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While shorthand and cursive are handy skills when it comes to hastily jotting ideas, there’s no denying that technology can offer the best of both digital and analog worlds when it comes to note-taking. More than just a glorified smartphone, some of the best tablets for taking notes are now powered with artificial intelligence for expanding productivity, from automatically correcting grammar and spelling to organizing and summarizing content.
When paired with a stylus, you can quickly write things down, keep everything organized on a hard drive or the cloud, and search through everything later — which is why they’re perfect for high schoolers, college students, professionals and digital nomads. Cameras allow you to quickly snap photos of presentation boards, while AI-powered apps can convert handwriting to searchable text.
Related: The Best E-Readers and Tablet for Reading E-Books
Debating which note-taking tablet with stylus compatibility is right for you? Consider the following:
Do you need to multi-task? Are you using your tablet for reading, web browsing, checking emails, watching videos and playing games in addition to writing, compiling lists or drawing?
How much storage do you need? If you want to multi-task, we recommend a tablet with at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory (RAM) and a minimum 256GB of storage so you can play content, download files and create documents. Many devices also allow you to expand storage with an SD or microSD card, and today’s tech means you’ll also get decent front and back cameras for quickly snapping photos (like that whiteboard before it’s erased) and video calling. You’ll need plenty of storage if you expect to use those lenses for taking pictures and recordings.
Do you need AI? Today’s tablets are equipped with Apple’s Intelligence, Samsung’s Galaxy AI and Microsoft’s CoPilot+, which can automate tasks such as organization, spell check, summarizing and other features that can help save time in the note-taking and data organizing process.
Do you need more security than a passcode? Most devices now have secure authentication such as facial or fingerprint recognition in addition to a standard passcode, so your notes, files, email and other content stay safe if you ever lose your device. Seamless cloud backup is also important for the same reason.
Related: The Best E-Readers and Tablets for Reading Books
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tablets for note-taking at school, home or work, from the latest releases from Apple, Samsung and Microsoft to budget options for Android and Amazon users. All of our selections are compatible with stylus pens and equipped with the above-recommended specs (minimum 4GB RAM and 256GB storage), and they’re also available in other options (say, more or less memory or storage) to adapt to your needs or budget and are compatible with most note-taking apps such as GoodNotes, Microsoft OneNote, Notability, Apple Notes and others.
Keep reading below for some of the best note-taking tablets to consider for every budget.
At a Glance: The Best Tablets for Taking Notes
BEST OVERALL 2024 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M4, $1,099 $1,299
BEST E-PAPER TABLET ReMarkable Pro, $579 and up
BEST FOR ANDROID USERS Samsung Galaxy Tab S10, $850 $1,000
BEST FOR PC USERS Microsoft Surface Pro 16GB/256GB SD, $900 $1,200
BEST WIDE SCREEN 2024 Lenovo Tab P12, from $349 $360
BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Microsoft Surface Go 4, $773
MOST LIGHTWEIGHT 2024 Apple 10.9-inch iPad Air with M2, $599 $699
BEST E-READER FOR TAKING NOTES Amazon Kindle Scribe, $420
BEST FOR AMAZON ALEXA USERS Amazon Fire Max 11, $170 $280
BEST BUDGET APPLE TABLET 2022 Apple 10.9-inch iPad (10th gen), $600 $749
MOST TRAVEL-FRIENDLY 2024 Apple iPad Mini, $569 $599
BEST REUSABLE SMART NOTEBOOK Rocketbook Core, $26 $34
BEST OVERALL
2024 Apple 13-inch iPad Pro M4 with Wi-Fi $1,219.00 $1,299.00 6% off
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line device that can handle note-taking and then some, Apple’s M4 chip-equipped 2024 iPad Pro is the company’s fastest, most powerful tablet to date. It’s ideal for busy college students, professionals, on-the-go video editors and anyone else who wants an exceptional and portable experience for taking notes, gaming, video editing and watching content, all in one device. And Apple recently introduced its powerful Intelligence AI that can help improve your writing, summarize meetings, transcribe audio recordings, generate custom photos and videos and more. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is also integrated into the Writing Tools feature.
The tech giant’s built-in Notes app can recognize and index your handwriting, making it easier to search what you’ve jotted down. What’s great is you can also tap on your iPad’s lock screen with the Pencil to start taking notes without unlocking the device, and you can save it all on iCloud for seamless access across all of your Apple devices.
The 13-inch iPad Pro features 6E connectivity and a vibrant Liquid Retina display with XDR for color-faithful viewing, while 12MP cameras and a LiDAR scanner (which can “mesh” objects and spaces) let you take visual notes or stunning HDR photos alike. The device’s True Tone (which adapts to your lighting), adaptive ProMotion refresh rate and next-level contrast ratio combine to perform for moviegoers, gamers, graphic designers and video editors.
When paired with the second-generation Apple Pencil (on sale for $80), Magic Keyboard (on sale for $329) or Smart Keyboard Folio (on sale for $145), the seventh-gen iPad Pro is one of the best large-screen tablets for taking notes without any lag. It’s also among the slimmest at just .2 inches thick, 11 inches tall and under 8.5 inches wide.
2024 Apple iPad Pro M4, 13-in. Specifications
Screen 13-in. XDR (also available in 11-inch size)
Resolution 2752×2064
Dimensions 0.2 x 8.48 x 11.09 inches
Refresh rate 120Hz
Operating system iPadOS 18
CPU & GPU Apple M4 chip with 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
Memory 8GB RAM
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB
Cameras 12MP wide rear / 12MP ultra-wide front / LiDAR scanner
Security FaceID
Battery life Up to 10 hours
Port 1 USB-C with support for Thunderbolt and USB 4
Wi-Fi 5G and 6E
Weight 1.27 pounds
BEST E-INK TABLET
ReMarkable Paper Pro Prefer the feel of paper but want the perks of technology without digital distractions? Named Time‘s Best Invention of 2020, ReMarkable’s latest Paper Pro brings the company’s digital paper experience in full color. The new device’s Canvas Color display is great for everyone from artists and students to anyone else who wants to turn their handwritten notes into searchable text, organize notes across devices, sketch review documents or write directly onto PDFs. And that’s it— no distracting bells and whistles, such as social media notifications or email chimes.
At just .2 inches thick, the e-paper device is the thinnest tablet out there, and the 8GB internal storage can accommodate about 100,000 pages. The device also works on 5G, and you can sync files between ReMarkable’s apps for Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows 7 and newer.
(Our team is currently testing the ReMarkable Paper Pro; stay tuned for more hands-on review insights.)
ReMarkable Paper Pro Specifications
Screen 11.8″ Canvas Paper color display
Resolution 2160×1620
Operating system Linux-based ReMarkable OS
CPU 1.8 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53
Memory 2 GB SDRAM
Storage 64 GB
Cameras None
Security Passcode
Battery life Up to two weeks
Port USB-C
Wi-Fi 5G
Weight 1.16 pounds
BEST FOR ANDROID USERS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Tablet Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S10+ is one of the best tablets for Android users who want a display and speed that rivals the iPad. It harnesses the power of the new Galaxy AI, which includes the Note Assist feature that helps organize your notes and simplify tasks to boost efficiency and productivity. It can translate, summarize, auto-format and correct spelling, to name just a few tasks, and includes the S Pen that features nine-millisecond latency for quick responsiveness. When we tested Galaxy AI on the Z Fold6 smartphone, we also loved the Sketch to Image for generating photorealistic versions of our doodles and editing photos.
The Samsung Note app lets you convert your handwriting into searchable text, sync your notes and voice recordings, manage all of your pages and organize files. You can use the included stylus to control presentations, and your files and content can be synced with other compatible Samsung devices. Face ID and the fingerprint scanner ensures that your documents and data are safe and secure.
Students, gamers and movie lovers alike can thank the 120Hz refresh rate and the incredibly fast MediaTek processor that multitasks with ease. The impressive battery life, DeX (which offers a PC-like experience with mouse, keyboard and monitor integration), Microsoft 365 and speedy Wi-Fi 6E compatibility round out this powerful device with productivity in mind. For entertainment, the tablet boasts an edge-to-edge display and Dolby Atmos surround sound on quad speakers for a cinematic viewing experience on the go.
The tablet also includes a free year of Goodnotes, two months of Adobe Express and Adobe Lightroom, three months of Peacock Premium and YouTube Premium and a 30-day trial of Storyblocks, to name a few perks.
If you prefer the functionality of a laptop without the extra weight, the tablet can be expanded with Samsung’s Bluetooth book cover keyboard that acts as a screen protector. For maximum screen quality and size, the tablet is available in the 14.6-inch S10 Ultra model (from $1,000; reg. $1,200) that also supports Wi-Fi 7.
Samsung Galaxy S10+ Specifications
Screen 12.4 inches
Resolution 2800 x 1752
Dimensions 11.24 x 7.3 x 0.22 inches
Refresh rate 120Hz
Operating system Android 14
CPU & GPU MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
Memory 12GB
Storage 256 or 512GB; SD card slot expandable up to 1.5 TB
Cameras Ultra-wide 12 MP rear / 13 MP wide and 8MP ultra-wide front
Security Face ID and fingerprint scanner
Battery life Up to 16 hours
Port USB-C
Wi-Fi 6E
Weight 1.9 pounds
Best for PC users
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Copilot+ $899.99 $1,199.99 25% off
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11 is the best two-in-one tablet for note-taking that deliver powerful performance and portability, thanks to its new Snapdragon processor that makes the device 90 percent faster than previous models. It boasts a slew of new features: the AI-driven Copilot+ platform, Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility and more recycled materials. The device works with the Surface Slim Pen 2 (which Microsoft says has “more natural and inclusive haptic feedback”) and the Surface Pro Flex keyboard, which can be used when detached from the screen.
Note-takers will find a powerful multi-tasking machine that can take notes via pen, camera or voice. The Surface Pro offers a pen-to-paper-like experience when paired with the Slim Pen 2 (sold separately; on sale for $110), while the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard (on sale for $266 and bundled with the stylus) gives the device the functionality of a laptop, especially when the built-in Kickstand is in use. The tablet can also be connected to external GPUs and 4K monitors.
Gamers, editors and photographers will be happy to know that the speedy Snapdragon processor also makes the Surface Pro ideal for playing casual games or editing photos and videos. The device also cloud gaming, offers fast file transfers and charging via USB-C and features AI-enhanced camera effects.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Copilot+ Specifications
Screen 13-in. OLED
Resolution 2880×1920
Refresh rate 120Hz
Dimensions 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches
Operating system Windows 11 Home
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
GPU Qualcomm Adreno
Memory 16GB, 32GB or 64GB
Storage 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
Cameras 10MP rear with 4K / 5MP front
Security Face ID
Battery life Up to 14 hours
Port 2 x USB-C
Wi-Fi 7
Weight 3.17 pounds
Best for Small Businesses
Microsoft Surface Go 4 Tablet Windows users will have no problem adapting to Microsoft’s Surface Go 4 tablet. It clocks in at just one pound for ultimate portability and is compatible with the brand’s Surface Pen ($60, sold separately) that writes as smoothly as a regular writing tool on paper and includes a natural-feeling “eraser,” making it a favorite among digital artists.
Business owners
The Surface Go 4 isn’t going to replace your desktop computer or laptop — but it’s one of the best note-taking tablets for anyone seeking a lightweight device that can also handle lighter tasks such as answering emails, streaming videos and browsing the internet.
As far as writing things down, the tablet is equipped with the latest version of Microsoft’s OneNote app, which lets you create and edit Word documents, convert your handwriting to text, search notes and more. With the Surface Pen, you can also take notes on web pages using Microsoft Edge and even write reminders to yourself directly into Cortana.
Microsoft Surface Go 4 Specifications
Screen 10.5-in. PixelSense display
Resolution 1920×1280
Refresh rate 60Hz
Dimensions 6.9 x 9.6 x .33 inches
Operating system Windows 11 Pro
CPU 1.1 GHz Pentium
GPU Intel Processor N200
Memory 8GB
Storage 64, 128 or 256GB, plus microSD card slot
Cameras 8MP rear / 5MP front
Security Face ID
Battery life Up to 12.5 hours
Port USB-C
Wi-Fi 6
Weight 1.15 pounds
2024 Apple 11-inch iPad Air with Wi-Fi (6th Gen) The 2024 Apple iPad Air weighs in at just one pound, making it one of the best lightweight tablets for taking notes. The sixth-gen model works with the second-gen Pencil and the Pencil Pro, both offering a responsive writing and drawing experience. Powered by an M2 8-core CPU chip and Neural Engine, the 11-inch Liquid Retina screen has a 120Hz refresh rate that makes it a breeze to quickly jot down notes or doodle without any lag. If you prefer to type, connect the Magic Keyboard (on sale for $279) to turn the tablet into a laptop.
Like the iPad Pro, expect easy cross-device access to your documents on iCloud, convenient handwriting indexing on the Notes app, and compatibility with many other note-taking apps that let you add photos, links and more to your docs.
2024 Apple iPad Air Specifications
Screen 11-in. Liquid Retina
Resolution 1640×2360
Refresh rate 120Hz
Dimensions 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches
Operating system iPadOS 18
CPU & GPU Apple M2 8-core chip, 8-core GPU and Neural Engine
Memory 8GB
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
Cameras 12MP wide rear / 12MP Center Stage ultra-wide
Security Touch ID
Battery life Up to 10 hours
Port 1 USB-C
Wi-Fi 5G, 6E
Weight 1.03 pounds
Amazon BEST BUDGET APPLE TABLET
2022 Apple iPad (10th Gen) with A14 Bionic Chip There are plenty of cheap tablets for note-taking that offer basic functionality, but Apple’s 2022 iPad boasts the A14 Bionic chip, larger screen, longer battery life, better cameras and more. The 10th-gen tablet is 20 percent faster than the 2021 model, allowing users to seamlessly switch between taking notes, browsing the web or playing games. Apple also swapped the Lightning connector for the industry standard USB-C, and the graphics boast a 10 percent improvement over the previous model.
The 10.9-in. screen features Apple’s TrueTone technology (which automatically adjusts to the color temperature of the room), making it easier on your eyes whether you’re taking notes in a giant lecture hall or outdoors. It also has a new and improved rear 12MP camera that takes better photos in low-light settings compared to its predecessor (which had an 8MP rear camera), so you can easily take clear visual notes.
The 2022 iPad pairs with the first-gen Apple Pencil (on sale for $69) and the new Magic Keyboard Folio (on sale for $199) so you can write down your thoughts on the Scribble note-taking app, mark up PDFs and screenshots, highlight items, convert your handwriting into text, sketch illustrations and design logos. The Liquid Retina display promises vibrant details and colors, and the tablet weighs about one pound, making it a travel-friendly option for mobile entertainment.
2022 Apple iPad Specifications
Screen 10.9-in. Liquid Retina
Resolution 2360×1640
Refresh rate 60Hz
Dimensions 9.79 x 7 x 0.28 inches
Operating system iPadOS 16
CPU & GPU A14 Bionic chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU with Neural Engine
Memory 4GB RAM
Storage 64GB or 256GB
Cameras 12MP wide rear / 12MP landscape ultra-wide front with Center Stage / LiDAR scanner
Security Touch ID
Battery life All day; varies by use
Port 1 USB-C
Wi-Fi 5G and 6
Weight 1.05 pounds
Best Wide Screen
2024 Lenovo Tab P12 Tablet For its latest Tab P12 tablet, Lenovo has increased the screen size and quality, upgraded the cameras, added a fingerprint scanner for improved security and thrown in the Tab Pen Plus and the Folio Case. At only $268 for the 8GB RAM/128 GB storage model, the Lenovo Tab P12 makes a great option for anyone who wants a powerful and affordable multi-tasking tablet and a wider screen for soaking up entertainment or getting more note-taking real estate.
This family-friendly screen is equipped with a MediaTek Helio 7050 processor and brighter and bigger 12.7-inch 3K OLED screen, delivering seamless graphics on a vibrant 400-nit display. Speaking of portable entertainment, the Dolby Atmos-enhanced quad JBL speakers round out your immersive on-the-go experience.
The device comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office apps, and you can connect Lenovo’s wireless keyboard (from $100, sold separately) for easy note-taking in class or at the office. The stylus has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt detection — so artists and note-takers alike can get an accurate writing or drawing experience — and you can upgrade to the Tab P12 Pro (on sale for $500) that comes with Bamboo Paper and Squid illustration apps. Whether you’re a college student or an executive, you can easily jot your thoughts on OneNote, write papers on Word and organize your files, among other productivity tasks.
Lenovo Tab P12 Specifications
Screen 12.7-in. 3K LCD
Resolution 2000×1200
Refresh rate 60Hz
Dimensions 11.55 x 7.51 x 0.27 inches
Operating system Android 13
CPU MediaTek Helio 7050 Octa-Core processor
Memory 8GB RAM
Storage 64GB or 128GB; microSD card slot expandable up to 256GB
Cameras 8MP auto-focus rear / 13MP front
Security Face ID
Battery life Up to 10 hours
Port USB-C and 4-point pogo pin
Wi-Fi 6G
Weight from 1.1 pounds
Amazon BEST FOR AMAZON ALEXA USERS
Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet If you’re fully immersed in Amazon’s Alexa-powered world, then the e-comm giant’s newest Fire Max 11 tablet is one of the best budget note-taking tablets. Available with or without lock screen ads, and in a Microsoft 365 productivity bundle the new model is now compatible with Amazon’s stylus and Bluetooth keyboard case.
We love that this lightweight tablet is just over one pound and has a fingerprint ID for added security (Amazon’s Fire HD 10 only supports passcode security) and that the stylus snaps magnetically onto the side for convenient storage. The keyboard has 15 pre-programmed shortcut keys (including two customizable ones) for using the split-screen feature and opening programs, plus trackpad gestures for quick navigation. The battery life also gets a major upgrade and promises up to 14 hours of gaming, listening to music or Audible books, browsing the web, reading, watching Twitch streams and more.
If you plan on using this for watching movies and taking video calls, you’ll appreciate the value in this 11-inch tablet. It has a 1080p full HD display and upgraded 8MP front and rear cameras (the previous model only had 5MP and 2MP cameras.
The Fire Max 11 can be fully charged in as little as 3.5 hours with a 15-watt adapter and USB-C cable. We also like the option to add a microSD card and expand storage up to 1TB. And of course, Alexa is at your service when you want to use voice commands to add items to your Amazon shopping cart, turn on smart lights and set reminders, to name a few.
Amazon Fire Max 11 Specifications
Screen 11 inches
Dimensions 10.2 x 6.44 x 0.3 inches
Resolution 2000×1200
Refresh rate 60Hz
Operating system Fire OS
CPU Octa-Core 2.2 GHz
GPU Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T
Memory 4GB RAM
Storage 64GB or 128GB; can be expanded to 1TB with microSD
Cameras 8MP front and rear with 1080p HD video
Security Fingerprint ID
Battery life Up to 14 hours
Ports 1 USB-C, microSD
Wi-Fi 5G and 6E
Weight 1.08 pounds
Most travel-friendly tablet
2024 Apple iPad Mini (7th Gen) Released in October 2024, Apple’s seventh-gen iPad Mini is a tiny but mighty and portable note-taking machine, thanks to the A17 Pro chip that supports the tech giant’s new Intelligence AI platform. Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, the 8.3-inch tablet weighs just over 10 ounces and is capable of all of the wonders of Apple’s other AI-powered tablets — making it the most lightweight (and travel-friendly) screen on our list.
It’s compatible with the second-gen Apple Pencil, has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and has a battery that lasts up to 10 hours. Like the rest of Apple’s devices with the M2 or A17 Pro chip and iOS 18 or higher, expect all of the same Intelligence upgrades to the Notes, Mail and Pages apps (as well as third-party apps) with Writing Tool’s features (such as summarizing, rewriting and proofreading), Image Playground and Image Wand (for creating original photos) and integrated ChatGPT. The USB-C port also delivers faster data transfer.
Casual gamers, artists and photo/video editors will find the new iPad Mini great for on-the-go entertainment and productivity, but don’t expect it to replace, say, a Snapdragon-equipped laptop. Like its predecessor, the Liquid Retina screen still delivers vibrant images and video with 500 nits of brightness, while the TrueTone adaptive display adjusts to your environment’s lighting. Also still onboard is the 12MP front and back camera and 4K video recording and the 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure and other eco-conscious materials.
2024 Apple iPad Mini Specifications
Screen 8.3 inch Liquid Retina
Resolution 2266×1488
Refresh rate 60Hz
Dimensions 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches
Operating system iPadOS 18
CPU & GPU A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU
Memory 4GB RAM
Storage 128, 256 or 512GB
Cameras 12MP wide rear / 12MP Center Stage front
Security Touch ID
Battery life Up to 10 hours
Port 1 USB-C
Wi-Fi 5G, 6E
Weight 10.4 ounces
Amazon BEST E-READER FOR TAKING NOTES
Amazon Kindle Scribe Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is one of the best e-readers that’s also a note-taking tablet, making it a great option for students, avid readers and writers. At 10.2 inches with a 300ppi glare-free display and 35 LED lights, the screen is the largest and brightest in Amazon’s e-reader lineup. Similar to Amazon’s other e-readers, the front light adjusts automatically and you can customize the display’s warmth and text size.
The battery can last for up to 12 weeks (based on 30 minutes of reading per day) or up to 3 weeks (based on 30 minutes of note-taking daily) on a single charge, and you can get as much as 64 GB of storage for e-books and notes. The included Premium Pen lets you create sticky notes by tapping the screen, highlight sentences in books, create documents and notebooks (including bullet journals, keep track with to-do lists and more.
Amazon Kindle Scribe Specifications
Screen 10.2-inch Paperwhite display
Resolution 300ppi
Refresh rate About 1 Hz
Dimensions 7.7 x 9 x .22 inches
Operating system N/A
CPU & GPU N/A
Memory N/A
Storage 16, 32 or 64 GB
Cameras None
Security Passcode
Battery life Up to 12 weeks for reading; up to 3 weeks for writing
Port 1 USB-C
Wi-Fi 5G and Wi-Fi 6
Weight 15.3 ounces
Amazon BEST REUSABLE SMART NOTEBOOK
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook Though it’s not quite a tablet, those who prefer a screen-free, budget-friendly experience will find one in Rocketbook’s reusable smart notebook. The size of standard printer paper, the 36-page erasable notebook uses a specially-coated dot grid surface that tracks what you write using the included Pilot FiXion pen. Connect it to Rocketbook’s free iOS or Android app to scan and save each page to your preferred destination (including Google Drive, iCloud, Evernote, Dropbox, email and more), then erase the pages with a microfiber cloth (included) to clear your notebook.
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook Specifications
Screen 8.5×11 inches
Resolution N/A
Operating system N/A
CPU N/A
Memory N/A
Storage Varies by iOS or Android device
Cameras None
Security N/A
Battery life N/A
Port N/A
Wi-Fi N/A
Weight 8.6 ounces
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