notion : Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 Ultra last week , but rather than focus on the redesign , Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy power or the new AI features of the flagship , most are focusing on what itdoesn’thave .

More specifically , much of the drama surrounds theS25 Ultra ’s accompanying S Pen – a raw material of the Galaxy Ultra experience since its creation back on theSamsung Galaxy S22 Ultra . Unlike previous looping of S Pen , however , the S25 Ultra ’s stylus does n’t volunteer Bluetooth connectivity .

That might not vocalize like a big heap on the aerofoil – why would you need Bluetooth to write notes and draw ? Well , you do n’t . Instead , it power some of the S Pen ’s subaltern – but still fairly popular – functionality .

Essentially , with a Bluetooth connection , the S Pen could double up as a remote camera shutter , allowing you to trigger the camera with the push on the side of the stylus , as well as control slides in presentations in the Galaxy ’s DeX mode .

It also power the S Pen ’s Air Gesture functionality , which provide users to draw shapes in the air to spark action on the phone , like opening the camera or start a new note .

You might say that these are niche features , and I ’d be inclined to agree , but the amount of backlash from consecrate Samsung fans over the retiring week has seemingly forced Samsung on the back metrical foot , with the company confirming that it ’ll sell a Bluetooth - power S Pen for the S25 Ultra , though it has n’t said when it ’ll go on sale or for how much .

Why the change?

The query is , why did Samsung change the S Pen formula at all ? It could ’ve been a simple cost - cutting recitation , but it could also be because Samsung require to slowly edge the top - destruction flagship off from the S Pen tout ensemble .

While I ’d be saddened to see a flagship sound recede one of its USPs , I would n’t betoosurprised if that ’s the route that Samsung has chosen to fall out . Why ? Despite propose a big 6.9 - column inch sail for writing with the S25 Ultra , I ca n’t say that the note - taking experience is ideal .

I recall it ’s mainly the fact that the S25 Ultra remains a fairly narrow-minded gimmick compared to tablet option like theiPad mini , which allows for a roomier experience when writing line . Combined with my large handwriting , I ca n’t really indite all that much on the blind before ask to scroll down to make more room , and that quickly becomes slow .

It ’s also significant to consider that the S Pen first started life with the Galaxy Note range of mountains at a metre before pad and stylus combinations were quite as abundant as they are in 2025 .

today , you ’ve not only got Samsung ’s own S Pen andTab S10 Ultracombination , but you ’ve got the Apple Pencil andiPadcombo , the Stylio 2 andOnePlus Pad 2and agency more – and with bigger screen and more ergonomic stylus ’ , the committal to writing and doodling experience iswaybetter than what you ’ll get from a comparatively small - screen machine like the S25 Ultra .

Then there are devices like theRemarkable 2andAmazon Kindle Scribethat better emulate the pen - to - paper experience with lustrelessness - conclusion displays and E - Ink presentation technical school .

With all these choice now readily uncommitted to consumers who are serious about note - pickings and digital design , is there still a point in the S Pen ?

If anything , it ’d make room more sense for the S Pen to migrate from the Galaxy Ultra to Samsung ’s great - screen Z Fold collection . With a large , squared - off internal 7.6 - inch panel , it ’s way bigger and arguably better suited to foresighted - form note - pickings and digital creation than the S25 Ultra ’s screen .

With that all in mind , it seems like we could see the S Pen go the fashion of the Dodo in the next duad of twelvemonth – where the Galaxy Ultra is concerned , anyway .