The Best Tablets and Devices for Taking Digital Notes
Why Go Digital with Your Note-Taking?
For those who take copious notes, whether in school or at work, the traditional pen and paper method can be satisfying. However, having a digital backup offers convenience and easy organization. E Ink tablets, smart pens, and digital notebooks allow you to save your handwritten notes or drawings as PDFs, images, or Word documents. Some devices even offer transcription to make your notes searchable in Google Docs. If you’re looking to upgrade your note-taking game, consider these top picks.
Our Top Picks
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Photograph: reMarkable
Our Favorite: reMarkable 2
The reMarkable 2 is a well-known and highly regarded E Ink tablet. With a matte screen that feels like paper and responsive writing, it offers an excellent user experience. The battery life is impressive, lasting several weeks on a single charge, and the stylus never needs recharging. While it lacks features like waterproofing, page-turn buttons, and a backlight, the reMarkable 2 excels at its primary task: jotting down notes.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
A Pricey Upgrade: Boox Note Air3 C
Boox offers high-quality E Ink tablets for note-taking, albeit at a higher price point and with more weight. The Note Air3 comes in two versions: the standard Note Air3 and the Note Air3 C, which features a color screen. Writing with the stylus feels natural and similar to pen and paper.
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Photograph: Kobo
Best for Books: Kobo Elipsa
The Kobo Elipsa is an excellent choice for avid readers who also need to take notes. It combines reading with note-taking capabilities, allowing you to mark up ebooks and compatible PDFs using the included stylus. English majors who need to read and annotate multiple books per semester may find this particularly useful. The marking interface on Kobo is preferable to that of Kindles, making it a better choice for those who frequently take notes while reading.
Do You Really Need a Digital Note-Taking Device?
While digital note-taking devices can be expensive, they offer several advantages over traditional notebooks and pens:
- Thin and lightweight design, capable of holding hundreds of notes
- Transcription of handwritten notes into searchable text files
- Export options for various file formats (PDF, Google Docs, Evernote, etc.)
- Instant digitization of artwork
However, there are also some drawbacks to consider:
- High cost compared to traditional notebooks and pens
- Need for charging
- Learning curve associated with using the device
- Most smart pens require a specific accompanying notebook (the upcoming Nuwa Pen promises to work with any paper)
Ultimately, the decision to invest in a digital note-taking device depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you value the convenience and organization of digital notes and can justify the cost, these devices can be a worthwhile addition to your workflow.
3 Comments
Saffron: Who knew my terrible handwriting could look this futuristic?
Finally, a way to make all those random doodles count for something productive!
Gone are the days of scribbling on napkins, enter the era of endless digital pages!