iPhone Could Get Apple Pencil Support by 2019

[Maura]

According to a new report in The Korea Times, via MacRumors, Apple is “mulling” over launching an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil. The Times’ sources say that Apple engineers have been working on a new iPhone that “comes with a digital pen,” which could be released as soon as 2019.

Currently, the Apple Pencil is only compatible with the iPad Pro range of devices. According to The Times, the new iPhone stylus will most likely be a “supercapacitor stylus type,” in comparison with Samsung’s Galaxy Note pen, which uses electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology that requires extra panel parts underneath the display. According to the source, “a supercapacitor type is cheaper to make compared to the EMR stylus. It also offers a more pen-like feel.”

The source also says that Apple’s A-series chip would need a “drastic upgrade” in order to facilitate a good handwriting experience on the iPhone.

The Korea Times also points out that the late Steve Jobs had been very much against adding a stylus to the iPhone, even famously stating during the original iPhone launch event, “Who wants a stylus? You have to get them, and then put them away, and you lose them, yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.”

However, times change, of course, and last year current Apple CEO, Tim Cook, said of the Apple Pencil, “I think that Steve would have loved [it].”

Source: iPhone With Apple Pencil Support Could Launch 'As Early As 2019'