Apple Scraps Foldable iPhone Stylus Over Design Flaws

Apple Inc. prototyped and internally tested a shortened version of the Apple Pencil designed for its first foldable smartphone, reportedly named the iPhone Ultra. The stylus featured a magnetic attachment on the side of the device for storage and charging.

Technical limitations led the company to likely scrap the accessory. Testing revealed that the pencil could interfere with the device's hinge mechanism during folding and unfolding. Furthermore, the stylus tip risked leaving marks or damaging the softer upper layer of the delicate internal foldable screen.

The decision to omit the stylus aligns with a long-standing company philosophy against smartphone styluses established by Steve Jobs. The foldable iPhone is expected to debut on September 9 alongside the iPhone 18 lineup and new Apple Watch models.

In related developments, the company is testing new ceramic case colors for the Apple Watch Series 12. Apple is also developing software for continuous heart-rate data collection and redesigning its fitness and health applications to better compete with services such as Whoop and Oura.