Apple Pencil to Gain Arabic Calligraphy Tool in iPadOS 19

Apple will introduce a new calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users that will allow them to digitally write in Arabic script, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Nineth iOS 19 Feature
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple plans to offer a "highly advanced bi-directional keyboard" for moving between Arabic and English on iPhones and iPads, alongside a "virtual reed calligraphy pen" for Apple Pencil users on iPad.

Gurman said that the two upcoming new features, expected to arrive in iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, "play into Apple's ambitions for the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and India," where the company has been recently expanding its retail footprint.

Gurman has previously reported on a few other features coming with iOS 19, including battery optimization powered by AI and cross-device sharing of public captive Wi-Fi network details.

Apple in iOS 19 will update the style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons, with plans to simplify navigation and control. Gurman has described the design change as the biggest update to iOS since iOS 7. Apple is expected to preview the new software updates at WWDC, which takes place June 9-13 this year.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

MacBH928 Avatar
10 months ago
RTL caligraphy will serve about 400M Arab + 90 million Farsi speakers in Iran + 250 million between afghanistan and Pakistan= about $750 million people
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan91 Avatar
10 months ago
Any chance the keyboard can also gain better autocorrect and a number row on top, too? ?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hajj.david Avatar
10 months ago

The middle eastern market might not be huge when it comes to population, but sure it’s thee market that can afford to purchase an iPhone each year. Gold plated.
Its close to 500 million how is that not huge? Its more populous then the EU and the USA
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacBH928 Avatar
10 months ago

The middle eastern market might not be huge when it comes to population, but sure it’s thee market that can afford to purchase an iPhone each year. Gold plated.
along with Iran, the middle east population is pushing 500 million. equivalent to half of europe , 1.5x usa and 5x japan
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrr Avatar
10 months ago
Would love to see the Apple Pencil come to the iPhone.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliApple Avatar
10 months ago

battery optimization powered by AI ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/12/ios-19-ai-battery-management/')
Huh? Don't LLM's take up a ton of battery???
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)