Want to draw, take notes, or even edit photos on the go? Then you'll be looking at the best stylus phone. By this, we don't just mean a smartphone you can use with a stylus: that's pretty much all of them. We mean a phone that either comes with a stylus or is optimized for one.
That definition doesn't apply, for example, to anything Apple produces right now. Not only does the iPhone not come with the Apple Pencil (check out the best iPads for drawing on an Apple device), but it's not optimised for it.
So, who offers a decent stylus phone? Well, in the global market, pretty much the biggest name in town right now is Samsung, with its brilliant S Pen. Note, though, that there's not just one S Pen; there are several, so take care with which model you buy. You'll find all the details you need in our guide below. Although Honor's recent foldable efforts have stormed their way up the list, although, a stylus is still an optional extra.
The best stylus phone overall
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best stylus phone today. It's the latest version of the only mainstream handset line that ships with a built-in S Pen. The pen itself has never gone away, though persistent rumours that Samsung might drop it entirely have followed ever since the S25 Ultra stripped out the S Pen's Bluetooth features (killing remote-shutter and Air Actions gestures) in early 2025. So its continued presence here, unchanged in that respect from the S25 Ultra, will be welcome news for creatives.
The integrated S Pen remains a genuine point of difference against rivals like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it's paired with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display running at 2,600 nits peak brightness, an excellent canvas for note-taking and sketching. The standout new feature, though, is Privacy Display, a hardware-based system that dynamically narrows the viewing angle to keep prying eyes off your screen in public, and can be toggled on a per-app basis.
On the camera side, the 200MP primary sensor gains a faster f/1.4 lens for better low light performance, and Nightography video is noticeably improved over the S25 Ultra. However, the 3x telephoto camera has actually been downgraded with a smaller sensor this generation, and remains the weak link of an otherwise capable quad-camera system, one that's a step behind the best from Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi on pure image quality, even if it holds its own against Apple and Google.
Performance is a clear strength, courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and a redesigned vapour chamber that Samsung says improves thermal performance by 21%. Battery life is solid rather than class-leading at 5,000mAh, but charging is genuinely fast, with Super Fast Charging 3.0 hitting 75% in around 30 minutes. New Quick Share support for AirDrop also makes this one of the most seamless Android phones for anyone sharing files with iPhone-using colleagues or family.
For more details, see our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review.
The best foldable stylus phone
The Honor Magic V6 replaces the Magic V5 as our foldable pick, and it pushes the formula further in almost every direction: Qualcomm's most powerful chip, the biggest battery yet seen on a foldable, seriously well-equipped cameras, and the first IP69 rating for dust and water resistance on a folding phone.
The near 8-inch internal display is a 120Hz OLED panel with a claimed 5,000-nit peak brightness, plenty bright enough outdoors, and its squarer aspect ratio makes it excellent for reviewing and editing photos, or running two apps side by side, both tasks that benefit from a stylus for precision input. The crease is impressively shallow too, among the best available in most Western markets, even if it's been overtaken by the Oppo Find N6's near-invisible fold.
The camera setup carries over from the Magic V5, but that's no bad thing: the 50MP main camera and 64MP telephoto in particular are among the best you'll find on any foldable, handling low light and close-up shots with real polish, even if the ultrawide lags behind the other two.
Battery life is a genuine highlight, with the 6,660mAh cell easily lasting a day and a half of typical use, and 80W wired charging getting you to around 70% in half an hour. The trade-off for all this is price, which is a significant jump over the Magic V5. Plus MagicOS still has a habit of killing background apps too aggressively, which can delay notifications until you dig into the settings to fix it.
For more details, see our full Honor Magic V6 review.
The best premium stylus phone for value
The S26 Ultra's predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, remains an excellent option for stylus enthusiasts, and with its successor now out, it's a strong value pick for anyone who doesn't need the very latest version.
This integration isn't just about having a pen; it's thoughtfully implemented across the device's features. The phone's large 6.9-inch display provides an expansive canvas for note-taking and creative work, while the flat screen design offers a comfortable edge-to-edge writing surface, and the S Pen works particularly well with Samsung's AI Sketch to Image feature and Samsung Notes.
Beyond its stylus capabilities, the S25 Ultra impresses with its versatile quad-camera system, including a 200MP main sensor and strong zoom capabilities, running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The display is bright and clear even in sunlight, reaching 2,600 nits, and the premium build quality, combining a grade 5 titanium frame with Gorilla Armour 2 glass, ensures durability for daily use.
We'd still recommend the S26 Ultra if you can afford it, not least for the return of features like Privacy Display and improved Nightography video. But if you can find this now-discounted model, it remains a compelling choice, and the stylus experience itself is barely different from the newer phone.
The best foldable for Samsung loyalists
Want a stylus phone that's also a folding phone, and love Samsung above all other brands? Then we recommend Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
That said, while the Z Fold 6 supports the S Pen, it doesn't come with one; you'll have to buy that separately. The S Pen Fold Edition is the official S Pen designed specifically for the Fold 6, as well as its predecessor, the Z Fold 5. It features a slim design and a 1.5mm pen tip, allowing for precise writing and drawing.
When unfolded, you're greeted with a spacious 7.6-inch display that's perfect for stylus use. The S Pen support allows for a range of creative and productive tasks, from quick note-taking to detailed photo editing in apps like Lightroom. The phone's powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset ensures smooth performance for even the most demanding tasks.
New AI features enhance the stylus experience, including improved handwriting recognition and a sketch-to-image tool that can transform your doodles into realistic images. The Z Fold 6 also excels in multitasking, allowing you to run multiple apps side-by-side or use the bottom half of the screen as a touchpad in Flex mode.
Be aware that Samsung has since launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is thinner, lighter, and pairs a larger 8-inch inner display with the same 200MP main camera found on the S25 Ultra. It's the more capable phone on paper, and if you want Samsung's latest, that's the one to go for. But it also launched $100 more expensive than the Z Fold 6 did, at $1,999 versus $1,899, and the stylus experience itself hasn't fundamentally changed between the two.
With the Z Fold 6 now discounted below its original price and doing everything most stylus users need, it remains our pick here on value grounds, even with a newer model on the shelf next to it.
For more details, see our full Z Fold 6 review.
The best budget stylus phone
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is by no means the latest model, but it's still a very capable stylus phone, and now sits at the budget end of Samsung's Ultra line-up as two newer generations have launched above it.
Offering the signature S Pen integration that Samsung's Ultra series is known for, this version featured notable improvements that enhanced the stylus experience, particularly its completely flat 6.8-inch display, which provides a more comfortable writing surface than the curved edges of older models. The build quality saw a significant upgrade with the introduction of a titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor, and the anti-reflective coating and increased brightness (up to 2,600 nits) made the screen easier to see in bright conditions, particularly useful when using the S Pen outdoors.
Beyond its stylus capabilities, the S24 Ultra impresses with its comprehensive camera system, including a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP 5x telephoto camera. The phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, ensuring smooth performance, and AI tools include enhanced note-taking capabilities that can automatically summarise and reformat notes taken with the S Pen.
Two generations newer, the S26 Ultra is obviously the more capable phone. But if you can find this older model for a lower price, it remains a solid, still-current way into Samsung's S Pen ecosystem.
The best stylus phone you need to import
If you're prepared to import a phone rather than buy one on your home turf, the Oppo Find N6 is worth the hassle, and it's arguably the most thoughtfully designed stylus foldable on this list. Unlike Samsung and Honor's approach of leaving the stylus as a separate accessory you have to remember to carry and charge, the Find N6's optional stylus slots into a dedicated case on the back of the phone, which automatically tops up the pen using the phone's reverse wireless charging. It's a slick solution, even if the pen itself is a touch short for longer writing or drawing sessions.
At just 8.93mm folded and 225g, it's remarkably light for a book-style foldable, and Oppo's "Zero-Feel Crease" claim, while a little oversold, does deliver a very shallow crease, one of the best currently available. That said, it's still noticeable under a stylus tip, where the slight unevenness interrupts the smoothness of writing just enough to remind you this is still a folding screen, and the centred camera module can cause the phone to wobble slightly on a flat surface, which doesn't help either.
The cameras are excellent for a foldable, courtesy of a new 200MP main sensor and Oppo's Hasselblad colour science, and performance from the custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is fast and dependable, with a 6,000mAh battery that comfortably lasts a full day.
The catch, and it's a significant one, is availability: Oppo isn't officially selling the Find N6 in the UK, Europe or the US. You can import it thanks to its global ROM, which gives full access to Google's apps and services, but you'll typically forfeit any warranty, and overseas imports may not work reliably with your home network carrier. In China, the 16GB/512GB model costs ¥10,099, which converts to roughly $1,500 / £1,200 / €1,300, though expect a premium over that if it ever does launch in Western markets.
FAQs
What is a stylus phone?
A stylus phone is a smartphone that comes with a built-in stylus pen, allowing you to interact with the screen more precisely, for drawing, handwriting and other tasks.
Why should I use a stylus phone?
A stylus means you're less likely to miss small buttons, app icons, etc, which makes using a smartphone easier, faster and more relaxing. It also allows for greater precision when doing fiddly tasks on your phone such as handwriting, drawing, and editing photos. And it means you're less likely to leave smudges or fingerprints on your screen, too.
Can I use any stylus with a stylus phone?
You don't always have to use the supplied stylus with your phone; but you normally should. That's because stylus phones are usually optimized to work with the specific stylus provided by the manufacturer. So while a generic stylus may work to some extent, it probably won't offer the same level of functionality and precision as the dedicated stylus designed for the phone.
What can you do with a stylus on a phone?
Why would you want a stylus to use with your smartphone? Maybe because you want to draw, sketch or take notes on the go. Perhaps you want to use it to edit photos. Some people even prefer to use a stylus for the little interactions, such as opening an app, rather than fumbling with fingers. For all these use-cases, we've draw on our expert experience and testing to bring together the best stylus phones in our list above.
How to choose the best stylus phone
To choose the best stylus phone for your needs, there are several factors you need to consider. The first is functionality: look for precision, pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection features. The second is display quality, especially if you need a stylus phone for detailed work. Also consider the phone's processing power and RAM: the higher these are, the smoother the performance you can expect, especially if you plan to use productivity apps or engage in creative tasks. Finally, as with any phone, battery life is important if you're expecting to use your stylus over prolonged periods.
How we test the best stylus phones
Testing the best stylus phones involves a comprehensive evaluation process to ensure they meet acceptable standards of performance, usability and functionality. We assess precision, responsiveness and pressure sensitivity by conducting tasks such as drawing intricate shapes, writing long passages and sketching designs. We examine the quality of the screen, including color accuracy, brightness, and resolution, to ensure it provides a pleasing experience for stylus use. And we evaluate how seamlessly the stylus integrates with the phone's software, checking for features such as palm rejection, hover detection, and shortcuts for specific functions.
