Despite I can’t deny sometimes why on earth would one ever need to write texts with an S Pen when there’s an easier option like writing with the keyboard, I still find it quite soothing for the soul of its owner. But in fact its a small and usefull gadget for an artist. I can only end up finding myself putting my signature repetitiously on the same page just to relax. This relaxant feature remains the same but the remote control features seem to have gone missing with this s25 pack.

Is this a devolution from S Pen to less pen?

For years, Samsung’s S Pen has been more than just a stylus—it’s been a remote control, a presentation tool, and even a camera shutter button. But with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the S Pen has lost a major functionality that defined it across multiple generations for a decade. Guessed or heard which feature was removed? Yes, that’s the Bluetooth connectivity.

This change isn’t just a step back from the S24 Ultra. It is also a step back from all past S Pens that featured Bluetooth capabilities. Samsung has essentially stripped away some of the most innovative features that made the S Pen unique. Meanwhile, this change also makes the S24 Ultra’s S Pen the penultimate version that holds Bluetooth connectivity. But what does this mean for those few users who relied on it?

The End of Gesture Controls and Remote Features

Previous S Pens with Bluetooth allowed users to:
Control the camera remotely (great for group photos or vlogging especially from a distance)
Swipe through presentation slides with air gestures especially when mirroring
Navigate media playback without touching the screen

With the S25 Ultra, all of these features has gone. The S Pen now functions only as a traditional stylus for writing, drawing, and basic navigation. And thank God it’s included out of the box, considering Z Fold users have to buy it separately.

Why Did Samsung Do This?

Samsung claims that less than 1% of users actually used the Bluetooth-enabled features. By removing them, they likely reduced manufacturing costs and potentially improved battery life. But does that justify the change?

For those who relied on these features, it’s a major downgrade. Samsung’s flagship phone still supports an S Pen, but it no longer feels like the cutting-edge tool it once was.

Does This Make the S Pen Less Useful?

If you mainly use the S Pen for note-taking or sketching, you won’t notice much difference. But if you loved the hands-free controls, then this change might be disappointing. Especially while many external remote control Bluetooth gadgets are still being sold on the market specifically for taking pictures remotely.

While Samsung may introduce software workarounds in the future, for now, the S Pen is simpler—but not necessarily better.

Finally

This shift in the S Pen’s functionality is a landmark in Samsung’s approach to its stylus. It’s no longer a multi-functional remote—it’s just a pen. Whether this is a dealbreaker depends on how you used it before.

If you’re thinking of upgrading, ask yourself: Do you really need the S Pen’s advanced features, or is the basic stylus function enough?