4 Best Stylus Pens for Galaxy Tablet
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It goes without saying that a good stylus is a useful accessory that every Samsung Galaxy Tab owner needs. That’s why every Galaxy S and S FE series tablet comes with Samsung’s exclusive S Pen. A stylus is invaluable for writing, scrolling, navigating and, of course, drawing on a large tablet screen. However, the Galaxy Tabs A series do not come with a stylus by default. Some people may want a more specialized stylus for their tasks, or a replacement for one that gets lost or breaks.
We’ve taken a close look at professional reviews and user feedback to find four of the best styluses you could use with your Galaxy Tab. It’s worth noting, however, that many of the best styluses aren’t compatible with the A-series tablets in the Galaxy Tab line. Smart pens rely on some of the tablet’s technology, and the A series are budget models that sacrifice some of those features. But if you’re looking for a stylus to use with an A-series tablet, this list has you covered too. We explain how we chose these styluses at the end of the article.
Samsung Pen S
Yes, the stylus that comes standard with every S and S FE series tablet is also one of the best you can have, period. It’s worth discussing the Samsung S Pen in this list, as some Tab owners might wonder whether they should upgrade their styluses or change brands if their first S Pen goes missing. But reviewers love the standard S Pen, and it’s more than enough for most people. Just make sure you buy the S Pen that matches your Galaxy Tab model. They usually cost around $40.
The main appeal of the S Pen is that it acts as a remote control for the tablet, not just a writing tool. It enables Air Controls, Quick App Launch, Circle to Search, one-button camera control, and much more. It’s also a sophisticated drawing tool, with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity that allow for all kinds of pen strokes. However, one downside is that the S Pen is not compatible with MagSafe cases because it relies on electromagnetic resonance. If you like MagSafe technology, that’s a perfectly valid reason to consider a different stylus.
Staedtler Noris Digital
The Staedtler Noris Digital is a stylus that looks like a real pencil. This makes it an obvious choice if you want a stylus that provides a great note-taking experience with a natural writing feel. Reviewers have praised the Noris Digital for its quality wood construction, replaceable tips, and high degree of pressure sensitivity. The classic Noris Digital costs just under $30 and the Staedtler Noris Digital Jumbo costs around $50. The jumbo version looks less like a traditional pencil and more like a typical tablet stylus, which some users prefer. The jumbo version also has a built-in eraser that you can use by pressing it against the screen of your tablet.
The Staedtler Noris Digital pairs well with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and previous FE series tablets, as they are some of the best tablets for note-taking. With a screen size of 10.9 inches, the FE series Galaxy Tabs give you plenty of room to write without being so large as to be cumbersome in one hand. The S10 FE also features a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, making writing as responsive as scribbling on actual paper.
Wacom One
The Wacom One Standard Pen is a $35 stylus designed for the Wacom One series of displays and tablets, but it also works with Samsung Galaxy tablets that come with an S Pen. That’s because S Pen-compatible Galaxy Tabs use electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology to communicate between the stylus and the tablet, the same technology used by the Wacom One stylus.
Like the standard Samsung S Pen, the Wacom One offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity to support any digital art activity. In fact, the Samsung S Pen and Staedtler Noris Digital get their sensitivity from Wacom’s proprietary digital pen technology, developed through collaborations with these brands. Wacom’s “Feel IT technologies” are also designed to provide fast typing and a natural writing feel. The Wacom One Pen even has tilt response functionality and pen buttons for performing keyboard shortcuts, making it a versatile tool for illustrators and other creatives.
Wacom is an authority on digital art, but you don’t necessarily need a Wacom tablet to produce your best work. Pairing a Wacom pen with a Galaxy tablet is a viable option, but you need to choose the right size tablet for artists. A larger format is usually better if you want to create detailed images in your tablet software. The best Galaxy tablet to pair with the Wacom One Pen is probably the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra with its large 14.6-inch screen.
Meko 3 in 1 universal stylus
The Meko 3-in-1 Universal Stylus is marketed primarily as an iPad stylus, but it works great with any touchscreen device. It is a universal accessory because, unlike the S Pen and other smart styluses, this Meko pen does not rely on electromagnetic resonance or any other communication protocol. This also means it lacks advanced features like pressure sensitivity, remote control, or tilt response. Despite this, the Meko 3-in-1 is one of the best tablet styluses on Amazon because it gets the job done on any tablet for less than $10.
Samsung A-series tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+, do not come with a stylus. They also don’t support the digitizer pen technology required by the S Pen and other DME-based styluses. In other words, a non-electronic stylus like the Meko 3-in-1 is the best and only option if you want to use a stylus with your Galaxy A series tablet. User reviews highlight the versatility of the Meko stylus; It may not have all the features of a high-end stylus, but its three interchangeable tip styles make it adaptable for clicking, writing, or drawing on your Galaxy Tab.
How We Selected These Stylus Pens for Galaxy Tablets
To find the best styluses you can use with your Galaxy tablet, we narrowed the market down to four of the most popular styluses featured in user reviews and discussions. Our list includes styluses suitable for a variety of tasks. Whether you need something for writing, drawing, or everyday use, this list includes an option that will likely meet your needs. We’ve also included options that will appeal to owners of all Galaxy tablet series, including those not compatible with EMR technology.
Every pen on this list has an Amazon user rating above 4 stars at the time of writing. We’ve checked customer reviews to make sure none of these products have any commonly reported defects that could affect your experience.