Does the Galaxy Tab S5e come with a stylus in the box?
Best answer: No. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e does not come with a stylus. However, you can get one through a third-party manufacturer if you want.
- Best Stylus: Adonit Dash 3 ($38 at Amazon)
- Samsung's "budget" tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e ($398 at Amazon)
- Get the S Pen support: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 ($530 at Amazon)
Can I use an S Pen?
While many of Samsung's products utilize its S Pen — such as its latest crop of Galaxy phones — that's not the case with the Galaxy Tab 5e.
Samsung opted to not include support for its own S Pen, leaving that for the Galaxy Note smartphones and the supposed Galaxy Tab S5. There's no support coming in the future due to the type of display (capacitive touchscreen) that's included. The likely reason for this is to help keep the price of the Tab S5e down, as it comes in at just under $400.
Luckily, there are plenty of other stylus options available, even if they don't come directly from Samsung. Third-party options like the Adonit Dash 3 allow you to save some money as well.
Is Samsung's Tab S5e the Galaxy Tab S4 successor?
Back in February, Samsung announced its latest tablet with the Galaxy Tab S5e. The company confirmed later that it would be coming to the U.S., leaving some of us to wonder whether this was the successor to the Galaxy Tab S4.
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Unfortunately, it seems that is not the case, despite many impressive specs that would lead you to believe otherwise. The Tab S5e sports a roomy 10.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1600, along with a beefy 7,040mAh battery.
This tablet also includes support for Samsung DeX, while being powered by Android 9 Pie with Samsung's One UI. However, there is one glaring omission when compared to the Galaxy Tab S4: that S Pen support! However, you can buy a full-sized keyboard attachment if you want to do some writing, although it'll cost you extra.
Our pick
One of the most versatile stylus options
The Adonit Dash 3 comes from a trusted brand in the stylus market and is one of the best options available. Adonit includes a 1.9mm tip to help create the illusion of writing on paper, and the included carrying clip will ensure it never gets lost.
A value tablet
Fantastic value, despite the lack of S Pen support
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is a flagship tablet in every respect except for one. There is a sizeable 7,040mAh battery, Android 9 Pie, and a gorgeous OLED display. The lack of S Pen support will leave some frustrated to an extent, but you can still pre-order.
Get the S Pen support
If you want the power of the S Pen, get the Tab S4
Currently, the Galaxy Tab S4 is the "top of the line" tablet offering from Samsung. The company has included all of the bells and whistles, including DeX support, along with including the ultra-valuable S Pen. The Pen provides quite a few more features when compared to using another tablet with a standard stylus.
Some other stylus choices
AmazonBasics Executive Stylus (3-pack) ($19 at Amazon)
Amazon has its own branded accessories under "AmazonBasics" and this three-pack of "Executive" styluses will help you get the job done with the Tab S5e. Plus, with three in the pack, losing one won't mean the end of the world.
Digiroot Universal Stylus ($11 at Amazon)
Perhaps the most interesting pick is the Digiroot Universal Stylus thanks to the fact there are nine different tips included in the pack. These tips range from ultra-thin at 0.24 inches all the way to 0.35 inches, so you can be sure that there is a tip for every situation.
Musemee Notier V2 ($13 at Amazon)
The Notier V2 from Musemee is a familiar-looking stylus with a clear disc at the bottom to ensure that your selections are accurate. Plus, there's an included cap, so you won't lose it when it's time to pack up for the day.
Studio Neat Cosmonaut ($25 at Amazon)
At first glance, the Studio Neat Cosmonaut may look like a child's toy or an over-sized crayon, but it's much more than that. This stylus works with any app, and any device, including the Galaxy Tab S5e, and is great for sketching, writing, or anything else you can throw at it.
Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is collecting different headphones, even if they all end up in the same drawer.