Lengthy stay the stylus. Nothing replaces the texture of a pen in hand, manually placing your ideas on paper as a substitute of tapping on a keyboard, however many note-takers go for choices with much less paper-waste lately. To assist the stylus-loving crowd, a wave of E Ink tablets that replicate the texture of paper be part of mainstays just like the Apple iPad Pro and reMarkable 2 to supply fans extra selections than ever. And this checklist of prime note-taking choices consists of the whole lot from glare-free E Ink shows to sensible LED or LCD screens for each funds and use case.
Best note-taking apps: 7 options to jot down inspiration digitally
Seize a good suggestion or test off a listing out of your smartphone, pill, laptop computer, or the online.
A superb note-taking pill is concentrated on handwriting in the beginning, however should you do want keyboard input in a pinch, a number of of our choices assist equipment that may give you a set of keys and totally different viewing angles. A terrific note-taking pill is straightforward to make use of and on the prepared for when you’ll want to get your subsequent nice concept. We nonetheless suppose the reMarkable 2 is the most effective note-taking pill for its writing expertise, however the entire checklist is price a learn, so you’ll be able to discover all the superb choices for taking digital notes.
Finest note-taking tablets: Our prime selections
reMarkable 2
1. Finest general note-taking pill
A exceptional technique to digitize notes
The reMarkable 2 pill enables you to take notes by hand, and it does so exceptionally properly. It’s the final minimalist doc creation and modifying instrument, with Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive integration.
- Handwriting feels pure
- Non-reflective show
- Many grids, sheet types, and templates
- Cannot use in darkish
- Limitless cloud storage, cell syncing, and different options require month-to-month subscription
The reMarkable 2 pill enables you to create as many “digital notebooks” as you’ll be able to retailer on-board (or within the cloud with a reMarkable Join subscription). This eliminates the necessity for bodily notebooks, whereas nonetheless retaining the texture and expertise of writing with pen and paper.
ReMarkable 2 review: You’ll never need paper notebooks again
It is a pill for writing on that has a paper-like really feel… it is a bit magical
Writing on the ten.3-inch E Ink show feels pure and responsive, and it does an inexpensive job of decoding imprecise handwriting into textual content. You possibly can import PDFs and EPUB paperwork to annotate or learn on display, and herald Microsoft Phrase paperwork, too. The pill can connect with Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive cloud storage. The show lacks a sidelight or backlight, although, which makes it unsuitable to be used at the hours of darkness.
This pill is skinny, at simply 4.83mm, and light-weight, weighing 400g, making it excellent for carrying round all day. When paired with its Sort Folio keyboard, it’s a svelte journey companion that’s excellent for writing by hand or annotating paperwork.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
2. Finest funds note-taking pill / e-reader duo
Amazon’s staple eReader took notes
The Amazon Kindle Scribe is greater than merely the biggest Kindle eReader you should buy. It is also the most effective note-taking pill and eReader combo round.
- Non-reflective show with sidelights
- Full entry to your Kindle e book library
- Lengthy battery life
- Few specialty note-taking templates
- No bodily keyboard choice
The Amazon Kindle Scribe delivers a terrific writing expertise paired with all of the performance of excellent Kindle eReaders. This 10.2-inch E Ink display has a pointy 300ppi decision, which implies the textual content has easy, crisp edges.
8:32
Amazon Kindle Scribe review: Write on
Amazon’s biggest-ever Kindle can be utilized to learn and write, and stokes the paper pill bandwagon hearth to new heights
It additionally has efficient facet mild and shade temperature changes, so you need to use the display in any lighting with out straining your eyes. This mannequin goes past the skills of different Kindles because of its stylus assist. Merely navigate to “Notebooks” and click on “Add Pocket book” to select from an array of web page templates. Whereas the choices lack the inventive specialties discovered within the reMarkable 2, the Kindle Scribe has extra choices than the competing eReader/note-taking pill Rakuten Kobo Elipsa 2E. Much more notable is that the Kindle Scribe enables you to select a template upfront, making for simpler group earlier than you even begin to write.
The stylus feels comfy in hand and is easy to make use of on the responsive show. You can even use the stylus to annotate books and PDFs, however for essentially the most half, that is achieved through pop-up bins (versus modifying straight on the web page). Just a few ebooks now assist on-page writing, however not the bulk — at the least not but, anyway.
The pill’s major worth is that it doubles as an eReader, too. It has an online browser however no apps. The browser is gradual and solely in a position to show photographs in monochromatic colours, similar to the way it handles books and paperwork. The Amazon Kindle Scribe is your best option for anybody deeply dedicated to Amazon’s Kindle bookstore, together with college students who additionally like to jot down notes.
Apple iPad Professional 11-inch (2022)
3. Finest premium note-taking pill for Apple customers
A technique to maintain all of your notes in iCloud
The Apple iPad Professional 11-inch (4th technology) packs a robust punch with an Apple M2 processor inside. This pill helps the second-generation Apple Pencil for correct and seamless writing and sketching on display.
- Clean, pressure-sensitive stylus for writing and drawing
- Common use pill with full iPad app assist
- Sensible, sharp show
- Stylus and keyboard price additional
- Costly
The Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (4th technology) hits the mid-ground of Apple’s pill choices. Whereas different, inexpensive fashions assist the Apple Pencil, this mannequin stands out as a result of it strikes a stability between dimension, efficiency, and worth. It weighs simply over a pound, and its display is massive sufficient to deal with the whole lot from drawings to taking notes.
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M2, 2022) review: Exceptional tablet, but a hard sell
This mannequin has severe competitors – loads of which comes from Apple itself. The iPad Professional 11-inch stays an important pill although. This is my overview.
The iPad has widespread app assist for its Apple Pencil 2 stylus, making the iPad an important note-taking selection for creatives. It additionally works properly with sharing throughout gadgets; for instance, you can begin one thing in your iPad and share your notes with an iPhone or MacBook.
As a note-taking pill, the iPad Professional is among the many most costly fashions you should buy. However for the cash, you not solely get a succesful note-taking pill, however you additionally get among the finest all-around tablets available on the market. As with different general-use tablets, the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard are extra-cost add-ons, however they’re price contemplating too if you’d like extra of an all-in-one computer expertise. It is price noting, too, Apple is rumored to be refreshing its iPad lineup soon, so should you’re within the latest pill expertise, it may be price ready.
Ratta Supernote Nomad
4. Finest copmact note-taking pill
Extremely-customizable with the Kindle app built-in
Ratta’s Supernote Nomad is an E Ink pill with dozens of templates to select from, easy handwriting, and the flexibility to hyperlink notes collectively.
- Clean handwriting
- Searchable notes
- Dozens of templates
For a smaller, extra transportable note-taking pill, the Ratta Supernote Nomad combines the most effective of the reMarkable 2 and the Kindle Scribe right into a compact package deal. It is self-repairing display protector is nice at simulating the texture of writing on paper when mixed with the ceramic nibs of the styluses Ratta sells. And the Nomad’s touch-sensitive sides make it straightforward to tug up menus, choose textual content, and undo errors with out having to search out the suitable instrument.
Even higher, Ratta has a small suite of downloadable software program you need to use to increase the skills of your Supernote, together with a drawing app known as Atelier and a Kindle app for studying books out of your Kindle library. The apps, together with the Nomad’s present e mail, calendar, and cloud storage performance make it an inherently helpful note-taking pill should you’re prepared to pay slightly additional for it.
OnePlus Pad
5. Finest Android note-taking pill
Geared up with the proper facet ratio
$430 $480 Save $50
The OnePlus Pad strikes a wonderful stability between worth and efficiency. It has a vibrant shade show with an unusual 7:5 facet ratio, which makes the pill really feel extra transportable than competing fashions.
- Wonderful show and audio system
- Unbelievable battery life
- Sharp, quick show that is nice for gaming
- Keyboard case and stylus price additional
- Lacks charger
The OnePlus Pad is the primary pill from this mobile-focused firm, and it delivers with its compelling mixture of options and efficiency. The pill weighs 553g, making it a bit hefty for one-handed use as a writing pill. Nonetheless, it feels very balanced in hand, presumably owing to the unusually sq. facet ratio of the 11.6-inch LCD display.
OnePlus Pad review: The Android tablet to buy in 2023?
The primary OnePlus pill is right here, however its worth places it up in opposition to stiff competitors. Has the newcomer bought what it takes to compete?
Textual content seems sharp and colours look vibrant, unsurprising given the show’s 2800 x 2000-pixel decision. The show has a quick 144Hz refresh fee, making it a good selection for gaming, too. The pill runs OnePlus’ personal interface, however it’s totally appropriate with Google Play Retailer and Google companies. As a general-use pill, the OnePlus Pad can serve many productiveness and leisure wants.
If you add on the non-obligatory OnePlus Stylo pen, you need to use the OnePlus Pad for taking notes. The stylus has 4096 ranges of stress sensitivity, and it really works properly with the OnePlus Notes app. If you will get the stylus on sale, this combo is without doubt one of the most fairly priced choices for an Android pill with a note-taking stylus.
Amazon Fireplace Max 11
6. Finest Amazon ecosystem note-taking pill
A skinny, stylus-compatible Fireplace pill
$180 $230 Save $50
The Amazon Fireplace Max 11 is the primary Fireplace pill with a competitively skinny, fashionable design. It is also the primary Fireplace pill that has a stylus choice, so you’ll be able to handwrite notes and sketch with ease.
- Low price for a pill
- Full assist for Amazon companies and Appstore
- Stress-sensitive stylus assist
- Keyboard case and stylus price additional
- Cannot run Google Play Retailer apps and Google companies
The skinny Amazon Fireplace Max 11 pill is Amazon’s first try at a grown-up pill that does not include a plastic, candy-colored chassis. This, plus an aluminum physique and bolstered glass masking its show, helps the pill feel and look like its price greater than its discount worth. The Fireplace Max 11 additionally has a 16:9 facet ratio show with 2,000 x 1,200 pixels. Meaning it is not as sharp as, say, an Apple iPad, however it’s nonetheless high-resolution sufficient to provide pleasing photographs on its 11-inch LCD.
Amazon Fire Max 11 review: Amazon’s best tablet yet
Amazon pushes its Fireplace pill vary up a notch, delivering a extra ‘severe’ pill that is nonetheless very inexpensive.
The Fireplace Max 11 has a microSD card slot, so you’ll be able to simply develop its 64GB of storage. It additionally has conveniences like a fingerprint reader inbuilt to the ability button, which makes it straightforward to reliably unlock the pill. As with all Amazon tablets, the Fireplace Max 11 runs Amazon’s FireOS working system, and it solely works with the Amazon Appstore. Nonetheless, there are many apps for leisure and productiveness, together with a free trial of Microsoft 365.
The interface is simple, making it straightforward to devour and uncover Amazon’s music, movies, and books. You will additionally love having the ability to have a break up display view for 2 apps and the way responsive the USI 2.0-compatible stylus with 4096 stress sensitivity is for writing and sketching on display. This pill is a superb selection for college kids and professionals who need an inexpensive note-taking pill and do not want full Google Play entry.
Onyx Boox Tab Extremely C
7. Finest shade note-taking pill
This selection provides slightly shade to your notes
The Onyx Boox Tab Extremely C is an outlier amongst note-taking tablets. It is one of many uncommon tablets with a shade E Ink show, and it additionally runs Android apps.
- Colour E Ink display enlivens paperwork
- Non-reflective show with facet lights
- Can manipulate and transfer handwritten parts
- Sluggish efficiency
- Colours look washed out and pixilated
- Costly
The Onyx Boox Tab Extremely C stands out for its shade E Ink show. The place most electrophoretic shows are monochrome, the Boox Tab Extremely can show colours at 150ppi. Meaning colours look muted and grainy, like a shade picture in a newspaper. However even when it is boring, it nonetheless provides a splash of life that differentiates this note-taking pill from different E Ink rivals.
One other notable distinction: this mannequin runs on Android and helps the Google Play Retailer. Meaning you’ll be able to obtain apps and entry any eBookstore, and use Google apps and companies, too. It has a roomy 10.3-inch glare-free display, and it comes with a stylus that feels good in hand. Creating notes is entrance and middle and straightforward to perform, however that’s about all that is clear concerning the interface. The stylus is responsive with the included Notepad app and its over 40 templates — and you may add your template by importing a PNG or PDF file. Total, nevertheless, the efficiency is usually a bit sluggish, and a few apps and most movies do not look as crisp as they might on different Android tablets.
Nonetheless, you’re not shopping for this pill for its gaming and leisure talents. The colour turns out to be useful for taking a look at PDFs and even e book illustrations, in say, the Amazon Kindle app. Plus, you get this splash of shade on a show that’s straightforward on the eyes. Simply notice that the display and the broader app compatibility come at a excessive worth.
Onyx Boox Tab X
8. Finest large-screen note-taking pill
Massive display to show all of the small particulars
The Onyx Boox Tab X has the biggest canvas of any E Ink pill. The Tab X has a roomy 13.3-inch monochrome E Ink show that is straightforward on the eyes. And like different fashions from the corporate, it runs Android and helps Google Play apps.
- Roomy show
- Runs Android apps
- Massive house for writing and drawing
- Costly
- Complicated interface
The largest draw for this pill is the massive 13.3-inch A4 display. Larger is best whenever you want the house for advanced sketches or taking notes longhand. The display additionally turns out to be useful if you wish to learn textual content at a bigger dimension. As with the Boox Tab Extremely C, the Tab X has a number of interface launchers, so you’ll be able to select how you favor to make use of the pill.
Google Pixel Tablet vs Amazon Fire Max 11: Two top tablets compared
Which midrange Android pill must you get? Each Google and Amazon have nice contenders — here is how they stack up.
The devoted note-taking app may lack the finesse of others available on the market, however it’s additionally filled with options and capabilities, similar to inserting audio recordings into your handwritten doc. I actually preferred this latter half; it makes it straightforward to match my notations with the unique content material. Nonetheless, because the pill lacks a digicam, I additionally could not straight scan in and annotate the bodily paperwork and images I have already got.
Like the opposite tablets in Onyx’s lineup, this mannequin runs Android 11, and it helps Android apps — which implies I might obtain e-readers from competing eBookstores and skim my e book collections all on one machine. I might additionally obtain different apps, which makes this E Ink pill extra practical than merely an e-reader with a single bookstore on board. It has a big 6300mAh battery, which delivers weeks of use with no cost. Even with its massive battery, the Tab X is skinny: It stands simply 6.8mm excessive, and it weighs 560g, which makes it straightforward to throw in your bag alongside a laptop.
Microsoft Floor Professional 9 (Wi-Fi)
9. Finest 2-in-1 note-taking pill
Commerce off taking each written and typed notes
$890 $1300 Save $410
The Microsoft Floor Professional 9 combines distinctive design factors like a built-in kickstand with a crisp show that helps each contact and stylus enter. And since it is a Home windows 11 PC operating on a Twelfth-generation Intel Core processor, this pill is a laptop computer substitute, too.
- Full Home windows PC in a pill type
- Loads of energy
- Attractive show
- Costly
- Stylus and keyboard price additional
The Microsoft Floor Professional 9 packs a Home windows 11 PC right into a high-resolution, freestanding show. The 13.3-inch display has a 2,880 x 1,920 decision, making it well-suited for the whole lot from gaming to express content material creation. At practically two kilos, this pill has the heft that displays its sturdy elements.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review: A master of versatility
The Floor Professional will get outfitted with 12-gen Intel Core {hardware} to provide you extra energy on the transfer.
The pill’s specs are modest for a PC, however nonetheless extra highly effective than most different note-taking tablets on this checklist. The baseline configuration priced right here has 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and an Intel Core i5 processor; higher-spec’d variations with extra RAM and storage and a greater processor are choices, albeit at increased costs. It even has a Thunderbolt 4 port, helpful to be used with high-speed storage peripherals. You possibly can run the complete gamut of PC and net apps and companies simply as you’d in your laptop computer.
The Floor Professional 9 works with Microsoft’s non-obligatory stylus for handwriting notes and drawing in skilled functions. The stylus is a superb addition to note-taking apps like Microsoft OneNote and sophisticated inventive apps like Corel Paint or Adobe Illustrator.
At one time, you wanted to spend prime greenback to get a pill that supported a stylus. However now you’ve got a variety of selections. Your first consideration is the rationale you desire a note-taking pill. If the one factor you intend to do together with your machine is write notes, and you don’t need the distractions that include apps and ebooks, then the reMarkable 2 is the highest note-taking choose, partly as a result of it’s laser-focused on one activity — utilizing a stylus to jot down digital notes — and it does this activity very properly. It has a slew of helpful templates, starting from a clean web page to storyboards and varied music writing templates. The range and vary of templates are an actual plus, since they make it straightforward to get began on inventive {and professional} initiatives.
reMarkable 2
Editor’s Alternative
The Kindle Scribe may be Amazon’s most costly Kindle, however it makes for a extremely inexpensive note-taking pill. It is stylus and pocket book instrument provide a satisfying note-taking expertise and, on the entire, it offers you good bang in your buck, because it’s an important eReader on prime of being a great writing instrument. Should you’re searching for one thing extra premium, and an entire lote extra succesful, it is exhausting to beat the 11-inch Apple iPad Professional (4th Era). You lose among the focus of extra conventional E Ink tablets, however you get an all-around extra highly effective and versatile pc, that is nice at taking notes with an Apple Pencil.
How did we select the most effective note-taking tablets?
Each myself and the Pocket-lint staff have intensive hands-on expertise testing and utilizing these note-taking tablets for work and creativity. As we examined, we thought of the varied use-cases for every machine, together with show high quality, writing really feel, the reflectivity of their screens, and their software program. Moreover, we examined to see how different components, similar to battery life and ports, performed into the general aesthetic and sensible expertise of utilizing every pill.
Will handwriting notes enhance my reminiscence?
There are various advantages to handwriting over completely typing out notes, together with improved recall of the stuff you write down and fewer distractions from having a number of browsers open. In truth, researchers in a 2021 study from Johns Hopkins University urged that there is a constructive relationship between handwriting notes and studying abilities. In the end, no matter will get your ideas down sooner must be your first choose, however there are actual advantages to taking your time with a stylus.
Are there any benefits to E Ink over a shade display?
Should you’re simply enthusiastic about plain outdated handwritten notes, there’s actually no cause to stray from the monochromatic joys of an E Ink pill. Colour screens, and notably OLED and LCD ones, often imply you will have quick access to extra distractions. A shade E Ink might be price contemplating if you understand you will need to learn comics whenever you’re not jotting down ideas, however till shade E Ink shows enhance, there are actual trade-offs in decision that might trouble you.
Trending Merchandise
