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How often do you use the S Pen stylus of your Galaxy Note 4 or Note Edge? (poll results)

posted by Chris P. / May 28, 2015, 7:52 AM

How often do you use the S Pen stylus of your Galaxy Note 4 or Note Edge? (poll results)

If you were to ask owners of a Samsung Galaxy Note device — regardless of the generation — about its most unique feature, nine times out of ten you'll be told about its S Pen stylus. So iconic has the accessory become that Samsung has been working on improving its performance with each new update. So the last time the S Pen got any kind of love was when the company introduced the Note 4 and Note Edge last year.

Iconic the S Pen may be, but do people really use it as often as one would imagine? That's what we sought to answer in the beginning of the week, when we asked Note 4 and Note Edge owners about their usage habits. As some of you have pointed out, this isn't the first time we ask this question of our readers — we polled you a year ago, when the Note 3 was still current.

The results of the new poll? 22.35% claim they use it all the time for drawing, writing, clipping, and more, while 30.94% say they've only used it once or twice, and never did again. In the middle sit the bulk of users — 46.71% — who say they only occasionally make use of it. Compared with last year, these results suggest that usage patterns haven't changed almost at all, despite the many improvements to the tech, as you can see from the results from March 2014.

While we won't claim that what we have is a completely representative sample — it isn't — we nevertheless have to point out that Samsung probably needs more compelling use-case scenarios to draw wider adoption. What do you think?

How often do you use the S Pen stylus of your Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or Note Edge? (2015)

Using it all the time now for drawing, handwriting, clipping, annotating, or simply doodling

22.35%

I take it out sometimes, like to scribble a quick note, or start a Pen Window

46.71%

The stylus? Oh, yeah, I showed it off, and it's been grounded since

30.94%

How often do you use the S Pen stylus of your Samsung Galaxy Note 3? (2014)

Using it all the time now for drawing, handwriting, clipping, annotating, or simply doodling

22.34%

I take it out sometimes, like to scribble a quick note, or start a Pen Window

42.37%

The stylus? Oh, yeah, I showed it off, and it's been grounded since

35.29%

Options

30 Comments

1. BobbyBuster

Posts: 854; Member since: Jan 13, 2015

Gimmick period.

posted on May 28, 2015, 7:52 AM 3

4. SonyFindOneDroidple

Posts: 865; Member since: May 11, 2013

Might be gimmick for you, for some, but not all.. That SPen can do a lot for us. Im employed under finance and has to attend a lot of meetings, and Ive been using my note 4 to take notes. And also, as an artist, hmm I need not explain it anymore.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:08 AM 17

5. BobbyBuster

Didn't you learn how to use pen & paper at school? Artist? Ofc you are. ROFL.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:10 AM 2

6. drunkenjay

Posts: 1670; Member since: Feb 11, 2013

when apple does it you will call it revolutionary why. apple patented a stylus as well. tell apple that its a gimmick as well then. get out from under the bridge ya orc.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:12 AM 13

7. BobbyBuster

"New is easy. Right is hard" - Jony Ive. Let's wait and see how Apple does it right.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:17 AM 1

11. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Is every Apple user/fan like this or this particular one? Lol.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:34 AM 14

23. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Yes they are...ALL OF THEM if they are a fan. What is so great is most IOS users are just ignorant to technology because many people don't have the capacity to understand technology nor do they have to just se a phone or application. But fans are suppose to be smarter and better than your average consumer because they live and breathe tech jargon. The problem with the tech blog fans is their who definition of fan is fighting. They have this pompous attitude that nothing is better than the product they chose, when it fact choosing what is better for "you" doesnt mean it is the best offering. It just isn't. If the rest of us who actually want to have a valid reasonable argument or debate on technology would just ignore the idiots by not responding to their posts, they would get board and leave.

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:15 AM 1

26. willard12 unregistered

Pretty soon, Sause5 will log on to post that all fans of Android are merely "fanboys" while those who love Apple are simply lovers of tech that don't engage in bashing at all.

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:47 AM 1

15. LetsBeHonest

Jony I've?? Lol lol lol. Another marketing quotes on behalf of Apple. I must admit it is definitely working for Apple's users. Good job Apple. Big laud applause.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:47 AM 3

16. LetsBeHonest

*Ive.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:50 AM 0

22. TechieXP1969

The WACOM stylus is a digitized very accurate option. I doubt Apple an do better because, they don't make their own technology, they will simply buy someone else belter concept and call it their own. What exactly is the right way to do a stylus? You have an idea? No. If Apple does something no one else does, that doesn't mean its going to be better, it will just be different. Different isn't always better. Example? Apple Pay. What is Apple offer that is different? NOTHING. Is it better than Google Wallet? No. It a simple NFC based system. Doesn't offer any advantage over anything else at all.

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:11 AM 0

29. Joey.c123

Posts: 7; Member since: Jun 01, 2015

Spot on it's all about the pen, I use it everyday all day and its applicable to all industries and artists, I'm in construction and use my note 4 and the 10.1 2014 edition to annotate pictures of job sites mark up change orders, draw up quick floor plans blueprints etc. This fantastic little pen just makes my life a little easier, and that's a beautiful thing.)

posted on Jun 02, 2015, 2:06 PM 0

14. Tsepz_GP

Posts: 1175; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

Yep, to any idiot who has not used it it will seem that way.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:36 AM 4

17. Nathillien unregistered

Gimmick until Apple does it. BB - "But Apple will do it right, because Apple does everything right" Yeah, the same way how they did Maps and their first bendable phone.

posted on May 28, 2015, 10:27 AM 2

30. jimmyboy

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 23, 2014

I LITERALLY LOL's on this one! Thanks for the chuckle. My assistant just looked up at me from her desk. This sums up Apple Fan boys very well! I know, I am the father of 4 and our home is divided. Not quite a civil war- more like friendly competition. But the actual techies among my kids are in the Android camp. 'Nuff said.

posted on Mar 31, 2016, 1:38 PM 0

19. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

When Apple creates something you be like "Its the best innovative product ever!" This isn't a gimmcick I see a lot of people buying stylist for their phone. The Galaxy NOTE is the best phone with a built in stylist

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:02 AM 0

20. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

My fault I meant to say gimmick

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:03 AM 0

21. TechieXP1969

Would you say the same if the iPhone had one? Of course not. everything is a gimmick until you all get it. Question I 720p, 1080p, 1440p all gimmicks? Is 3GB of RAM a gimmick? I guess big phones were useless an gimmicky too until the iPhone finally grew in size...right? I guess the notification pull down was a gimmick too until you finally got it? What about copy/paste, universal inbox and all the other features Android and Windows had long before Apple decided to copy. Gimmick is defined as - a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business. Samsung has been known to have gimmicky features in their devices. In fact that si what makes them the leading Android OEM because they offer them while others don't and many have found them useful. The S-Pen however can't be defined as a gimmick because it serves a specific function for the device. It is an alternative form of input. FACT - Writing is faster than typing even if you could type 100 words per minute on the phone. FACT - Tho you can draw with your finger, a stylus offers better precision and quality. When you were in school, was a pen or pencil a gimmick to get your work done? Or did you just stick to crayons and markers all your life? Gimmicks tend to be useless. The vast majority of Note owners bought the device because of its size in relations to other OEM. But it has remained popular and Note users do use their S-Pen. The iPhone doesn't offer any amazing features. Everything is so basic. So just because you can live within those basic offerings doesn't mean something you cant use is a gimmick. You're just stupid. Smartphones had a stylus for years. It offers a benefit for those who want it. To criticize something because you don't want/need it is stupid and ignorant. Here is what makes you and people like you so bad. Purposely choosing to be ignorant and stupid, actually makes you worse than someone natural retarded, because they don't know any better.

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:07 AM 1

2. tedkord

Posts: 17356; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Not a whole lot of change from last year.

posted on May 28, 2015, 7:53 AM 0

3. BobbyBuster

Much less people voted. Note4 sold much less than Note3. ROFL. Both GS and Note peak at the third iteration. What remains is Sammy's nosedive that we are witnessing.

posted on May 28, 2015, 7:57 AM 0

8. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

LOL........you do realize PA is not the universe right ? If you really think PA's vote counts as a reflection of Samsung's sales IRL then you really need to get yourself looked at. You are just making yourself look stupid by making such dumb comments. Stop trying too hard.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:23 AM 7

9. BobbyBuster

Do you realize that PA isn't the only source of information to me? I have many much more reliable sources. Nevertheless, the vote count nearly halved. That DOES tell something.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:28 AM 1

12. joeytaylor

Posts: 957; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

The only thing it tells us is the site traffic is lower....I've seen other polls on here with the same results....has nothing to with the phone....it's the websites loss of traffic

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:34 AM 2

10. TyrionLannister unregistered

Much less people voted means more that PA's readership has lessened, not the sales of Note 4 v/s Note 3 LOL.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:29 AM 4

13. BobbyBuster

I'd say both.

posted on May 28, 2015, 8:34 AM 0

18. SlimSoulja86

Posts: 660; Member since: Nov 03, 2011

I bet Samsung haters voted as if they are using Note 4, I never belive these polls. The only poll I will believ it's if PA goes to people who own Note 4, here everyone who doesn't have the phone can vote as if they are using the Note. So this means nothing at all. The only reliable source is asking people who use the Note, not some people who are using iPhone 6 Plus and they end up voting "The stylus? Oh, yeah, I showed it off, and it's been grounded since"

posted on May 28, 2015, 10:45 AM 0

24. TechieXP1969

The reality is, this no matter what the haters say. After Samsung broke the small phone trend with the original Note, the sales of the device have increase by more than 10M every single year. The first Note sold over 10M in its first year. They could have sold more if Verizon has gotten on the bandwagon with the first model, but VZW waiting for the 2nd model and it was only after VZW users signed a petition for them to invest in getting it and VZW has had no regret. The Note 2 doubled the original Note sales and the Note 3 went on to double the Note 2 sales. In fact, the Note 3 and Galaxy S4 tandem for the year outsold all 4 selling iPhone model combine for a full 12 months. That is right. Apple sold just under 150M phones that year while Samsung sold over 150M of the 2 models. The Note 4 I am not sure if it outsold the Note 3, but what I do know if it hasn't dropped in sales from the last version. I see a lot of females even with small hands using a Note 4. I bought my wife the Galaxy S every year since the S3 appeared on VZW. Even though she had an S5, I upgraded her to the Note 4 when I bought mine because I like it do much and I knew she would too. Though she doesn't do everything it offers which no one really does, she does use the stylus often. I see females in stores with their grocery list on their Note, I see people using them in meetings with the S-Pen, I see people drawing in the park. any businessmen have oly own phones with a stylus and want nothing else. Steve Jobs was an idiot. I did agree with him to a point that the finger is very useful, but their are things a finger can't do. The finger cant offer the precision needed in handwriting that a pen can PERIOD. That is FACT not fiction of fanboyism. For me, I use to love writing. My teachers use to commend me on having such nice handwriting for a guy. I lost by ability to write and draw as good as I use too because I started typing everything due to using smartphones since 1998. I bought the Note specifically so I could go back to my favorite past time of writing and drawing. I used a full pack of replacement tips in just a year. Right now I have an S6 Edge ad I sold my Note 4 because I want the S6 Edge for nothing more than its looks while I await the Note 5. I miss my pen and even after having my S6 for nearly 2 weeks, I still reach for a stylus that isnt there. So I just went online and bought a pen.

posted on May 28, 2015, 11:28 AM 2

25. TechieXP1969

For the idiots who think the S-Pen is gimmicky, you just that...IDIOTS. Not everyone just what a big phone. Samsung offered the philosophy tat when you add seething to a device, it needs to serve a purpose. After all what good is a useless feature? Size offers its own features, like better reading ability on the larger screen. But unless you have bad eyes, size for reading on a phone is lame because that is what tablets are for. The Note is to phones and tablets what the multi-function printer is to a business. It is a convergence o devices that offer a huge benefit without the cost of owning multiple devices an in the case of having a portable device, for those who don't want to carry a big @$$ tablet around, can have the benefit of one with a device that fits in the pocket. You have to be a complete and uttered idiot to blast something simply because you dont have a need for it. We dont need smartwatch either. They offer o benefit whatsoever over a smartphone. It is simply a smaller version offering redundant features at a price model that is outrageous. The Apple Watch, the Pebble, the Moto 360, the Gear and more are all gimmicky nearly useless devices that no one needs. I have yet to see one fan of Apple, speak to how useless the Apple Watch is. yet you say the S-pen is useless? The SPen brigs specific functions to a smartphone that would not work as well otherwise. Sure you can draw with your finger. But you cant draw the same with a finger as you can with a pen.