If your Galaxy smartphone has S Pen issues, it could be your case

There was numerous pleasure round Qi2 when it was introduced. The success of Apple’s MagSafe has proven the potential for magnetic cellphone equipment, and the truth that Qi2 is suitable with MagSafe and vice versa solely makes the deal sweeter. Sadly, we’ve solely seen a single Android cellphone undertake Qi2 up to now. Case producers reacted higher although, releasing Qi2-enabled circumstances for all kinds of Android flagships. Nonetheless, in the event you use one among Samsung’s S Pen-equipped Extremely fashions, you would possibly need to suppose twice earlier than boarding the Qi2 case wagon.

For a very long time now, we’ve recognized that magnetic equipment may cause points for the S Pen. Samsung has acknowledged this because the launch of the Galaxy Be aware 8, and it made the information cycle when the S24 Extremely launched.

Nonetheless, Qi2 circumstances are gaining popularity, and lots of customers could not know the problems they will trigger. We’ve seen stories over the previous few months from folks experiencing issues with their S Pens, like Reddit consumer ddelin86’s submit this week. Most circumstances for earlier Galaxy Extremely flagships lacked magnets, however that’s modified with the S24 Extremely this 12 months, and such circumstances will solely turn into extra standard as we enter 2025, so it’s value reminding folks of what to look out for.

The S Pen has turn into a staple of the Samsung expertise. One of many issues that makes it so particular is that it doesn’t require energy to operate, apart from the Bluetooth options newer fashions have added. The fundamentals of writing, drawing, and hovering over the display all occur passively, because of, you guessed it, magnetism. Telephones and tablets that help the stylus emit an electromagnetic area that reacts to the coil inside the S Pen. Your system detects that response and makes use of that data to know the place the S Pen is and what it’s doing.

Including a powerful magnet to the again of your cellphone interferes with this electromagnetic area, leading to points with the S Pen, like having to press extra firmly on the display or having a useless zone the place it doesn’t work.

Fortunately, this doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t use Qi2/MagSafe equipment. As famous by Dbrand on Reddit, it’s uncommon for the case itself to trigger any points as a result of the producer ought to have examined its product with the cellphone. Issues come up when you add equipment to the case. In my testing, easy equipment like card holders don’t trigger any points with the S Pen, however a battery pack with stronger magnets does.

How this impacts you relies on how you utilize MagSafe equipment. A magnetic automobile mount will in all probability trigger points with the S Pen, however you’re unlikely to make use of it whereas driving. Likewise, in case your battery is low and also you want a Qi2 battery pack to maintain your cellphone going, you’ll be able to in all probability forego any S Pen use till your battery has some cost.

Don’t let this concern cease you from utilizing magnetic equipment along with your cellphone; simply preserve this in thoughts in order that you already know what’s inflicting the problem in the event you encounter it.

This does increase questions on how Samsung will combine Qi2 into its smartphone lineup. To remove any probability of this taking place, it could doubtless have to utterly overhaul how the S Pen features, which might be a big endeavor.

Do you utilize Qi2/MagSafe equipment along with your Samsung system? In that case, have you ever encountered any points with the S Pen? Tell us within the feedback.