The latest information on Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 includes good news for those considering purchasing the upcoming foldable phone: the successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will feature its own S Pen. Samsung confirmed as much when it detailed what to expect at its Galaxy Unpacked event in August. [But there's bad news, too: rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and its S Pen suggest that Samsung is trying to add stylus support in the worst possible way.

Let's focus first on what we do know: in a preview of the August 11 Unpacked event, TM Roh, head of Samsung's mobile business, promised "the first ever S Pen designed specifically for a foldable phone."

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will have S pen support is almost certain, and the Galaxy Z Flip 3, which is expected to debut at the same event, may also support the S Pen.

The S Pen in question is undoubtedly Samsung's S Pen Pro, a Bluetooth-enabled device announced earlier this year. Unlike the S Pen that Samsung announced in the spring along with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the Pro version functions as a remote control and supports Air Gestures. (More on the S Pen vs. S Pen Pro showdown.)

The bad news begins when we resort to rumors to fill in the details about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and its S Pen support. Last week, leaker Ishan Agarwal suggested that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will not have a built-in slot for the S Pen, like the Galaxy Note 20 and earlier versions of the phablet. Instead, a case will be required if one wants to keep the Galaxy Z Fold and S Pen in one place; a rendered image of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 case shows how the pen will be attached to the accessory. [The Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first device other than the Galaxy Note to support the S Pen. In that case, the S Pen was sold separately, as was the case that housed the stylus. It is unclear whether Samsung will take a similar route with the Z Fold 3 or bundle the pen and case with the purchase of the phone.

In fact, we won't know anything official until Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and details how the S Pen will work with its foldable. But if the S Pen turns out to be another accessory, Samsung would be making a terrible mistake.

If anyone could benefit from the S Pen, it would be the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The phone opens to reveal a tablet-sized design perfect for sketching out ideas, notes, and graphics. The cover display, which acts as the phone's outer screen, is also great for quick note-taking, and Bluetooth connectivity, which the S21 Ultra's S Pen did not have, allows users to take advantage of Air Actions to further enhance their productivity.

An important part of this experience is that the stylus is always at hand. Galaxy Note users know what it feels like to take the S Pen out of the phone and get to work. It is unlikely that having a case with a stylus will replicate that same experience.

There is also the potential problem of Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs. According to these leaks, the battery built into the new Fold is actually smaller than the one in the Galaxy Z Fold 2, 4,380 mAh versus 4,500 mAh. There are many possible reasons for making the power pack smaller, but the most commonly accepted is that Samsung is trying to make room for the S Pen slot. If this is not the case, i.e., there is no slot in the S Pen, then why make the battery smaller?

Much of this could be overlooked if Samsung decides to include the S Pen and its case with the Galaxy Z Note 3. If these were separate accessories, this would be a bigger issue.

No one knows the actual price of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the most optimistic rumors are that it will be around $1,599. It is certainly cheaper than the Fords of the past, but much more expensive than most smartphones these days. (Even the Galaxy S21 Ultra - a bargain phone that no one would have thought of - would be $400 cheaper than that.) Asking someone to pay extra on top of that four-figure price tag for one of the phone's coolest features is not going to be easy.

Again, as much as we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for the August 11 Galaxy Unpacked event, a lot is still up in the air about the foldable. There is a good chance that Samsung will surprise us and bundle the S Pen with the Z Fold 3 in a way that makes us feel that it is worth adding to the foldable phone. Until then, we can reserve judgment.

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