No, Chinese Foldables Don’t Have S Pen — It’s Different

Samsung’s decision to remove S Pen support from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 hasn’t gone down well with many users. For years, the S Pen has been a defining feature of the company’s productivity-focused devices like the Fold series foldables, where the stylus transformed the large inner screen into a canvas for creativity and multitasking. So when Samsung dropped it in favor of a slimmer, lighter design, it naturally sparked disappointment.

Some critics argue that rival foldables, like the Oppo Find N5, manage to include stylus support without compromising on dimensions. And on paper, they have a point. The Find N5 is just as slim as the Fold 7 and supports pen input. But here’s where the surface comparisons fall apart: Samsung’s S Pen is fundamentally different from the kind of stylus you get on many competing devices, not just in name, but in experience.

Samsung’s S Pen is a more refined accessory

What sets Samsung’s S Pen apart is the technology behind it. Samsung uses an EMR (electromagnetic resonance) system, which requires a dedicated digitizer embedded beneath the screen. This adds a bit of thickness and weight to the phone, yes — but in return, you get near-zero latency, pinpoint accuracy, pressure sensitivity, and a writing experience that genuinely feels like pen on paper.

The S Pen Fold Edition is even more specialized. It features a thicker tip and a retractable mechanism to protect the foldable display, giving users an experience that’s both premium and safe for the delicate inner screen. It’s been fine-tuned over years of development, not just slapped on for checkbox appeal.

Compare that to Oppo’s stylus on the Find N5. While it technically supports stylus input, the experience is far less impressive. It suffers from noticeable latency, poor responsiveness, and a lack of precision — issues that become especially frustrating for anyone trying to sketch with accuracy. For casual use, it may pass. But for a flagship-level experience? It falls short.

Samsung is exploring a new way for its stylus

To build the thinnest and lightest Fold yet, Samsung had to make difficult choices, and removing the digitizer was one of them. Without it, S Pen support had to go. But the company isn’t abandoning the stylus altogether. It is actively working on a new generation of S Pen technology that doesn’t require a digitizer or a built-in battery. If successful, this could enable the return of stylus support without compromising the Fold’s dimensions.

Until the new stylus is ready, Samsung could temporarily remove S Pen support across its products as it transitions toward this digitizer-free future. If that’s the case, expect the stylus to return in dramatic fashion, potentially making for a headline-grabbing Unpacked moment a few years down the line.