Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra might ditch the built-in S Pen again

Samsung’s next flagship could bring a major change that stylus users won’t welcome. A new leak suggests the Galaxy S27 Ultra might no longer include a built-in S Pen, repeating the same move that frustrated many users with the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Stylus slot might be dropped again

This rumour comes from a Chinese leaker via his X handle @Jukanlosreve. According to the post, Samsung is planning to remove the internal S Pen slot from the Galaxy S27 Ultra. If true, this would force users to buy the stylus separately and carry it without storage inside the phone—a situation that previously drew criticism when it happened with the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first S series model to support the S Pen, but it didn’t include a slot to hold it. Therefore, there was a need for users to buy both the stylus and a special case to carry it. This complexity makes the experience less seamless, worse than what the Note series or the later Ultra models offer.

Hints were already there in the S25 Ultra

Earlier this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Ultra with some quiet changes to the S Pen. The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may be the last Ultra phone to offer a full S Pen experience if it completely replaces the built-in slot.

Most notably, the stylus lost its Bluetooth support, which eliminated important remote features like controlling the camera or slideshows. This move was interpreted by many as an indication that Samsung might be backing off from fully supporting the S Pen in its mainstream Ultra flagships. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, which could launch in 2026, may end up being the last Ultra phone to offer a full S Pen experience.

Samsung could be shifting priorities

According to recent speculations, Samsung’s focus is now on other features like better cameras and batteries. If the company removes the S Pen slot, it will give it more space. Therefore, Samsung will be able to upgrade the battery capacity or the heat sink.

This is not the first time that Samsung has sacrificed the S Pen slot for other features. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold SE, which hit the market in 2024, and the Samsung Z Fold 7 should cut off the S Pen support entirely. If this happens, then it is most probable that the company is saving the stylus features for its foldable phones.