Samsung’s S Pen has been a defining feature of its Ultra phones for years. However, recent releases have seen some of its more advanced features removed, shifting it from an active stylus to a more basic writing tool. Earlier this year, a report claimed that Samsung was planning to switch to a new technology for future S Pens, which could bring back some of those capabilities, but a new report suggests they may not return with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Why is Samsung sticking with the current S Pen tech?
According to ETNews, Samsung tested a new stylus system for the Galaxy S27 Ultra but ultimately decided not to use it. The company explored alternatives to its long-running Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) system, which requires a digitizer layer inside the display.
The alternative is an Active Electrostatic (AES) based system, which removes the need for a digitizer and shifts the power requirement into the stylus itself. That meant adding a battery to the S Pen, which would make it thicker.
Samsung reportedly developed a hybrid solution that combines the best of both systems while eliminating the need for both a battery and a digitizer. However, this new tech appears to have been postponed, and the report does not clarify why.
As such, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to stick with the existing S Pen setup, prioritizing reliability over the new technology and advanced features.
What does this mean for future S Pen upgrades?
The decision signals that Samsung is not ready to rush major changes to one of the most recognizable features on its flagship smartphone. The S Pen remains deeply integrated into the Ultra models, and any compromise in usability could risk turning away long-time users.
At the same time, the company is clearly still working on next-gen stylus tech. The goal appears to be a thinner phone without sacrificing the S Pen experience, something that has proven difficult so far. Therefore, while meaningful S Pen upgrades may still be in the pipeline, they may not arrive with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.