7 things you can do with an S-Pen

While tablets and some two-in-one laptops offer support for a stylus, it is not commonly found in smartphones across major OEMs. The S-Pen, as it is called by Samsung, has been a prominent feature on its flagship phones. It first debuted on the Galaxy Note way back in 2011. 

The S-Pen is now compatible with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and other premium Galaxy S series tablets.

The accessory designed to feel like a real pen brings a host of advantages beyond just scribbling on the screen. Read on to know what interesting things you could do with an S-Pen on compatible Samsung devices. 

7 best S-Pen features

1. Air Command

2. Scribing and drawing

3. Smart select and Screen write

4. Remote control for camera

5. Run a presentation

6. Magnification

7. Translation

1. Air Command

When the S-Pen is removed from its slot on the phone, the menu that pops up is called Air Commands. It includes shortcuts for a host of functions that can be performed by simply hovering over the screen. These comprise creating notes, launching apps, glance mode, and more. 

2. Scribing and drawing

This is the most basic and obvious feature of the S-Pen. If your thumbs are tired from all the typing, the S-Pen can be used to write in a more natural way, and then instantly convert the handwriting to text.

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This text can be be copy-pasted anywhere. It lets you take notes, sketch drawings, or annotate documents. Additionally, you can also take notes quickly and discreetly without unlocking the screen with the Screen-off Memo feature. 

3. Smart Select and Screen Write:

If you happen to take lots of screenshots that require a lot of cropping, then Smart Select is one of the handy features you should know about.

With the help of S-Pen, you can select a specific part of the screenshot and the phone will save just that portion. Meanwhile, Screen Write will let you write or annotate directly on the screenshot instead of having to do that separately.

4. Remote control for camera

This is another immensely useful feature of the S-Pen, especially for photography enthusiasts. It serves as a remote control for the camera app with the button working as the phone camera’s shutter.

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You can take a group photo or a picture from a tripod to avoid shaking the camera. Additionally, the S-Pen can also switch between camera modes, zoom, and record a video.

5. Run a presentation

The S-Pen features built-in Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and a motion sensor. This enables it to be used as a remote control and execute simple gestures at the tap of a button.

You can advance slides smoothly in Microsoft PowerPoint from up to 30 feet away. You can use SamsungDeX or Smart View to wirelessly mirror the phone’s screen onto a WiFi-enabled display.

6. Magnification

As the name suggests, it makes the elements on the screen bigger and easier for visibility. You can zoom in up to 300 per cent on the items by hovering the S-Pen over them on the screen and selecting Magnify. 

7. Translation

S-Pen can be used to hover on a word or a phrase that requires translation. This works in photos, documents, and on websites. Upon selecting the Translate option, it uses Google Translate and there is a small sound icon next to translation to hear the word or phrase. 

ALSO READ: What is a stylus?

All the aforementioned features available via the S Pen on compatible Samsung devices are quite productive. They can help elevate the device’s user experience beyond a regular smartphone.