"If you see a stylus, they blew it," was a Steve Jobs position on why fingers are the input choice on iPhone. While iPad has Apple Pencil, Apple isn't looking to make one for the iPhone Ultra.
Even though Steve Jobs might have made a point to avoid styluses in 2007, that stance can easily have changed in the intervening 19 years. Apple has allegedly tested a stylus-like device for the iPhone Fold, but it won't be releasing it with the product.
According to the "Power On" newsletter from Bloomberg, Apple at least prototyped a shorter Apple Pencil that could magnetically attach to the foldable iPhone. However, testing revealed such a product would prove awkward for the form factor.
Since the smaller Apple Pencil would line up with the tall side of the device when closed, it would be annoying to open the foldable with the stylus still attached. Even if you didn't intend to use it, you might have found yourself removing it anyway just to open the screen.
There's also an issue with the way the display is made and its sensitivity to input. It was a concern that the Apple Pencil would leave "unsightly marks" on the display.
While Apple could always change its mind in future iterations, it seems a stylus won't be included with the first-generation model. Customers shouldn't expect any kind of Apple Pencil compatibility, even with the USB-C version of the stylus.
Those looking to replace their iPad mini and iPhone with the iPhone Ultra will need to keep this particular limitation in mind. If you use iPad mini as a drawing tablet, that functionality will go away for iPhone Ultra.
That said, a standard rubber-tipped capacitive stylus made to work for iPhone will still work on an iPhone Fold. Those styluses just emulate the electrical signal generated by your finger, so they don't do much for precision.
Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro during the "Surprise and Shine" Apple Event on September 9. Pre-orders will begin after, though the timeline for pre-orders and release aren't yet known.
