Next-Gen Apple Pencil Could Work on Any Surface

[MacRumors]

Apple has been granted a patent for a next-generation Apple Pencil that uses optical sensors to work across a wide range of surfaces, including devices such as the iPhone, MacBook Pro, and Apple Watch.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office this week granted Apple the filing (via Patently Apple), which is titled "Input Device With Optical Sensors." The patent describes a stylus equipped with advanced optical tracking systems capable of detecting movement, tilt, rotation, and position in three-dimensional space.

Unlike current models, the proposed Apple Pencil would not rely on interaction with a capacitive touchscreen. Instead, it would utilize sensors embedded in the Pencil itself to capture motion and translate it into digital input.

In one configuration, the tip of the Apple Pencil is described as being formed from a partially or fully transparent material, such as cover glass. This would allow light to pass through the tip to the target surface and back to the internal sensor system.

The Pencil would then analyze the light data to determine characteristics of the movement, including direction, speed, tilt angle, and rotational orientation, without requiring direct contact with a touch-sensitive display. The patent also outlines an alternative implementation using a trackball mechanism.

Beyond drawing, the patent envisions broader use cases. In addition to supporting sketching, writing, and gesture input, the Apple Pencil could act as a spatial controller for system-level actions. These include cursor manipulation, file navigation, audio controls, or initiating phone calls. The patent's illustrations depict the stylus in use with a variety of Apple products, including the iPad, MacBook Pro, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

At WWDC 2025, Apple showcased the Logitech Muse, a third-party spatial stylus developed for the Apple Vision Pro headset. The Muse allows users to draw in mid-air with precision, relying on spatial tracking rather than contact with a physical surface.

The Apple Pencil patent echoes similar design goals, hinting at potential in-house development of new input devices that extend beyond the iPad. Patent filings cannot be taken as evidence of Apple's immediate plans, but they do indicate areas of active research and interest for the company, as well as what it is considering developing for future devices.

Article Link: Next-Gen Apple Pencil Could Work on Any Surface

 

[breenmask]

will it work on...liquid glass?

 

[klasma]

But will it work on a Microsoft Surface?

 

[Reimulo]

cool. Another Apple Pencil is exactly what the iPad lineup needs

 

[svish]

Interesting. Not sure whether Apple will support Pencil on an iPhone. Maybe with the foldable iPhone coming next year, it can happen in a few years time.

 

[Taq'aix]

Can’t wait to use it with the AW. 🤡

 

[MayaUser]

"

Could Work on Any Surface"​

in the description "Apple Pencil that uses optical sensors to work across a wide range of surfaces"
so its on any or across a wide range?
So we are interested on the actual rumour/patent what is saying because it can be a big thing if its on any surfaces

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

Sounds like an Apple Pencil for the future Vision lineup.

 

[lovehateapple]

IMO it would be cool if you could use it on a desktop as a mouse replacement. It would need a right and left click as well as the ability to scroll though.

 

[GrassShark]

An Apple Pencil that could take notes to an iPhone app without having to write on an iPhone could be cool. It feels to hacky for an Apple product but it would be great to see the Apple Pencil be unshackled from the iPad.

 

[FridgeToaster]

They should make it work like a real pencil. you draw on paper and get the digital version of your drawing on iPad.

 

[mrr]

Please. Please. Please. Bring the Apple Pencil to the iPhone.

 

[MakaniKai]

They should make it work like a real pencil. you draw on paper and get the digital version of your drawing on iPad.

Beat me to it. I was gonna say the exact same thing, except that they should have a graphite/ink tip option where you literally are sketching on paper, and everything you do is saved digitally as you do it. For me, this would solve the issue of my pencil being so slippery on the screen that my handwriting looks awful. I really appreciate the friction that a piece of paper gives. Paperlike screens just don't do it for me.

I actually had a pen that would do something similar when I was a kid, called "Livescribe". I found this ebay photo of it:

It had a lot of interesting features. There was a camera in the tip of the pen that would look at miniscule dots printed onto the special notebook paper. It could use that to tell exactly where you were on the page, so you could draw things and then download them onto your computer later. It also had "buttons" on the page like you see in the image, so you could make audio recordings or even do math on the pen. For example, you could write "5 + 5 =" and the pen would display "10" on the screen. It was pretty neat!

This post really took me on a trip back in time

 

[Ravi_MR]

It would be nice to pair Apple Pencil to a computer directly..

 

[kirky29]

It would be nice if the Apple Pencil could actually swipe to go to the home screen.....

 

[ThailandToo]

I actually was wondering if the io Jonny Ive AI device was a pen that has connectivity, can write on surfaces and it knows what was written in ink (not new) or switches to stylus like writing for capable devices, but it also responds with AI summarizes notes, and can dictate to it or have it read information to you like Siri but way better. And connects to a smartphone. as far as Apple goes, I think the current Apple Pencil should work with iPhone and touchpad on Macs. Think signature and drawing.

 

[Sami13496]

I wonder how many iPad users actually use the Apple Pencil for a real, practical purpose? That is, not counting those who buy it out of curiosity, play around with it for a day, and then let it gather dust in a drawer.

 

[AdamHarbour]

“Would you like a £350 pencil to go with your £350 keyboard or will sir Just be taking the £2500 iPad ? “

 

[starlabjump]

sounds very good on macbook pro

I wonder how many iPad users actually use the Apple Pencil for a real, practical purpose? That is, not counting those who buy it out of curiosity, play around with it for a day, and then let it gather dust in a drawer.

Many college students take notes using ipad and pencil. Many!

 

[breather]

Sounds pretty cool tbh

 

[Michael0816]

If you can use it on (almost) any surface, then the real usefulness is in using it with the Vision Pro.
Wear it, write or draw something on the table, wall, whatever and it stays there until you erase it. Maybe you could use it to measure and mark something on a wall, without the need to draw on the wall for real? 🤔

 

[jnc]

cool. Another Apple Pencil is exactly what the iPad lineup needs

let me guess, you're not an artist

 

[jnc]

We've wanted an official MacBook touch for 20 years 🥲🥲🥲🥲 please. this will be close enough (if implementation is up to usual Apple standard)

 

[akbarali.ch]

cool. Another Apple Pencil is exactly what the iPad lineup needs

Seriously, i'm not happy. from single iphone model to having 3 pencil and now 4th pencil in line. I'm really not liking bloating of the product line.

Few days back a Colleague came and asked me which ipad to get, this is a clear failure. if a customer is confused and that to a customer who is working in a gaming VR field, then this is an utter failure of the clarity once Apple had with its product line where things were so clear as to what to buy.

after being a Apple customer since 2008, i myself keep comparing features as to which one to buy. BAD!

 

[klasma]

"

Could Work on Any Surface"​

in the description "Apple Pencil that uses optical sensors to work across a wide range of surfaces"
so its on any or across a wide range?
So we are interested on the actual rumour/patent what is saying because it can be a big thing if its on any surfaces

I’m pretty sure it won’t work on the surface of the sun. /s

The patent doesn’t specify limitations on the kinds of surfaces. The point it makes is that the surface doesn’t need to be touch-sensitive. But obviously, for the case when light is projected on the surface, the surface needs to reflect the light adequately. So a glass table for example might not work. For the trackball solution (where the light shines on the ball surface), the surface the ball rolls on will need to provide a suitable amount of friction.