The iPhone Duo was originally expected to launch alongside a new, smaller version of the Apple Pencil designed specifically for it. However, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple had reportedly scrapped the accessory after encountering technical problems before it entered mass production.
In his latest report, Gurman said the company had designed the shorter Pencil to work with the Duo and attach magnetically to the hinge side of the device. Apple ultimately abandoned the accessory, however, and instead opted to support the existing USB-C Apple Pencil.
It is unclear whether the reported problems were related to the Pencil itself or the iPhone Duo’s ability to magnetically charge the smaller accessory. While Apple has confirmed that the Duo supports the USB-C Apple Pencil, this feature will not be available when the phone launches.
Apple Pencil Support Only Coming Later
The delay appears to be partly because the iPhone Duo was not originally designed around the USB-C Apple Pencil. Apple needs to introduce software support for the existing stylus and conduct additional internal testing before enabling the feature, with the company saying that support is expected by the end of 2026.
This means Duo owners will have to wait before they can use an Apple Pencil with either of its displays. Apple has yet to indicate whether the cancelled smaller Pencil could eventually return in another form, although the reported technical issues do not necessarily rule out a future version of the accessory.
That said, seeing that third-party styluses for Apple products do exist in the market, there’s a good chance that we might see one that’s specifically designed for the Duo. Perhaps a case and stylus combo that’s reminiscent of the Galaxy Z Fold series before Samsung decided to ultimately drop S-Pen support for its foldables?
A Quick Recap Of The iPhone Duo
For those who may have missed the launch, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone and uses a passport-style design. It has a 7.6-inch inner OLED display and a 5.4-inch outer OLED display, with both panels supporting ProMotion at up to 120Hz, while the inner screen also features a nano-texture finish.
The foldable is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip and C2 modem, and features a titanium frame, Touch ID built into the side button and dual 48MP rear cameras. It also packs two batteries, with Apple rating it for up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, 44 hours on the outer display or up to 24 hours of typical use.
Other notable features include an under-display inner FaceTime camera, a 12MP Center Stage camera on the outer display, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, USB 3 over USB-C, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging. The Duo also runs iOS 27.1 and supports Apple’s next-generation Apple Intelligence features, including the redesigned Siri.
In Malaysia, the iPhone Duo starts at RM9,499 for the 256GB model, while the 512GB, 1TB and 2TB variants are priced at RM10,499, RM12,499 and RM15,499 respectively. Pre-orders are scheduled to open at 8pm on 16 October, with local availability beginning 23 October.
(Source: Bloomberg)
