Apple is reportedly prototyping a new stylus for the foldable iPhone, but it remains undecided whether it will be announced, and the possibility of delaying the announcement has been raised.
With attention focused on the possible arrival of a foldable iPhone ahead of Apple's next major event, speculation is building over what will happen to its accessories. This article focuses on the fate of a new accessory that had been expected to arrive around the same time as the foldable iPhone.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple is prototyping a new stylus for the foldable iPhone. The prototype is said to be smaller and thicker than the Pencil for iPad, with a design that allows it to be stored and charged magnetically along the side of the device.
Gurman said the stylus is unlikely to launch at the same time as the foldable iPhone and is unlikely to be released at next month's event. The biggest issue, he said, is finding somewhere to store the Pencil when the foldable device is opened for use. The display's susceptibility to scratches has also been cited as a factor that could hinder adoption.
The display of the new foldable device is expected to be roughly the size of the first-generation iPad mini when unfolded, suggesting that a Pencil could have been a useful addition. However, citing a 1969 comment by Jobs, the reporter himself concluded that the Pencil is unlikely to arrive around the same time as the announcement of the foldable iPhone.