Note 9 S Pen
Samsung has introduced an upgraded S Pen stylus alongside the Galaxy Note 9. Reuters/Lucas Jackson

Samsung Electronics introduced a bunch new products during its Unpacked event on Thursday. However, it’s undeniable that the star of the show was the Galaxy Note 9 phablet, which now comes with an upgraded stylus. The all-new S Pen is very different from its predecessors because it has Bluetooth integration that enables it to carry out new functions.

When Samsung introduced the upgraded S Pen stylus, the tech giant referred to the Note series accessory as the “smart S Pen.” It’s because the stylus now does more than just serving as a tool for writing, scribbling and drawing on the display of Samsung’s flagship phablet.

First and foremost, the low-power, Bluetooth-enabled S Pen now acts as a remote control for popular apps and features so users can remotely access their Galaxy Note 9 within a 10-meter radius. The S Pen is compatible with the Camera app and owners can use it to take group photos or selfies from a distance.

Korea Herald has learned that users could launch the camera app by just pressing the S Pen button for a couple of seconds. Once the app is open, they can take a selfie shot by making a short single click. Meanwhile, two short clicks will close the selfie mode.

The Bluetooth functionality also enables the S Pen to act as a clicker to move through slides during PowerPoint presentations. In a similar manner, the stylus can be used to control the entertainment content being viewed or streamed on the Note 9.

Samsung is also giving developers the option to customize the functions of the S Pen. The tech giant has confirmed that it will provide developers with access to the S Pen’s new and advanced BLE functionalities through a software developer kit later this year, so they could integrate them into their apps.

Aside from its impressive features, it’s worth noting that the all-new S Pen has a Super Capacitor that enables ultra-fast charging. It’s so fast that it would only take 40 seconds to fully charge the S Pen, which has a 30-minute standby battery life when removed from its housing.