Samsung may drop S Pen support from future devices: Report

Samsung recently unveiled its latest range of foldable smartphones – Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 and all-new Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. One of the key changes that the new Fold 7 phone comes with is the missing S Pen stylus. Once a key selling point for Samsung’s flagship devices—particularly the Galaxy Note series—the S Pen appears to be getting less priority in recent launches, including the latest foldables and tablets. Is Samsung gradually phasing out its long-running S Pen stylus across its smartphone and tablet lineup? A report by 9to5Google says “things aren’t quite as positive as they seem. Over the past seven months, Samsung has pretty clearly deprioritized the S Pen in its lineup, removing features deemed unpopular before”.As mentioned before, one of the most notable changes that comes with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone, is the absence of the S Pen. For the first time, the device lacks the internal hardware needed for S Pen input. According to the report, Samsung removed the digitizer from both sides of the Fold 7’s display to achieve a slimmer design. This move saved about 0.6mm in thickness but at the cost of full stylus support.“Right now, that appears to be a focus on thinner, lighter devices that simply don’t mesh with the size constraints needed for a stylus,” the report states.While earlier Fold models like the Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 4 supported the S Pen, even if only with an external accessory, the Z Fold 7 offers no such compatibility. However, the report suggests that Samsung has not ruled out bringing back stylus support in future foldables, but that would require both a technical redesign and significant user demand.In another shift, the Galaxy S25 Ultra still includes a built-in S Pen, but it no longer supports Bluetooth features. This means users can no longer access remote-control functions like Air Command or camera shutter control. Samsung has said less than 1% of users used those functions, which led to the removal.Although some rumors hinted at a separate, Bluetooth-enabled S Pen being sold as an optional accessory, the final device shipped with a more basic version. The report notes that while the S Pen is lighter without a battery, its functionality is now limited.Leaked images of the upcoming Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra suggest further changes in Samsung’s stylus strategy. The renders reportedly show no back-mounted magnetic charging area for the S Pen, which could indicate the removal of Bluetooth support from the tablet stylus as well. It remains unclear whether the S Pen will attach magnetically elsewhere on the device or if it will be sold separately.