Apple released iOS 27.2 on Monday, and it adds Apple Pencil support to the $1,999 iPhone Duo. MacRumors’ rundown of the update says the Duo now works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C). Apple only promised the feature “later this year” when it unveiled the foldable bar in September.
If you own a Duo, you can now update under Settings, then General, then Software Update. You have to buy the pencil separately.
Only one Apple Pencil works
The Duo only works with the USB-C model, which costs $79. The more expensive Apple Pencil Pro, which sells for $129, doesn’t work. MacRumors reported the limit before the duo went on sale, and the update doesn’t change it. PhoneArena’s coverage says the stylus works on both the outer and inner screens, so you can write on the small cover display or the large fold out one.
The USB-C pen is the simpler of the two. It boasts features like the top of the barrel for shortcuts and a tap on the side for switching tools. It also charges and pairs through a cable rather than clipping to the side of a device. Apple did not say why it chose this model. However, if we had to guess, it’s probably because the Duo probably doesn’t have a magnetic surface to hold and charge the Pencil Pro, which would explain the limit.
The cheaper pencil should still be able to sketch, handwrite, mark up photos and sign documents, which is what most people want a stylus for anyway.
What else is in iOS 27.2
The update does more than add a stylus. Edge Light is a new option that illuminates your face during video calls on the Duo. Apple’s Siri AI, which only works on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, now understands French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. It can also remember details of previous conversations.
Messages now suggests actions based on what you read, such as tracking a package or adding an invitation to your calendar. Apple Music has a new black and white icon. The redesigned Health app that some people expected is not part of this release. The update also fixes more than 160 security issues, which is a good reason to install it quickly, even if you never pick up a pencil.