Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) on both its inner and outer screens — though the stylus is an optional paid accessory that requires separate charging and cannot be stored inside the device. The support for the Apple Pencil is striking given that Apple co‑founder Steve Jobs famously mocked phone styluses.
The iPhone Duo shares the same short, wide form factor as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 but is noticeably thicker and substantially heavier than Samsung’s latest foldable. Apple used the extra space to add several additional layers to the screen, which make the display appear flatter and reduce the crease; an anti‑reflective matte coating at the top reportedly makes writing with the Apple Pencil feel similar to drawing on real paper.
Apple Pencil support highlights Samsung’s S Pen retreat
Samsung originally brought stylus support to the foldable category with S Pen compatibility on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in 2021, and that support continued through the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in 2024. To make its foldables thinner and lighter, Samsung removed S Pen support starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and neither model in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — supports the S Pen this year.
Despite having drawing and writing apps such as Samsung Notes and PENUP, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 models therefore do not make full use of their large screens for creativity and productivity in the way a device with stylus support can. Given Apple’s inclusion of Apple Pencil support and the screen changes in the iPhone Duo, Samsung can no longer rely on device thinness as the sole justification for excluding stylus support; users will likely be willing to accept a slightly thicker device in exchange for those features.
