Apple Plans New Apple Pencils, Expands iPhone Tap to Pay in Stores: Report – Firstpost
Apart from the expected launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra in September, Apple is reportedly planning to unveil several new products during the first half of next year. According to the latest edition of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter by Mark Gurman, the company is preparing to launch a new lineup of Apple Pencil styluses alongside its next-generation iPad Pro models.
Gurman also reports that a redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro and refreshed iPad Pro models are expected to debut around spring next year. Accompanying the new iPads, Apple is also said to be introducing updated Apple Pencil styluses.
According to the report, Apple is developing two new Pencil variants. One, codenamed B582, is expected to be an updated version of the entry-level Apple Pencil, while the other, B632, will reportedly be a refreshed version of the Apple Pencil Pro, which was first introduced alongside the M4 iPad Pro in 2024.
Gurman adds that Apple is redesigning the styluses as part of its broader efforts to comply with the European Union’s repairability requirements. The new Apple Pencils are expected to feature more easily replaceable batteries—a significant improvement over the current-generation models, which are glued together and notoriously difficult to repair.
Apple Stores to phase out dedicated payment terminals
Apple has also been gradually replacing its customised Isaac payment terminals in retail stores with standard iPhones that support the company’s Tap to Pay feature. Customers visiting Apple Stores may have already noticed employees using what appear to be regular iPhone 14 models to process payments, although many locations still continue to rely on older devices fitted with Bluetooth card readers.
According to the report, the transition has been slowed by limitations in the iPhone 14’s Tap to Pay system, which has occasionally struggled to reliably process payments made using certain metal credit cards, including premium offerings from American Express and Chase.
Apple is now said to have resolved those issues with the iPhone 16, allowing the company to phase out the specialised payment terminals. Over the coming days and weeks, more Apple Store employees are expected to receive iPhone 16 devices, enabling customers to complete transactions simply by tapping their payment card directly on the phone, eliminating the need for an external card reader.
