The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has its strengths and weaknesses, as highlighted in reviews. One area where it shines, however, is in its compatibility with a stylus. Samsung offers the S Pen specifically designed for this foldable, but despite its potential, some persistent flaws continue to hinder the experience, making the S Pen feel somewhat secondary in the overall design.
After nearly two weeks of using the Galaxy Z Fold 6 along with Samsung's official S Pen Case, which is one of the simplest ways to obtain a compatible stylus for this device, I've noticed a few things. As someone who enjoys doodling, having a notebook-sized canvas in my pocket at all times is quite convenient. Yet, the same issues that have plagued previous models still linger, leaving me hopeful that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will address these concerns.
Samsung's S Pens are among the best styluses available for smartphones, arguably even surpassing the Apple Pencil for iPads. The physical button on the side is more reliable than the tap gestures found on other styluses, and the soft tip provides better tactile feedback compared to hard plastic on glass. However, to make the S Pen more compact, Samsung has flattened its sides, which makes it feel less comfortable to hold than a traditional cylindrical stylus. Additionally, this version lacks Bluetooth, so it doesn't offer remote features.
The S Pen provides responsive and smooth virtual inking, and the handwriting-to-text feature works well if you have sufficient screen space and neat handwriting. For those who enjoy drawing, the stylus is a great tool, with the new Sketch to Image feature offering a fun experience, even for those without artistic talent.
A physical issue that previously hindered
the use of a stylus on foldable phones was the central crease on the main
display, which could disrupt drawing. However, with the Z Fold 6’s more compact
hinge, although you can still feel the crease with the S Pen, it no longer
interferes with your strokes. This is a significant improvement from Samsung.
However, some familiar complaints persist. To store the S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, you still need a separate case, which is sold separately—an inconvenience for users. While Samsung has made strides in its S Pen case design, this year's being the slimmest yet, it's still not as convenient as the magnetic attachment points found on the best tablets, including Samsung's own Galaxy Tabs. Moreover, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a built-in slot for its S Pen.
Another limitation is that only the inner screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 works with the S Pen. While adding a second digitizer would likely increase costs, it's hard to justify this omission when users are already paying nearly $2,000 for the phone and stylus.
These frustrations are compounded by the fact that innovation in other areas of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been limited. If you're not particularly interested in Samsung's Galaxy AI features or the yearly performance boosts from new chipsets, there isn't much that distinguishes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 from the Galaxy Z Fold 4 released two years ago.
Samsung has been making incremental changes
to the Galaxy Z Fold series for years while competitors have been catching up
and surpassing it in the foldable phone market. The S Pen is one of the few
features that Samsung's foldable can claim as an advantage, yet its development
seems to have stalled. Adding an onboard storage option for the S Pen could be
the key to reclaiming the top spot in the market, but Samsung appears hesitant
to take that step. As a result, I worry that I might be expressing similar
concerns about the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its S Pen in the future.
This site uses Google AdSense ad intent links. AdSense automatically generates these links and they may help creators earn money.
.jpg)
0 Comments