Zebra Blen 4 Plus S Review: A 5-Function Multifunction Pen Done Right

Introduction

The Zebra Blen 4 Plus S launched on February 29, 2024 with a tax-included price of 1,100 yen, and it is one of the most thoughtfully built multifunction pens we have come across recently. It combines four ballpoint colors and a pencil mechanism in a barrel barely wider than the two-function Blen 2 Plus, all while carrying the low-vibration Blen system that made the series a hit.

The Blen line first appeared in 2018 with a single-color ballpoint built around a Zebra mechanism designed to eliminate pen tip wobble. That idea, combined with a distinctive design developed in collaboration with the design office Studio Nen, helped the series surpass 50 million units sold in cumulative sales. Since then the lineup has grown through the Blen 3C three-color ballpoint in 2020 and the Blen 2 Plus with pencil in 2021. The 4 Plus S is the newest evolution.

What Makes the Blen 4 Plus S Different

The headline feature is the slim barrel. The 4 Plus S houses four ballpoint colors and a pencil mechanism, five refills in total, yet its barrel diameter is nearly identical to the two-function Blen 2 Plus. Zebra spent roughly four and a half years developing this packaging. For comparison, the 2005 Clip-On Multi 1000 also offered five refills, but its barrel is noticeably thicker.

Colors differ by lead size. The 0.5mm models come in Black, Powder Blue, Cocoa Brown, Greyish White, and White, while the 0.7mm models come in Black, Blue Grey, Mint Green, Shell Pink, and White. The grip is an elastomer with four vertical grooves that keep the pen from slipping, though it picks up a slight tackiness in hand. The nose cone is metal with a rounded, low-reflection silver coating.

The refills ship with Zebra’s emulsion ink, a hybrid that combines oil-based and water-based ink in a 7:3 ratio through a special formulation where water droplets disperse in oil. The result is a smooth, low-pressure writing feel similar to water-based ink, with the water resistance and color depth closer to oil-based ink. Refills are exchanged from the nose cone end.

Low Center of Gravity and Quiet Operation

Inside the barrel near the S marking, Zebra has placed a weight that brings the center of gravity low, giving the pen a noticeably well-balanced feel in hand.

The knock mechanism uses a slide lever design, with the lever tip color-coded so you can identify each ballpoint color at a glance. The surface where your finger lands is rubber, so the knock catches securely and feels comfortable, with quiet operation and a pleasant click. The pencil mechanism is activated by knocking the clip itself, which is where the design gets less comfortable.

Writing Performance

Zebra has applied the Blen system, the company’s mechanism for eliminating pen tip wobble, to all five functions. Refills are held with a direct-touch design and a noise-free construction removes gaps between parts, reducing the wobble that multifunction pens almost always have. Moving the tip with a finger, there is still a trace of movement, and the older Blen 2 Plus felt slightly more rigid. What matters is how it feels on paper, and there the wobble is essentially unnoticeable.

In writing tests, the black ink felt very smooth, producing lines that look finer than the 0.5mm size suggests. The red ink leans slightly light. The blue wrote cleanly with almost no scratchiness, and the green is a distinctive pale shade rarely seen in other brands’ multifunction pens. The pencil has no harsh rattling and no perceptible wobble, which is reassuring for a five-function pen.

The New Clip and Built-In Eraser

Two refinements address long-standing complaints. Previous Blen clips had almost no actual clamping ability and slipped out of pockets easily. The 4 Plus S adds a movable binder-style clip that fastens firmly. The barrel is oval-shaped, and the brand and product markings have changed from printing to engraving, so the finish will not peel off over time.

The bigger addition is the eraser, a first for the Blen series. A removable cap covers it, making the 4 Plus S the first Blen that genuinely handles everything, writing and correcting, in a single pen.

Specs come in at 144mm long, 21.6g, with a 13.2mm barrel diameter, keeping it comfortably slim for a five-function instrument.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The pencil mechanism is genuinely hard to knock. The finger space on the clip knock is narrow, similar in size to the Blen 2 Plus, and the knock action is stiff, which makes extending the lead a frustrating experience. The grip also attracts dust easily, a natural consequence of the elastomer material, though it is worth noting before you buy.

Who Should Buy It

If you carry a planner or notebook daily, the Blen 4 Plus S is an excellent match. The eraser, four ink colors, and pencil mechanism mean one pen covers everything, and the low center of gravity plus the grooved grip make long writing sessions feel stable and comfortable. Anyone who has wished their multifunction pen wobbled less will appreciate how much attention went into the internal construction.

Conclusion

The Zebra Blen 4 Plus S turned out to be far more finished than we expected. Not every feature is strictly necessary, and the stiff pencil knock is a real drawback, but the level of detail work throughout is impressive. For anyone searching for an all-in-one multifunction pen that handles planner work, notes, and corrections in a slim, balanced body, this is a very well-executed choice worth checking out.