Milton Rodney Buzon/Getty Images The Samsung S Pen is a stylus built into all current Galaxy Ultra phones. It’s useful for note-taking, and there are even useful S Pen features that streamline the way you launch or control certain apps. But have you ever noticed a strange smell coming from your S Pen? Galaxy Ultra owners have reported a “burning smell” since the S Pen was added as a feature to the Galaxy S22 Ultra phone. The problem is so widespread that virtually everyone who has owned a Galaxy Ultra phone in the past few years has noticed it at one point or another. An official statement from Samsung in 2024 explained that “there may be a burning-like smell emanating from the S Pen due to the plastic or rubber components of the new product.” A Samsung representative further explained (via Samsung Community) that the S Pen sits near the phone’s heat-generating internal components when in its case. This causes the plastic and rubber exterior of the pen to heat up, resulting in a notorious odor. The Samsung Galaxy S26 series of phones was released on March 11, 2026. In the months since these latest models launched, cautious users have been paying close attention to the S Pen to see if that all-too-familiar smell was still present. Fortunately, S26 owners have reported that the disturbing smell finally seems to be gone – and we didn’t notice it when we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra either. Should you be concerned if you notice the S Pen smell? Javi_indy/Getty Images The burning smell coming from the Samsung S Pen does not necessarily indicate that the device has been fried. Instead, you can think of it like the harmless smell your car’s plastic and upholstery give off after sitting in the sun. The S Pen contains electronic components that allow it to communicate wirelessly with the phone, but reports of the pen’s odor do not coincide with claims that the stylus has lost all electronic functionality. In all likelihood, an unpleasant smell coming from your S Pen is only a slight inconvenience. What’s concerning, however, is when the burning smell comes from the phone itself. Power surges from using cheap cables or charging your phone during a thunderstorm can fry the phone’s internal components. You should also watch out for any smell that resembles nail polish remover, as this may be a sign that the phone’s lithium-ion battery is leaking. The worst part about the constant S Pen smell is that it can mask these types of problems. It’s important to never settle for strange smells, even if you’ve become desensitized to that signature S Pen smell. Post navigation The common mistake of filling up your Android phone’s storage Google I/O 2026 Summary: Gemini 3.5, AI Search, Android XR Glasses and More
Milton Rodney Buzon/Getty Images The Samsung S Pen is a stylus built into all current Galaxy Ultra phones. It’s useful for note-taking, and there are even useful S Pen features that streamline the way you launch or control certain apps. But have you ever noticed a strange smell coming from your S Pen? Galaxy Ultra owners have reported a “burning smell” since the S Pen was added as a feature to the Galaxy S22 Ultra phone. The problem is so widespread that virtually everyone who has owned a Galaxy Ultra phone in the past few years has noticed it at one point or another. An official statement from Samsung in 2024 explained that “there may be a burning-like smell emanating from the S Pen due to the plastic or rubber components of the new product.” A Samsung representative further explained (via Samsung Community) that the S Pen sits near the phone’s heat-generating internal components when in its case. This causes the plastic and rubber exterior of the pen to heat up, resulting in a notorious odor. The Samsung Galaxy S26 series of phones was released on March 11, 2026. In the months since these latest models launched, cautious users have been paying close attention to the S Pen to see if that all-too-familiar smell was still present. Fortunately, S26 owners have reported that the disturbing smell finally seems to be gone – and we didn’t notice it when we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra either. Should you be concerned if you notice the S Pen smell? Javi_indy/Getty Images The burning smell coming from the Samsung S Pen does not necessarily indicate that the device has been fried. Instead, you can think of it like the harmless smell your car’s plastic and upholstery give off after sitting in the sun. The S Pen contains electronic components that allow it to communicate wirelessly with the phone, but reports of the pen’s odor do not coincide with claims that the stylus has lost all electronic functionality. In all likelihood, an unpleasant smell coming from your S Pen is only a slight inconvenience. What’s concerning, however, is when the burning smell comes from the phone itself. Power surges from using cheap cables or charging your phone during a thunderstorm can fry the phone’s internal components. You should also watch out for any smell that resembles nail polish remover, as this may be a sign that the phone’s lithium-ion battery is leaking. The worst part about the constant S Pen smell is that it can mask these types of problems. It’s important to never settle for strange smells, even if you’ve become desensitized to that signature S Pen smell.
