Apple could be developing a stylus to launch alongside its long-rumoured 12.9″ “iPad Pro”, AppleInsider has reported.AppleInsider cites a report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in which Kuo states he believes Apple will launch the stylus in the second quarter of the year as an optional add-on to compliment the iPad Pro.
Among Apple’s competitors, Samsung, for one, offers a stylus in the form of the S Pen with its flagship Galaxy Note 4 phablet.
“Given that it’s more precise than a person’s fingers, a stylus can be more convenient to use than the combination of keyboard and mouse in some cases,” AppleInsider reports Kuo as writing. “Therefore, we believe Apple’s stylus will improve the user experience of 12.9-inch iPad.”
According to the report, Kuo does not cite any particular source for the rumour outside of Apple’s own patent filings, while he further believes Apple will gradually add new features to the stylus, with 3D handwriting to be enabled in future models.
“The addition of a gyroscope accelerometer to a stylus allows users to write not only on the display, but also on other hard surfaces and even in the air,” AppleInsider reports Kuo as writing.
“While this is a fantastic application for a stylus, we think the required software and hardware is not fully developed yet. Hence, we don’t expect Apple’s stylus to support 3D handwriting in 2015.”
AppleInsider reported that Kuo further notes, while significant sales of an optional stylus are not expected in 2015, it “will likely help Apple develop specific customer groups such as the corporate sector and educational institutions”.
