Apple is exploring new possibilities with its stylus. A recent patent reveals an Apple Pencil with trackball tip that could work without a touchscreen. This innovative design includes optical sensors to allow drawing on any surface.
Currently, the Apple Pencil Pro, launched in May 2024, is the company’s most advanced stylus. It features haptic feedback, a squeeze function, and a built-in gyroscope. But it still requires a touch-sensitive display to function.
The new patent, spotted by Patently Apple, shows Apple’s work on a stylus that could draw on tables, walls, or even paper. The stylus would use a trackball tip with two optical sensors placed above it. These sensors include an optical flow sensor and possibly a laser speckle flow sensor.
The sensors would track movement and light variations across any surface. They could also detect how the stylus moves in space, measuring position, direction, and speed. This would allow precise input even on non-digital surfaces.
If Apple develops this technology, it would mark a big step beyond the current Apple Pencil Pro. The Apple Pencil with trackball tip could be ideal for artists, designers, or students who want to work beyond the screen.
This innovation could also offer accessibility benefits and flexibility in creative workflows. There’s no confirmation on when or if Apple will release this stylus, but the potential is exciting.
As Apple continues to push boundaries, the Apple Pencil with trackball tip might redefine how we interact with digital content across all surfaces.
