Does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 come with an S Pen?

Or do you have to pay extra for this excellent accessory?

Quick answer: No, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 doesn't come with an S Pen, but it does support the first and second generation foldable S Pens, as well as the S Pen Pro, which are all sold separately.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is Samsung's latest and greatest big-screen foldable phone, and like last year's model one of the standout features is support for the S Pen stylus. The Fold 3 was the first of Samsung's foldables to support the S Pen, but it didn't include the stylus in the box, and neither did the Fold 4. Instead you had to buy it separately, and unfortunately not much has changed in that regard.

No. The Fold 5 doesn't come with an S Pen in the box as the S23 Ultra does - it's only sold separately.

That's because, as with the Fold 3 and Fold 4, there's no room to store the S Pen inside the phone. You need one of the best Fold 5 cases to slot it into, whether you buy an official Samsung case with the stylus included, or pick up the accessory on its own. That's not to say everything is the same, though. The S Pen for the Fold 5 is new, with some definite improvements over the last one.

The Fold 3 and Fold 4 have bulky S Pen cases that weren't for everyone. The Fold 3 stuck the stylus to the side of the phone, making it unwieldy and hard to use with one hand. The Fold 4 was better, fitting a pouch to the rear of the case that could be removed and replaced with a folding kickstand instead. This was easier to hold, but the S Pen pouch was so thick that wireless charging wouldn't work while it was fitted.

The Z Fold 5 has a new S Pen that's considerably thinner than the last and flat on one side. As you can see in the photo above, the recess in the official Samsung S Pen case is smaller, and when the stylus sits inside, it's completely flush with the rest of the case. A handy click mechanism pops it out when you need it.

The other major difference is how colorful it is, bringing back memories of the Note 9. The official cases add splashes of contrasting color. You can choose between a Sand case with a salmon pink S Pen, Icy Blue with a yellow S Pen, or Graphite with a black S Pen, all of which cost $100.

If you buy the S Pen on its own, it'll set you back $55, and you're stuck with black. Thankfully, third-party cases can house the S Pen too, so you may prefer to pick up the stylus on its own and then buy a compatible case to hold it.

The Fold 5 is also compatible with the first-generation S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro, but neither of these will fit into Fold 5 cases.

So, no, the Fold 5 doesn't come with an S Pen, and the stylus can't fit directly into the body of the phone. But you have plenty of options if you do want to pick the stylus up, with a choice of three official Samsung cases or the option to pick up the S Pen on its own and then store inside one of the many compatible third-party cases. There are also loads of other great Fold 5 accessories to consider grabbing, from screen protectors to some of Samsung's best earbuds.

The new and improved S Pen for the Z Fold 5 doesn't have any new features compared to the old one, but it is considerably smaller and easier to use and stow away. The flat edge makes finding the side that houses the button easy without looking at it.

I loved last year's S Pen case for the Fold 4, and this looks better. The newer stylus sits totally flush with the rest of the case, ensuring that wireless charging will continue to work and that it's as comfortable to hold as it would be if it weren't there.

Zachary has loved writing about Android since he was a teenager and has worked as a freelance writer at Android Police since the beginning of 2020. He specializes in Samsung products covering hardware news, software updates, and deep dives into new features and customizations. While Samsung is Zac's primary specialty, he has plenty of experience with Pixel devices and Android in general. He's often among the first to install the latest Android beta or Developer Preview onto his phone. In addition to news and features, Zac often works on buyer's guides to help readers find the best purchase for their situation. After hours, Zac can be found watching old Transformers cartoons and gaming into the wee hours of the morning, yelling that it was lag that made him die rather than his lack of skill.