Mark Gurman mentions in his latest newsletter that Apple has tested a digital pen for its upcoming foldable, and it's totally different from the Apple Pencil available for iPads. Well, before you get too excited, Gurman further notes in his report that there is a very high possibility that the tech giant might not launch the stylus along with the iPhone Ultra, and there are a couple of reasons behind this.
On iPads, where the Apple Pencil is placed at the top when you're using the device in landscape mode, the digital pen would likely be attached to the side of the iPhone Ultra. This would ultimately make the foldable a bit awkward to use. Gurman also believes that the foldable display is much more sensitive than the iPad's, and using a stylus might leave "unsightly marks" on the screen.
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Would an Apple Pencil make you pick the iPhone Ultra over the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Apple tested it. I want it
As someone who regularly uses his smartphone to jot down quick notes, I would really appreciate a digital pen with a foldable iPhone. Not only for taking notes, the stylus could also prove helpful for various other purposes, such as sketching, photo editing, marking up documents, and easily performing precision editing tasks.
User commenting that they want Apple Pencil | Image by Reddit
It's not only me; many Apple fans want the iPhone Ultra to ship with its very own stylus. A user commented under a related Reddit post that they would love to use an Apple Pencil on an iPhone. Another user mentioned that they would buy whatever phone comes with Apple Pencil support.
These three things could make the upcoming iPhone Ultra stand out among other foldables phones.
The iPad Mini might become redundant
In addition to everything Gurman has pointed out in his newsletter, I believe there is another reason why Apple might have decided to hold off on releasing a digital pen with the iPhone Ultra. You see, the tech giant has always advertised the iPad Mini as the device that offers a bigger and more versatile display than a regular iPhone, while at the same time remaining small enough that you can carry it wherever you want, unlike the larger-screen iPads.
If the iPhone Ultra comes with a digital pen, it could make the iPad Mini feel redundant for some users, especially those who use it to perform lightweight operations like sketching rather than as a full-fledged productivity device. You would use the iPhone Ultra as a regular iPhone when folded, and when you want to perform tasks that require a bigger screen, you can unfold the device and grab the stylus to perform tasks that require precision and can't be done using your fingers.
Z Fold 8 vs iPhone Ultra: the decision would be much easier
Based on everything that has surfaced so far, it appears that the battle between the Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Ultra is going to be very close, and it would eventually become difficult for customers to choose a foldable between the two. In such tight scenarios, extra accessory support can turn out to be the X factor.
User demanding an S Pen in Samsung foldables. | Image by Reddit
As mentioned above, I regularly use my phone to jot down notes, which is why I would go with the iPhone Ultra without a second thought if it came with a stylus. In fact, many users are pissed with Samsung for not offering the S Pen on its latest foldables. One user mentioned on Reddit that if the South Korean giant wants to sell them another foldable, it must come with S Pen support. Another user commented that they really don't get why a foldable doesn't come with stylus support.
An iPhone Ultra stylus may launch eventually
Maybe not with the iPhone Ultra, but I believe Apple might eventually release the digital pen sometime in the future. The reason for this is that the company has already developed a prototype, and scrapping it wouldn't be an ideal decision. So perhaps we might see it launch at a later date or alongside the second generation of the iPhone Ultra.
All that said, Apple's first foldable could launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro phones on September 9.
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Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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