I did buy my Galaxy S23 Ultra primarily for its camera, but I did justify the buy too, thinking that a built-in stylus would be really useful as well… But just using that S Pen for notetaking and signing the odd PDF is a real waste of what more that S Pen actually can do! It is more than just a stylus.
The video linked below really needs to be watched every month, as I’ve seen one similar to it a year ago, and I’ve forgotten most of this.
For me, some highlights are:
- Easily annotate PDF documents in Samsung Notes
- The S-Pen can open the camera app, switch front/rear cameras, zoom in/out, take the photo
- Similarly controlling music, gallery, etc apps by gesture
- Media controls
- Hover over word to translate
- Have any app in a small glance window
- Keeping phone unlocked while doing notes
- Pin a note to always-on display e.g. shopping list
- Screen-off memos for notes without unlocking phone
- Create a quick pop-up note over any other app (and make them transparent)
- If you have Galaxy Tablet, you can use your phone alongside it as a toolbar (very Apple this is)
The only way really to remember this functionality is to get into the habit of using some of the additional features, and refreshing your memory around what all it can do. I did make some summary notes in Google Keep at the time, but I’ve not really looked at them again.
Which brings me to two other points:
- Samsung Notes, especially with the S Pen, really makes Google Keep look very bland and basic (apart from maybe Keep’s location reminders).
- Some of the fancier S Pen to Text functionality only works with the Samsung keyboard, so if you’re using a 3rd party keyboard like I do, that doesn’t work. My only issue with the Samsung keyboard is I just don’t find its autocorrect very good, but maybe I should also give it another try. For me, a fluid and accurate autocorrect is the most important function of a keyboard.