Samsung Retains EMR for Galaxy S27 Ultra S Pen

Samsung has decided to retain its longstanding Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) technology for the S Pen in the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra, postponing plans for a redesigned stylus that could have made the device thinner. The Galaxy S27 series, slated for release in early 2027, will continue to include the stylus slot and full support, according to reports from South Korean publication ETNews citing company sources.

The company had been developing a hybrid stylus system that merged EMR with Active Electrostatic (AES) technology. EMR, used in current S Pens, relies on a digitizer layer embedded in the display to detect input through an electromagnetic field, which adds slight thickness to the phone. AES, by contrast, shifts input detection to the stylus itself via an internal power source, eliminating the need for a digitizer but requiring a built-in battery that would make the pen bulkier. Samsung's prototype aimed to combine the strengths of both, creating a battery-free, digitizer-free S Pen that could shave approximately 0.3 millimeters off the phone's chassis.

Testing revealed a functional version of this hybrid design, but Samsung ultimately shelved it for the S27 Ultra....