Does the Z Fold 4 come with S Pen? Stylus options for Samsung's new Galaxy foldable

The Z Fold 4 is S Pen compatible, but does that mean one comes in the box or not?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 with S Pen stylus
(Image credit: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is now official, fresh off the back of the Galaxy Unpacked event, leading the pack when it comes to Samsung's best folding phones range. But there are a lot of people wondering: is the new Z Fold compatible with Samsung's S Pen stylus?

The short answer is yes. But then so was the Galaxy Z Fold 3. So is there any change to functionality or compatibility? The answer to that would be no. The S Pen Fold Edition stylus remains one and the same, the product hasn't been updated and you can still buy it – and its £44.99 price tag has been slashed since launch, as you can see in the price widget below. 

But you'll probably be thinking: "why would I need to buy an S Pen Fold Edition stylus – surely it's included in the Fold 4's box?". Wrong! The Galaxy Z Fold 4 doesn't include the stylus as part of its package, you'll need to fork out extra if you want one. That's because, as I point out in my Z Fold 4 versus Z Fold 3 differences feature, the two phones are very similar. 

However, should you pre-order – and you can read my Z Fold 4 early verdict review here – then there's a way around this conundrum. As per its predecessor's promotional launch, the latest big-screen Galaxy foldable will also be available with a free Starter Kit, usually priced £89.99 in the UK, which includes the S Pen Fold Edition stylus, a Flip Case (for the Fold, of course, not the Galaxy Z Flip 4!), and a 25W plug (as only the cable is included in the box). 

Seeing as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can cost north of £2,000, you'll no doubt want to protect the device, so the case certainly seems like a savvy idea, S Pen or not. However, I'm still a little sad that Samsung hasn't figured out some magical way to embed the S Pen within the Fold 4's body – a feature that, just maybe, could be on the cards in the foldable series' future?

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is the Tech Editor and AV Editor at T3.com. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 and, as a phones expert, has seen hundreds of handsets over the years – swathes of Android devices, a smattering of iPhones, and a batch of Windows Phone products (remember those?). But that's not all, as a tech aficionado his beat for T3 also covers tablets, laptops, gaming, home cinema, TVs, speakers and more – there's barely a stone unturned that he's not had a hand on. Previously the Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for a 10 years, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more. In addition to his tech knowledge, Mike is also a flights and travel expert, having travelled the globe extensively. You'll likely find him setting up a new mobile phone, critiquing the next MacBook, all while planning his next getaway... or cycling somewhere.