GoKawiilApple reportedly scraps Apple Pencil plans for iPhone Ultra over screen damage risk
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple considered building a shortened Apple Pencil for its upcoming iPhone Ultra but abandoned the idea. Gurman cites three reasons: awkward ergonomics from side-mounting, tension with Steve Jobs' original stance against styluses, and the risk of the pencil scratching the display.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to fold into a compact tablet, so a companion stylus seemed like a natural feature akin to Samsung's long-running S-Pen on Galaxy Note devices. Apple's decision suggests durability and design purity concerns are outweighing feature parity with foldable rivals, even as the company edges toward touchscreen Macs despite Jobs-era objections.
- Apple reportedly nixed a mini Apple Pencil for the iPhone Ultra despite considering it internally.
- Cited reasons include awkward grip design, philosophical conflict with Jobs' anti-stylus stance, and screen-marking concerns.
- The move contrasts with Samsung's decade-long S-Pen strategy on Galaxy Note phones.
Apple Pencil Pro — If the iPhone Ultra won't get a stylus, the iPad still has the best one Apple makes. The Apple Pencil Pro magnetically attaches and charges on compatible iPads, and adds squeeze, barrel roll, and haptic feedback for note-taking and sketching.
See Apple Pencil Pro on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 9to5mac.com — Ben Lovejoy, 2026-08-31
Published there as: “Here’s the likely reason the iPhone Ultra isn’t getting an Apple Pencil”
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