Samsung has long been the undisputed leader when it comes to smartphones that support a stylus, particularly with its S Pen. The S Pen has become a signature feature of the Galaxy Ultra series, and its integration has been especially evident in the Galaxy S Ultra flagships. This started with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which essentially became the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note by combining the best of both lineups.
However, recent changes in the Galaxy S25 Ultra have raised concerns that the S Pen may be on its way out. Notably, Samsung removed key features from the S Pen, including Bluetooth and the gyroscope, both of which were introduced in the 2018 model. These features were a major selling point for the stylus, allowing users to take remote photos, control presentations, and more. The removal of these features has led to speculation that the S Pen might soon be discontinued entirely.
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A Weak Argument for Removing Features
Samsung justifies the removal of these features by citing its own survey, which claims that only 1% of Galaxy owners actually use the Bluetooth and gyroscope capabilities of the S Pen. At first glance, this might seem like a reasonable justification for cutting those features. But in reality, the argument doesn’t hold up well for a few reasons:
- 1% is still a significant number. Even if only 1% of Galaxy users are taking advantage of the extra features, that’s still hundreds of thousands of people. It’s hard to justify removing features that some people actively use.
- The S Pen as a remote shutter: The Bluetooth functionality of the S Pen has been a key feature for remote shutter control for photos. Samsung seems to be pushing users towards using their Galaxy Watch for that purpose instead, but not everyone wants to wear a smartwatch just to take a picture.
- No compensation for the loss of Bluetooth: Samsung hasn’t added anything to compensate for the lack of Bluetooth functionality, leaving users who relied on it for remote actions disappointed.
The S Pen: Still Useful, but the Future is Uncertain
Despite these setbacks, the S Pen remains a powerful stylus with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, offering a variety of productivity options for users. It still opens up many possibilities for note-taking, drawing, and precise navigation on the device. The stylus, even without Bluetooth, continues to be a useful tool for those who appreciate the fine control it offers.
However, the downgrading of the S Pen raises questions about its future. The removal of key features is typically a warning sign that a product may be on its way out, and many are concerned that this could be the beginning of the end for the S Pen in future Galaxy models.
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If the current trend continues, we could see the S Pen completely phased out by next year. The Galaxy S26 Ultra could potentially be the first flagship to launch without any support for the S Pen. Samsung may justify this by optimizing the battery or making internal component improvements, eliminating the need for a stylus altogether.
Alternatively, Samsung could be planning something new. There is speculation that the company might introduce a standalone S Pen that could work across a broader range of devices, not just limited to the Galaxy Ultra series. This would allow for the creation of special cases with dedicated S Pen holsters, opening up new revenue streams for Samsung. While this could lead to greater profitability, it would also likely leave S Pen loyalists disappointed, especially those who appreciate the integration of Bluetooth features.