14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is one of the companies that are betting big on styluses, and this isn’t going to change very soon, as the entire culture of the Surface product lineup is based on writing and drawing capabilities.
Samsung, on the other hand, is pursuing similar ideas, but on smartphones, and the Galaxy Note series has already become a pioneer in this regard.
It’s now the South Korean firm’s turn to launch a new product, and the debut of the Galaxy Note 9 in early August is likely to bring improved pen features as well.
Reports that have been making the rounds in the last couple of days indicated that Samsung might be going in a different direction than Microsoft when it comes to stylus capabilities. While the Redmond-based software giant wants to make writing and drawing with the Surface Pen feel as natural as possible, Samsung aims to improve usability, and is thus looking into several new features in this regard.
Bluetooth support and auto recharging
One of them could be Bluetooth support to allow for new functionality, like being able to control media playback or even serve as a camera shutter button. Also, the Bluetooth connectivity is expected to power what some described as remote control features, though no specifics are available on these.
But regardless the purpose of the Bluetooth support, it requires a battery, and by the looks of things, the upcoming S Pen will land with a built-in unit. This means it’s going to need recharging, and according to current speculation, the S Pen could simply charge when plugged into the smartphone.
This is certainly an interesting approach that could boost the adoption of the S Pen and, naturally, of the Galaxy Note 9, though Samsung itself is keener on launching the upcoming S10 rather than the new phablet. The Galaxy S10 will mark this model’s 10th anniversary and could come with major upgrades, including a triple camera, a fingerprint sensor embedded into the glass, and 3D facial recognition.