Apple is planning to enter the foldable smartphone market in September 2026, introducing its first foldable iPhone Fold. We've heard plenty of rumors about the design of the upcoming device, but little has been revealed about the operating system or software features.
See also: 2026: Samsung 'Wide Fold' vs. iPhone Fold
Rumors suggest that the iPhone Fold will measure around 5.4 inches when closed and around 7.6 inches when open, giving it a 4:3 aspect ratio.
When open, the upcoming iPhone will be larger than any iPhone to date and not far off in size from the original iPad mini. The current iPad mini has an 8.3-inch screen size, but the first models had a 7.9-inch screen.
Given that the iPhone Fold's internal screen will be close in size to an iPad, will it run iOS or iPadOS? Will it function like a standard iPhone when the screen is closed and like an iPad when it's open? Or will it be something in between?
We haven't heard much about iOS 27 so far or what Apple has planned for the iPhone Fold, so it remains a mystery. Bloomberg says iOS 27 will lay the groundwork for the foldable iPhone and future foldables, but that's about it.
With a larger screen, the iPhone Fold will likely support some form of split-screen or multitasking, perhaps even adopting Slide Over. Apple Pencil support for a 7.6-inch display could make sense, but the iPhone Fold's screen will be an awkward middle ground between an iPhone and an iPad. We haven't heard any rumors that the iPhone Fold will work with the Apple Pencil, but we haven't heard any rumors that it won't either.
Apple Pencil support could be useful for quick notes, sketches, signing documents, editing photos and videos, and more. Steve Jobs once said, “Nobody wants a pen,” but in the years since then, the pen has evolved. The Apple Pencil isn’t one of those little plastic pens or the imprecise rubber-tipped pens that were around in 2007 when Jobs first mentioned them.
See also: iPhone Fold production challenges may limit supply next year
It is a writing tool that accurately mimics a pen or pencil and is natural to use.
Samsung's foldables have supported the optional S Pen for years, but the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 ditched the feature for a thinner and lighter design, which probably doesn't bode well for Apple offering this functionality. Rumors suggest the iPhone Fold will be around 4.5mm thick when open, which would make it thinner than Apple's 5.1mm iPad Pro, Apple's thinnest device to date.
Some dedicated Samsung Galaxy Fold users are unhappy with the removal of the feature, so there are certainly foldable smartphone customers who like the flexibility of using a stylus. Rumors suggest that Samsung is considering bringing back S Pen support in the next-generation Galaxy Fold, which, coincidentally, will have a shorter, wider design to match the iPhone Fold.
If Apple implements Apple Pencil support and Samsung doesn't, it's possible that Apple will attract some users who don't want to use a foldable without a pen option. The opposite is also possible, in which case Apple could lose customers who don't want a foldable without a pen.
Apple also needs to consider how an Apple Pencil will affect iPhone Fold features like the fold in the middle, and that could add too much complexity.
See also: Everything to expect from next year's iPhone Fold
Even if the first-generation iPhone Fold doesn't get support for the Apple Pencil, it could be a feature Apple adds in the future as display technology improves.
