Like Samsung's third-gen foldable, the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 has stylus support for the inner display, but does the cover display work with the S Pen? Since the Galaxy Note series was discontinued, the only Samsung phones with S Pen support include the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Looking at the aforementioned devices, it is expected that for the foreseeable future, only the Ultra model of the Galaxy S series and the Fold line of the Galaxy Z series will have S Pen support when it comes to smartphones. For tablets, the Galaxy Tab S series are likely to remain the only models with stylus support.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 marked the arrival of S Pen support for the Galaxy Z Fold line. For its first foldable smartphone with stylus support, Samsung had to design a special stylus, called the S Pen Fold Edition. However, this special S Pen (and the S Pen Pro) only work on the main folding display and not the cover display. The story is the same for the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 which supports the same styluses as its predecessor. According to the phone's product page, only the main display supports stylus input. This means those who pick up the optional S Pen can't use it to take down notes or doodle on the cover screen.
A Cost-Saving Decision?
It is not clear why Samsung decided not to support stylus input on the cover display of its foldable smartphones, but the decision doesn't come as much of a surprise. Samsung most likely sees the cover display as a secondary screen used for basic tasks, so it doesn't need to have the same bells and whistles as the main folding display. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4's cover display misses out on HDR10+ support and features a tall aspect ratio that isn't suited to watching video.
A plausible reason for Samsung's decision may be due to pricing. Adding stylus support to the cover display may drive up the cost of the phone given that the cover display and the main display use different technologies. There is a chance Samsung may add this feature eventually as there are instances where a user may need to use the stylus without unfolding the device. For example, writing a quick note or jotting down an idea are simple tasks that should not require having to unfold the device. Notwithstanding, buyers who intend to pick up the Galaxy Z Fold 4 should be aware that the cover display doesn't have S Pen support.
Source: Samsung