Compatible Stylus Pen (S20 +)

[Android Central Question]

Does anyone know which active styluses I can use with the Galaxy S20 Plus?

Are there any brands (maybe that have their own apps - to use all their features)?

Or, are all S-Pens the same, and work on all Samsung phones, or are they model/range specific? (Or indeed ones that were/ones that weren't?)

I have tried, obviously, googling but keep getting generic 'works with every touch screen' versions recommended, but they aren't what I am looking for. I am looking for a cheapish active stylus for writing/annotating docs/pics accurately.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[mustang7757]

I haven't used any other pen besides the one came with my Note 20U , maybe some members here can chime in and help you .

I'll leave a Link to register so you can communicate here as a guest account you can only post questions but can't reply
https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[mustang7757]

[Moved this to the s20 forums for specific traffic]

 

[strikeIII]

S-Pen will only work on the Note not on the S models.

 

[Talderon]

[Moved this to the s20 forums for specific traffic]

Ya missed, it's in the Note 20 forums.

 

[mustang7757]

Ya missed, it's in the Note 20 forums.

Thanks , I didn't scroll up far enough

 

[Talderon]

Thanks , I didn't scroll up far enough

Suuuuuure... you just wanted to see who was paying attention.

 

[B. Diddy]

To the OP: You can only use a passive stylus with that phone. The only possible solution in the near future I can think of would be the new USI pens, but I'm not sure if the phone would be compatible: https://universalstylus.org/

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Does anyone know which active styluses I can use with the Galaxy S20 Plus?

Are there any brands (maybe that have their own apps - to use all their features)?

Or, are all S-Pens the same, and work on all Samsung phones, or are they model/range specific? (Or indeed ones that were/ones that weren't?)

I have tried, obviously, googling but keep getting generic 'works with every touch screen' versions recommended, but they aren't what I am looking for. I am looking for a cheapish active stylus for writing/annotating docs/pics accurately.

Thanks for any suggestions!

S Pen are all the same tech since the original Note but the problem is the S20 Ultra like most devices lack the hardware necessary for them to work. S Pen utilizes Wacom technology and there is additional hardware in the screen to communicate with the S Pen, without that hardware the pen doesn't even interact with a touchscreen.

I know a few bluetooth based active styluses have been made but none work with Android to my knowledge.

 

[4ndroidFanBoy]

[Moved this to the s20 forums for specific traffic]

Thanks! I am the OP, registered

 

[4ndroidFanBoy]

S Pen are all the same tech since the original Note but the problem is the S20 Ultra like most devices lack the hardware necessary for them to work. S Pen utilizes Wacom technology and there is additional hardware in the screen to communicate with the S Pen, without that hardware the pen doesn't even interact with a touchscreen.

I know a few bluetooth based active styluses have been made but none work with Android to my knowledge.

So it is the hardware on the phone, rather than licensing? What about something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/VersionTEC...ag=hawk-future-21&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU6860809 is it better than a unpowered capacitive stylus?

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks! I am the OP, registered

Hi, welcome to AC!

 

[B. Diddy]

So it is the hardware on the phone, rather than licensing? What about something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/VersionTEC...ag=hawk-future-21&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU6860817 is it better than a unpowered capacitive stylus?

It's a hardware limitation that you can't use an active stylus. The one you linked essentially still acts like a capacitative stylus. I think they just do some fancy things with Bluetooth to allow the nib to be finer. I have a stylus like that from Wacom (Bamboo Tip) that works on Android phones, but it's not very smooth.

 

[4ndroidFanBoy]

It's a hardware limitation that you can't use an active stylus. The one you linked essentially still acts like a capacitative stylus. I think they just do some fancy things with Bluetooth to allow the nib to be finer. I have a stylus like that from Wacom (Bamboo Tip) that works on Android phones, but it's not very smooth.

I was about to say"OK, I think I get it - the powered but generic ones aren't going to have palm guard, or any special buttons - like erase - but will be more accurate. Does that sound like the gist of it? I have only used a capacitive one before - with a large rubber tip - which was ok, but not much better than using my finger. I was really hoping to get something akin to the s-pen /apple pencil :-\ Has anyone tried using a generic but powered one? Are they much different?"

But then I guess you answered that! I used to have a Wacom Bamboo with a kind of plastic mat to draw on. Loved it, hence why I want something like that again!

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I was about to say"OK, I think I get it - the powered but generic ones aren't going to have palm guard, or any special buttons - like erase - but will be more accurate. Does that sound like the gist of it? I have only used a capacitive one before - with a large rubber tip - which was ok, but not much better than using my finger. I was really hoping to get something akin to the s-pen /apple pencil :-\ Has anyone tried using a generic but powered one? Are they much different?"

But then I guess you answered that! I used to have a Wacom Bamboo with a kind of plastic mat to draw on. Loved it, hence why I want something like that again!

Outside of the S Pen and Surface Pen I've only used the cheap generic capacitive styluses so I can't comment on any of the powered ones.

 

[CKwik240]

I was about to say"OK, I think I get it - the powered but generic ones aren't going to have palm guard, or any special buttons - like erase - but will be more accurate. Does that sound like the gist of it? I have only used a capacitive one before - with a large rubber tip - which was ok, but not much better than using my finger. I was really hoping to get something akin to the s-pen /apple pencil :-\ Has anyone tried using a generic but powered one? Are they much different?"

But then I guess you answered that! I used to have a Wacom Bamboo with a kind of plastic mat to draw on. Loved it, hence why I want something like that again!

I have this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU6862607

I didn't find it to be anymore accurate than the rubber tipped passive version. But it does allow you to see what you're inking better. The pen side tends to draw the line slightly off from the point of contact on the screen. This one doesn't connect via Bluetooth, so it does not communicate pressure levels. But the pressure sensation versions should not have any effect on accuracy. It works fine for using a pen instead of a finger, but it's not anywhere near as good as any of the technologies that use dedicated digitizers.