Apple is finally bringing Apple Pencil support to the iPhone, but there’s a catch: its most expensive Pencil won’t work with it.
The new iPhone Duo supports only the $79 USB-C Apple Pencil, leaving out the $129 Apple Pencil Pro. That means anyone who already owns Apple’s higher-end stylus for their iPad will need another Pencil for the foldable.
The reason appears to come down to charging. Apple Pencil Pro attaches magnetically to the side of compatible iPads, where it also charges. The iPhone Duo doesn’t have the magnetic hardware needed for that system.
The USB-C model avoids the problem by charging through a port hidden beneath a sliding cap, so it doesn’t need a magnetic connection.
The cheaper Pencil comes with tradeoffs
Choosing the USB-C model means giving up quite a few of the features that separate Apple Pencil Pro from Apple’s cheaper stylus.
There’s no pressure sensitivity, squeeze gesture, barrel roll, haptic feedback, double-tap support, or Find My. Tilt sensitivity is still included, allowing the Pencil to respond to different angles while drawing or shading.
That’s a notable compromise for anyone hoping the Duo’s 7.6-inch inner display could double as a smaller sketching or note-taking device. Apple is giving the iPhone its first Pencil support without giving it the full Pencil Pro experience.
It works on both displays
The upside is that Apple isn’t limiting the Pencil to the Duo’s larger folding screen. The USB-C model will work on both the inner and outer displays, so you can use the stylus without unfolding the phone.
There’s another catch, though: none of this will work when the iPhone Duo launches.
Apple says Pencil support is coming through a software update later this year. Buyers picking up the Duo on day one will have to wait before using a stylus with either screen.
Preorders open October 16, with the iPhone Duo going on sale October 23.
