The Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not support the S Pen: Here’s why
TL;DR
- Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a significantly thinner and more ergonomic design.
- To achieve this slim profile, Samsung has removed the digitizer layer from the inner display, consequently dropping S Pen support.
Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which finally features a noticeably thinner design that is easier to hold. While everyone gushes over how good it feels in the hand, this thinner design comes at a cost: the Fold 7 no longer supports the S Pen.
Samsung hasn’t mentioned S Pen support as part of the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s launch. We asked Samsung about S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the company confirmed to us that the new flagship does not support the S Pen. Samsung had to get rid of the digitizer layer within the display assembly in its quest for a thinner foldable.
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
The situation is similar to that on the Galaxy Z Fold SE, which also got rid of the digitizer layer and dropped S Pen support in lieu of a thinner profile. The digitizer layer is needed to detect and transmit the stylus’s position to the device.
Samsung brought S Pen support to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Users could buy and use the S Pen Pro or the S Pen Fold Edition, both of which came with a retractable nib so you don’t put too much pressure on the Fold’s inner display and damage it.
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority
Galaxy Z Fold 4
Unlike the Galaxy S Ultra lineup, the Z Fold lineup never had a built-in S Pen slot, nor was the S Pen included in the box. However, you could buy first-party cases that let you store the S Pen alongside the phone.
Alex Walker-Todd / Android Authority
Since the S Pen was a separate purchase and was only supported on the inner display, not the cover display, not a lot of people used the S Pen on the Fold. So Samsung’s decision to do away with the S Pen support in favor of a thinner design that many more people would appreciate makes sense. At the same time, die-hard S Pen fans have one less option to choose from, and they barely had any to begin with.
Did you use the S Pen on a Galaxy Z Fold foldable?
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Thinnest, lightest Z Fold to date • More durable design • 200MP primary camera • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Thin, light, high-powered, and it folds!
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers an 8-inch OLED screen, a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and a 4,400mAh battery. The Galaxy AI experience is baked in, offering tools across the camera, Circle to Search, and much more. Best of all, Samsung continues to evolve their fold folding hinge assembly, promising reduced visibility of the crease.
