Please don't kill the S-Pen

[tedb04]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but there have been a number of tech-news articles swirling around rumors that Samsung won't include the necessary digitizer for the S-Pen in future Ultra models. Seeing that it's already killed off with the Fold series, this seems to lend credibility that Samsung may be considering this. Please don't do it! I have a S21 Ultra, and originally planned to upgrade to the Z fold 7, until I saw that there's no S-Pen support. I'm planning to hold out until the S26 Ultra, it would be very disappoint if S-Pen support is dropped from that model as well - I feel like the S-Pen is a major differentiator from competitor phones, and enhances my productivity!

I'm happy with the way the S-Pen works with my S21 Ultra, if it needs to be carried externally in the case to make room for a battery, that's fine!

[bmw3567]

This is giving me flashbacks to when they removed SD storage and then killed the Note series.

It great having the S pen built-in for signing documents and drawing. It's a unique feature that makes Samsung special. I have no problem paying a little more to have the pen built-in. My tablet does not have a pen slot, so I almost never use it because I never have it nearby when I need it.

[tedb04]

I agree! I was a Note user as well!

[LiftedNinja]

I've had Notes forever. They killed them and now im ok with the folds. But now they take our pens.. Seems like they hate us Note users.

[VerbumVeritum]

The Note line was effectively transitioned to Ultra models with the S21 series (fully with the integrated S Pen of the S22 Ultra). There is certainly no way around it though; the S Pen takes up a large amount of real estate within the phone. The rumors may be right, Samsung could be testing out how users feel about the removal of Bluetooth, and then eventually dropping the S Pen in favor more feature upgrades - including battery. Removing the digitizer layer (as was done with the Fold 7) has seen a dramatic reduction in thickness, which it seems to be the direction the market is headed. More Bluetooth gestures from the S Pen will assuredly make their way to new iterations of the Galaxy Ring.

[tedb04]

That was the gist of the articles I was seeing that made me post this. I didn't miss the Bluetooth remote features, but being able to write on the screen is a big deal to me. I use the S-pen to write on my S21 Ultra quite a bit, and am happy with the thickness of that phone. In my opinion, Samsung should make the S26 Plus the thin phone and keep the S26 Ultra loaded with features including upgraded cameras and the S-pen digitizer. To make room for more battery, I'm fine with the S-Pen being stored in an external case (that's the way it is with my S21 Ultra), but no need for it to be thinner, it's supposed to be a powerhouse!

[LiftedNinja]

Right but the spen is being fazed out is what I was saying. I don't care about the bluetooth or the thinness. I used the pen for art or editing or typing easier than with my big thumbs. I'll never wear a ring from samsung lol

[VerbumVeritum]

I don't think it's necessarily being phased out, but Samsung is probably considering it. Unfortunately, it's hard to predict the path forward they're going to finalize on. I really appreciate the S Pen and hope it stays. With new battery technologies, there should be a happy balance between space and practical functionality.

[Haughk]

I don't use the spen a ton but I like having the option for when I do need it. There are a few things I use it for that I can't do any other way.
I usually upgrade my phone every year or two at the most but I've skipped the s24 ultra and s25 ultra because I couldn't justify spending money for a phone that wasn't really and upgrade over my s23 ultra. I've been buying Samsung sine the s3 and have put up with them taking away alot of features I didn't want to lose. But the spen I think will be the nail in the coffin for me. That's what will push me to becoming a Chinese phone customer. I won't keep giving my money to samsung.

[Mujibar]

I also didn't upgrade my S23U for the same reasons (I actually tried a 25U for a week and returned it). I got a OnePlus 13 around Memorial Day and haven't regretted it for a second!