Best tablets for note-taking 2025: My hand-picked options for writing notes

[ad_1] Typically there's nothing higher than pen and paper to let your creativity unfastened, however in an more and more digital world, this may be misplaced. A note-taking pill can protect a number of the really feel of handwriting whereas combining it with autosaves, cloud syncing, and the lightness of a standard notepad. The chances are countless; you may write, annotate, create diagrams, share and collaborate on paperwork, and way more.

We examined tablets throughout all the main manufacturers to search out choices that swimsuit college students, professionals, and on a regular basis customers. A few of these fashions can exchange a laptop computer, whereas others are perfect for jotting notes on the go. We evaluated all of those tablets on efficiency, battery life, show, and writing expertise.

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What's the greatest note-taking pill you should purchase proper now? After hands-on testing, our decide for the general greatest note-taking pill is the iPad Air , which is light-weight and suitable with the second-gen Apple Pencil , making it ultimate for your entire writing wants.

Alternatively, the $450 Kindle Scribe is a perfect companion for anybody desirous about writing their very own guide, because it combines the texture of a standard notepad with an clever stylus and the means to prepare your entire paperwork in a single central hub.

Learn on to find extra of our favourite note-taking tablets.

Additionally: The most effective tablets for college students in 2025

The most effective note-taking tablets of 2025 Present much less

Why we prefer it: The light-weight pill can do every little thing. Whereas this is not the most recent model of the iPad Air, we selected this one because it prices much less and has lots of the similar options because the M2 iPad Air, albeit with a barely slower processor.

It is suitable with the Apple Pencil (second-generation), making it simple to take notes in school or conferences and watch seminars nearly. You may customise with 5 colour selections and a number of storage choices.

Who it is for: Even Android followers will like Apple's iPad Air, reminiscent of ZDNET creator Charlie Osborne, who enjoys utilizing her iPad Air for artistic functions. Plus, as we mentioned in our assessment, the iPad Air "is as highly effective because the iPad Professional, however prices a whole lot of {dollars} much less."

Evaluation: Apple iPad Air (fifth-generation)

As well as, for college students or professionals who ceaselessly want to make use of their tablets on the go, a mobile knowledge plan possibility ensures you may all the time get on-line. It is now on sale for $520.

Who ought to look elsewhere: It is an costly note-taking pill, so if funds is a key issue for you, you may need to contemplate different choices.

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Why we prefer it: The Boox Observe Air 4 C is a colour e-ink pill that's constructed for note-taking. The display has a 1240 x 930, or 150 pixels per inch (ppi), decision in colour. When utilized in black and white, it has a 2480 x 1860 decision, or 300 ppi -- the identical because the Kindle Scribe. Plus, it is tremendous light-weight at slightly below a pound.

This pill has all the very best options of the highest note-taking apps constructed proper in. There are dozens of templates to make use of, audio recording, color-coding, and inserting hyperlinks and attachments to notes. Plus, built-in synthetic intelligence permits for textual content recognition, form perfection, and a strike-through erase function that makes erasing a lot simpler.

Who it is for: ZDNET author Maria Diaz went hands-on with the pill and mentioned it is nice for professionals and creatives.

"It isn't a productiveness pill or one to exchange a laptop computer, however it's excellent for note-takers who like handwriting, journaling, studying lovers, and even designers," Diaz mentioned.

Evaluation: Boox Observe Air 4 C

Plus, it has a number of options that make it a productiveness machine. For instance, there's a split-screen function that permits you to change between two totally different apps. Verified clients just like the Booxdrop function, which lets you simply ship recordsdata to the pill out of your laptop or smartphone to the pill.

It takes mere seconds, and you'll annotate PDFs and different Phrase paperwork with ease.

Who ought to look elsewhere: If Android is not your jam, you in all probability will not just like the Boox Observe Air 4 C, because it's noticeably slower than a standard pill just like the iPad. It is also fairly costly at $530.

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Why we prefer it: The Kindle Scribe is probably the right instance of an e-reader pill hybrid.

It has the identical features you like in a Kindle, like a 300 ppi glare-free display, weeks of battery life, and adjustable heat gentle. It is also suitable with Amazon's Premium Pen, so you may take handwritten notes or underline vital quotations in your e-book.

Your notes are robotically organized in a single place for each guide with the intention to browse, assessment, and export them by way of electronic mail. The Kindle Scribe additionally comes with preset templates that can assist you create notebooks, journals, and lists. You may also create sticky notes in Microsoft Phrase and different suitable Phrase paperwork.

Who it is for: In the event you're somebody who likes taking notes whereas studying. The brand new Lively Canvas on the Kindle Scribe permits you to take notes and scribble your ideas instantly onto the pages of your guide. ZDNET editor Kyle Kucharski put the Lively Canvas function to the check and appreciated the function as an avid note-taker.

Evaluation: Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)

"The cool design factor right here is that the notes you draw with the pan exist on one other "layer" than the guide textual content, permitting you to edit what you write with out messing with the textual content within the guide," he wrote in his assessment.

As well as, in the event you're somebody with messy handwriting, the AI options can transcribe handwritten notes into textual content, making it simpler to return and browse.

Who ought to look elsewhere: In the event you're not a lot of an annotator, you is perhaps higher off with the reMarkable Paper Professional. It prices about the identical at $449 and is taken into account a extra premium gadget.

Kindle Scribe tech specs: Show: 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite show | Storage: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB | Weight: 0.96 kilos | Dimensions: 7.7 x 9.0 x 0.22 inches | Battery life: As much as 12 weeks (at half-hour per day)

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Why we prefer it: The reMarkable Paper Professional is an enchancment over the reMarkable 2. Its aesthetic is premium and minimalist, with a bigger colour display and adjustable backlight.

Evaluation: reMarkable Paper Professional

Kyle Kucharski went hands-on with the Paper Professional and was particularly impressed with the writing expertise.

"The pesky latency you usually discover when utilizing a stylus is absent altogether right here; there's zero lag between the movement of your hand and the road you are drawing on the gadget's display, leading to a sensible, pleasurable writing expertise," he wrote in his assessment.

Who it is for: This gadget is for individuals seeking to critically lock into their productiveness. The Paper Professional cannot browse the online, play movies, or edit your pictures, however that is the purpose. As an alternative, it takes a extra disconnected strategy to assist full duties with productiveness instruments like templates, workflow and app connections, and an extra Kind Folio to mix handwriting and typing into one gadget.

Who ought to look elsewhere: This note-taking pill seems extra high-end and comes with a $679 price ticket to match. Plus, an extra subscription is required to entry the total suite of helpful options. In case you have a funds of $500 or much less, we advocate testing a Boox pill or maybe the Kindle Scribe as an alternative.

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Why we prefer it: The Tab S10+ comes with 12GB of reminiscence and 256GB or 512GB of storage, with the choice to broaden to as much as 1TB of storage utilizing microSD. Contained in the Tab S10+ is a fairly highly effective MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor.

Most significantly, the S10+ comes with an S Pen that you need to use to write down or draw in your favourite apps. New to the S10 lineup are Galaxy AI options that additional improve your note-taking like Observe Help, which lets you transcribe, set up, and even summarize notes.

Who it is for: This pill is ideal in the event you're on the lookout for a productiveness enhance otherwise you desire a note-taking app that may be set to totally different functions. For instance, you possibly can additionally use this pill for browsing the online, accessing cellular apps, controlling your smartphone, or gaming.

Who ought to look elsewhere: This pill is dear, beginning at $970, although it is at the moment on sale. In the event you're on the lookout for a easy note-taking pill, take a look at the Boox Observe Air 4 C.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ tech specs: Show: 12.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2560 x 1600 show | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ | Storage: 256GB, 512GB (as much as 1.5TB with microSD) | Reminiscence: 12GB | Colours: Moonstone grey and platinum silver | Cameras: Rear: 13MP principal, 8MP ultrawide, Entrance: 12MP ultrawide | Weight: 1.27 kilos | Dimensions: 11.24 X 7.3 X 0.22 inches | Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi

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The most effective note-taking pill is the iPad Air based mostly on value, scores, show, options, and extra. It is also tremendous light-weight, making it the right alternative to hold wherever.

Observe-taking Pill

Worth

Show

Pen/Stylus

Apple iPad Air

$518

10.9-inch Retina show

Apple Pencil (second-generation)

Boox Observe Air 4 C

$530

10.3-inch Kaleido 3 show

BOOX Pen Plus

Amazon Kindle Scribe

$450

10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite show

Amazon Premium Pen

reMarkable Paper Professional

$679

11.8-inch 2160 x 1620 show

reMarkable Marker or Marker Plus

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+

$970

12.3-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2960 x 1848 show

S Pen

*Lowest value on the time of writing. Please notice that costs could differ based mostly on retailer and obtainable promotions, gross sales, or reductions.

Present extra Selecting a pill actually comes all the way down to what you need to use it for and spend. Fundamental tablets are usually cheaper, whereas gadgets with extra bells and whistles sport the next price ticket.

Select this note-taking pill...

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Apple iPad Air

The most effective general possibility. It is as highly effective because the iPad Professional however a lot lighter and cheaper, and can be utilized for quite a lot of artistic purposes outdoors of note-taking, conferences, and research.

Boox Observe Air 4 C

A light-weight note-taking pill. It comes with dozens of templates to select from and helpful note-taking and productiveness options, making it one in every of our prime selections for learning and collaboration.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

A pill and e-reader in a single. You can also make notes throughout the books you're studying, in addition to by way of apps like Microsoft Phrase. Moreover, you may stash your entire paperwork in a single central hub.

reMarkable Paper Professional

A high-end, premium note-taking pill that places productiveness on the forefront of its objective. This premium gadget is way more than merely a method to take notes, and it exhibits.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

A Samsung pill for note-taking that can be used as a piece software, for leisure, and even as a wise house controller. An S Pen is included within the field.

Present extra Before you purchase a note-taking pill, you will need to contemplate the next:

Show: A pill's expertise is essentially based mostly on its show, so take note of tablets with HD resolutions and paper-like shows. We advocate selecting an e-ink or paper-simulation show in case your major motive for buy is digital writing. Nonetheless, if you wish to mix note-taking with commonplace cellular apps, reminiscent of for gaming or web browsing, a typical show may suffice.Stylus compatibility: Take into account tablets that both include a stylus proper out of the field or have the choice to purchase one from the maker individually. Most common styluses will even work with these tablets however make sure you test for compatibility first. Measurement: Tablets that you'll primarily use for note-taking functions may have totally different necessities than tablets it's good to exchange a laptop computer with. Smaller measurement tablets are greatest for note-taking functions and are light-weight and moveable, and these can vary from roughly six to 9 inches.Worth: Tablets will differ in value from $150 all the way in which as much as $1,000 or extra, relying on storage capability, show high quality, processors, and extra. Take into account whether or not you simply desire a handy note-taking pill or in the event you plan to make use of apps with heavy useful resource necessities. Working system: Apple, Google, or Amazon? Observe-taking tablets run on totally different working methods, so make sure you decide a mannequin you can be comfy with. Present extra The ZDNET staff selected all the tablets included on this listing based mostly on their efficiency when examined in the true world. Once we check tablets, we sometimes observe the identical routine for each to see which performs greatest.

Show: We measure the brightness degree in several lighting situations and assess colour accuracy. We additionally evaluate the show's efficiency with what the producer promised, check the display's responsiveness to the touch, and assess the efficiency of any further options, like a producer's stylus.

Efficiency: For real-world efficiency metrics, our reviewers measure how shortly the pill reacts to enter, assess recreation efficiency and body charges, check how the pill handles having a number of apps operating concurrently, measure the time it takes to launch apps, and even assess the pill's temperature throughout intensive duties.

Battery life: We check totally different situations for battery life, together with measuring how lengthy the battery lasts whereas streaming, internet searching, utilizing productiveness apps, and taking part in video games.Digicam and audio: For cameras, we consider options like decision, aperture, low-light efficiency, autofocus accuracy, dynamic vary, colour accuracy, picture high quality, sharpness, and video high quality. For audio, we have a look at the sound high quality and general listening expertise, together with audio readability at totally different volumes, stereo separation of left and proper audio channels, most quantity degree in numerous environments, and if there's perceived distortion. For a deeper look into our testing course of, take a look at our complete pill testing methodology.

Present extra Newest information on writing tablets in 2025 We examined the Kindle Scribe and ReMarkable Paper Professional. See how they evaluate.The worldwide pill market continues to develop, however it's not essentially because of Apple or Samsung. Apple did not unveil any new tablets at its September occasion, however we may nonetheless see a brand new gadget this 12 months. A research printed in April discovered {that a} digital pill can truly contribute to productiveness. The members who labored on digital paper tablets had 35% decrease stress ranges whereas finishing their duties than laptop customers, in addition to a 30% discount in cognitive load. Moreover, the research discovered that the members who used tablets skilled 25% increased visible and verbal creativity, whereas sustaining 17% higher reminiscence recall. You may learn the total research right here. Lots of our prime picks will be thought of digital notebooks over conventional tablets, and there's a distinctive distinction. Conventional tablets just like the iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy S10+ have all of the capabilities of a pc, that means they will browse the online, entry software program and packages like Photoshop, can take pictures or movies, and are nice for media consumption by way of apps.

Additionally: The most effective sensible notebooks you should purchase

Alternatively, a digital pocket book like reMarkable Paper Professional or Boox Observe Air 4 C nonetheless has a processor and storage like that of a pill however is extra centered on the particular process of note-taking. These gadgets will really feel extra like paper due to a devoted E-ink display. Additionally they often have a for much longer battery life than tablets, because you're simply utilizing them to write down.

Present extra Utilizing a stylus is completely as much as you, however it may possibly positively assist with performance. Some tablets include a stylus, whereas others may have them bought individually. In the event you're this from a value perspective, contemplate the truth that the stylus will usually be an added expense, however chances are you'll discover it value it for ease of use, particularly in the event you're the sort that likes the sensation of writing out your notes moderately than typing them.

Present extra The most effective note-taking apps allow you to digitize your notes and to-dos whereas preserving them multi functional place or syncing them to a cloud. Our favorites are Notability, Evernote, GoodNotes 5, and even Apple's free Notes app is a worthy alternative.

Present extra Sure, the Apple Pencil can convert your handwritten notes into textual content for higher legibility. This is how:

Within the Notes or Freeform apps, faucet to point out the software palette.Within the software palette, faucet the Handwriting software to the left of the pen.Write with Apple Pencil, and Scribble robotically converts your handwriting into typed textual content. Present extra Really, no. A writing pill just like the Amazon Kindle Scribe or the reMarkable Paper Professional are particularly made with writing in thoughts, and a paperlike display and lag when flipping pages or swapping instruments make it not an excellent gadget for drawing or sketching.

Nonetheless, a standard pill just like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ would double as a superb drawing pill, since you may work on apps like Photoshop or Sketchbook with ease.

Present extra Latest updates October 2025: In our October 2025 replace, we made editorial and magnificence adjustments. We additionally supplied extra info on our prime picks and alternate options. September 2025: In our September 2025 replace, we made minor editorial adjustments, verified product availability and costs, and added new info post-Apple occasion and forward of Amazon Prime Day.Might 2025: In our Might 2025 replace, we added the reMarkable Paper Professional as a prime decide, added extra context on options of merchandise, and added information a few current research that exhibits persons are extra productive utilizing E-ink tablets in comparison with computer systems. Different tablets we have examined Present much less

This 10.3-inch pill has a low-latency E-Ink writing expertise that makes you're feeling such as you're writing on paper moderately than on a display. It is also tremendous moveable, with it being simply 4.7mm thick.

The $449 reMarkable 2 can convert handwritten notes to typed textual content and integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive. You may also import Microsoft Workplace recordsdata and take notes instantly on PDFs.

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Apple's smallest iPad is ideal for taking notes because of its portability, and it really works effectively with the Apple Pencil Professional to fulfill your entire artistic writing wants.

The iPad Mini comes with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show, 128GB to 512GB of storage, and 4 colours to select from -- Starlight, Area Grey, Blue, and Purple.

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The Acer Chromebook Spin is a laptop computer and pill in a single. Its pull-out stylus is ideal for taking notes on the fly.

Whereas spectacular, that is the costliest and heaviest gadget on our listing, at $750 and three.1 kilos, respectively. We might advocate this for severe enterprise professionals or college students. Nonetheless, this gadget is at the moment on sale at Amazon for $550.

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This 7-inch colour e-reader can even double as a note-taking pill, due to the included stylus and numerous templates.

You may customise the gadget whether or not it's good to make a to-do listing, maintain a day by day journal, or have a calendar helpful. The e-reader sports activities about 4 hours of battery life and an iPX8 waterproof ranking. Better of all, it is solely $230.