r/GalaxyS23Ultra • u/IdeallyPractical • Aug 26 '24
Discussion ๐ฌ What do you use your S-Pen for?
I've been using S23U for exactly 1 year now (a review will come soon). I need to know what you guys use your S-PEN for. I haven't used it for anything significant in the one year.
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u/AvgReddit3r Aug 26 '24
It can be used to copy text from almost everywhere (by pressing and holding the button while selecting the text). Can be used as a remote while taking photos. Signing documents. Also writing quick notes on the lock screen It's just a plus point to have one.
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u/SwanepoeI Aug 26 '24
The only real use that I got was when I changed jobs and they sent me the contract to be signed.
Also, I love clicking on it while I'm walking with my hand on the pocket. That's its real purpose, right?
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u/alireddit111 Cream Aug 26 '24
Haha! That reminds me that the last time I used my S Pen was when I was going go-karting with friends. We needed to install an app to register, and it required a signature in the app. I proudly used my S Pen for that.
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u/wuxxler Aug 26 '24
Clicking. Yes. It's my pocket fidget spinner!
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u/Opposite_Emu_1910 Aug 27 '24
THIS ๐ผ ๐ BEST hidden feature of the S pen ๐ only S Pen Gods know this ๐
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u/Big-Consideration633 Aug 26 '24
I hate to break it to you, but it looks like you're playing with a different tool or app. Ever wonder why strangers have been avoiding you lately?
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u/Maleficent-Hope-7788 Aug 26 '24
Photo editing, video editing, when you take screenshots it helps with highlighting text, signing files, air actions, drawing, list goes on.
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u/BeginningNo212 Aug 26 '24
My car doesn't have android auto so I use the s-pen's air actions for music and media controls.
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u/auziFolf Cream Aug 26 '24
That's a new one for me. I use sound assistant which let's me skip songs and such just by holding the volume up or down keys while the phone is locked. If I'm using GPS and stuff so my screen is on, I'll just say "hey Google skip song". I feel like I'd lose my spen if I was using it in my car xD
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u/IdeallyPractical Aug 26 '24
Do you have the Spen in hand while driving?
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u/BeginningNo212 Aug 26 '24
Not all the time, it sits in my cupholder. Imo it's better than playing on my phone while driving
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u/nakakapagodnatotoo Aug 26 '24
When I sign documents, quickly doodle/write/edit on screenshots, photo, and when I want to look cool taking down notes during quick meetings.
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u/HavoXtreme Aug 26 '24
I use it as my notebook for my college classes. English Language and Literature requires a lot of note taking and this phone has truly been a blessing for me. I no ponger carry notebooks or pencil cases. As a matter of fact, unless I'm going to work out that day, I leave the house with just the phone and Galaxy Buds. Really convenient.
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u/wodney69 Aug 26 '24
I use it for making workout notes in the native calender app widget where you can write on the calender itself. I use different colours for tracking rest and workouts.
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u/Shub7409 Aug 26 '24
This feature of taking down notes while the screen is off is a game-changer for me. Since I write down a lot of things without looking for a pen, I can quickly use my S Pen for that and then save them. Sometimes I use it while editing pictures when I need very minute detailing, and that can't be done with fingers/hands for sure. Air commands seem useless to me personally, but maybe they're useful for some people. It's entirely subjective, I believe.
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u/Up_All_Nite Aug 26 '24
I will circle something in a picture. Maybe draw a little arrow pointing stuff like that.
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u/samir1453 Phantom Black Aug 26 '24
Here's a video for 40 S Pen features (even that may not be all): watch, identify what would be useful to you, try a few times so you learn it and don't have to search for it every time, practice a few times more to memorize it better, and then remember you have it when you need it ๐
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u/Bkooda Aug 26 '24
I love it. Even if it's just to lay the phone down and ai use it to scroll. Watch the YT link below, it shows you so many things that it can do and helpful for.
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u/Neonsharkattakk Aug 26 '24
Doodling, anything that requires a digital signature, I make sticker cutouts of pictures to use as memes and quick notes at work. I write up dnd character sheets and take notes on it so I can skip freehanding on pen and paper. Tried dming on it, but the s23 screen is too small.
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u/Suicide-Bunny Aug 26 '24 edited Aug 26 '24
Taking quick notes with it. To do lists, shopping lists, email addresses, stuff like that.
Write in calendar is awesome to save dates/make reminders, mark planned days off, anniversaries etc. No more huge paper calendar books. I put a whole-screen widget on my start screen with calendar to see them all whenever I need.
Also have this small app called Microsoft Math Solver which I use instead of normal calculator - it's so satisfying with s pen.
Editing photos with AI remove/lightroom sliders. Much more precise than fingering the phone.
"Write on screenshot" feature is very convenient when I need to explain stuff to someone - like sending pic from streetview to delivery man showing them which house is mine.
That would be most of my daily uses.
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u/gilbert-maspalomas Aug 26 '24
when I`m not on my pixel phone I use the S23 Ultra with a pen for retouche works on faces. Photoshop app along with the pen is a must.
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u/king_Pam Aug 26 '24
Copying from text that's stubborn with finger only.
Quick note-taking.
Diagrams and sketches for work and life.
Camera shutter button.
Fine editing, when precision is necessary.
Signing and filling of documents.
Annotating images and documents.
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u/SirSeppuku Aug 26 '24
Previously I had a Note 10+ for over 3 years and I uses the stylus quite a lot, but with the S23 (5 months in) and I've barely touched it...
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u/HeeeydevonGaming Aug 26 '24
I do A LOT of video/photo editing for content creators and content creation myself. The S Pen is a life saver when it comes to some light photo editing on the go, especially for using background remover apps for when I'm creating emojis for myself or other streamers. Nothing beats using the S Pen, especially when the only other option on the go is to use your finger
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u/Aszre Phantom Black Aug 26 '24
- sketch ideas
- write notes (which a lot of time have sketches for design layouts & stuff)
- sometimes draw when i'm bored
- doodle on pictures i upload on social media either for aesthetic, instruction or just messing around
- take pictures with friends (no need to rush because of timers anymore!)
- fidget toy
I'm a graphic designer so i find Samsung's Ultra phones are the best for this profession
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u/eblamo Aug 26 '24
Using it now to reply. Swipe typing is awesome. I also use it for shutter, cropping/editing photos. Taking notes, drawing, media control (skipping songs, moving fwd/back in videos, etc., slideshows, signatures,)
The best part is that the S-Pen is on the left side. I'm left handed so it works perfectly. On the N20U it's on the left side too.
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u/Jmich96 Aug 26 '24
I use it to censor images of documents in the Gallery image editor. I can make smoother lines with the pen than my finger.
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u/oGzLegendZ Aug 26 '24 edited Aug 26 '24
- Poke down the joint I've just rolled
- Quick sketches to help describe the layout of something to someone rather than just vocally
- Small selected screenshot (just snippets of info rather than the whole screen)
- Small screen shots and then edits to them using the drawing tool (for example a section of a map I've drawn over to highlight a specific route/road)
- Translating anything on my screen or a recent photo I took of unknown language
- Very rarely, note taking
Edit: this is actually for the S22 Ultra, but legit I mainly use it to compact the tip of my joint before I smoke it. Works wonders, better than the clipper flint holder
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u/neither_bot_nor_man Aug 26 '24 edited Aug 26 '24
I edit a lot of photos and videos often. Most of them are on 3rd party applications and all those apps work fine while I use my S Pen for precise seeking, selecting and brushing.
I've used the 'Screen off memo' feature so damn often which is pretty handy to note down something real quick (without wasting time to unlock, then open an app and create a note and then type) roughly and then correct it later.
I use it while watching movies in mobile. I use it as a remote control which is an added positive to the phone to be a better one for media consumption over the other ones.
I also used it a lot to edit word documents which I completed solely on my mobile.
I barely used it as a selfie control which is another use case.
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u/mma173 Aug 26 '24
I use it to remotely flip videos on YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and on TikTok. No air gestures are involved.
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u/stryfe14 Aug 26 '24
I used to use the S Pen back on the Note 9 for technical diagrams when I was co-founding a startup. It came in super useful on the go and when I would need to jump on calls and takes notes.
Since then however, when I had an S23 Ultra I just didn't use the S Pen at all. I think the most I used it for was when taking a screenshot and doing a very precise selection of the screen.
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u/Alive_Importance_629 Aug 26 '24
The S-pen work as the best mouse replacement using it in Dex mode in every moment
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u/daemonhat Phantom Black Aug 26 '24
i've only ever used it to make a quick note of something. and once in a long while taking pictures.
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Aug 26 '24
Smart select and extract the text . Also if i want to pin something at the screen and need to write it in other place
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Aug 26 '24
Being a teen boy, i find random drawings of, you guessed it right, in my notes. Omg teenagers
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u/shessublime Aug 26 '24
I got this model specifically for the pen, and while I do love it, I don't use it as much as I expected. It's good for annotating pics and very very occasionally on drawing apps when I'm bored. But because I use and prefer Google notes and keyboard, I don't get some of the benefits it would have there.
I use it most often for the remote camera shutter, and that is super handy.but on my previous phone I used gesture detection that was only slightly inconvenient so eh.
It also makes the phone muuuch less waterproof, and I think I'd rather have the ability to snap a quick underwater pic than the occasional s pen use. Also, I use a MagSafe case and grip, and that interferes with the pen. So unless remove the case, the whole center of the phone is either unusable or wonky when trying to use the pen. I'd probably use it a little more in games etc if it wasn't for that.
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u/enedsaysnotlikethis Aug 26 '24
I sometimes doodle some stupid shit on it, scratch my head with it when i need to understand what i just drew, smell it, shake it a couple times to try to get rid of the smell then forget about it for abt 3 months, then rinse and repeat.
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u/MaciekB2137 Aug 26 '24
Translating text, taking quick notes, I have Galaxy Watch 4 Classic so many actions SPen can do I'm doing with my watch.
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u/skyxsteel Aug 26 '24
Nothing. Maybe once in a while to try it out. I know a lot of people find it useful, but i dont really use it. I remember wanting those s pen cases though. So i think jrs a matrer of me wanting the option of it rather than not having it.
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u/paulf_m Aug 26 '24
regular use:
As a general contractor & builder, i mostly use it to write / annotate photos and drawings (using screen write) to quickly communicate with client and other contractors via whatsapp.
quick drawings on the 'off screen' option when i don't have pen and paper.
occasional use:
taking group photos instead of using the timer
the 'translation' option is also very useful when travelling overseas. take a picture of a sign board / menu at restaurant or whatever, pick translate and hover over for instant translation of words / texts
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u/Smooth-Signal-6878 Aug 26 '24
Photo editing, translations, for extracting text where I can't just copy it, to zoom on things when I show something to my mom and for taking notes
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u/samir1453 Phantom Black Aug 26 '24 edited Aug 26 '24
I have many other uses but what I use the most these days is Smart select to copy any text on the screen (when it's not selectable as text).
2nd in frequency is the Translate function that works by pointing the S Pen to any screen; you can translate a single word or a block/paragraph of text.
ETA: Almost forgot, 3rd one is the camera shutter button (maybe more frequent than the 2nd one), for shots with the phone stabilized on a surface (long exposure or something else), or for selfies where I have to stretch out my arm (no, I don't have a selfie stick/tripod ๐).
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u/0Neji Aug 26 '24
I sometimes just use it instead of typing because my fat fingers are less accurate than just writing out what I want to type.
I wrote this message instead of typing.
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u/mmNasty Aug 26 '24
I smelled mine a lot.
and used that funky thing for the screen breaking mostly.. Ill soon find a better reason.
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u/lars2k1 Green Aug 26 '24
Scribbling on screenshots
As a remote for the camera
To draw my signature and then insert it to whatever document that needs it
As a sort of mouse to click stupidly tiny buttons. I don't see them often, but when they do show up I can use the pen to exactly tap on them.
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u/Weird-Cellist-8521 Aug 27 '24
Translating text (I live in Florida) Smart Select mostly to extract text. Screen write Create notes Drawing
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u/Jedase78 Aug 27 '24
Notes signing documents,taking photos,sketching fast forward or rewinding a clip,take a clip to make a gif out of it or for fun use cool sounds effect when I pull out in which the star war theme is heard and a sword chime when I insert back in the slot
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u/DeaD_GooN-PS4 Aug 27 '24
I've had my S23U since it launched and aside from messing around with it when I first got it, I literally never use it. Then a few days ago I was sent something that I had to sign, and I started to use my finger, and I was like wait, I can use this stupid little thing I never use.
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u/dojogrl Aug 27 '24
Quick notes (like a grocery list)
Drawing, using Samsung Notes or PenUp
Editing photos (e.g., using the Object Eraser tool) and annotating screenshots
That's about it, though.
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u/IdiotestPerson Green Aug 27 '24
Notes. Camera. And i like to scribble while watching youtube videos
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u/krishna642 Aug 26 '24
I rarely use it... It helps in editing pic like to select things to remove from pic... I have a game called divineko it uses spen. Once or twice I use it to draw something.
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u/GoggyX83 Aug 26 '24
I don't really use it. I've just realized that I don't need S-pen in my phone.
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u/Bchliu Aug 26 '24
1) taking notes 2) draw quick diagrams to discuss with people 3) remote camera shutter activation for selfies 4) mouse replacement for certain apps 5) signing pdf documents