According to the rumored specs of the iPhone Ultra, the device when unfolded is going to be a slightly smaller version of the iPad mini. However, its aspect ratio makes it more tablet than phone, which means that having stylus support for writing and drawing makes sense. As it turns out, Apple did experiment with a stylus for the iPhone Ultra, but ultimately decided against it.
iPhone Ultra almost came with a stylus
This is according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, where he revealed that Apple almost gave the iPhone Ultra a stylus. However, we’re not just talking about Apple Pencil support. Gurman’s report claims that Apple prototyped a stylus designed specifically for the phone, which was apparently shorter compared to the regular Apple Pencil.
However, that makes sense. The iPhone Ultra is said to have a 5.5-inch external display, so the Apple Pencil would naturally be too long. It was also rumored that it could attach to the phone magnetically, the same the Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad Pro. But at the end of the day, Apple decided to nix those plans.
Why did they cancel it?
According to Gurman, he believes it’s unlikely Apple will launch this accessory with the iPhone Ultra later this month. This is because there were some limitations with the design. The magnet attachment sounds clever, but then it made it difficult for the phone to open and close.
Secondly, there’s the issue of durability. Unlike the iPad, the iPhone Ultra will feature a flexible display which is considerably softer than traditional displays. This means that constant poking and prodding with a stylus could leave visible marks and damage it over time.
Those are understandable concerns, but it feels like a wasted opportunity. If Apple could create an all-in-one device for communication, productivity, and creativity, that would be amazing. This doesn’t mean Apple isn’t going to stop trying. Maybe when flexible display tech advances and becomes more durable they might revisit it again.
Apple has currently scheduled an event for September 9. That is when the company will most likely unveil its new iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra smartphones. We can also probably expect a refresh to the Apple Watch and new AirPods.
The post Apple Built a Custom Stylus for the iPhone Ultra, Then Scrapped It appeared first on Android Headlines.
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