Best stylus phones 2026: Galaxy S25 Ultra, Z Fold 6, Moto G Stylus and budget picks

Do you sign, sketch, annotate or take handwritten notes while on the move? Stylus phones still matter for that exact slice of work: quick capture, precise markup and pocketable creativity. In 2026 the market is split between Samsung’s premium S Pen experience and affordable phones that deliver the core handwriting essentials. This guide cuts through specs and marketing to tell you which stylus phone fits your workflow and which compromises you should expect.

Quick decision checklist

• If you use a pen every day for work (notes, signatures, sketches) — choose a premium S Pen phone (Galaxy S25 Ultra).
• If you need a large canvas for drawing or multi-window editing — choose a foldable with S Pen support (Galaxy Z Fold 6).
• If budget and battery life matter more than camera polish — pick Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) or TCL Stylus 5G.

Top picks and who they’re for

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — Best stylus phone overall

Quick verdict: The Galaxy S25 Ultra pairs flagship performance, an excellent display and long battery life with a refined S Pen handwriting experience — a sensible pick for professionals who want the fastest, most polished pocket pen.

• Price: starting around $1,099.99
• Key specs: 6.9″ display, 5,000 mAh battery, 12/16 GB RAM, 256–1 TB storage, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, camera array led by a 200MP sensor.
• Pros: best overall performance and display; excellent battery life; tight S Pen handwriting and Samsung Notes integrations.
• Cons: expensive; the S Pen on this generation moves toward passive operation — Bluetooth remote features are largely removed compared with older Note-era pens.
• Who it’s for: executives, sales professionals, content creators who need flagship cameras and on-the-go precision.

“The stylus restores a more natural handwriting experience and gives precision finger taps can’t match.”

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 — Best foldable for stylus use

Quick verdict: If you want a large, pocketable canvas for sketches, annotated documents or multitasking, the Z Fold 6’s 7.6″ inner screen is hard to beat — but plan for separate stylus storage and check model compatibility before buying.

• Price: around $1,799
• Key specs: 7.6″ main display, 6.3″ cover display, ~4,400 mAh battery, 12 GB RAM, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on many SKUs.
• Pros: large real-estate for drawing and multitasking; S Pen support combined with Galaxy AI features (Circle to Search, sketch-to-image).
• Cons: S Pen sold separately and usually requires a case for storage; recent foldable generations have been inconsistent about stylus support so model selection matters.
• Who it’s for: architects, designers, field engineers and power users who value a larger canvas in a pocketable device.

Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) — Best budget stylus phone

Quick verdict: A practical, built-in stylus with long battery life for under $400 — ideal for students, field workers and anyone who needs reliable note capture without the flagship price.

• Price: starting around $399.99
• Key specs: 6.7″ display, 5,000 mAh battery, 8 GB RAM, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3.
• Pros: integrated stylus that’s available out of the box; excellent battery endurance for workdays on the road.
• Cons: modest performance for heavy multitasking; cameras are functional but not class-leading.
• Who it’s for: students, sales reps doing quick forms/notes, field technicians who need durable battery-first devices.

TCL Stylus 5G — Best under ~$300

Quick verdict: The most affordable way to get a true stylus experience on a phone — a good secondary device or starter phone for people on a tight budget.

• Price: roughly $258–$269 via carriers (T-Mobile / Metro)
• Key specs: 6.8″ display, MediaTek Dimensity 700, 4 GB RAM, 4,000 mAh battery.
• Pros: very low cost, honest stylus experience, surprisingly good speakers for media.
• Cons: limited RAM and processing power, basic camera system, lacks advanced palm rejection and software polish.
• Who it’s for: budget-conscious users, basic note-takers and those who prioritize price over performance.

Short version: what changed and why it matters

Pens got simpler; foldables got inconsistent. Two trends define 2026’s stylus phone scene:

• Passive vs active styluses: Active styluses include Bluetooth or special chips for remote gestures and additional features. Passive styluses are essentially precise tips for capacitive screens: they keep handwriting and pressure sensitivity (on supported devices) but often drop Bluetooth tricks. The S25 Ultra, for example, shifts toward a more passive S Pen experience — you still get fast screen-off notes and handwriting recognition, but not the older remote shortcuts.
• Foldable support is uneven: Some recent foldables require third‑party accessories for pen storage or simply omit stylus-friendly hardware. If a pen is central to your workflow, verify that model-specific support and storage exist before buying.

How stylus features translate to productivity

Stylus phones can save small amounts of time that add up: faster annotated sign-offs, quicker meeting notes that become searchable text, sketches that replace a rough paper scan. The business value depends on workflow integration — handwriting-to-text accuracy, export to CRM or notes services, and AI summarization matter more than raw latency for many professionals.

“The Galaxy S25 Ultra combines flagship hardware with an integrated stylus for power users who want top-tier performance and future-proofing.”

How we test stylus phones (methodology)

Recommendations are based on long-term hands-on testing that focuses on real-world use: daily handwriting and sketching sessions, battery endurance under mixed workloads, camera shoots, stylus reliability and software integrations (handwriting-to-text accuracy, Samsung Notes features, and AI tools like sketch-to-image). Durability, repairability and accessory availability are weighed for business buyers who budget lifecycle costs.

Buying checklist: three quick questions

1. Will you use the pen daily for work?
   Yes → invest in a premium S Pen phone. No → budget models probably suffice.
2. Do you need a big drawing surface for edits or multi-window work?
   Yes → prioritize foldables with confirmed stylus support; check storage/case options.
3. Are battery life and price more important than camera and multitasking speed?
   Yes → Moto G Stylus 5G or TCL Stylus 5G offer the best value.

Enterprise considerations and privacy

• MDM and device management: All major Android phones support enterprise mobility management (EMM/MDM) solutions, but confirm compatibility with your EMM vendor and whether S Pen features or Samsung Knox policies affect app behavior or handwriting sync.
• AI features and cloud sync: Galaxy AI tools (like Circle to Search and sketch-to-image) can speed workflows, but check where handwriting and sketches are processed and stored. Enterprises should review data residency, cloud sync defaults and opt-out options before deploying AI-enabled devices.
• Digital signatures and compliance: Stylus-captured signatures may be used for approvals, but legal/e-sign standards vary by jurisdiction — validate eSign integrations and audit trails for regulated industries.
• Accessories and lifecycle costs: Factor replacement pens, nibs, protective cases (especially for foldables), and repair costs into procurement budgets.

What to avoid

• Assuming every foldable supports S Pen storage or advanced pen features — verify model specifics.
• Buying a stylus phone expecting Bluetooth remote features — many new pens are passive.
• Ignoring integration with the apps and services your teams use (CRM, note platforms, signature providers).

Key takeaways and common buyer questions

• Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra the best stylus phone in 2026?
  The S25 Ultra is the top pick for professionals who need flagship performance plus a refined stylus handwriting experience — but it’s a premium price and some Bluetooth S Pen features are reduced in newer implementations.
• Should I buy a foldable for stylus work?
  If you need a large on-device canvas for sketching or multi-window editing, the Z Fold 6 is the best foldable choice — just confirm that the model you pick supports S Pen storage and that you’re comfortable buying a separate pen.
• Do budget stylus phones work for everyday tasks?
  Yes — the Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) and TCL Stylus 5G deliver reliable note-taking and basic sketching at accessible prices, though they trade camera quality, RAM and software polish for affordability.
• Are passive styluses a step backward?
  They’re a pragmatic trade-off: passive pens keep the handwriting precision and cut complexity and cost, but they remove some convenience features like Bluetooth gestures that a subset of power users relied on.
• How do reviewers test stylus phones?
  Through long-term, hands-on evaluation: daily handwriting sessions, stylus reliability tests, battery endurance, camera comparisons and checks for realistic productivity integrations.

Stylus phones in 2026 are about focus. Samsung continues to lead with the most fully realized S Pen experience in flagship devices and a foldable option that gives you a true mini-studio. Budget devices democratize handwriting but demand compromises. Match your purchase to how central the pen is to your workflow — and if your business depends on secure, auditable, AI-enabled note workflows, validate MDM, cloud sync and legal integrations before you buy.