There are reports that Samsung is working on adding a built-in S Pen to the Galaxy Z Fold series, just like it has done with the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra, but this may turn out to be a bad idea. Samsung supports the S Pen on a handful of flagships. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an inbuilt slot for the stylus, other products such as the Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 don't. The latter category of devices uses a different type of S Pen that is larger but also easier to hold when writing or sketching.
Samsung is expected to make some significant changes to the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5, including a redesigned hinge that reduces the crease in the main display. According to a recent report by ETNews, Samsung planned to add a silo for storing the S Pen to the upcoming foldable smartphone, but had to cancel the decision due to a hardware limitation caused by the new hinge. While this may have been a setback for Samsung, the brand could attempt to include this feature with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in 2024.
The S Pen Should Remain An Optional Feature
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 was the first model in the Galaxy Z Fold series to have stylus support. The specially made S Pen was optional, and buyers could purchase it along with a special case with a slot to store the stylus when not in use. The same applies to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. While some users may want the Galaxy Z Fold line to have a built-in stylus, there are others who are fine with its current state.
However, if Samsung moves forward with its plan to add a silo for the S Pen to future Galaxy Z Fold models, it will result in a number of tradeoffs. To begin with, the smartphone would have to become thicker and wider to accommodate the stylus, if the battery is retained at the current capacity. Samsung might also have to modify the thickness and length of the S Pen Fold Edition to fit into the device. For those who find the S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro more comfortable to write with, a slimmer pen will result in a sub-par experience.
Furthermore, adding a built-in S Pen is likely to raise the price of the device, as Samsung would not only have to redesign a new S Pen that works with its foldable smartphones, but also factor in the cost of additional components such as the special wireless charging required for the stylus. While an integrated S Pen for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold would ensure it can be stored safely, having optional S Pen support adds more versatility to the foldable phone.
Source: ETNews