ICYMI: we tried Samsung’s S pen / cover combination for the Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung brought its S Pen to the Galaxy smartphone series for the first time this year. This week, we were able to check out the new S Pen / case combo for the S21 Ultra and found it to be capable, but not as refined as we would expect. We also played with the Fujifilm X-T4 without a mirror and we have good things to report about the retro-looking camera. And speaking of retro, players who still have their original Game Boy should take a look Deadus, an indie horror game that is accepting orders for a physical launch.

Samsung fans who also want a pen have a good option on the Galaxy Note line, and the company’s S Pen is apparently popular enough that Samsung brought it to the new Galaxy S21 Ultra. The new S Pen / case combination aims to provide a longer life for the pen, grouping it in a box for the Ultra phone.

But Chris Velazco found this solution that left a little to be desired. This is not because of the pen itself, which is more the size of a ballpoint pen than the traditional pen. Chris really liked the pen: he found it comfortable to hold and use for writing notes and shortcut options. However, this version of the pen lacks air gestures and camera controls (a Pro model that will arrive later this year will have these features). The main disadvantage here was the case, which easily picked up various pieces of lint and dust and made the sizeable device heavier. The location of the left-hand pen made it a little strange for right-handed users, and Chris was concerned about the durability of some of the linings around the loading doors. As it is the only box that houses an S Pen, it is still a good option for those who want to use the stylus with the S21 Ultra.

When James Trew was looking for something to update his beloved but aging Canon 550D, he naturally asked his co-workers here at Engadget. They took him to the Fujifilm X-T4, which Steve Dent reviewed last year. A 26.1 megapixel mirrorless camera with a flip-out screen and body stabilization, the X-T4 also has a retro style that James particularly likes. In his review, Steve highlighted camera quality handling, excellent video quality and fast shooting speeds.

Since he is wearing it, James has also found much praise in the X-T4. He was specifically looking for a reliable camera that had a solid collection of lenses, that worked well for video and could absorb a ton of light. He reports that IBIS (body image stabilization) helped to produce images with impressive clarity and balance. The X-T4 gives him a lot to experiment and work on – a process, he says, that is as rewarding as the good photos it produces.

Deadus has been available for some time, winning fans of those who like retro games, dark indie or both. Now he is taking orders for a physical release of the original Game Boy. Players like James Trew have appreciated the contrast of Pokémon-like graphics and gameplay with the dark themes of worship, ritual and murder. Your character has three days and 11 potential endings to determine how to appease a furious, meat-hungry god.

Although James said it was possible to reach a complete ending in less than two hours, he also mentions that the game’s time mechanics bring new things to discover and discover with each new day. This will also change your strategy as you discover more details about the narrative you choose to follow. The game’s creator, Adam Birch, is an artist by profession and told James that the idea for Deadus came from a comic book he’s been working on. James said the game’s macabre and ominous design takes the player out of the cozy RPG vibe to the strangeness of the storyline – and that players who like the hardware or the genre should definitely play it.