If you’ve long wanted a phone with a legal style – and I do not mean one of the weak –gravy sticks with a crunch on top – your only real choice was a Galaxy Note. However, after adding stylus support to a number of its tablets and laptops, Samsung decided this year to release the stylus on its phones, also, by an S-Pen for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. And while the S21 Ultra has an additional $ 40 accessory do not take care of the same coherent package that you get with a note, it is convenient to fit for less hardcore stylus enthusiasts.
One of the best things about the S21 Ultra’s S-Pen is that there is virtually no setup. Just grab it from the holder, hold it close to the screen of the phone, and you’re ready – all the software you need is already packed. because the S21 Ultra’s S-Pen is also a passive style, you do not have to worry about keeping it charged.
Just like in a comment, floating the S21 Ultra’s style will bring up a float button above the right side of the screen, giving you access to almost all of Samsung’s standard S-Pen features, including traditional note-take, Smart Select (for snapping photos from videos), Write Write, Live Messages, AR Doodle and Translate. There’s also a handy keyboard shortcut for settings that allow you to customize S-Pen features, such as enabling Screen Off Memo (which lets you take notes without unlocking) the phone), point to a cursor while hovering, and more.
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Because the stylus does not have an active Bluetooth connection like you get with the Galaxy Note’s S-Pen, you can not use the S21 Ultra’s stylus as a remote control to take it. pictures or wave it to use Samsung’s air actions.
That said, the S21 Ultra’s S-Pen has some of its own advantages. Not only does it come with two extra needle points that you can swap for a slightly different feel, but the stylus itself is also slightly longer and thicker than a standard Galaxy Note stylus. It may not sound like much, but even for someone like me who doesn’t have big hands, it’s considerably easier to hold, while still providing a handy button for things like erasing. Tthe super-skinny dimensions of the S-Pen of a Note often make it feel as if I’m going to break it, while the style of the S21 Ultra feels more like a regular writing tool.
The disadvantage of this S-Pen version because it’s an accessory, it’s nowhere to store it when not in use, unless you opt for Samsung’s $ 70 bundle that includes the S-Pen and a silicone case for the S21 Ultra. In itself, Samsung’s silicone case is perfectly functional and does everything you need to do: It covers all corners, protects the rear camera body and has a slot for the S-Pen.
Unfortunately, for me and the other 90% of the people in the world who are right-handed, the slot for the S-Pen is on the left, which means you have to do a slightly awkward shuffle or take out the stylus. to get the right hand to draw or pay attention-take. I admit, it’s not a big deal, but it’s a bit awkward, and compared to a Galaxy Note, it’s simply not that elegant. But this is the compromise you have to make make for an optional accessory.
Still, even as someone who does not consider themselves a style fanatic, it is not necessarilyusing the S21 Ultra with an S-Pen transforms the experience. Thanks to Live Messages, I definitely sent more to sms, if only for doodles on memes from friends. I use Smart Select to create GIFs of these stamps when I see it, just because it’s so easy. And although I do not take a lot of traditional notes, I find it very useful to be able to record PDFs. So, even if you do not use it all the time, it is only nice to use a stylus if the situation arises.
I really appreciate that Samsung no longer limits the stylus to the Galaxy Note line. Styling on phones is not for everyone, but it should not be limited to $ 1,000 flagships and the one Moto device. And while the S21 Ultra is certainly not cheap, we hope Samsung will continue to support the stylus in the future after the rest of the Galaxy S series and more.