Apple has reportedly prototyped and tested an Apple Pencil for its first foldable iPhone, expected to be unveiled next week, but the accessory is unlikely to ship with the device. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported this week that Apple internally considered launching a stylus for the foldable, which many analysts call the iPhone Ultra. However, Gurman said the company probably will not include the Pencil when the device is introduced at Apple’s Surprise and Shine product launch event on Sept. 9. An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Apple Pencil is a digital stylus currently compatible with the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. It charges magnetically when attached and offers pixel-perfect precision, low latency between stylus movement and screen response, and tilt sensitivity for shading effects. No iPhone model has ever supported a Pencil, dating back to Steve Jobs’ 2007 claim that nobody wants a stylus. Despite the Pencil’s features, Gurman noted potential issues with pairing it to the foldable, including where to store it when the device is open and the risk of the stylus leaving marks on the foldable’s screen, which may be more delicate than other iPhone and iPad displays.
Gurman added that if the Ultra’s Pencil does come to market, it would be shorter than the Pencil Pro, which measures 6.53 inches long. The foldable will be Apple’s first entry into that product category, arriving years behind competitors such as Samsung, Google, and Motorola. The name “iPhone Ultra” has not been officially announced by Apple, and the iPhone Fold has also been suggested as a possible name.
Other phones on the market already include styluses, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Moto G Stylus 5G, according to CNET’s sister site ZDNET. Those devices offer stylus support as a built-in feature or with a dedicated slot. The potential Apple Pencil for the foldable would mark a significant shift for the company, given its long-standing stance against styluses for the iPhone.
For US consumers, the foldable’s arrival could reshape the high-end smartphone market, where Apple has historically dominated without a folding option. The lack of a launch-day Pencil does not rule out a later release, as Apple has previously introduced accessories after a device’s initial debut. Gurman’s reporting, based on internal company activity, suggests the stylus remains a real possibility for future iterations of the foldable.
Apple’s event next week will clarify the device’s official name, features, and pricing, though the company has not confirmed any details in advance. Analysts and consumers will be watching closely to see how the foldable competes with established rivals in the US and globally. Until then, the Pencil question remains open, with Gurman’s report serving as the most concrete evidence of Apple’s interest in the accessory.
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