Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: What’s new for the S Pen?

[ PROMO ] Redeem a 45W USB-C PD Super Fast Charger (worth RM199) for free when you buy the Galaxy S22 series with the promo code GS22VIPSC via the Samsung Malaysia online store. Offer ends 31 March 2022 while stocks last.

===

Samsung has officially made the Galaxy S22 Ultra the successor to the popular Galaxy Note series. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since Samsung put the idea of a Galaxy S device working with an S Pen in our heads back with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, the S Pen was sold as a separate accessory so it couldn’t really be called a Note replacement. With the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the S Pen now lives inside the phone chassis just like a true Galaxy Note device.

With each iteration of the Note series, the S Pen receives hardware and software improvements as well. That trend continues with the S Pen on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. But do these upgrades bring anything new to S Pen experience this time around?

Most responsive S Pen yet

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and S Pen combo already had an impressive 9ms latency, but Samsung managed to lower it further to an impressive 2.8ms. This value is obtained by smarter software working together with new hardware technology.

Samsung enhanced AI based coordinate prediction technology is now able to predict the direction in which you will draw with greater accuracy. It achieves this by using a multipoint algorithm to simultaneous predict multiple coordinate paths, instead of a single point system. The S Pen has also been fitted with a new Wacom integrated circuit (IC) which enables the S Pen to communicate with the Galaxy S22 Ultra at 400 circuits per seconds, compared to just 360 with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Something worth noting – pun intended – is that the 2.8ms latency is only achieved when using the S Pen in Samsung notes.

Will the average user be able to tell the difference between 9ms and 2.8ms? I personally use a Galaxy Note 9 and when I’m taking notes, it already feels like writing on paper to me. The only time where latency is noticeable is when you’re drawing a long straight line quickly, which is something I don’t do often when taking notes. I can’t vouch for drawing though since I don’t.

Improved handwriting to text experience

Samsung has also taken the liberty of improving the handwriting to text feature, allowing for better recognition of your handwritten notes and convert it to text. Additionally, this should improve the accuracy of “write in text field”, which allows your to write in, for example a search bar, and have it convert to text. Furthermore, Samsung has added handwritten recognition for up to 88 languages.

Improved Samsung Notes

Quick Notes is a new addition to the pop up notes found in the Air Command tools that aims to reduce the steps required to perform specific tasks. When using Samsung Internet, you can quickly insert a screenshot of the page or the link into a note in a single step. Another example is the ability to quickly attach the current image in Gallery to a note via pop-up notes..

Another new feature is Collaboration View, which essentially turns your Galaxy S22 Ultra into a secondary screen for your Galaxy Tab S8 when using Samsung Notes. When activated with a toggle in the Notes app on the Tab S8, the toolbar will be moved to the S22 Ultra, maximising the canvas on the Tab S8. When you choose a drawing tool or change ink colour, it will be instantaneously synced on the Tab S8.

Familiar Note Features

The Galaxy S22 Ultra still retains all of your favourite Note features like screen off memo, which allows you to quickly take a note without needing to wake the phone. Other less useful features like Air actions also make a return. This feature allows the user to mime a gesture in the air and have it activate an app, navigating a slideshow by flicking the S Pen to the left or right and lets you snap a photo remotely using the Bluetooth-enabled S Pen.

In my opinion, the new features introduced on the Galaxy S22 Ultra don’t add any new value to the “Note” experience, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments sections if these new S Pen features are compelling enough to make you switch to the S22 Ultra.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is available for pre-order starting from the 10th February 2022 via Samsung Malaysia online store, telcos, and online retailers. The phone retails for:

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB – RM5,099

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 256GB – RM5,499

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 512GB – RM5,899

You can find out about the pre-order goodies and details here.