Samsung has made a change to the S Pen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra which removes remote control features that have been in place for years, and the reason is because essentially no one was using those features.
As rumored ahead of launch, Samsung has removed Bluetooth connectivity from the S Pen on Galaxy S25 Ultra which, in turn, removes remote control features. Samsung first introduced this functionality in 2018’s Galaxy Note 9 and they’ve stuck around each successive generation.
Features that came with Bluetooth in the S Pen includes a remote shutter for the camera, “Air” gestures for controlling the device from a slight distance, and more. In 2018, we didn’t find the feature particularly useful beyond being able to unlock the phone if the screen timed out, as well as for that remote shutter.
But, now, that’s all been removed.
Samsung has purged Bluetooth from the S Pen on Galaxy S25 Ultra entirely. You’ll still get “Air command” and “Air view,” two features that allow the S Pen to interact with the device within about an inch of the screen. Bluetooth has no impact on the core functionality, as Samsung uses a special digitizer on the display to work with the S Pen.
Why were these features removed?
This does come with the benefit of the S Pen feeling effectively weightless, but it sounds like this was ultimately a cost-cutting measure. Samsung confirmed to Michael Fisher that the feature was removed because less than 1% of people with access to the feature actually ended up using it. That checks out, but it’s still frustrating because, while these features certainly weren’t useful on a daily basis, they were certainly useful from time to time, and it’s a shame to see them removed.
What do you think?
The Galaxy S25 series is now available for pre-order from Samsung.com, with up to $1,200 in savings, plus an additional $50 off when you click on our links and order within 30 minutes.
- Galaxy S25/+ at Samsung.com
- Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.com
More on Samsung:
- Following Pixel, Samsung adding battery cycle counts to some Galaxy S25 devices [Gallery]
- Here’s a quick in-person look at Samsung’s Android XR headset [Gallery]
- Galaxy S25 uses Snapdragon 8 Elite globally: ‘tailored’ for Gemini, adds satellite support
Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram
Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
