Apple shelves iPhone Ultra Pencil as $1,949 foldable display risks surface

Apple built and tested a shorter, magnetic Apple Pencil for its foldable iPhone Ultra but is unlikely to ship it, citing display durability and ergonomic concerns.

Apple prototyped a magnetic Apple Pencil for its foldable iPhone Ultra but is unlikely to ship it, aligning with Samsung's removal of S Pen support and shrinking the foldable stylus market.

"Apple has internally prototyped, tested and considered launching a modified Apple Pencil for its upcoming foldable," Mark Gurman, technology reporter at Bloomberg, said in his Power On newsletter. The accessory is "unlikely" to be released alongside the device, he added.

The prototype stylus was "stubbier" than existing Apple Pencil models to match the iPhone Ultra's compact form factor. It would attach magnetically to the device's metal frame for storage and wireless charging, similar to how the Apple Pencil Pro docks to the iPad Pro. But the accessory would protrude awkwardly from the side during normal use, and the softer surface of foldable displays makes them vulnerable to "unsightly marks" from stylus input, Gurman reported.

The iPhone Ultra, expected to be unveiled at Apple's September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event, is rumored to feature an A20 Pro chip, a 5.49-inch outer display, a 7.76-inch foldable main screen, dual 48-megapixel cameras, and a roughly 5,800 mAh battery at a price near $1,949. The decision to hold back the stylus tracks Samsung's own move to drop S Pen support from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in 2025, thinning the display and reinforcing the folding glass.

Foldable Stylus Support Contracts Across the Market

Samsung, the foldable category's longtime leader, removed S Pen support entirely starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in 2025, dropping the stylus digitizer layer to thin the display and strengthen the folding glass. That configuration carries over to the newer Galaxy Z Fold 8. Stylus support on foldables has instead migrated toward challenger brands: Motorola sells a $99.99 "Moto Pen Ultra" Bluetooth stylus for the Razr Fold that works on both screens without a digitizer layer, while Honor and Oppo are reportedly testing "multispectral" styluses for their upcoming Magic V6 and Find N6 models, though neither company has confirmed the feature.

The Apple Pencil's pricing pattern offers a rough guide if the company ever ships a stylus for the iPhone Ultra. Every Apple Pencil generation released since 2015 has launched between $79 and $129, and the current Apple Pencil Pro — the closest analog to the shelved prototype, sharing the same magnetic attach-and-charge mechanism — sells for $129.

There is also the philosophical hurdle. When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone in 2007, he famously dismissed styluses: "Who wants a stylus?" Launching a pencil for the iPhone Ultra would mark a departure from that stance, even if the product category has since proven successful on the iPad.

iPhone Ultra Represents Apple's Biggest Hardware Bet Since Watch

The iPhone Ultra is expected to be the centerpiece of the September 9 event, which is also slated to include the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. Counterpoint Research's 2026 forecast has Samsung retaining foldable-market leadership with roughly 32 percent unit share, followed by Apple's debut year at 25 percent, Huawei at 24 percent, Motorola at 8 percent, and Honor at 3 percent, with total foldable shipments growing 21 percent year-over-year. IDC's 2026 outlook similarly credits Apple's entry as the category's main growth catalyst.

Gurman also reported that Apple is testing white and dark gray ceramic case options for the Apple Watch Series 12, along with a new always-on heart rate sensor that collects data continuously, similar to dedicated fitness trackers from Polar. Apple Fitness and Apple Health apps are slated for redesigns that surface more wellness metrics.

For investors, the iPhone Ultra represents Apple's most significant hardware bet since the Apple Watch. A successful foldable launch could open a new premium tier and boost average selling prices. Apple shares trade at roughly 30 times forward earnings, and the foldable's reception will be a key test of whether the company can sustain its premium pricing strategy. Accessories like the Apple Pencil, even if delayed, suggest Apple sees the foldable form factor as a long-term platform rather than a one-off experiment.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.