The Galaxy Fold S Pen could return in a future Samsung foldable phone. Samsung has confirmed that it continues to explore new technology that could add stylus support without making its foldable devices noticeably thicker.

Samsung removed S Pen support when it redesigned its recent Galaxy Z Fold phones around a thinner and lighter body. However, the company has not abandoned the feature permanently.

Instead, Samsung wants to find a better balance between a slim design and the productivity benefits of the S Pen.

Is the Galaxy Fold S Pen Really Coming Back?

Samsung has not officially confirmed a new S Pen-compatible Galaxy Z Fold model. Nevertheless, a senior Samsung executive has made it clear that the company is still considering the feature.

HS Moon, Samsung’s Executive Vice President of Mobile Research and Development Hardware, said the company continues to explore technologies that could combine a digitizer and S Pen with a slimmer form factor.

Therefore, Samsung is not promising that the stylus will return with the next Galaxy Z Fold. However, the company is actively investigating how it could restore the feature in the future.

Why Did Samsung Remove S Pen Support?

Samsung introduced S Pen support to its book-style foldable phones several generations ago. The large internal display made the Galaxy Z Fold suitable for handwriting, drawing, document editing and detailed multitasking.

However, traditional S Pen support requires an additional digitizer layer beneath the display. That layer detects the stylus and translates its movements into digital input.

Although the system provides precise and responsive writing, it also occupies valuable internal space. Samsung removed the digitizer while developing thinner Galaxy Z Fold models.

As a result, the company reduced the thickness and weight of its foldables. On the other hand, users lost one of the lineup’s most useful productivity features.

Recent Galaxy Z Fold Phones Still Lack S Pen Support

Neither the Galaxy Z Fold 8 nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra supports Samsung’s stylus. Therefore, users cannot use a Fold Edition S Pen on their internal displays.

Samsung first removed the feature from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 while prioritising a slimmer design. The company continued the same approach with its following foldable generation.

Consequently, anyone who needs stylus support must use an older compatible Fold model, a Galaxy S Ultra phone or a supported Galaxy tablet.

How Samsung Could Restore the Galaxy Fold S Pen

Samsung needs to overcome a major engineering challenge before the Galaxy Fold S Pen can return.

The company must develop a system that offers accurate writing without adding too much thickness to the flexible display. Samsung could achieve this through a thinner digitizer, a redesigned stylus system or another method of detecting pen input.

Reports have previously suggested that Samsung has been developing a thinner digitizer for future foldable devices. However, the technology must offer reliable performance before Samsung can include it in a commercial phone.

A Thinner Digitizer

A redesigned digitizer could provide the most familiar experience. It may allow Samsung to retain the pressure sensitivity, accuracy and hover features associated with the S Pen.

However, the component would need to be considerably thinner than the system used in older Galaxy Z Fold phones.

An Active Stylus System

Samsung could also explore an active stylus that contains more of its technology inside the pen. Such an approach might reduce the hardware required beneath the foldable display.

Nevertheless, an active stylus may need charging. It could also behave differently from Samsung’s traditional battery-free S Pen.

New Foldable Display Materials

Samsung continues to develop stronger and thinner foldable display structures. Therefore, future improvements in display materials could create enough internal space for stylus hardware without increasing the phone’s overall thickness.

Meanwhile, Google continues refining Android for foldable devices through updates like Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1. Samsung typically incorporates these platform improvements into One UI, making future Galaxy Fold devices even more capable for productivity tasks.

Could the Galaxy Z Fold 9 Get S Pen Support?

Samsung has not confirmed S Pen support for the Galaxy Z Fold 9 or any other upcoming model.

Current statements only show that the company is exploring a possible return. Therefore, reports naming a particular device should be treated as speculation until Samsung announces official specifications.

Still, the Galaxy Z Fold 9 would be a logical candidate if the new digitizer technology becomes ready in time. Samsung may also reserve the feature for a wider, Ultra or productivity-focused foldable model.

For now, buyers should not assume that the next Fold will support the stylus.

Although the Galaxy Z Fold 8 focuses on a thinner design rather than stylus support, strong global demand proves that Samsung remains the leader in the premium foldable market. The possible return of the Galaxy Fold S Pen could make future Fold models even more attractive to productivity-focused buyers.

Why S Pen Support Matters on a Foldable Phone

The internal screen of a Galaxy Z Fold provides significantly more working space than a standard smartphone display. As a result, it is well suited to stylus-based tasks.

The Galaxy Fold S Pen could improve several everyday activities:

• Writing handwritten notes
• Signing and editing documents
• Drawing and digital illustration
• Annotating screenshots
• Editing photos with greater precision
• Selecting small interface elements
• Using split-screen productivity apps
• Converting handwriting into digital text

Moreover, Samsung already offers a mature collection of S Pen software tools. Restoring stylus support could help the Galaxy Z Fold stand apart from competing foldable phones.

Would the S Pen Be Stored Inside the Phone?

Samsung has never included a built-in S Pen slot in a Galaxy Z Fold phone. Instead, compatible models required users to carry a separate Fold Edition stylus or use a specially designed case.

A built-in slot would make the S Pen easier to carry. However, it would also require additional internal space, which could conflict with Samsung’s slimmer design goals.

Therefore, even if the stylus returns, Samsung may continue selling it separately. The company could also introduce a thinner pen case or a redesigned magnetic attachment system.

No storage method has been confirmed.

Samsung’s future foldables will also benefit from the latest Android 17 features, including multitasking improvements and better large-screen optimizations. If Samsung brings back the Galaxy Fold S Pen, these software enhancements could create an even more productive experience for users who rely on note-taking and split-screen workflows.

Galaxy Fold S Pen Support Compared

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was the last standard Fold generation to support Samsung’s stylus. Samsung then removed the necessary digitizer while redesigning the series around a thinner body.

Could Competition Encourage Samsung?

Competition in the foldable market continues to increase. Moreover, some rival manufacturers are introducing stylus support on large foldable displays.

Samsung has years of experience developing S Pen software and hardware. Therefore, bringing the feature back could strengthen its position among professionals, artists and productivity-focused buyers.

The S Pen is also closely associated with Samsung’s premium mobile devices. Its return could give users another reason to choose a Galaxy Z Fold instead of a competing foldable phone.

Should You Wait for the S Pen to Return?

You should not delay a purchase solely because of the possibility of future S Pen support. Samsung has not provided a release date or named a device that will receive the technology.

Choose a current Galaxy Z Fold if its design, displays, cameras and multitasking tools meet your needs without a stylus.

However, users who rely heavily on handwriting or drawing may prefer an older S Pen-compatible Fold, a Galaxy S Ultra phone or a Galaxy Tab device.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in a future Fold should wait for official specifications rather than relying on early rumours.

Final Thoughts

Samsung is not confirmed to return with a specific Samsung phone. However, Samsung has clearly left the door open.

The company continues to explore slimmer digitizer and stylus technologies that could restore pen input without compromising the thin design of its foldable phones.

Therefore, S Pen support may eventually return once Samsung achieves the right balance between portability, durability and writing performance. Until then, the latest Galaxy Z Fold models remain focused on slim hardware rather than built-in stylus functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Galaxy Fold S Pen coming back?

Samsung is exploring technologies that could restore S Pen support to future Galaxy Z Fold phones. However, it has not confirmed a launch date or eligible model.

Does the Galaxy Z Fold 8 support the S Pen?

No. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra do not support Samsung’s S Pen.

Why was the Galaxy Fold S Pen removed?

Samsung removed the digitizer required for stylus input to make its newer Galaxy Z Fold phones thinner and lighter.

Will the Galaxy Z Fold 9 support the S Pen?

Samsung has not confirmed S Pen support for the Galaxy Z Fold 9. Any claim about its inclusion remains speculation.

Which Galaxy Z Fold phones support the S Pen?

The Galaxy Z Fold 3, Fold 4, Fold 5 and Fold 6 support compatible Fold Edition S Pens. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Fold 8 series do not.

Will a future Galaxy Fold have an S Pen slot?

Samsung has not announced a built-in S Pen slot for a future foldable. The company may continue using separate styluses and compatible cases.