Steve Jobs famously hated using a stylus to navigate a phone. Onstage in 2007 when he was unveiling what would become the first iPhone, he said the device was going to be controlled by something humans are all born with: fingers. He literally called styluses "yuck."
But since Jobs passed away in 2011, things have changed rapidly at Apple. Tim Cook, for starters, took the CEO role. The newest iPhone has no home button anymore and has a wide notch at the top of the screen — design changes fans argue Jobs wouldn't approve. But Make no mistake: Apple remains as one of the world's most valuable tech companies. But change is to be expected.
The iPhone Will Have Its Own Stylus
One of these changes, as new reports suggest, include Apple finally warming up to styluses. The company is certainly no stranger to them, releasing the Apple Pencil in 2015 for compatible iPad models, which for the most part made the iPad akin to Wacom tablets. But according to rumors, Apple might also be considering adding a stylus to its iPhone.
The rumor comes from The Korea Herald via The Investor, citing what it claims to be industry sources saying that Apple engineers "have recently been working" on a new iPhone that "comes with a digital pen," with a potential launch date in 2019.
Sources said the stylus will likely be a "supercapacitor stylus type" for price benefits. By contrast, the Galaxy Note line, which is famous for its built-in stylus, uses electromagnetic resonance technology that requires additional components to be properly installed under the display. Apple's approach will be cheaper and offer "a more pen-like feel," according to the sources.
In addition to the stylus, the sources said Apple's A-series chip could be upgraded to support handwriting features.
What Will The iPhone Stylus Be Called?
It remains uncertain what Apple plans to call its rumored stylus, but Apple executives and Cook have repeatedly avoided calling the Apple Pencil as a stylus, with Cook saying "we launched a pencil not a stylus" in an interview last year. This will likely be the same scenario for the iPhone's own stylus, but time will tell. By contrast, Samsung calls its stylus as the "S Pen."
Thoughts about the iPhone having a stylus? What do you think could it even be for? Does Apple plan on copying the note-taking functionalities of Samsung's S Pen? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
