Why doesn't the S4 pen work on my Note9?

[Android Central Question]

I have a Note 9, and recently purchased a Tb S4. The stylus from the phone works on the S4, but the S4 pen doesn't work on the phone. Why is this?

 

[ROE_HUNTER]

I have a Note 9, and recently purchased a Tb S4. The stylus from the phone works on the S4, but the S4 pen doesn't work on the phone. Why is this?

LOL, I just noticed this over the weekend, was one of those "hmmm" moments. You would think they would work with each other.

 

[Rukbat]

Different technology (to get all the new goodies). Probably made the switch at the 8.

 

[ROE_HUNTER]

Different technology (to get all the new goodies). Probably made the switch at the 8.

Just confirmed, doesn't work on Note 8 either.

 

[Russel Shouse]

if i remember right, note 8 spens were identical to note 7 spens, maybe because they suddenly had a lot of spares lol.

 

[starbuckk]

Maybe a very basic question but this threw me off with my Tab S3 pen and Note 9... was the Note 9 Spen out of the slot when you tested the S4 pen on the Note 9? Spen function on Note 9 is disabled if pen is in the slot.

 

[ROE_HUNTER]

Maybe a very basic question but this threw me off with my Tab S3 pen and Note 9... was the Note 9 Spen out of the slot when you tested the S4 pen on the Note 9? Spen function on Note 9 is disabled if pen is in the slot.

OMG, this may be it. Didn't even think of that, will test when I can.

 

[dekatch]

but that would kinda defeat the purpose of using the tab 4 pen if you'd had to take out the note pen to make it work

but there is an "use multiple s-pens" option in the s-pen setting. you should try that too

 

[ROE_HUNTER]

OMG, this may be it. Didn't even think of that, will test when I can.

Yep, works with Note9 pen out.

 

[rsmin]

but that would kinda defeat the purpose of using the tab 4 pen if you'd had to take out the note pen to make it work

but there is an "use multiple s-pens" option in the s-pen setting. you should try that too

My tab 4 pen works with spen in the phone when this option enabled. Has been since buying the phone last year.

 

[starbuckk]

but that would kinda defeat the purpose of using the tab 4 pen if you'd had to take out the note pen to make it work

but there is an "use multiple s-pens" option in the s-pen setting. you should try that too

The reason is to save battery power. Turning of the spen connectivity when the pen is parked will reduce power consumption. You can disable this. But the main benefit to me of using the tablet pen is the size. So when I want to use the larger pen I still pull the phone pen out of the slot rather than sacrificing the battery saving.

 

[dekatch]

@starbuckk
have you tried how much battery it drains per day? if it's more than 5% then I'd say yea it'd be a bad decision. but I doubt that dunno tho. don't have a tab pen. don't have a reason to use that feature setting