Want to draw, take notes or even edit photos on the go? Then you'll be looking at the best stylus phone. By this, we don't just mean a smartphone you can use with a stylus: that's pretty much all of them. We mean a phone that either comes with a stylus or is optimized for one.
That definition doesn't apply, for example, to anything Apple produces right now. Because not only does the iPhone not come with the Apple Pencil 2 (which is the best stylus for iPads), it's not optimised for it.
So who does offer a decent stylus phone? Well, pretty much on the only game in town right now is Samsung, with its brilliant S Pen. (If you don't like Samsung, then head to number 4 on our list). Note, though, that there's not just one S Pen, there are several, so if take care with which model you buy. You'll find all the details you need in our guide below.
Our top picks
The latest Samsung Galaxy flagship comes in the box with the latest version of the S Pen. With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, it's great for anyone who takes notes or sketches.
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The Galaxy S24 Ultra isn't the latest model from Samsung. but it was only released last year and is not really that different. So as a cheaper option, it's well worth considering. Read more below
Want a screen that's as big as that found on a small tablet, but with the portability of a phone? Then you want a folding phone. And this is the best stylus phone with a foldable screen today.
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Released this year, the refreshed version of the Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 features a built-in stylus that slots into the phone, and does a good job at tasks like notetaking and editing photos.
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Released in 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is by no means the latest model. But it's still very capable stylus phone, so it's worth considering if you find one at a bargain price online.
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Short on cash? 2020's Note 20 Ultra is another lovely Samsung phone with great S Pen integration. in our review we found note taking, sketching and using apps to be an excellent experience.
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The best stylus phone
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The best stylus phone overall
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best stylus phone today, being the latest version of the only mainstream handset that ships with a built-in S Pen.
Note: this integration isn't just about having a pen; it's also thoughtfully implemented across the device's features. The phone's large 6.9-inch display provides an expansive canvas for note-taking and creative work, while the flat screen design (a change from previous curved displays) offers a more comfortable edge-to-edge writing surface.
Our reviewer found the S Pen works particularly well with Samsung's AI Sketch to Image feature and Samsung Notes, adding practical value for both creative and professional users.
Beyond its stylus capabilities, the S25 Ultra impresses with its versatile quad-camera system, including a 200MP main sensor and impressive zoom capabilities. The phone is notably powerful, running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which handles everything from productivity tasks to demanding games with ease.
The display is bright and clear even in sunlight, reaching 2600 nits, and features an anti-glare coating that enhances the writing experience.
The premium build quality, combining grade 5 titanium frame with Gorilla Armour 2 glass, ensures durability for daily use. And while battery life isn't class-leading at 5000mAh, it comfortably lasts a full day of use. The device also supports LOG video capture, making it appealing to content creators who might want to use the stylus for precise video editing.
While it comes with a premium price tag of $1,299.99, the combination of stylus functionality, powerful performance, and versatile features makes it a compelling choice.
The best premium stylus phone for value
The S25 Ultra's predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, stands as another excellent option for stylus enthusiasts.
Offering the signature S Pen integration that Samsung's Ultra series is known for, this version featured some notable improvements that enhanced the stylus experience, particularly its completely flat 6.8-inch display, which provides a more comfortable writing surface compared to the curved edges of previous models.
The build quality saw a significant upgrade with the introduction of a titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor, making it more durable for daily use. And the new anti-reflective coating and increased brightness (up to 2600 nits) made the screen easier to see in bright conditions: particularly useful when using the S Pen outdoors.
Beyond its stylus capabilities, the S24 Ultra impresses with its comprehensive camera system, including a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP 5x telephoto camera that replaced the previous 10x telephoto lens. The phone runs on the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, ensuring smooth performance.
Another standout features is the integration of various AI tools, including enhanced note-taking capabilities that can automatically summarize and reformat notes taken with the S Pen. The device also offers AI-powered translation features and advanced image editing tools, making it a versatile tool for creative professionals.
We'd still recommend you go for the S25 Ultra if you can afford it. But if you can find this earlier model for a lower price, it's still worth considering.
The best foldable stylus phone
Want a screen that's as big as that found on a small tablet, but with the portability of a phone? Then you want a folding phone. And the best stylus phone with a foldable screen today is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
That said, while the Z Fold 6 supports the S Pen, it doesn't come with one; you'll have to buy that separately. The S Pen Fold Edition is the official S Pen designed specifically for the Fold 6, as well as its predecessor, the Z Fold 5. It features a slim design and a 1.5mm pen tip, allowing for precise writing and drawing.
When unfolded, you're greeted with a spacious 7.6-inch display that's perfect for stylus use. The S Pen support allows for a range of creative and productive tasks, from quick note-taking to detailed photo editing in apps like Lightroom. The phone's powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset ensures smooth performance for even the most demanding tasks.
New AI features enhance the stylus experience, including improved handwriting recognition and a sketch-to-image tool that can transform your doodles into realistic images. The Z Fold 6 also excels in multitasking, allowing you to run multiple apps side-by-side or use the bottom half of the screen as a touchpad in Flex mode.
For more details, see our full Z Fold 6 review.
The best stylus phone from Moto
As we stated in our introduction to this article, Samsung make the best stylus phones today. But maybe you have a reason for avoiding Samsung products specifically. In which case, here's our top alternative.
Released this year, the refreshed version of the Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 features a built-in stylus that slots into the phone, and does a good job at tasks like notetaking, editing photos, and navigating the interface.
More generally, the phone has a nice 6.7 inch OLED display, with 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, a generous 5,000 mAh battery, and a decent 50MP + 13MP rear camera setup. These are all pretty impressive specs giving the affordable price.
Be aware, though, that the stylus is fairly basic, and can't do all the cool tricks that Samsung's latest S Pen can. But given that that the Moto G Stylus 5G is pretty affordable, that might not be a problem for you.
The best value stylus phone
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is by no means the latest model (it was released back in 2023), but it's still a very capable stylus phone.
Compared to the S24 Ultra, it has a curved panel rather than a completely flat display, and the newer phone has a new type of glass, which is supposed to be four times more resistant to scratches. The S24 Ultra also has a new reflective coating, and a maximum brightness of 2600 nits, compared with 1750nits in the S23 Ultra.
In other words, you're getting a slightly less good screen with this 2023 phone. However, both models have a 6.8-inch, AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, so the difference as a whole is minor.
The 200MP cameras are pretty similar too, with two exceptions. With the S23 Ultra you won't get the 10MP telephoto lens of the S24 Ultra, or the new AI-powered photo editing tools. Finally, the S23 Ultra's processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) isn't quite as powerful as the S24 Ultra's (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy). It's still no slouch, though, so most people won't notice any difference.
For more details, see our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review.
The best cheap stylus phone
On a tight budget. You should be able to get 2020's Note 20 Ultra for quite a cheap price nowadays, and it's a pretty decent Samsung phone with great S Pen integration. In our review we found using the S Pen for note taking, sketching and using apps to be an excellent experience. Nicely integrated on the left of the phone's base, the stylus feels beautifully natural on the screen, with the same Bluetooth connection and low latency as on the S22 Ultra. And so you can use it to switch modes, open apps, operate a shutter release with the camera and so on, just like with the latter, and it offers virtually instantaneous action
For more details, see our full Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review.
The best basic stylus phone
The oldest and (potentially) cheapest Samsung phone on our list, 2019's Samsung Note 10+ 5G nonetheless provides an okay stylus experience. Don't get us wrong: its successor, the Note20 Ultra is better. A better phone in general, with superior cameras, more versatile zoom and a faster processor. And of the two, the best stylus phone specifically, with a faster refreshing display and lower latency.
That said, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is still a powerful and impressive phone overall, with a nice 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 256GB-512GB of storage, and strong battery life from the 4,300 mAh battery. And you may find one at a much lower price than other phones on this list (although do a comparison, because that isn't necessarily guaranteed).
For more details, see our full Samsung Note 10+ 5G review.
FAQs
What is a stylus phone?
A stylus phone is a smartphone that comes with a built-in stylus pen, allowing you to interact with the screen more precisely, for drawing, handwriting and other tasks.
Why should I use a stylus phone?
A stylus means you're less likely to miss small buttons, app icons, etc, which makes using a smartphone easier, faster and more relaxing. It also allows for greater precision when doing fiddly tasks on your phone such as handwriting, drawing, and editing photos. And it means you're less likely to leave smudges or fingerprints on your screen, too.
Can I use any stylus with a stylus phone?
You don't always have to use the supplied stylus with your phone; but you normally should. That's because stylus phones are usually optimized to work with the specific stylus provided by the manufacturer. So while a generic stylus may work to some extent, it probably won't offer the same level of functionality and precision as the dedicated stylus designed for the phone.
What can you do with a stylus on a phone?
Why would you want a stylus to use with your smartphone? Maybe because you want to draw, sketch or take notes on the go. Perhaps you want to use it to edit photos. Some people even prefer to use a stylus for the little interactions, such as opening an app, rather than fumbling with fingers. For all these use-cases, we've draw on our expert experience and testing to bring together the best stylus phones in our list above.
How to choose the best stylus phone
To choose the best stylus phone for your needs, there are several factors you need to consider. The first is functionality: look for precision, pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection features. The second is display quality, especially if you need a stylus phone for detailed work. Also consider the phone's processing power and RAM: the higher these are, the smoother the performance you can expect, especially if you plan to use productivity apps or engage in creative tasks. Finally, as with any phone, battery life is important if you're expecting to use your stylus over prolonged periods.
How we test the best stylus phones
Testing the best stylus phones involves a comprehensive evaluation process to ensure they meet acceptable standards of performance, usability and functionality. We assess precision, responsiveness and pressure sensitivity by conducting tasks such as drawing intricate shapes, writing long passages and sketching designs. We examine the quality of the screen, including color accuracy, brightness, and resolution, to ensure it provides a pleasing experience for stylus use. And we evaluate how seamlessly the stylus integrates with the phone's software, checking for features such as palm rejection, hover detection, and shortcuts for specific functions.
Read more:
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