UPDATE: 08/11/2023 08:30 EST BY ROLAND UDVARLAKI
We regularly update buying guides to ensure they stay up-to-date and relevant with the latest information and pricing. We included the recently unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 5 and made some changes to the entire list.
Smartphones have come a long way in the past decade or so, but the idea of using a stylus is still exciting for many. While drawing and note-taking are possible with your fingers, using a stylus is more natural and comfortable, and luckily, some manufacturers noticed the gap in the market. There aren’t many phones out there with proper stylus support, but if you’re after a unique feature, you’ll be glad to know that there are several options at different price ranges. Our top pick in 2023 remains the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but we have many other alternatives.
In this guide, we collected some of the best smartphones with stylus support in 2023. We have plenty of high-end flagship devices, a couple of foldables, and even a few affordable mid-rangers. All of these devices can take notes and do sketches, and some even come with additional functionality like solving math problems. Depending on what you’re after, latency might differ on these phones, but rest assured; they’re perfect for everyday use.
If you pick up one of these devices, you might also be interested in some additional protection. We recommend you check out one of our excellent smartphone accessories guides.
- Cases for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Cases for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Learn more about the HONOR Magic Vs
Best smartphones with stylus support
-
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best Overall$450 $1200 Save $750The new Galaxy S23 Ultra is the go-to flagship from Samsung in 2023. It's powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, carries the same price tag as its predecessor, and has improved gaming and camera capabilities to let you capture the perfect moment.
Pros- Gorgeous display
- Excellent performance
- Great battery life
- S Pen
Cons- Expensive
- Minor upgrade over the S22 Ultra
- Charging should be much faster in 2023
-
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Runner-up: The Best from 2022$800 $1200 Save $400The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is one of the best Android devices available on the market. It features top-of-the-line specs, tons of power, an extraordinary camera, S Pen stylus support, and other great features. If you're looking for an absolute beast and something that can do it all without breaking a sweat, the Galaxy S22 Ultra got it all.
Pros- Beautiful display
- Excellent camera quality
- Flagship performance
Cons- Slow charging
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best and highest-end Android flagship devices on the market in 2023. It features a large 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with 120Hz variable refresh rate. It has 1750 nits of peak brightness, making it easy to see even in direct sunlight. The panel features low latency, making it hands down the best device to be paired with the dedicated S Pen stylus, which is embedded in the bottom of the device.
The phone with various software features aimed to be used with the pen, allowing users to take screenshots, draw, take notes, sketch, and even copy items on display. It’s one of the best software experiences for stylus users, as everything comes bundled with the device.
Furthermore, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an excellent battery life, providing a full day of use on a single charge. If there’s a downside, it’s that its 45W wired charging is slower than the one offered by the competition, but luckily it’s still fast enough to juice up the phone to a comfortable level in just an hour.
If you’re looking for the best smartphone with the S Pen stylus, and a plethora of features built-in by Samsung, then the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best phone to buy in 2023.
Last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra might not be the latest and the greatest device anymore, but it sure packs everything that qualifies it as a recommended device in 2023. You can often get it for half price and sometimes for less. If you don’t want to spend more than $1,000 in one go, the S22 Ultra is an excellent alternative. You might also be interested in our Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra video comparison.
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Best Foldable with a stylusThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest foldable flagship in the lineup. It's equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a powerful triple rear camera, a large 6.2-inch cover and 7.6-inch main display, and a large battery that can last all day on a single charge.
Pros- Beautiful large displays
- Superb performance
- Great overall battery life
Cons- Minor refinement over Z Fold 4
- Expensive
- Slow charging speeds
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best Foldable from 2022$800 $1800 Save $1000The latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a powerful Qualcomm SoC, a wider display, a better hinge mechanism, and many significant upgrades over its predecessor. Trade in your current device and score up to $1,000 in savings on your new phone.
Pros- Great battery life
- Superb performance
- Beautiful and responsive displays
- Great camera setup
Cons- S Pen is sold as an optional accessory
- Slow charging
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a minor upgrade over last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Fold 5 features the same camera setup, charging speed, battery capacity, and overall design as last year's Fold 4, but not all of those things are bad. The Fold 5 also improves on the Fold 4, and it's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC which should improve efficiency and performance, and also provide better processing to enhance the image quality.
The Galaxy Fold 5 can fold fully shut, and it has a brighter display than the Fold 4. It also has a slightly smaller, more portable S Pen stylus that comes with a case, providing easier access and a more user-friendly design that doesn't bulge out as much as the Fold 4's official accessory. If you're after the best foldable experience, the Fold 5 will serve you well, and if you're a new user in the foldable market, this will be an excellent first foldable with plenty of small refinements over the Fold 4.
However, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 remains an excellent foldable flagship in 2023, and even though it's a year old, it held up exceptionally well. It supports the S Pen, comes with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC with 12GB of RAM, and has a decent camera setup and battery life. It's also cheaper than ever, and it can be bought on sale for as low as $900 at selected retailers. If you want to rock the S Pen on a foldable that's more affordable than the Fold 5, the Fold 4 is the best alternative for less.
Honor Magic Vs
HONOR Magic Vs is a great foldable smartphone offering some of the finest hardware on the market. So, if you're looking for a gadget that you can use for several years, it won't disappoint. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and comes with a capable triple-camera array that captures great images and won't disappoint, making it a great choice.
- Wide cover display and compact form factor
- Excellent camera setup
- Large battery and 66W fast charging
- Excellent performance
- No IP rating
- It lacks wireless charging
- Unavailable in North America
The HONOR Magic Vs was unveiled at MWC 2023, and it’s the second foldable flagship from the company. It sports a beautiful 7.9-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 6.45-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is responsive and fast, and the main screen lets you use the optional stylus to take notes and sign documents. The large screen is excellent for drawing and sketching, but the downside is that it’s an optional accessory. This means you’ll have to carry it separately, and it can’t be stored within the phone’s body.
That said, it’s an excellent device with only a few compromises. The phone is powered by the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It has a triple camera setup and is one of the best-looking foldables in 2023.
Despite the compact and slim form factor, the Magic Vs packs a large 5,000 mAh battery, one of the largest in a foldable available today. It also supports 66W fast wired charging, but unfortunately, it lacks wireless charging. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, this is it. It’s available in the UK, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
The Moto G Stylus 5G is an excellent budget smartphone. It has a large 6.6-inch IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate, and a dual 50MP and 8MP camera on the back. It's an excellent affordable smartphone, and it has a built-in stylus that lets you draw, sketch, and take notes on the go.
- Built-in stylus
- Great price
- One OS and three years of security updates
- Large battery
- Slow charging
- No wireless charging
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset. It has a large 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with FHD+ resolution and support for 120Hz refresh rate. It has 6GB of memory and 256GB of expandable storage. The phone retains the old 3.5mm headphone jack, and it has Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port on the bottom.
It has a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, and there's a punch-hole cutout for the 16MP selfie camera. On the back, the Moto G Stylus has a dual camera setup consisting of a 50MP f/1.9 primary, and an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor. The phone has a built-in slot to store the included stylus, and it's a great budget smartphone for taking notes, and drawing. It has a large 5,000 mAh battery, and it supports 20W wired charging.
The Moto G Stylus is an excellent budget alternative for those who want a reliable smartphone with plenty of power to multitask on the cheap. It's affordable, has plenty of features, and has an embedded slot to store the stylus for a more comfortable and portable experience.
Which smartphone should you buy?
If you're after the best high-end performance and experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a top choice for those who want the ultimate experience. Samsung has always been known for its excellent S Pen features, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is hands-down the best smartphone in its category, with plenty of features and compatibility. The phone has a dedicated slot to store the S Pen, and it has the best camera setup and most powerful performance available in 2023 from the company.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The new Galaxy S23 Ultra is the go-to flagship from Samsung in 2023. It's powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, carries the same price tag as its predecessor, and has improved gaming and camera capabilities to let you capture the perfect moment.
However, if you're looking for a foldable smartphone, we'd recommend either the Galaxy Z Fold 5, or the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for those who want to save money. Both devices are excellent and support the same features as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Perhaps the worst thing about these devices is that either a first-party or a third-party case is necessary to carry the S Pen, but the Fold 5's new Samsung case does a decent job of keeping things slim and compact. The HONOR Magic Vs remains a great, more affordable, alternative for Europeans who can get their hands on the phone, while the Moto G Stylus continues to be the best budget smartphone with stylus support.