Lose or break a Galaxy S-Pen and the replacement question is surprisingly fiddly: the pens all look like the same black stylus, but they are not interchangeable across every device. Pick the wrong one and it either will not fit, will not write, or quietly drops the features you actually used. This guide sorts out which S-Pen matches your Galaxy, what Bluetooth does and does not add, and the one mistake that can damage a Z Fold.
Samsung S Pen Compatibility List
| Device | S Pen family | Bluetooth available? |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S6, S6 Lite | 0.7mm tablet S Pen | No, passive only |
| Galaxy Tab S7, S7+, S7 FE, S8, S8+, S9, S9+ | 4096-pressure EMR tablet S Pen | Choice of Bluetooth or non-Bluetooth |
| Galaxy Note series | Slim phone S Pen | Varies by model year |
| Galaxy S22, S23, S24, S25 Ultra | Slim phone S Pen | Non-Bluetooth (Ultra models) |
| Galaxy Z Fold 3, 4, 5, 6 | S Pen Fold Edition / S Pen Pro (soft tip only) | S Pen Pro only |
| Ordinary Galaxy S phones (non-Ultra) | No S Pen slot, not supported | N/A |
Use this table to find your device family, then jump to the matching section below for the exact replacement and whether Bluetooth is worth paying for.
Are S Pens interchangeable?
Some S Pens can write across several Samsung EMR devices, but they are not fully interchangeable. Phone and tablet pens differ in size and storage fit, Bluetooth features depend on the model, and Galaxy Z Fold screens require a Fold-safe soft-tip S Pen. Use the compatibility table above to match the pen family to your device.
How S-Pen compatibility actually works
Samsung's S-Pen uses an EMR digitiser (electromagnetic resonance, the same Wacom-style technology found in graphics tablets). The screen powers the pen, which is why an S-Pen needs no charging to write and never runs out mid-sentence. That passive writing works across a fairly wide range of Samsung devices.
What is not universal is two things: the physical fit and the Bluetooth features. A phone S-Pen is slim so it can slot inside the phone; a tablet S-Pen is fatter and clips to the tablet's magnetic edge. And the air-gesture features only exist on pens with a Bluetooth radio inside. So compatibility comes down to matching the right family, then deciding whether you need Bluetooth.
Do you actually need Bluetooth?
This is the question that decides which version to buy. A Bluetooth S-Pen carries a tiny internal charge and adds Air Actions: using the pen as a remote camera shutter, plus gesture controls for scrolling or switching apps. Writing, drawing, pressure sensitivity and palm rejection all work without Bluetooth.
- If you only write, sketch, sign and navigate, a non-Bluetooth pen does everything you need, for less.
- If you genuinely use the remote shutter or air gestures, get the Bluetooth version, and note those features only work on devices that supported them in the first place.
Galaxy Tab: match your tablet
The tablet pens use a fine 0.7mm tip and clip magnetically to the side or back of the tablet.
- Tab S6 and S6 Lite: the 0.7mm replacement S-Pen is the match. It is a passive writing pen with no Bluetooth, which is exactly what the S6 Lite shipped with anyway. Pick your model, and replacement tips are available in the same listing.
- Tab S7, S7+, S7 FE, S8, S8+, S9 and S9+: the 4096-pressure EMR pen is built for this range, with a choice of Bluetooth or non-Bluetooth and both standard and soft nibs in the box. Choose Bluetooth if you want the air-command and remote features the original pen had; choose non-Bluetooth to save money if you only write and draw.
Galaxy phones: Note and S Ultra
On phones, the S-Pen is the slim one that stows inside the body. This covers the Note series and the S22, S23, S24 and S25 Ultra, the Ultra models being the ones that brought the built-in S-Pen to the S line. The phone S-Pen replacement fits and writes like the original across these models, with model and colour options to match your handset. It is a non-Bluetooth pen, so it covers writing and navigation but not air command.
Two things worth knowing: a tablet S-Pen will write on a phone screen but will not fit the phone's internal slot, and a slim phone pen will rattle in a tablet's holder. And only the Ultra and Note bodies have the pen silo; an ordinary Galaxy S phone without the Ultra name has no S-Pen slot.
Galaxy Z Fold: read this before you buy any pen
The Z Fold is the exception that catches people out. Its main folding screen is a soft plastic laminate, not glass, and it must only be used with an S-Pen designed for it, the S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro, which have a special retractable soft tip that yields under pressure. Using an ordinary hard-tip S-Pen on the folding screen can dent or scratch it. If you own a Fold, make sure any stylus you buy is explicitly the Fold-safe soft-tip type before it touches the inner display. When in doubt, do not use a generic pen on the folding screen. See our full Z Fold S-Pen safety guide for more detail.
Tips wear out, and that is normal
The nib is the part that goes first. After months of use a tip can flatten or start to scratch, and swapping it restores the original glide for a fraction of the cost of a new pen. The tablet listings include replacement nibs and a removal tool, and you can buy tip packs on their own when you run low.
Find your S-Pen
All our Galaxy styluses, for the Tab S6 through S9 and the Note and Ultra phones, are on the Stylus Pens page, shipping from Singapore with replacement tips available. Match your device family above and you will have the right pen in hand in a couple of days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use any S-Pen on any Galaxy device?
No. Basic writing works across many Samsung EMR devices, but the pen has to physically fit, and Bluetooth air features only work on the device family that supported them. Match the pen to your device family for the right fit and feel.
Are all S Pens the same?
No. They share the same underlying EMR writing technology, but differ in physical size (phone pens are slim, tablet pens are fatter), tip type (standard hard tip vs. the Fold's soft retractable tip), and whether Bluetooth is included. Use the compatibility list above to check your specific device.
Are S Pens interchangeable between devices?
Only within the same family, and even then not always. A tablet S-Pen and a phone S-Pen are different sizes and are not meant to be swapped, and a Z Fold requires its own soft-tip pen that other devices do not use. Physical fit and screen type both need to match.
Does a Galaxy Tab S-Pen work on a Note or Ultra phone?
It can write on the screen, but it will not fit inside the phone's pen slot because the tablet pen is thicker. For a phone, use a slim phone-style S-Pen.
Do I need a Bluetooth S-Pen?
Only if you use Air Actions like the remote camera shutter or gesture controls. Writing, drawing, pressure and palm rejection all work on a non-Bluetooth pen, which is cheaper.
Can I use a normal S-Pen on a Galaxy Z Fold?
No. The Fold's folding screen needs a special soft-tip pen (S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro). A standard hard-tip S-Pen can damage the inner display.
My replacement S-Pen writes but the air gestures do not work. Why?
Almost always because it is a non-Bluetooth pen, or a Bluetooth pen that is not paired, or the device does not support Air Actions. The writing function is independent of Bluetooth.
What tip size are these pens?
0.7mm, the fine point Samsung uses, for precise writing and drawing.
