The Galaxy S26 Ultra might be the final Samsung flagship to feature a built-in S Pen, according to a new rumor. Reports suggest that Samsung is considering removing the embedded stylus from future Ultra models, signaling a major shift in the S Pen's role within the Galaxy lineup.
The leak, shared by PandaFlashPro, follows the company’s decision to downgrade the S Pen experience with the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra. That model is expected to feature a non-Bluetooth S Pen, meaning users will lose advanced features like Air Actions, gesture controls, and remote functionality. This change marks a noticeable departure from the rich stylus integration seen in recent Ultra models.
While the S26 Ultra is still expected to include a built-in S Pen, sources indicate that future models—starting with the Galaxy S27 Ultra—may no longer have a dedicated storage silo. Instead, Samsung could return to the approach taken with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which supported the S Pen as an optional accessory rather than including it within the device.
Samsung first introduced S Pen support to the S series with the S21 Ultra, following the retirement of the Galaxy Note lineup in 2020. The Note series had long been synonymous with the stylus experience, and many longtime users have looked to the Ultra series to fill that void.
Despite the rumored changes, Samsung’s leadership maintains that the S Pen still holds value. “People use their S Pens in meetings to write notes,” said Annika Bizon, Samsung UK’s VP of Product and Marketing. “We see the S Pen as something that is key to the Ultra experience.”
For now, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be the last true flagship to offer the full built-in S Pen experience.