The S Pen has finally come to the Galaxy S21 — here's how it works

Samsung Galaxy S21 Spen Case Source: Android Central

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series has landed, ushering in the next generation of Samsung flagships. There's a lot to talk about with these new phones, but above all else, one of the most exciting talking points is something we never thought we'd see on a Galaxy S — the S Pen.

That's right. After years of being exclusive to Galaxy Note devices, Samsung has finally brought the S Pen to the Galaxy S21. The implementation is mostly what we've come to expect, but there are a few key differences you'll want to keep in mind. Let's break it all down.

Compatibility

Source: Android Central

The addition of the S Pen to the Galaxy S lineup is a big deal, but at least with this current implementation, it is a bit limited. Only the Galaxy S21 Ultra is compatible with the S Pen, meaning it won't work with the baseline S21 or S21+.

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It makes sense for Samsung to limit such a radical new feature to its Ultra offering for this first time around, and on top of that, it helps keep costs down even more for the S21 and S21+.

We'd ideally like to see S Pen support expand to the entire Galaxy S family with the S22, S23, and so on, but at least for right now, you'll need to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra if you want this experience.

Design

Source: Android Central

If you've ever used an S Pen with a Galaxy Note, you'll be right at home with the S21 Ultra's S Pen. It's slightly larger than previous iterations of the stylus, but it's still very compact and comfortable to hold. Also similar to previous models, this S Pen still has a physical side button.

Perhaps the biggest change to the S Pen's design is how it's stored when you aren't using it. There's no built-in slot on the S21 Ultra for hiding the S Pen inside of it, meaning you'll need to buy a special case from Samsung for easy storage.

That's a lot less convenient than the experience we're used to from the Galaxy Note, but it's also a good compromise to cater to both audiences. If you don't care about using the S Pen, you can ignore it completely and never have to think about it. If you do want the S Pen, you can use it like normal and store it on the S21 Ultra with a case. It may not be perfect, but Samsung didn't have a lot of other options here without completely transforming the S21 Ultra into a full-on Note.

Features

Source: Android Central

In regards to how you can use the S21 Ultra's S Pen, it's mostly what you'd expect. You can take handwritten notes, draw/doodle, annotate documents, navigate the user interface, and more.

Unfortunately, this S Pen doesn't offer any of the remote/Bluetooth functionality that we've had since the Galaxy Note 9. This means you won't be able to use the S Pen to remotely open the camera app, control music playback, etc.

That is a downside if you were a fan of those extra features, but when it comes to the core S Pen experience, it's on full display with the S21 Ultra.

Price

Source: Android Central

Here's where things get a bit controversial — you'll need to pay up for this year's S Pen. Despite costing a hefty $1,199, the Galaxy S21 Ultra does not come with the S Pen for free. Instead, you'll need to buy it as an optional accessory for $39.99.

Furthermore, Samsung's first-party cases with slots for the S Pen retail for another $69.99. In other words, if you were to buy the S Pen and a case to go with it, you'd be shelling out another $110 on top of what you already spent for the S21 Ultra. That's in addition to other top accessories like a good screen protector.