Apple Pencil support for the iPhone Duo is switched on in the iOS 27.2 Release Candidate. Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach says the USB-C Pencil started working on his Duo once he installed the RC.
That points to Pencil support reaching all owners with the public iOS 27.2 release. MacRumors and 9to5Mac expect that update next week, while Apple itself has only said the feature is coming later this year. Our September report said the Duo would launch without Pencil support. This is the first sign of when that changes.
What iPhone Duo Apple Pencil support covers
According to MacRumors, the USB-C Apple Pencil can draw, annotate and scroll in supported apps. It works on both the Duo’s inner display and its outer screen.
Weinbach shared the finding in a post on X, which MacRumors and 9to5Mac both picked up. Apple released the iOS 27.2 Release Candidate to testers earlier this week.
Apple’s own iPhone Duo FAQ already lists Apple Pencil (USB-C) as compatible, marked as coming later this year with no date. 9to5Mac notes that Apple gave the same timing when it unveiled the Duo in September.
A pitched feature, arriving late
Pencil support was part of Apple’s pitch for the Duo, yet it misses the phone’s launch. It’s arriving as a software update instead. The Pencil itself is also a separate purchase. Apple reportedly scrapped a custom Duo Pencil along the way, as our earlier report explained.
For a phone at this price, launching without an advertised feature is a poor look. The good news for buyers is that the wait now looks short.
Reachability is also on the way, per Wired
Wired’s review says Apple plans to add Reachability to the Duo later this year. The feature would let you reach the far left or right edges of the screen with a tap. MacRumors points out that Wired didn’t say which display it covers.
Treat Reachability as Wired’s report until Apple confirms it. For a broader look at how the phone holds up, see our roundup of iPhone Duo reviews.
