by Juli Clover
The iPhone Duo is compatible with the Apple Pencil, if you have the right one. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera tested the Apple Pencil with the iPhone Duo to see if it's a useful tool to pick up.
If you already have an Apple Pencil 1, Apple Pencil 2, or Apple Pencil Pro to use with an iPad, you're going to be disappointed to hear they won't work with the iPhone Duo. The iPhone Duo only works with the Apple Pencil with USB-C, which is $79 from Apple, but you can get it from Amazon for $69.
The Apple Pencil Pro attaches to and pairs with iPads magnetically, but the iPhone Duo has to be paired with the USB-C Apple Pencil using a USB-C cable. Apple Pencil support is being added in iOS 27.2, which is available in beta right now.
Once paired, the Apple Pencil works with the iPhone Duo like it works with an iPad. You can write or draw, and there is a setting to turn on palm rejection. You can use the Apple Pencil on both the inner and outer displays. The Apple Pencil can attach magnetically to the Duo's hinge for storage, but it doesn't charge that way.
Compared with the Apple Pencil Pro, the USB-C Apple Pencil doesn't have pressure sensitivity, double-tap, or squeeze.
The Apple Pencil tip can leave lines on the Duo's display, but the lines wipe away with a polishing cloth. Permanent damage is unlikely, but Apple does have an iPhone Duo cover layer replacement option that's $19 if you have AppleCare+ and $49 if you don't.
If you want to take notes or make quick sketches with the iPhone Duo, the Apple Pencil with USB-C could be worth the cost, but it's not quite as useful as it is on an iPad due to the limited screen size.
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