Galaxy Note 9 S Pen Battery Life: A Supercharged Stylus That Exceeds Expectations

TheGalaxy Note 9waslaunchedlast month, and has shaped up to be the best Samsung has to offer in a really long time. The device features a massive display, dual-aperture rear cameras, its biggest-ever battery, and a supercharged S Pen.

The S Pen on the Galaxy Note 9 is no longer just a stylus for creative and note-taking purposes but instead,comes with Bluetooth and a super-capacitor(essentially a small battery). It has turned the S Pen into a remote control that can be used to unlock the device, capture pictures, control music playback, and much more.

Now, Samsung claims that the super-capacitor within the S Pencharges up in just 40 seconds, giving it juice enough to last 30 minutes or up to 200 clicksof the button on the S Pen. So, we decided to put Samsung’s claims to the test, while also putting the new S Pen through its paces. Just how long does it last or how many clicks can it offer on a single charge.

Discharging

We tested the battery life of the Galaxy Note 9’s S Pen under two conditions, in one we alternated between playback control and doodling on the Galaxy Note 9, and in the second test, we clicked pictures at frequent intervals – to emulate typical behaviour during any outdoor activity. So, here are the results:

Test 1 – Regular Usage

In the first test, which is day-to-day usage of the S Pen, thecharge lasted for around 35-40 minuteson average before dropping into the glowing yellow and red territory in the Settings. This is pretty good, when you consider that most people use their phone for around 5-6 hours in a day.

The S Pen remote control wasgood for around 220-250 clicks in this test –the clicks paused and resumed playback.The super-capacitor not only discharged for clicking but also because it was out of its compartment inside the Galaxy Note 9.

Note: You can continue to use the S Pen as the good ol’ stylus it is to take notes, color pictures, or fulfill your creative endeavors even after the super-capacitor is discharged.

Test 2 – Photos

The second test was more intensive on the battery, and was designed to test the how many photos you can click with the S Pen’s button, before its battery completely dies out.

This test gave us more clicks – since we were not using the S Pen to scribble on the screen. We managed to click 330-350 pictures with just the S Pen button, which is quite impressive. This means the S Pen can help you capture a lot of photos and selfies when you’re out and about.

Do note though that we clicked over 300 pictures in very rapid succession. The S Pen battery drained completely in just 10-12 minutes. You will get longer usage if you click images at less frequent intervals.

Charging

Now that you have discharged your S Pen, let’s talk about the charging time. Samsung says that it takes 40 seconds for the S Pen to get fully charged and the remote functionalities to return. However, I found thatit took only about 20-25 seconds for the S Pen to go from 1 to 100 percent.

Even when I plugged in a fully discharged S Pen into the Galaxy Note 9, it took the same time. This makes charging the S Pen effortless.

The connectedS Pen only needs close to 20-25 seconds to charge fully, giving it enough juice for 40-odd minutes and around 275 clicks on average. Overall, Samsung has undersold the battery life, number of clicks and charging time, which is a pleasant surprise.

Anmol

Getting my start with technology journalism back in 2016, I have been working in the industry for over 7 years. Currently, as the Editor of Beebom, I’m leading the coverage on the website. While my expertise lies in Android, Windows, and the apps world, find me reading manga, watching anime, and playing Apex in my free time.

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