Multiple
China’s (ever reliable) Economic Daily News has the scoop, revealing Apple has awarded a contract to Taiwanese stylus supplier Elan after deciding to make its premium iPhones compatible with the Apple Pencil. But one new model will miss out.
EDN states Apple’s second-generation iPhone X (details) and new iPhone X Plus (details) gain this functionality, 11 years after founder Steve Jobs ridiculed the use of a stylus with phones. That said, smartphones now sport displays of a similar size to those seen on tablets a decade ago, the idea is not so laughable.
In fact, with art, design and productivity software flourishing in mobile app form, Apple Pencil support has the potential to give iPhones a major sales differentiator given Samsung is seriously considering cancelling the Galaxy Note range.
The bad news is EDN says Apple will not bring Apple Pencil support to the (otherwise highly exciting) LCD-based iPhone 9 (details).
Interestingly, the EDN report comes just days after TrendForce leaked similar news along with major new iPhone specifications. Tim Cook also hinted that Apple Pencil support has been in development for some time, teasing last year: “If you’ve ever seen what can be created with that pencil on an iPad or an iPhone, it’s really unbelievable”.
Yes, this iPhone upgrade looks like a done deal. It is also set to be just the latest of a series of innovations Apple will bring to a rejuvenated iPhone range this year. The iPhone 9 (which I expect to simply be called ‘iPhone’), has groundbreaking display technology and dual sim support is widely touted.
But Apple’s real innovation in 2018 is set to be its pricing. Having steadily increased iPhone prices for over a decade, this year Apple will not only reduce them substantially but bundle long overdue features.
As such, Apple Pencil support might just be the icing on the cake…
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