The Return of the Stylus: S Pen vs. Apple Pencil Pro

Digital handwriting has evolved from a clumsy novelty into a precise requirement for creative professionals and students. If you are looking to invest in a tablet for art or note-taking, the choice often comes down to the stylus technology rather than the tablet itself. This guide breaks down the technical differences between Samsung’s S Pen and the new Apple Pencil Pro.

The Core Technology: Active vs. EMR

To understand the performance difference, you must look at how these tools communicate with their respective screens.

The Apple Pencil Pro uses active capacitive technology. It requires a battery to generate a signal that the iPad Pro or iPad Air screen detects. This allows for incredibly high data transfer rates, enabling features like pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition to be broadcast via Bluetooth.

The Samsung S Pen relies on Wacom’s Electro-Magnetic Resonance (EMR) technology. There is a digitizer layer under the screen of devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Galaxy Tab S9. This layer creates a magnetic field that powers the pen. Because of this, the S Pen does not need a battery to write. It only uses a small capacitor for Bluetooth “Air Actions.”

Latency Numbers

Latency is the delay between your hand moving and the line appearing on the screen. Both companies have pushed this to near-instant levels, but the specs differ:

  • Samsung S Pen: On flagship devices like the Tab S9 Ultra and S24 Ultra, Samsung claims a latency of 2.8 milliseconds. This is achieved through AI prediction algorithms that guess where your hand is moving next.
  • Apple Pencil Pro: Apple generally cites a latency of around 9 milliseconds. However, on iPad Pro models with 120Hz ProMotion displays, the gap is imperceptible to the human eye.

While Samsung wins on the spec sheet, real-world usage feels instantaneous on both devices.

Writing Feel and Friction

This is the most divisive category for users. The physical experience of writing differs drastically between the two.

The Apple Pencil Experience

The Apple Pencil Pro features a hard plastic tip. When you write on the iPad’s glass screen, it creates a “tapping” sound. It feels very smooth, similar to a ballpoint pen on a whiteboard. There is very little friction.

  • The Fix: Many artists buy matte screen protectors from brands like Paperlike or Rock Paper Pencil to add texture.
  • The Weight: It is substantial and weighted like a premium fountain pen.

The Samsung S Pen Experience

Samsung uses a soft, rubberized nib (0.7mm). When this rubber tip meets the glass screen, it creates natural drag. It feels much closer to a gel pen writing on a glossy magazine. It is silent and offers more control for handwriting without needing a screen protector.

  • The Weight: The included S Pen is lighter and thinner, feeling more like a disposable stick pen or a traditional wooden pencil.
  • Creator Edition: Samsung sells a “Creator Edition” S Pen for roughly $100 that mimics the thicker barrel size of the Apple Pencil if you prefer that grip.

Exclusive Features: The "Pro" Difference

The release of the Apple Pencil Pro in May 2024 introduced new sensors that separate it from previous models.

Apple Pencil Pro Unique Features

  • Squeeze: A new sensor in the barrel allows you to squeeze the pen to bring up a tool palette on the screen. This lets you switch colors or tools in apps like Procreate without moving your hand.
  • Barrel Roll: A gyroscope inside the pencil detects when you rotate the barrel. If you are using a shaped brush (like a chisel tip), rotating the pen rotates the line on the screen, exactly like a real marker.
  • Haptic Feedback: A small motor vibrates to confirm when you have successfully snapped a shape into place or used the squeeze gesture.
  • Find My: You can now track the location of the pencil if it gets lost in the sofa cushions.

Samsung S Pen Unique Features

  • Air Actions: Because the S Pen acts as a Bluetooth remote, you can use the button on the side to take photos from across the room or advance PowerPoint slides.
  • Hover: While Apple recently added hover functionality, Samsung has had it for years. It allows you to preview emails, scroll timelines, or magnify text just by holding the pen tip near the glass.
  • Cost Efficiency: The S Pen is included in the box with the Galaxy Tab S9 series and the S24 Ultra. The Apple Pencil Pro is a separate $129 purchase.

Software Ecosystem

Hardware is only half the story. The apps available determine the utility of the stylus.

iPadOS (Apple) Apple maintains a stronghold on the creative industry largely due to Procreate. This app is exclusive to iPad and is the industry standard for digital illustration. For note-taking, GoodNotes 6 and Notability are highly polished and optimized for the Apple Pencil.

One UI (Samsung/Android) Samsung has closed the gap significantly. Samsung Notes is an incredibly powerful, free app that handles handwriting recognition better than Apple Notes. For artists, Clip Studio Paint and HiPaint are excellent alternatives to Procreate. LumaFusion is also available on Android now, making video editing with the stylus viable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Apple Pencil Pro work with older iPads? No. The Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the iPad Pro (M4) and the iPad Air (M2) released in 2024. Older iPads use the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) or USB-C version.

Do I need to charge the S Pen to write? No. You only need to charge the S Pen if you want to use Bluetooth gestures (Air Actions). For drawing and writing, it works passively via EMR technology even if the capacitor is dead.

Can I replace the tips on these styluses? Yes. Apple sells a pack of 4 replacement tips for roughly $19. Samsung includes a removal tool and extra nibs in the box with some tablets, but third-party replacements like the Staedtler digital nibs are widely available and cheap.

Which stylus is better for simple note-taking? For pure handwriting, the Samsung S Pen often wins because the rubber tip provides better control and handwriting usually looks neater. However, the iPad has a wider selection of polished note-taking applications.