5 best smartphones with styluses

From cellphone to smartphone, the evolution of connection continues. But one thing that remains the same is our reliance on handheld technology.

As designs have shifted from keyboard to keypad to touchscreen, so has the way we've interacted with our phones. If you find yourself fiddling with the touchscreen too often, there is a solution.

Enter the stylus.

A stylus gives you more control over phone navigation. You can have better precision with drawing, writing, and gaming.

This list of the top five smartphones with styluses features models that will have you rethinking what a stylus can do.

Contents

Best smartphones with styluses

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

2.Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G

3. Moto G 4G Stylus

4.Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 4G

5. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Summary

Best smartphones with styluses

Ready to edit pixel-perfect photos, rest your thumbs, or manage your calendar like a pro?

Check out our top picks for smartphones that are stylus-enabled or have a built-in stylus.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

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4,559 reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

S PEN AND SAMSUNG NOTES: Pen precision meets PC power with S Pen and Samsung Notes.

SMART BATTERY AND SUPER FAST CHARGING: The all-day smart battery learns how to optimize battery life,...

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With its trademark square corners and large 6.9-inch AMOLED display sporting a 120Hz display, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a stylus playground.

Samsung styluses use their proprietary S-Pen. It's a digital stylus with a nine-millisecond response time that goes well beyond writing and drawing. It's also a mature product that Samsung has been slowly refining since then. its original introduction in 2011 with the original note.

The S-Pen is designed to work with the Note 20 Ultra without complex pairing. Built-in technology keeps the stylus and phone connected up to 30 feet away.

Hold down the button on the stylus and it becomes a navigation tool without touching the phone. These are called “air actions”. Navigate your phone, take selfies and control video and audio playback.

Pair it with a

bluetooth speaker

, and you can kick back and watch a movie or kick off a dance party hands-free.

In short, you can do a lot with the S-Pen, including taking notes when your phone is off.

The phone's features are equally impressive. The triple-lens rear camera takes stunning photos and videos. Even the night mode looks good.

It also comes with useful features like Bixby personal assistant and DeX, which turns your smartphone into a mobile office. Plus, Samsung Notes can sync with your PC.

This phone is a great choice for work or play. It's pricey, but you could keep it for years.

Specifications/Features

USB-C | Wireless PowerShare | Wireless Charging Capability

Advantages

Sleek design and choice of colors

Qi wireless charging

5G-enabled

Very responsive pen

Expandable memory

The inconvenients

Expensive

Doesn't lie flat on your back due to camera housing

Can tire hands due to its weight (7.34 ounces)

The glass case (Gorilla Glass Victus) could make it flimsy without a case

Screen fingerprint is difficult to use with screen protectors

Battery life could be better

2.Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G

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4,559 reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

S Pen and Samsung Notes: Pen precision meets PC power with S Pen and Samsung Notes; So responsive, it feels...

Smart battery and ultra-fast charging: adaptive power that meets your needs with...

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is a scaled down version of the Note 20 Ultra, but not by much. Overall, the base specs are close, making it a 'bang for your buck' choice for those looking for a phone powered by a stylus.

You will get a smaller screen (6.7 compared to the Ultra 6.9). You will lose some pixel quality on the camera and less zoom capability. The battery is a bit smaller.

Still, you still get the benefits of the included S-Pen and a responsive design in a lighter phone. You won't get the Note 20 Ultra's 120Hz refresh rate either.

If the S-Pen is the main draw, you'll be glad to know it's not a scaled-down stylus on the Note 20. It offers the same robust features like air controls and text writing. with extreme precision.

The S-Pen functions as a wireless controller for the Note 20. It's useful for audio and video playback, taking photos hands-free, or just navigating through apps.

Bottom line: it's a great phone at a lower price.

Specifications/Features

Advantages

Lighter than the Note 20 Ultra

Cheaper than the Note 20 Ultra

Stylish with a choice of colors

5G-enabled

The inconvenients

Image quality could be better

Digital zoom is insufficient

plastic back

Shorter battery life than the Note 20 Ultra

3. Moto G 4G Stylus

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584 reviews

Moto G Stylus

Unlocked for the freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon...

Built-in stylus. Edit photos, take notes, sketch artwork, and control a growing number of games and all...

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In a world of over $1,000 smartphones, the Moto G Stylus is

still

a contender. Don't let the price fool you.

It has a generous 6.8-inch 1080p HD+ display and a thin bezel for more screen real estate. This comes in handy when you're taking notes, editing photos, or playing games.

Getting the built-in stylus out of hiding was once tricky (like the board game, Operation). The updated Moto G Stylus features an easy-release stylus with a textured grip.

Bonus: When you pull out the stylus, a stylus menu also opens on the phone screen. You can leave it as is or change the app shortcuts to reflect how you use your smartphone.

5 best smartphones with styluses

The tip of the stylus is more rounded than the previous one, but accuracy doesn't seem to suffer. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done.

The camera produces good photos and videos, especially in good lighting.

Overall, it's a good phone for the money. It's not a smartphone for a superuser at all. It's a budget buy for daily adult tasks, but it's also fun use.

Specifications/Features

4000 mAh battery | 48 MP quad pixel rear camera system | 16 MP selfie camera

Advantages

Improved and affordable smartphone

Additional Pen Features

Expandable memory

Convenient fingerprint sensor

Good autonomy (up to 2 days)

Rugged enough to handle casual gaming

The inconvenients

No wireless charging capability

Not 5G compatible

Water-repellent only (think of

waterproof box

)

The stylus does not have Bluetooth connectivity

Only two years of security updates

Difficult to see display in direct sunlight

4.Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 4G

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

Connector Type: Type-C

Included Components: Screen Protector Sheet, Smart Switch Insert, Quick Reference Manual, Terms and...

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ debuted in 2019. Years later, it's still a solid smartphone stylus combo, and it comes with the coveted S-Pen.

For display comparison, it has the same screen size as the cheaper Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo 6 (6.8-inch) phones. But the Note 10+'s display specs are far more intriguing.

The Dynamic AMOLED display is like an infinity pool. You can barely see the edge. That means more screen real estate for gaming, streaming movies, or fulfilling your amateur photographer dreams.

The rear camera system takes crisp photos, is feature-rich and fun to use. The selfie camera is one of the best we've seen. Video capture and functionality are excellent.

The main draw, as with other Notes, is the S-Pen. All the real estate you get with the Note 10+'s massive screen makes this a stylus-lover's paradise.

The S-Pen on the Note 10+ has similar functionality, but unlocks more features available on the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. Responsiveness is a little slower, but not significant enough.

The stylus gives you tons of options. You can use it directly on the phone or in the air from up to 30 feet away.

All in all, this is a great phone suitable for work or play. There are plenty of great features to explore.

Specifications/Features

Advantages

Choice of colors

Despite the size, comfortable to hold

Good battery life

Compatible with 45W fast charger (not included)

The inconvenients

Very expensive for an older model

Phone can get slippery without a case

Camera could be better

In-screen fingerprint recognition

5. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

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682 reviews

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

PRO-GRADE CAMERA: Zoom in close with 100X Space Zoom and shoot photos and videos like a pro with our...

SHARP 8K VIDEO: Capture the best moments of your life in super-smooth, stunning cinema-quality 8K...

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn't come with a built-in stylus, yet it's so forward-looking that we couldn't leave it out of this list.

It is designed to work with the famous S-Pen.S21 Ultra + S-Pen = match made in tech heaven.

There's no dedicated locker on the S21 Ultra to store your S-Pen, but a case can fix that.

Let's focus on what doesn't need to be fixed.

The metal camera body is shallower than other Samsung smartphones. This gives you less sway when using your S-Pen to write, edit photos, or browse while the phone is flat

The S21 Ultra has an adaptive refresh rate of 10-120HZ. This means the smartphone can adjust its responsiveness automatically based on your usage.

For example, watching a movie might only require a refresh rate of 25Hz, while gaming can go up to 120Hz at the most. The thing is, you'll get seamless performance with efficient battery usage.

That refresh rate does wonders for navigating this phone with the S-Pen. No lag means your pen strokes are instantly visible on the generous 6.8-inch curved-edge display.

From air movements to remote shutter control, you'll enjoy the same features you can enjoy on the Galaxy Note series of smartphones.

Besides that, you will get an excellent camera that takes sharp photos and videos. Samsung has added features like scene optimization and flaw detection to improve the experience.

The S21 Ultra is a super rugged smartphone in a glass body that's fun to use. Add the rich functionality of the S-Pen and it's a tough combination to beat.

Specifications/Features

Advantages

Solid construction, elegant design

Excellent camera system and images

Good battery life

Compatible with S Pen

Compatible with 5G C-Band and WiFi 6E

The inconvenients

Expensive

No charger head included, only USB C cable

Heavier than the Note 20 Ultra

Must buy S-Pen separately

Lack of color choices

Summary

Samsung Galaxy smartphones have the latest and most common smartphones with a stylus option. They are also the most expensive.

The S-Pen is an advanced stylus that offers more functionality than most. Depending on what you're looking for, a passive stylus like the Moto G Stylus may suffice.

If you want the best of both worlds: a responsive stylus and a rugged, feature-rich smartphone, you'll need to stretch your budget and shoot for the Samsung Galaxy.

We've reviewed a few good LG smartphones with styluses, but since LG is ceasing smartphone production, we can't recommend them.

Just be sure to do your research to ensure which features interest you. And, check with your network before purchase. Sometimes networks stop supporting specific unlocked phones without warning.

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