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Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo will go on sale soon, but for now there is no support for the Apple Pencil. Later this year, the Apple Pencil USB-C will be compatible with the foldable iPhone.

According to new information, the Cupertino company planned to launch a more compact stylus specifically designed for the new foldable iPhone. Fans of the combination of the larger screen and the well-known Apple Pencil finally seemed to have their wishes fulfilled. But at the last minute things changed.

Special Apple Pencil for iPhone Duo

According to the usually very reliable Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman a shorter Apple Pencil for the ‘iPhone Duo’ was already well under development. However, Apple decided to abandon the project at the last minute. Unexpected technical problems just before the planned mass production threw a spanner in the works, causing the special compact Pencil to be permanently shelved.

No shorter Pencil, but support for USB-C

Fortunately, the elimination of the specially designed stylus does not mean that the iPhone Duo will be launched on the market without pen support at all. Apple now chooses to provide support through an existing model: the Apple Pencil (USB-C). While the canceled shorter stylus would be better matched in size to the housing of the foldable device, the USB-C variant at least offers a working alternative for those who like to take notes or sketch on the larger screen.

Apple Pencil with USB-C

Why the Apple Pencil Pro isn’t working

Many Apple enthusiasts wondered why the more advanced Apple Pencil Pro was not chosen. The explanation for this is purely mechanical. The Apple Pencil Pro charges wirelessly by magnetically clicking it onto the side of an iPad. Due to the unique hinge and slim, foldable design of the iPhone Duo, there is simply no room on the side of the device to accommodate a magnetic charging strip. Because the Pencil Pro cannot be charged via a cable, this top model is unfortunately completely out of favor for the foldable iPhone.