Apple Tested Compact Apple Pencil for Foldable iPhone Ultra, Magnetically Attached Stylus Won’t Ship

Apple built a working prototype of a special miniature Apple Pencil for its first foldable smartphone, leaked under the name iPhone Ultra. The accessory attached magnetically to the side edge of the frame for wireless charging, but following internal testing, Apple decided against mass production.

Shorter Form Factor and Ergonomic Compromises

Unlike full-sized styluses for iPad tablets, the smartphone prototype was significantly shorter and lighter so as not to protrude beyond the dimensions of the folded body.

As reported by MacRumors citing Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman, the stylus attached magnetically to the flat metal edge of the smartphone, similar to charging the Apple Pencil Pro. The idea seemed logical: unfolded, the device’s inner display measures roughly 7.8 inches, coming close to a compact iPad mini.

However, according to AppleInsider, the ergonomics of using a shorter stylus on a flexible 4:3 display were deemed unsatisfactory, and the project was shelved.

Steve Jobs’ Legacy and Lineup Evolution

The story carries a note of irony given the famous 2007 unveiling of the original iPhone, when Steve Jobs openly mocked the need for styluses on mobile devices, betting instead on finger multitouch.

Although the company did release the official Apple Pencil for artists and students in 2015, in the brand’s entire history, no production iPhone has ever received official stylus support. The foldable flagship could have been the first historical exception, but Apple decided to stick with traditional touch controls.

What Is Known About iPhone Ultra Specs

According to the latest roundup from MacRumors, the company’s debut foldable smartphone will feature a horizontal book-style fold:

• Displays: an outer screen measuring roughly 5.5 inches and a foldable inner flexible OLED panel at 7.8 inches with a virtually invisible crease down the middle;
• Thickness: a record 4.5 mm when unfolded;
• Hardware: an Apple A20 series processor and 12GB of RAM;
• Biometrics: due to the ultra-thin profile, engineers passed on bulky Face ID sensors in favor of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner built into the side power button;
• Cameras: the setup is limited to main and ultrawide sensors—a periscope zoom lens couldn’t fit due to thickness constraints.

Pricing From $2,000 and September 9 Unveiling

According to preliminary industry analyst estimates, the new device will become Apple’s most expensive consumer smartphone, with a starting price of around $2,000 and top-tier configurations with a 1TB storage drive pushing past $2,500.

The official global premiere will take place at Apple’s major autumn event, Surprise and shine, scheduled for September 9, 2026. The broadcast will stream on Apple’s official events page.

The first foldable smartphone is expected to debut alongside the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, though the custom mini stylus will be absent from the accessory lineup.