Samsung's decision to remove Air Actions from the Galaxy S25 Ultra's S Pen has sparked debate. While some lament the loss of niche features, daily S Pen users argue it was the right move, citing excessive complexity.

The S Pen's Overly Complex Features

The S Pen, while primarily a writing and drawing tool, has accumulated numerous functionalities beyond its core purpose. These include screen navigation, highlighting text (via AI Select/Smart Select), and the Air Commands menu. While these screen-based functions enhance the S Pen's utility, it's the "Air Actions" that caused the controversy. Air Actions allowed remote shutter control, volume adjustment, and app switching via air gestures.

These Air Actions, however, proved problematic. Samsung reported usage below 1%, highlighting their obscurity and unintuitive nature. The practicality of remote shutter control using a potentially easily-lost and expensive S Pen is questionable. Air gestures, while innovative, are often redundant when the phone is within reach.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

8/10 $1300 $1500 Save $200 The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a premium smartphone featuring a 6.9-inch QHD Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0.

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Streamlining the S Pen Experience

By removing Air Actions, Samsung has standardized the S Pen experience across the Ultra and Z Fold lines, eliminating feature discrepancies between models. While some might advocate for adding these features to the Z Fold, removing them from the Ultra reduces cost and weight, benefits appreciated by a wider user base.

The removal of Bluetooth functionality from the S25 Ultra's S Pen also contributes to cost savings. This is a preferable compromise to downgrading other key components like the processor, display, or camera. While alternative devices offer similar specs at lower prices, Samsung's manufacturing practices outside of China contribute to higher overall costs.

Alternative Methods and Cost Optimization

The rise of smartwatches provides an effective alternative for many Air Actions functionalities, offering more convenient media control and remote shutter capabilities. Furthermore, the Samsung Camera app's voice commands and palm detection offer additional remote shutter options.

Ultimately, the cost savings from removing Air Actions are a worthwhile trade-off, especially given the low usage rates and availability of alternative solutions. While some power users might miss these features, the overall simplification and cost reduction benefit the majority. And for those who truly need these functions, they're not entirely gone; Samsung's history shows features often reappear in Good Lock.

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