Apple Pencil Turns the iPhone Duo Into a Notebook

The iPhone Duo is the first iPhone to support the Apple Pencil, giving the foldable phone another use as a digital notebook. The USB-C Apple Pencil has no pressure sensitivity, but it supports handwriting input that can be converted to text in apps such as Messages and Safari.

In a hands-on report for The Verge, Allison Johnson describes using the Pencil in the Notes app and testing apps designed for stylus input. Notes can automatically refine handwriting after a short pause, though Johnson says the feature sometimes misread her writing and could interrupt her flow. She found it useful for tasks such as making a grocery list.

Johnson also tried TypeDraw, a $4.99 one-time purchase optimized for the Duo. The app makes the cover screen look like a notebook cover; users can swipe there to turn a page or open the phone. It supports one notebook and creates a table of contents from note headings, but does not offer tags or links between notes.

Johnson says the Pencil moves across the Duo’s matte inner screen with more resistance than on the cover display. It can also attach magnetically to the hinge when the phone is closed, though the Pencil is longer than the phone. She concludes that the notebook setup was enjoyable, while noting that few apps are ready for the new stylus support.