A recent report indicated that Apple explored creating a dedicated Apple Pencil variant for the forthcoming iPhone Ultra before ultimately abandoning the plan.
According to Bloomberg, three factors drove this decision, one being a reluctance to clash with Steve Jobs’ original stance on the iPhone. Yet that consideration was almost certainly not the decisive one.
On the surface, a compact Apple Pencil for the iPhone Ultra seems attractive. Since the device functions like an iPhone that unfolds into an iPad mini, extending similar capabilities would be logical.
Samsung equipped its Galaxy Note phablets with an S‑Pen stylus at launch in 2011, positioning the device as a partial replacement for a paper notebook. The line maintained a loyal following for ten years before being discontinued in 2021.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg outlines the three reasons Apple rejected the concept:
– The pencil would make the handset awkward to grip, sitting on the side rather than the top.
– It would contradict Steve’s belief that a stylus is a poor substitute for a finger.
– It would leave unsightly marks on the screen.
I’m not convinced the first point would have been a major hurdle, because the pencil could have been mounted on the top edge. Even though that would require a very short design, it would likely have worked adequately.
I’m also skeptical of the second argument. Steve’s objection wasn’t to the possibility of using a stylus with a phone, but to the fact that earlier phones forced users to rely on one. The breakthrough was making the iPhone fully usable with a finger.
Moreover, Steve famously dismissed touchscreens on Macs due to poor ergonomics, yet the upcoming MacBook Pro is expected to feature one, showing Apple isn’t shy about reversing its co‑founder’s earlier positions.
I believe the third factor was the real deal‑breaker. A folding display has a considerably thinner and softer surface than current screens. Apple reportedly delayed the first foldable iPhone because it worried about both the look and durability of the display, and repeatedly dragging an Apple Pencil across it would jeopardize both.
Should Apple ever overcome this issue, would you like to see an Apple Pencil Mini for a future iPhone Ultra? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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