Samsung may remove the S Pen for a bigger battery - but it’s hesitating

Samsung has already removed Bluetooth from the S Pen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and now there are internal discussions about dropping the stylus entirely in next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra. The goal? Free up space to fit a larger battery - a move many users would welcome.

Still, the company isn’t rushing into the decision. The S Pen has become a signature feature of Samsung’s Ultra lineup, and removing it could spark backlash. Even the removal of Bluetooth drew heavy criticism, despite Samsung’s claim that few people actually used the feature. Eliminating the pen completely could push loyal users away.

A better solution would be to adopt denser battery technologies or stop chasing ultra-thin phone designs. Both would improve battery life without sacrificing core features. But Samsung and Apple continue to prioritize aesthetics, as seen in the Galaxy S25 Edge and the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

No other smartphone brand has made a stylus as iconic as Samsung’s. The closest alternative is the Moto G Stylus - and it’s not even in the same league. If Samsung kills off the S Pen, it risks losing a defining part of its identity with little to gain.