Apple planned to launch a shorter Apple Pencil alongside the new iPhone Duo foldable device but canceled it due to "technical problems ahead of mass production," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Instead, the iPhone Duo will gain support for the existing USB-C Apple Pencil later this year. The iPhone Duo features two screens with a foldable inner display that forms a single continuous frame when opened.

Apple announced the device at its "Surprise and Shine" event on September 9, 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. The foldable phone is described as the thinnest iPhone ever when fully open. While a dedicated compact stylus was developed for the dual-screen form factor, production issues forced Apple to pivot to compatibility with the current USB-C model.