In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, rumors and legal battles often shape the landscape more than the devices themselves. From Samsung’s potential shift away from its iconic S Pen, to Google’s Pixel series facing bans in major markets, and the latest Snapdragon chipset benchmarks shaking up expectations, there’s plenty to unpack. Let’s dive into these tech headlines, breaking down what they mean for fans and consumers alike.
Table of Contents
- 🖊️ Samsung’s S Pen: Is It Really on the Way Out?
- 🇯🇵 Google Pixel Ban in Japan: What Happened?
- 📊 Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Benchmarks: What to Expect from the Nothing Phone 3
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
🖊️ Samsung’s S Pen: Is It Really on the Way Out?
One of the most beloved features of Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra series has been the S Pen — a compact stylus that slips neatly into the phone, offering precision and unique capabilities. But recent moves by Samsung have left fans concerned. With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung removed Bluetooth support from the S Pen, disabling some of its standout features, like using it as a remote shutter button for photos. This change sparked speculation that Samsung might be preparing to phase out the S Pen entirely.
Recent rumors have further fueled this theory. First, the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung’s next foldable phone, is rumored to omit the digitizer layer beneath the display that enables traditional S Pen input. Simply put, this means the S Pen you currently own may not work with the new Fold 7.
Even more surprising, whispers suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected next year, might also lack this digitizer layer. That implies two things: no existing S Pen compatibility and no built-in slot for the stylus on the phone itself.
Now, before the Samsung fanbase erupts in frustration, there is a silver lining. S Pen support could still exist, but it would require a fundamental redesign. The stylus would need to become an active device — meaning it would have its own battery and more complex technology to communicate with the phone without a digitizer layer.
The downside? This new S Pen would almost certainly be too large to fit inside the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While foldables like the Z Fold 7 have never featured an integrated S Pen slot, Ultra series fans who love having the stylus on hand might have to resort to carrying it separately—perhaps in a case or other accessory.
So why would Samsung take such a controversial step? It’s unlikely they’d remove a beloved feature without good reason. Potential benefits include:
- Thinner phone designs
- Larger batteries due to freed-up internal space
- Support for magnetic charging, which the current S Pen and digitizer layers interfere with
- Potential cost savings (though price drops might be wishful thinking)
In short, while S Pen fans may feel disappointed, users who don’t rely on the stylus might appreciate sleeker phones with better battery life. What do you think? Are you team S Pen or ready for a change? Let me know in the comments!
🇯🇵 Google Pixel Ban in Japan: What Happened?
Moving from Samsung to Google, a recent legal ruling has rocked one of the Pixel’s biggest markets — Japan. Google Pixel phones rank among the top three in market share there, and in Q1 2023, Japan even surpassed the United States in Pixel shipments. So this isn’t a small deal.
However, the Pixel 7 series has now been banned in Japan following a lawsuit by a company called Pantech. The case centers on alleged patent infringement related to LTE connectivity technology. While the technical details are dense and dry, the key takeaway is that a judge ruled the Pixel 7 series unsellable in Japan.
What makes this ruling particularly interesting is the judge’s criticism of Google’s legal team for being “insincere and uncooperative” during the trial, which influenced the decision. This serves as a stark reminder: if you’re in court for patent disputes, cooperation matters.
Although the Pixel 7 series is already a generation old, the lawsuit is far from over. Pantech has also claimed infringement against the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series. With this initial win, Pantech’s case gains momentum, potentially putting Google in a difficult spot in one of its key markets.
It’s worth noting that Pantech is widely regarded as a patent troll — a company that profits primarily by suing others over patents rather than producing products. While Google lost this round, many hope they can find a way to resolve the issue and keep their phones available in Japan.
📊 Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Benchmarks: What to Expect from the Nothing Phone 3
Lastly, let’s talk processors. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, which will power the upcoming Nothing Phone 3, has recently been put through its paces. The Poco F7, which just launched, also uses this chipset, giving us a sneak peek at what to expect performance-wise.
Here’s a quick rundown of the benchmark results:
- The Poco F7 easily outperforms the Pixel 9a, which uses Google’s Tensor G4 chipset. This aligns with the general superiority of Snapdragon chips over Tensor processors.
- Against the Galaxy S24+, which uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Poco F7 (and by extension the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4) falls behind.
- The Galaxy S25+ running the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy crushes the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 by a wide margin — it’s a no-contest scenario.
So what does this mean for the Nothing Phone 3? While benchmark results can vary depending on factors like cooling and hardware design, it’s safe to expect performance similar to the Galaxy S24 but noticeably below the Galaxy S25. Whether that’s acceptable depends on your expectations and use cases.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Galaxy S26 Ultra completely lose S Pen support?
Not necessarily. While the phone may lack the traditional digitizer layer and an internal S Pen slot, Samsung could introduce a new active stylus that works differently. However, this stylus would likely be larger and require separate storage.
Why was the Pixel 7 series banned in Japan?
A Japanese court ruled that Google infringed on LTE-related patents held by Pantech. The decision was influenced by Google’s legal team’s uncooperative behavior during the trial.
Is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset a downgrade?
Not exactly. While it underperforms compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy used in the Galaxy S25, it still delivers solid performance above Google’s Tensor G4 and should be adequate for most users.
What impact might these changes have on consumers?
Samsung users who rely on the S Pen may need to adapt to new stylus designs and carrying methods. Google’s Pixel users in Japan might face limited availability or delays. The Nothing Phone 3’s performance will be competitive but not top-tier.
Wrapping Up
The tech world never stands still. Samsung’s potential departure from the classic S Pen design signals a shift toward thinner, possibly more efficient phones, but at the cost of convenience for stylus fans. Google’s legal woes in Japan highlight the challenges of navigating patent landscapes in crucial markets. And the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 benchmarks give us a realistic preview of upcoming device performance, setting expectations for the Nothing Phone 3.
Whether you’re a die-hard Samsung fan, a Pixel enthusiast, or simply curious about the latest chipset capabilities, these stories remind us that innovation often comes with trade-offs — and sometimes a little drama.
What are your thoughts on these developments? Are you excited, worried, or somewhere in between? Drop your thoughts below and stay tuned for more updates!
