Samsung faced considerable backlash when it was revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 would abandon S Pen stylus support, despite previous generations of the large-screen foldable incorporating this beloved feature. However, the popular accessory’s future may not be sealed just yet. Kang Min-seok, executive director of Samsung’s Mobile Experience Business division, has indicated that the technology remains under active development, with potential reintroduction possible in future iterations.
“We are researching and developing thinner and innovative technologies for the S Pen, so we will reconsider it when the level of perfection increases and there is customer demand,” Kang revealed to ET News during the Unpacked event in New York on July 9.
Kang characterized the Z Fold 7 as a product shaped by deliberate compromises, where the pursuit of an ultra-thin and lightweight chassis necessitated the removal of other features in what he described as a “one in, one out” design philosophy. The S Pen became a casualty of this approach, as the essential display components required for stylus operation were eliminated to achieve the target thickness profile. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures a remarkably slim 8.9mm when folded and just 4.2mm when unfolded—a dramatic reduction from the S Pen-compatible Galaxy Z Fold 6’s more substantial 12.1mm folded and 5.6mm unfolded dimensions.
While Samsung is carefully avoiding any definitive commitments about the S Pen’s return in the next Z Fold iteration, the company’s continued investment in refining the technology strongly suggests it envisions applications beyond the Ultra variants of its S Series lineup. The Z Fold series presents the most logical additional platform for this innovation.
Samsung has demonstrated its commitment to user feedback, as evidenced by its decision to remove Bluetooth connectivity from the S Pen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra after determining that few users engaged with the connected features. This responsiveness to actual usage patterns suggests the company will similarly monitor demand for S Pen functionality in its foldable lineup.
Should consumer appetite for S Pen integration on the Z Fold prove substantial, research and development efforts for the next generation could accelerate accordingly, potentially positioning the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to meet this demand. Concluding the interview, Kang emphasized, “We are pursuing a perfect product balance, not just thinness and lightness.”
This statement further reinforces that Samsung hasn’t definitively abandoned the S Pen as a feature for its foldable devices, even though it’s conspicuously absent from the current model. The company appears to be taking a measured approach, balancing form factor innovations with feature preservation based on technological feasibility and genuine user demand.
Author: AI
Published: 15 July 2025