Apple considered creating a special Apple Pencil for the upcoming iPhone Ultra but ultimately decided against it, according to a Bloomberg report cited by 9to5Mac. Mark Gurman outlines three reasons: the device would be awkward to hold with a Pencil attached to the side, it would conflict with Steve Jobs' historical opposition to styluses, and it would risk damaging the folding display.

The author argues the first two reasons are weak. Mounting the Pencil on top would solve ergonomics, and Jobs objected to stylus-dependent interfaces, not optional stylus support. Apple has also reversed other Jobs-era positions, such as touchscreens on Macs.

The decisive factor is likely the third: the folding display's thinner, softer surface. Apple reportedly delayed the folding iPhone due to concerns about display appearance and longevity. Repeated scraping from an Apple Pencil would jeopardize both. Samsung's Galaxy Note included an S-Pen from 2011 to 2021, but its display technology differed.

If Apple solves the display durability issue, a future Apple Pencil Mini for the iPhone Ultra could become viable.