The prototype was a shortened Apple Pencil made for the foldable iPhone. It was designed to attach magnetically to the side of the case, where it could also charge.

Testing exposed 2 problems. The stylus was awkward to use in some positions, and its hard tip left marks on the inner display. Foldable screens are softer than regular ones.

Mark Gurman believes the accessory will not launch with the foldable iPhone expected next month. The project may also clash with Apple’s long-standing position, linked to Steve Jobs’s 2007 claim that nobody needs a stylus. The Pencil will likely remain an internal prototype.