I Bought a Fake Galaxy S Pen for $5… Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

If you’ve lost your Samsung Galaxy S Pen, you know how expensive it is to replace. The real thing usually costs $30–$50, depending on the model. So when I stumbled across a $5 version on AliExpress, I had to try it. On the outside, it looks exactly like the real deal. Same size, same button, same finish. At first glance, you’d think you just scored the bargain of the year.

First Impressions

The fake S Pen works… sort of. It can be used as a basic stylus, and it even has hover detection. So if all you need is something to tap and scribble with, you might think this does the job. But that’s where the similarities end.

The Real Difference Inside

I cracked this thing open to see what’s going on inside. That’s when the truth came out. Unlike the real S Pen, the fake one has no battery and no Bluetooth hardware. That means it completely lacks the wireless features that make the Galaxy S Pen special. You can’t use air actions, remote camera shutter, or any of the other smart functions Samsung built in.

Why It Sucks

On paper, saving $40 sounds good. But in practice, this fake S Pen is nothing more than a hollow shell. It’s basically a cheap plastic stylus dressed up to look like the real thing. Sure, it works for tapping and drawing, but you lose every feature that makes the S Pen worth having.

Final Thoughts

If you’re tempted to buy one of these fakes as a replacement, don’t. You’re better off spending the extra money for the real S Pen, because the fake one is just a downgrade in disguise.

I guess you could say this S Pen really fell flat… well, probably because it doesn’t even have a battery.

See you in the next article.