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PSA: Inserting S-Pen backwards can permanently damage your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (Updated with Samsung response)

By James Lu - on 26 Aug 2015, 9:11am

PSA: Inserting S-Pen backwards can permanently damage your Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Updated (26/08): Here's what Samsung has to say about the matter: “We highly recommend our Galaxy Note 5 4G+ users to follow the instructions in the user guide to ensure they are not experiencing such unexpected scenario, caused by reinserting the S pen in the other way around.”

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is one of the best phablets you can buy right now, but it might suffer from a huge design flaw, which could result in permanent damage to the device.

Android Police first discovered the problem, which occurs when the Note 5's S-Pen stylus is inserted backwards into the device.

The correct way to store the S-Pen is to slide the pointy end in first, but if you slide the blunt end in first, the S-Pen will get jammed in the device and be stuck in the spring mechanism. On previous Galaxy Note smartphones, it was impossible to store the S-Pen in the wrong direction, as the tapered shape meant that it wouldn't fit. On the Note 5, it is easy to put the S-Pen in backwards with almost zero force required.

Once stuck, it is actually possible to wiggle the pen free, however, even worse, you may then find that the Note 5's S-Pen detection features have stop working.

Normally on the Note 5, removing the S-Pen when the screen is off will launch a quick note taking app, and removing it when the screen is on will launch the radial S-Pen menu. However, in a video posted by Android Police, after putting the S-Pen in backwards, all of these features have stopped working.

Here's the video from Android Police: 

It's unknown if Samsung can or will do anything to rectify this problem, and we're currently waiting for a response from the company. For now however, be extra careful when storing your S-Pen.

Source: Android Police

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