Apple is testing stylus support for iPhone Ultra, report says ahead of Sept 9 iPhone 18 Pro event

Apple has reportedly tested a smaller Apple Pencil made for its first foldable iPhone, but the accessory may not launch. Here's why Apple is considering a stylus for the iPhone Ultra and the problems it could face.Apple reportedly tested a Pencil for its foldable iPhone. (Image shown: Apple Pencil Pro)Apple’s new Surprise and Shine event is all set for September 9. Along with the many next-generation products, the tech giant is said to be unveiling its first-ever foldable device, aka iPhone Ultra. Now, a fresh report suggests the iPhone maker has also tested an Apple Pencil designed specifically for the fold. Although there is still a good chance it may never make it to the market. There are reports that also suggest the iPhone Ultra could ship to the Indian market a couple of months late due to supply and pricing issues.Coming back to the Apple Pencil, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has internally prototyped, tested and considered launching an Apple Pencil for the foldable iPhone. Gurman says the accessory is unlikely to launch alongside the phone, but its existence shows that Apple has at least explored the idea of bringing stylus support to the iPhone.A smaller Apple Pencil for the foldable iPhoneThe Pencil tested by Apple is reportedly shorter and more compact than the Apple Pencils designed for iPads. That makes sense because a full-sized Pencil would look rather awkward next to a phone, even one with a large foldable display.Apple also reportedly designed the accessory to magnetically attach to the side of the foldable iPhone. The magnetic connection would not just keep the Pencil in place but could also be used to charge it, similar to how Apple's existing Pencil models work with compatible iPads. On paper, that sounds pretty neat. In practice, however, Apple appears to have some problems to solve.Gurman says storing the Pencil could become awkward when users want to fold the phone shut and stop using the accessory. There is also a bigger concern: the foldable display itself. Foldable screens are more delicate than traditional smartphone displays, and repeated use of a stylus could potentially leave marks or damage the surface. That makes the idea of putting a Pencil directly on the flexible screen a little less straightforward than doing the same on an iPad.Apple Pencil meets Steve Jobs' famous stylus commentThere is also a little irony here. When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone in 2007, he famously dismissed the idea of using a stylus with a smartphone, saying that “Nobody wants a stylus.” Nearly two decades later, Apple appears to have at least experimented with one for its most ambitious iPhone yet.That does not necessarily mean Apple is abandoning Jobs' philosophy. The foldable iPhone is a very different device from the original iPhone, and a stylus could make more sense on a larger, tablet-like internal display.Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at its September 9 event. Although Apple has not confirmed the name yet.- EndsPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 11:46 IST