New leak hints S21 Ultra could pack an S Pen in an unusual spot
A folio case with an S Pen slot makes a stylus-supporting S21 Ultra work
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Recent rumors have suggested theSamsung Galaxy S21Ultra will support the S Pen stylus, but without the slot found inSamsung’s Note series of phones where it’s typically housed. Thanks to a new leak, we know where it could be stored: in an external folio case fitted around the S21 Ultra.
Housing the S Pen in a case isn’t the most elegant solution, but it keeps the stylus handy without needing to drastically redesign the S21 Ultra – after which it would, well, look like a Note phone. The cases, shown in photos acquired by tech siteWinFutureand tweeted by Roland Quandt, look like standard phone folio cases, though it looks like the S Pen will clip in on the left side of the S21 Ultra, with the folio wrapping around it:
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is getting is getting an optional S Pen, making the Galaxy Note series kinda obsolete. Here’s your first official look at the new Stylus and how Samsung will let you carry it along in the official Clear View and Silicone Covers: https://t.co/HtAuyoVrfiJanuary 4, 2021
It’s a little tough to see, and we’re relying on WinFuture’s interpretation of the images and corresponding insight. The S Pen does indeed look more like the stylus that came with theGalaxy Tab S7, lacking the clicking top button of the stylus on theSamsung Note 20series, though you’ll allegedly still be able to tap the back end as a button, say, to pause or play media. And yes, gesture controls will supposedly return.
The leak suggests the S Pen will be sold separately at a cost (allegedly under €40) in line with the Note 20’s stylus ($39 / £34 / around AU$50) or included with said case, which may be called the S View Flip Cover.
S21 Ultra: the case for an S Pen
Early rumors suggested that the S21 would support the S Pen, butrendersand images didn’t show a slot in the device to house the stylus (as in the Note 20), casting doubt on the possibility that the new phones would support the accessory. Furtherleakssuggestedthat only the S21 Ultra would be compatible with the S Pen, but again, there didn’t seem to be design changes from last year’sSamsung Galaxy S20 Ultrato accommodate a stylus.
The new leaked images of the cases account for the S Pen’s absence: like with theSamsung Galaxy Tab S6and Tab S7 tablets, the stylus could just be slid into the case for easy transport. Not as elegant as the Note series, but a serviceable solution, especially for the kinds of power users who can afford an S21 Ultra’s likely very high pricetag.
Still, it’s not totally clear why the S21 and S21 Plus couldn’t also be compatible with the S Pen, though there was apparently enough of a hardware difference that the Note 20’s 26ms stylus latency isn’t as advanced as theNote 20 Ultra’s 9ms. Perhaps it wasn’t economical to fold stylus-connecting display and internal tech into the lower-tier S21 phones…though it’s also quite a feather in the S21 Ultra’s cap to justify its surely higher price.
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David is now a mobile reporter at Cnet. Formerly Mobile Editor, US for TechRadar, he covered phones, tablets, and wearables. He still thinks the iPhone 4 is the best-looking smartphone ever made. He’s most interested in technology, gaming and culture – and where they overlap and change our lives. His current beat explores how our on-the-go existence is affected by new gadgets, carrier coverage expansions, and corporate strategy shifts.
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