Samsung to enable S Pen for 2021 Galaxy S

By Baek Byung-yeul

This rendered image created by Dutch tech site LetsGoDigital shows Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S21 with the S Pen stylus. / Captured from LetsGoDigital

Samsung Electronics is expected to introduce the S Pen stylus ― which has been mainly supplied with its Galaxy Note ― for next year's flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone as part of its strategy to improve the user experience.

According to a recent media report, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission tested the Galaxy S21 Ultra with an S Pen, hinting that the phone, which will be the most expensive gadget among the S21 lineup, would come with the stylus.

Given Galaxy S21 smartphones will reportedly not have a slot to keep the stylus in, it is speculated that Samsung will release a smartphone case that can store it.

Roh Tae-moon, Samsung Electronics' mobile business chief, has said the company will try to give consumers the experience it has provided with the Galaxy Note smartphones.

“We've also been paying attention to people's favorite aspects of the Galaxy Note experience and are excited to add some of its most popular features to other devices in our lineup,” Roh said Dec. 15.

While Samsung has put its focus on foldable smartphones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold, there are rumors it will discontinue the Galaxy Note series next year. But the tech company denied the speculation, saying it will keep releasing Note phones.

The S Pen has been one of the two strong points of the Galaxy Note, along with its big screen, since the first Galaxy Note was released in 2011. Specifically, the S Pen has played a key role in attracting users, enabling them to note-take, control apps using stylus gestures and do other convenient work.

Industry officials predict Samsung's new premium smartphone will arrive in January ― about a month earlier than the launch date of previous Galaxy S phones ― expecting the company to unveil it Jan. 14 and begin selling it from Jan. 29.

This is because Samsung is betting big on the S21 seizing Huawei Technologies' market share next year.

Huawei has fallen on tough times after the U.S. government banned the supply of components made with U.S. equipment, software or designs to the Chinese company on security grounds.

Due to the sanctions, Huawei's global smartphone market share in October was 11 percent, 10 percentage points down from April, according to data from market researcher Counterpoint Research. Samsung retained top spot with a 21 percent share.