Only one Apple Pencil works with the iPhone Duo, and it is the cheapest of the lot. According to a MacRumors hands-on, the USB-C Apple Pencil is the sole model supported by Apple's new foldable, while the Apple Pencil (1st generation), Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil Pro are all incompatible, even though they work with iPads.

Pairing and software

MacRumors reports that the USB-C Apple Pencil sells for $79 from Apple and can be found for around $69 at Amazon. Unlike the Apple Pencil Pro, which pairs magnetically with an iPad, the USB-C model has to be connected to the iPhone Duo with a USB-C cable to pair. The report adds that Pencil support arrives with iOS 27.2, which is currently in beta.

What it can do

Once paired, the Pencil is said to behave much as it does on an iPad, handling both writing and drawing. MacRumors notes that it works on both the inner and outer displays and that a palm rejection setting is available. The Pencil can be stored by attaching it magnetically to the Duo's hinge, but it does not charge there.

What is missing

Compared with the Apple Pencil Pro, the USB-C model lacks pressure sensitivity, the double-tap gesture and the squeeze gesture, according to the hands-on. That limits it mostly to basic note-taking and sketching rather than detailed illustration work.

Display wear

MacRumors says the Pencil tip can leave marks on the screen, but that a polishing cloth removes them and permanent damage is described as unlikely. For buyers who are worried, the publication cites Apple's cover layer replacement price: $19 with AppleCare+ or $49 without it.

The verdict

MacRumors concludes that the accessory could be worth buying for quick notes or sketches, but that it is less useful than on an iPad because the Duo's screen is smaller. The details come from a single outlet's testing, and the software side depends on iOS 27.2 still being in beta, so behavior may change before the final release.

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