According to a report, Samsung may fundamentally change the way the S-Pen stylus works to ensure the minimum possible thickness of the alleged Galaxy Z Fold 7. Rumors have hinted that the handset could be as thin as the Galaxy S24 but there’s one hurdle standing in the way of achieving that. The S-Pen, which is one of the key selling points of the Samsung foldable, could reportedly get the same technology as the Apple Pencil, which would include the components needed for it to function instead of the display layer.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7’s S-Pen revamp
According to a report by Korean publication ETNews, Samsung is reviewing options to adopt a technology that would not require a digitizer layer in the display for S-Pen input. Currently, the South Korean technology group uses an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) digitizer below the display. Its use means that the stylus does not require batteries or an electric field. However, it is an additional layer on top of the display technology that increases its thickness.
But Samsung is said to be “actively reviewing” options to negate the issue, including the implementation of active electrostatic (AES) technology currently used in the Apple Pencil. While this means the thickness of the alleged Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be reduced, the S-Pen will require a power source such as a battery to function, and will also have to be charged regularly.
Notably, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition in select regions a few months ago and it shipped with a lesser thickness than the standard model. However, the S-Pen does not come bundled with the Z Fold series handsets and must be purchased separately.
Apart from the change in S-Pen technology, the company is also reported to be adopting titanium as the manufacturing material for the back plate of the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s display folder.