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Apple is working on giving the iPhone 8 a complete overhaul of the existing generation, and according to new information, introducing Apple Pencil support might be one way to achieve that.
A patent application spotted by PatentlyApple reveals that Apple is very serious about bringing stylus support on a future iPhone model, and there’s a good chance that the 2017 version is the one.
This isn’t the first time we hear about stylus support on the iPhone, and people with knowledge of the matter previously hinted that Apple wanted to introduce this feature on a supposed Pro SKU for the iPhone 7. Although at first it seemed that these sources were wrong, this doesn’t appear to be the case, as Apple indeed planned on bringing the Apple Pencil on the iPhone, but only on a later model.
The patent suggests that the Apple Pencil would work on the iPhone just like the S Pen on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7. A dedicated menu would automatically fire up when the Pencil is close to touching the screen, while also offering certain options when the iPhone is locked. Users will be able to take notes, draw on the screen, crop, and work with the pen just like a typical Samsung user.
Exclusively offered on the iPhone Pro?
The Pro version of the iPhone, if Apple indeed launches one, could come with a bigger screen that would make sense for the Pencil to be introduced in the iPhone lineup.
Rumor has it that the iPhone Pro could feature a display that’s larger than 5.5 inches, and previous reports claimed that Apple was aiming for 5.7- or 5.8-inch panels. It’s not yet clear if this is still the case, but the plan seems to be to introduce a display larger than the one on the Plus (5.5 inches).
At this point, the Apple Pencil is exclusively available on the iPad Pro lineup, and given its dimensions, the accessory would have to be redesigned to be used on the iPhone. The patent doesn’t reveal if Apple plans to offer a built-in system for carrying the Pencil together with the iPhone, similar to what Samsung does on the Note.
The next-generation iPhone is expected to launch in the fall of 2017, and given that it marks the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, such makeovers are indeed possible. But since we’re so far away from the moment when it’s supposed to debut, everything can change overnight.
