Apple Considered an Apple Pencil for Its Foldable iPhone, but It May Not Happen Yet

Apple's first foldable iPhone is almost here, and the company may have considered giving it an unusual accessory: an Apple Pencil.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has internally developed and tested a smaller Pencil intended for the foldable iPhone. However, Gurman believes the accessory is unlikely to be announced alongside the device at Apple's September 9 event.

That does not necessarily mean Apple has abandoned the idea. It could simply mean the company wants more time to refine how a stylus would work with a foldable iPhone.

Apple reportedly tested a smaller Pencil

Apple Pencil support would be a major departure for the iPhone. The accessory has traditionally been associated with Apple's iPad lineup, where its precision makes sense for drawing, handwritten notes, photo editing and other creative tasks.

The Pencil currently works with several iPad models and can attach magnetically to compatible devices for charging. Apple has never officially supported an Apple Pencil on an iPhone, despite years of speculation about whether a larger iPhone display could benefit from one.

For the foldable iPhone, Apple reportedly experimented with a shorter version of the Pencil. Gurman's report suggests the accessory was designed to attach magnetically to the side of the device and charge there, making it easier to carry alongside the phone.

The smaller size would make sense for a device that needs to fold into a compact form, although it could also introduce some compromises compared with the full-size Pencil designed for iPads.

Why a stylus could make sense on a foldable iPhone

A foldable phone gives Apple something conventional iPhones do not: a much larger canvas.

When opened, the rumored iPhone Ultra should offer substantially more screen space than a traditional iPhone. That creates opportunities for tasks such as handwritten notes, sketching, marking up documents and editing photos.

It could also make the device more useful for productivity. A foldable iPhone already sits somewhere between a phone and a small tablet, so adding precise stylus input could push it even further toward tablet territory.

But Apple would need to make sure the experience feels genuinely useful rather than simply adding Pencil support because it can.

The foldable display presents a challenge

There is another reason Apple may be taking its time.

Foldable displays are more complicated than conventional smartphone screens, and using a stylus introduces another point of contact with the panel. A Pencil needs to glide smoothly across the display without causing scratches, pressure damage or other problems.

There is also the practical question of storage. When the phone is folded, where does the Pencil go? A magnetic attachment could solve part of that problem, but it would also make the accessory more exposed when carrying the phone around.

Those details may sound minor, but Apple tends to obsess over exactly this kind of everyday interaction. If the Pencil does not feel natural with the foldable iPhone, the company may prefer to wait rather than launch an unfinished experience.

Switching phones? Take care of your data first

A new foldable iPhone would also give many users a reason to rethink how they manage their existing phone data. Moving photos, contacts, videos and other files can become surprisingly time-consuming when switching devices.

If you plan to transfer my data from an existing phone, Smart Transfer can provide another way to move selected content between compatible devices. An iPhone app transfer can also be useful when setting up a new device, while iOS file sharing gives you a practical option for moving individual files when you do not need to transfer everything.

The smartest approach is to clean up before the move. Remove files you no longer need, keep important content backed up and then transfer the data that actually matters. That way, your new iPhone starts fresh instead of carrying years of digital clutter with it.

Apple has never wanted a stylus on the iPhone

The idea is particularly interesting because of Apple's history with smartphone styluses.

When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone in 2007, he famously questioned the need for a stylus, arguing that the phone could be controlled naturally with a finger. Apple has maintained that philosophy for every iPhone released since then.

The foldable iPhone could change that equation. A much larger internal display creates use cases where a stylus makes more sense, especially for writing, drawing and precision editing.

Still, Apple does not appear ready to make the Pencil part of the first-generation foldable experience.

Will the iPhone Ultra get an Apple Pencil later?

For now, the answer appears to be no, at least at launch.

Apple is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone at the September 9 event, but the rumored Pencil accessory is reportedly unlikely to appear alongside it. The company could revisit the idea after seeing how customers actually use the larger screen.

That may ultimately be the smarter move. Apple can learn from the first generation, improve the foldable display and refine the stylus before committing to a final accessory.

The possibility itself is telling, though. If Apple really has tested a dedicated Pencil for the iPhone, the company clearly sees potential in turning its foldable phone into something more than a larger iPhone.

For now, the iPhone Ultra will have to stand on its own. If a Pencil eventually arrives, it could be the accessory that pushes Apple's foldable from an impressive smartphone into something much closer to a pocket-sized creative workstation.