magnetically Attaches to the Phone?
Another issue that seems technically simple is transportation.
On the iPad Pro, you attach the Pencil to the side and leave it there most of the time.
For the Foldable iPhone, this solution may not be as easy as we think.
The phone always goes into the pocket.
It goes into the bag.
It is held with one hand.
Folding.
Opening.
A cover is being used.
There is a camera protrusion.
There is a hinge.
There are side buttons.
There are probably areas reserved for Touch ID or other biometric sensors.
You also add a magnetic pen to it.
The pen should not fall easily.
It should not prevent the phone from turning on.
It should not conflict with wireless charging coils and antennas.
It needs to be compatible with the cases.
It should not sting the user's palm.
When you put the phone in your pocket, it should not come apart.
The seemingly simple idea of "let's stick it to the side with a magnet" suddenly turns into a serious product design problem.
So it's no surprise that Apple didn't move forward after testing the prototype.
Sometimes understanding the products Apple cancels tells more than understanding the products it releases.
Can Stylus Support Come Even Without Apple Pencil?
You need to be careful here too.
Just because Apple isn't releasing a separate Pencil accessory doesn't necessarily mean the iPhone Ultra won't technically support any stylus input.
However, there is currently no information from reliable sources confirming that Apple will offer official Pencil support for the device.
What the Bloomberg-sourced report says is much more limited:
Apple has prototyped, tested and evaluated such an accessory, but is not expected to bring it to market.
Therefore, we need to be cautious when we see definitive statements on the internet such as "iPhone Ultra will support Apple Pencil".
Today's information:
Tried.
Today's expectation:
It may not come out.
Will it change in the future?
Of course.
It is quite possible for Apple to bring back an idea that it did not use in the first generation in the second or third generation.
The Pencil idea may be re-evaluated, especially if foldable screen technology becomes more durable.
It makes sense for Apple to act cautiously in the first generation
The foldable iPhone will not be an ordinary product launch for Apple.
For the first time, the company is preparing to make such a major physical change in the iPhone form factor that it has been using for nearly twenty years.
New screen.
New hinge.
New aspect ratio.
New user habit.
New application layouts.
New durability problems.
Probably new accessories.
Adding every possible feature to the first generation of such a product is risky.
We generally see that Apple progresses in a more controlled manner in new categories.
Solving the core experience first.
Then add new features.
Considered from this perspective, it may be quite logical that Apple Pencil was not included in the first generation.
The priority for Apple is probably:
Is Fold working properly?
Is the screen durable enough?
Is the hinge reliable for a long time?
Do applications adapt well to two screen formats?
Is the battery sufficient?
Is the device comfortable in the hand?
There will be much more basic questions like.
The pen may arrive later.
When Is the iPhone Ultra Coming?
Current reports show that Apple is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone at the event on September 9, 2026. Bloomberg's Apple agenda also lists the September 9 event as the foldable iPhone launch.
However, the introduction of the device and its release to stores may not occur on the same day.
Recent reports based on Ming-Chi Kuo state that it is possible for Apple to introduce the foldable model with the iPhone 18 Pro family, but start sales a few weeks later, in the fourth quarter. An example of this is that the iPhone X was introduced at the same event as the iPhone 8 family in 2017 and went on sale later.
In the same reports, the starting price of the device is approximately 2,299–2,499 dollars; However, it should be noted that these are not the prices announced by Apple.
Similarly, the name “iPhone Ultra” is also unofficial.
We will see at the event whether Apple will really use this name.
Why Is iPhone Ultra So Important for Apple?
Apple's entry into the foldable phone market years after its competitors is often criticized.
Samsung, Huawei, Honor, Motorola, Oppo and other manufacturers have been developing the foldable category for a long time.
But Apple's classic strategy is not to be first most of the time.
Making your own interpretation when the category is mature enough.
iPhone Ultra will therefore not just be a "Apple finally released a foldable phone" story.
The company will need to show why it sees this form factor as necessary.
And the Apple Pencil prototype is a very valuable clue in this regard.
Because just enlarging the screen does not make a foldable phone meaningful.
It is necessary to show why that big screen exists.
Better multitasking.
Watching videos.
Game.
Document study.
Photo editing.
Content production.
Note-taking.
AI applications.
Professional tools.
Which of these will Apple focus on in the foldable iPhone will be decisive in the success of the device.
Real Question: Will the iPhone Remain an iPhone When Opened?
In our opinion, this is the most interesting question of the whole story.
We have been seeing foldable phones for a long time.
But foldable design creates a different problem in the Apple ecosystem.
iPhone with iPhone Ultra turned off.
So what happens when it opens?
Just a big iPhone?
Or a small iPad?
The Apple Pencil prototype is one of the details that makes us think of the second possibility.
If Apple turns the large interior screen into a truly productive space, the company's iPhone and iPad software worlds may have to come closer together, too.
Better multitasking.
Drag-drop.
Multiple applications.
Floating windows.
Desktop-class applications.
More powerful file management.
Pen input.
All of these expand the boundaries of the concept of "phone".
Therefore, the success of the iPhone Ultra will not be determined only by the folding mechanism.
The usage model Apple has developed for the big screen will determine.
Maybe Apple Pencil Has Been Canceled, But the Idea is Much Bigger
At first glance, a product being prototyped and not released to market may seem like a failed development.
In fact, the opposite is true in technology companies.
In good product development processes, many ideas are tried and only the most meaningful ones reach the user.
This is exactly how Apple's Pencil prototyping for the foldable iPhone should be read.
The pen has been made physically shorter.
Magnetic connection was considered.
Charging solution evaluated.
Form factor tested.
Then the advantages and disadvantages were probably weighed.
If the current report is correct, the result was:
We don't need this for now.
But the fact that Apple even asked this question shows that it is not only considering the use of classic smartphones for the iPhone Ultra.
Apple Pencil May Not Come, But It Gives Away About the Future of iPhone Ultra
In light of the current reliable information, we should not expect the special Apple Pencil for iPhone Ultra to be introduced at the September event.
According to the report from Bloomberg, Apple has developed a Pencil prototype with a shorter body, which is magnetically attached to the edge of the device and can be charged from there. However, it is stated that this product is unlikely to reach commercial launch.
But in our opinion, the valuable part of the news is not whether the pen comes out or not.
The fact that Apple thought of such an accessory.
Because this gives an important clue about the role of the foldable iPhone within Apple.
For the first time, Apple is designing the iPhone in our pocket so that it can turn into a small productivity screen when opened.
This device shouldn't be big just to show more Instagram.
There must be a reason for the big screen.
Pencil could have been one of these reasons.
May not occur in the first generation.
Maybe it will come in the second generation.
Maybe it will never come.
However, the fact that Apple evaluated scenarios such as pen, note-taking and sensitive screen interaction even at the prototype stage shows that the target of iPhone Ultra is broader than the classic iPhone.
And when the device is actually introduced on September 9, the first thing we will look at will not be its hinge or how many inches its screen is.
What we're really curious about is this:
What will Apple make us do with the iPhone, which turns into a small tablet when opened, that we cannot do today?
Because for the foldable iPhone to truly be a new Apple category, folding is not enough.
When opened, it must transform into something else.
Nur Oğuz