Apple Tested a Stubbier Pencil for the Foldable iPhone Ultra — Gurman Says It Likely Won't Ship
Gurman's Power On: Apple tried a shorter Pencil with magnetic side charging on the foldable Ultra. Awkward hold, mark risk on the inner screen — and he would be surprised if it ships September 9.
As someone who tracks Apple leaks from San Francisco every week, this one made me sit up — then cool off.
Mark Gurman's August 30 Power On newsletter (picked up by MacRumors, 9to5Mac, The Verge, and AppleInsider) says Apple did test Apple Pencil support on the foldable iPhone Ultra.
What got tested
- A stubbier Pencil than the iPad models
- Magnetic attach + charge along the Ultra's side
- Real internal builds, not just a slide deck fantasy
Why Gurman thinks it won't ship
Holding a stylus on the side of an unfolded phone feels awkward. There's also a real risk of marking the delicate inner display. Gurman's line is blunt: he would be surprised if a Pencil ships with Ultra at the September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event.
I'm treating this as a closed door for day-one Ultra buyers, not a soft maybe. If Apple surprises us on stage, great — until then, plan for finger-first foldable use.
What I'd actually buy while we wait
Live catalog pickups for stylus muscle memory and a thin phone bridge (not Ultra itself — that isn't sellable yet):
- Apple Pencil (USB-C) — closest official Pencil you can order today
- iPhone Air Space Black 512GB — thin-phone feel while Ultra rumors settle
- iPhone 16 Pro 256GB renewed — current Pro stand-in if you're not waiting for 18
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I'll keep watching MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and Gurman for anything that reopens Pencil-on-Ultra. Until a new exclusive lands, this is the beat.
Products in This Review
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Apple Pencil (USB-C): Device Compatibility Check Required
iPhone Air Space Black, 512GB (Unlocked)
iPhone Air. The thinnest iPhone ever. 6.5-inch display, durable Ceramic Shield front and back, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Fusion camera system, and Center Stage front camera.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro, 256GB, Natural Titanium - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro, US Version, 256GB, Natural Titanium - Unlocked (Renewed)