Apple Tested a Compact Apple Pencil for Upcoming Foldable iPhone

As anticipation builds for Apple’s highly rumored entry into the foldable smartphone market, new details have emerged regarding the features Apple explored during the device’s development. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant internally prototyped and tested a dedicated version of the Apple Pencil designed specifically for its upcoming foldable handset, currently expected to be branded as the iPhone Ultra.

A Stubby Stylus for the Ultra

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman revealed that the prototype stylus differed significantly from the current iterations used for the iPad lineup. The accessory was notably “stubbier,” designed to better accommodate the scale of a smartphone form factor. Furthermore, the design included the ability to magnetically attach to the side of the foldable device, allowing it to charge wirelessly while docked—a mechanism similar to how the Apple Pencil Pro integrates with modern iPad Pro models.

Despite these advanced testing phases, Gurman suggests that a consumer release for the accessory is unlikely. Apple has a long history of rigorous internal prototyping, and while a stylus may have been considered to complement the expanded screen real estate of a foldable device, the company appears hesitant to pull the trigger on a product that would fundamentally alter the iPhone experience.

A Shift in Philosophy?

The development of a foldable-ready stylus is particularly notable given the company’s historic stance on mobile input. During the landmark 2007 presentation of the original iPhone, the late Steve Jobs famously mocked the idea of using a stylus, famously quipping, “Who wants a stylus? You have to get ’em, put ’em away, you lose ’em. Yuck! Nobody wants a stylus.”

However, the industry landscape has changed significantly in the two decades since. With competitors like Samsung integrating the “S Pen” into their foldable and Ultra-tier devices with great success, Apple has been forced to evaluate how a digital pen might enhance productivity for power users on a larger, folding screen.

What to Expect Next

The foldable iPhone is currently slated for unveiling during Apple’s major product event on September 9. As the company prepares to enter the foldable category, the question remains whether it will stick to its traditional “finger-first” interface philosophy or embrace the productivity-focused stylus integration that has become a staple of its iPad line.

While the “stubbier” Apple Pencil may never reach store shelves, its existence in the prototype lab highlights Apple’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of what the iPhone can do as it transitions into a new, foldable form factor.