The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the first folding phone to work with the S Pen — but does Samsung include the stylus with its $1,799 foldable? Going back to 2019 when the first Galaxy Fold launched, Samsung's done a good job bundling lots of freebies with its ultra-expensive handsets. Along with the device itself, the Galaxy Fold also came with a free case, USB cable, charging brick, and even a pair of Galaxy Buds. The Z Fold 2 also bundled a charging cable and brick, but it ditched the free earbuds and case in favor of a 'Galaxy Z Premier' concierge service.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung thinks it's created the most polished Fold so far. It's considerably more durable than past Fold releases, has a top-tier Snapdragon 888 processor, and there's even an under-display camera on the inside. On top of all that, the Z Fold 3 even works with the S Pen. The S Pen used to be a staple of the Galaxy Note series, but that appears to be a sentiment Samsung wants to change. S Pen support came to the Galaxy S family for the first time in January with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. With the Z Fold 3, Samsung now has another non-Note device that can use the S Pen without a hitch.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Specs

While S Pen support for the Z Fold 3 is exciting, it's important to note that it does not come with an S Pen in the box. Instead, Samsung is selling two Fold-specific S Pens that can be purchased as optional accessories. That's where devices like the S21 Ultra and Z Fold 3 are still distinctly different from the Note family. They're compatible with the S Pen if someone goes out and buys one, but that's not an experience available out of the box. This also means there's no way to store the S Pen inside of the Z Fold 3. To do that, Samsung is happy to sell an S Pen-compatible case.

An S Pen For The Z Fold 3 Starts At $50

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

If someone's interested in buying an S Pen for their Galaxy Z Fold 3, the cheapest option available is the S Pen Fold Edition. It looks a lot like other S Pens at first glance, but it has a more rounded (and retractable) tip designed to work on the Z Fold 3 without causing any damage to its display. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the physical button brings up the helpful Air Command menu, and users can hover the S Pen over the Z Fold 3's display to complete certain gestures (such as scrolling through long web pages). There aren't any Bluetooth features like past S Pens offered, but as a $50 accessory, the S Pen Fold Edition is likely the best option for most people.

The other option is the S Pen Pro — available for double the price at $100. It features the same retractable tip and 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, but it does include Bluetooth for a few extra benefits. For starters, the S Pen Pro can be used across any compatible Galaxy device. Just press the button on the S Pen Pro to connect via Bluetooth, and Samsung says users can "take notes on different screens as needed." This also enables people to use the S Pen Pro to copy something on one device and paste it on another. For example, someone could copy a photo on their Z Fold 3 and paste it on their Galaxy Tab S7. Samsung promises up to 16 days of battery life for the S Pen Pro, with USB-C charging taking 5o minutes to go from 0 - 100 percent.

Unless someone thinks they'll really benefit from Bluetooth support, it's probably best to pick up the S Pen Fold Edition. It offers a virtually identical writing experience, doesn't need to be charged, and is $50 cheaper. Especially when someone's already shelling out $1,799 for the Z Fold 3, picking up the non-Pro S Pen feels like the best way to go.

Next: Beats Studio Buds Review

Source: Samsung, (2)