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Comment by ccouzens | Hacker News Reader

It's worth caring about, but only as one data point amongst many.

For example I might consider: 1. Does it run Android? 2. Physically size- does it come in not obnoxiously large? 3. Does it support NFC payments? (surprisingly this still isn't a given) 4. Adequate performance 5. Camera quality 6. Screen quality 7. Battery life 8. Price 9. Community ROM support 10. Community Linux distro support 11. Can it run a desktop when connected to a usb-c screen 12. Geekbench

Only if everything else is equal would it make my decision

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sounds like a pixel 5 is in your future

0. does it have a stylus / pen?

If not, unacceptable. Ergo, all iPhones are unacceptable. (Yes, I used to work at EO, running the GO PenPoint Operating System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PenPoint_OS?useskin=vector , and also worked at GRiD, putting wireless LAN into the GRiDPAD RC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRiDPad?useskin=vector. I like pens. I might be biased.)

> 0. does it have a stylus / pen?

All modern touch screen phones are compatible with a stylus. I'm sure it would be harder to find one that isn't. The accuracy may not be the best on budget models.

Unless you mean _is a stylus / pen included with the phone_?

You won't have much luck trying to combine an official Apple stylus with an iPhone. It's kind of a shame with how big phones have gotten over the years.

Samsung has some phones that have the necessary screen support for their styluses, sometimes even if the phone didn't come with one, but that's only in very few models.

There's the Apple Pencil, currently works on iPadOS but I don't see a reason why apple will not push the features to / it will at least be incorporated within the blend of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.

I can currently use the Apple Pencil as a _dumb stylus / pen_ on my iPhone 2022 SE (not that it's necessary but just to see if it can be done).

Apple does not even advertise the Apple Pencil for use with iPhones. Because, as you say, it's a dumb pointer on your iPhone.

I have an iPPro + Pencil, and it is astonishingly good. It is no 'dumb stylus' on the iPPro. The exquisite detail one gets from a writing implement is not quite replicated with the Pencil -- but! The fact that Apple does advertise the Pencil and its features is a hopeful sign that we will continued to see more, and more sophisticated Pencils & apps that use them. I hope.

> I can currently use the Apple Pencil as a _dumb stylus / pen_ on my iPhone 2022 SE

How can you do that? My apple pencil (the new gen) doesn’t even register as a dumb stylus on my iphone 12 pro max.

>All modern touch screen phones are compatible with a stylus.

Opinion here, but capacitive styluses suck. I wouldn't bother with a stylus unless it was something like Wacom or Apple Pencil tech.

Samsung note has a proper stylus. It's similar to the Wacom variety.

Exactly.

I have a Samsung Note. It has the best stylus on a phone.

(I also find it funny the Apple Fanbois decided to downvote my initial comment, when I was clearly showing that Apple is 'behind the curve' in this respect. Gosh, I used to work at Apple. I find this amusing.)

I didn’t downvote you, but surely your very niche requirement doesn’t add much to the discussion.

Even though, that is very cool line of work and I’m sure I would be similarly biased for the tech I helped form, but it is simply not a general requirement as shown by very very few phones having them.

I imagine it would be important to be able to store your stylus in the phone when not in use.

Yes, the Samsung Note not only has a place to put your stylus, it actually 'clicks' in so normal knocks & bumps won't cause it to fall out.

AND, when you intentionally remove it, by clicking, it pops out and the Notes app is automatically fired up.

Apple just doesn't do this on iPhones. Why not?

Yes I meant a stylus is not only included, but integrated into the device. I thought that would be obvious, but I was wrong. Thanks for letting me add that important detail.

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