Are you planning to digitize each one of your handwritten notes? If that’s a yes, you are better off investing in suitable tablets for note-taking, which can surprisingly replace your sticky pads, traditional note keepers, pens, and pencils. But then, is a note-taking tablet just about collating those scribbles in one place. Not exactly!
If you are a business professional, tutor, coder, student, or content creator, you are better off purchasing a tablet for note-taking. While you would expect it to help you jot down ideas with ease, these tablets are often required to have high-end biometric security safeguards, excellent battery backups, responsive stylus pens, ultrafast connectivity standards, and excellent displays in place.
Also, note-taking, despite sounding like a pretty straightforward task, suffers performance glitches if the tablet lacks adequate RAM and storage space. Plus, not every scribble-worthy tablet is bestowed with a responsive stylus pen. On top of that, as a professional who is quite a lot on the road, sunlight visibility or lack, therefore, can be a pressing issue.
Considering the primary user requirements and the corresponding pain points, I have decided to review and enlist some of the top-rated tablets for note-taking, whilst taking care of the secondary preferences, budget, and ease of management.
Contents
Best Tablets for Note-Taking in 2023
In the subsequent sections, I shall round up the top picks when note-taking and content digitizing tablets are concerned. And guess what, I have covered some of the most reputed brands like Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft in this discussion along with the more affordable, new entrants that have already made quite a few heads roll with their inventiveness.
So, without wasting any more time, let us jump into the detailed reviews concerning each of the 7 tablets. And one more thing. I tested over 50 tablets extensively to come with a pretty compact list of 7 note-taking tablets that I feel cover every base with perfection.
1. Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
If you are seriously looking for a digital note-taking device that excels when it comes to the quality of the stylus pen and overall scribbling experience, the Samsung Tab S7 readily comes out on top. If you have been using the Tab S6 Lite till now, you would be amazed to see the brighter screen offered by the Tab S7.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
This device supports a customizable kickstand that aligns it rather perfectly for note-taking. Instead of writing on it vertically, you can place it at a more convenient angle to add to the overall experience.
Display & Inputs
What makes the Samsung Tab S7 popular is its exceptionally bright, 11-inch TFT screen. Coming to the resolution, the 2560 x 1600 pixels add to the vividness of the display, making it good enough in terms of sunlight visibility. Also, the 16:10 aspect ratio makes it a reliable tablet for editing and reading documents on the go.
While the touchscreen cannot be any more responsive, the S-Pen takes productivity and note-taking finesse to a whole new level. Plus, I tested it with the likes of Bear and Evernote and found the stylus to be exceptionally responsive on both these applications.
Hardware & Performance
Even though note-taking doesn’t stretch your device to the brink, you are still better off with the Snapdragon 865 chipset at the core, led by an octa-core setup. On top of that, there is 6GB RAM in play, allowing you to keep multiple apps and games open while you take notes.
Storage-wise, 128GB seems more than adequate for standard note-taking but you can always expand it by an additional 1TB if needed. The tablet runs Android 10 as the out-of-the-box OS and the performances are nothing short of extraordinary, irrespective of the task.
Design & Connectivity
The portability exhibited by this top-end tablet is another reason for choosing it for note-taking. Despite the metal-clad form factor, the tablet still measures 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches, which is sleeker as compared to other products on the list.
On top of it, the weight stands manageable at 1.10 pounds, which makes the tablet perfect for single-handed operations.
When it comes to connectivity, the tablet makes do with Wi-Fi 6 support for letting you access the internet faster. To add to it all, there is a Type-C port for faster charging and data transfers.
Battery Life & Other Features
The Tab S7 lasts up to 12 hours on a single charge. Plus, there are two exceptional sets of shooters on board, including the 13MP + 5MP rear camera setup to let you send handwritten notes to your friends and family. There is also a bright, 8MP front camera to work with.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the Samsung Tab S7 is one of the better looking and most productive note taking tablets around that readily scales beyond the rest when screen quality and stylus-using experiences are concerned.
- Bright screen
- Responsive stylus
- The rear camera module is top shelf
- Dependable battery
- Lightweight design
- Premium price
2. Best iPad for Note-Taking: Apple iPad Air
The Apple iPad Air excels when it comes to taking notes, editing documents, or even creating accurate drawings. Also, when it comes to multitasking, there aren’t many tablets better than the Apple iPad Air. Not just that, this variant is a better upgrade as compared to the 3rd gen iPad Air.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
It is the exceptional stylus, i.e., Apple Pencil 2nd generation that strengthens iPad Air’s case as an exceptional note-taking tablet. And to secure your private documents, there is a nifty Touch ID to make use of.
Display & Inputs
The 10.9-inch IPS screen deserves a mention, courtesy of the Liquid Retina technology, P3 color gamut for the best possible visual experience, and the native resolution of 1640 x 2360. Plus, the sunlight visibility is close to exceptional.
As far as the stylus is concerned, the iPad Air 2020 works perfectly with the Apple Pencil 2nd gen, which is extremely responsive, charges within minutes, and can last up to 15 hours or even more for handling all that scribbling and note-taking of yours.
Hardware & Performance
The A1 Bionic chipset is fast enough and doesn’t heat up a lot, especially when basic tasks like using apps like OneNote, Notability, and more are concerned. You get 4GB RAM to assist the SoC followed by 256GB of non-upgradable storage space.
As mentioned, the performances projected by this iPad are excellent and you hardly experience any lag, even while multitasking. And even the iPadOS 16.6 helps with responsiveness, courtesy of the light interface.
Design & Connectivity
Apple continues to stay invested in a metal-clad, standard design that measures 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches. To sum it up, the iPad Air is a touch slimmer than the inherently sleek Tab S7. Coming to the weight, the device standards at 1.01 pounds.
As far as the ports and wireless standards go, iPad Air makes room for a Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.0. and the useful Wi-Fi 6 standard.
Battery Life & Other Features
In terms of autonomy, this tablet offers 10 hours of standard backup. On top of that, there are stereo speakers, a 12MP rear shooter with better low-light performance, and a 7MP selfie camera that makes quite an impression.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2020-variant of the Apple iPad Air is an all-inclusive tablet that excels in terms of note-making when the quality of the interface and the Apple Pencil are concerned. However, the excellent processor sets it apart from other products on the list.
Still, if you can make peace with a smaller screen, the Apple iPad 10.2, isn’t such a bad option either as it lets you save some hard-earned cash. In terms of features, you get an A13 Bionic chipset, 3GB RAM, an aspect ratio of 12:9, a 12MP front shooter, and a secure fingerprint reader to help you safeguard the important notes
- Responsive stylus
- Fast processor
- iPadOS is interactive enough
- Sizable storage space
- Excellent rear camera
- TouchID support
- Stylus needs to be purchased separately
- Doesn’t support storage upgradation
3. Best Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Go 2
Having a Windows tablet as a note-taking device allows you to maintain continuity with the laptop. This is where the Microsoft Surface Go 2 excels, courtesy of the 2-in-1 setup and a beefed-up specs sheet.
The screen quality associated with the Go 2 is far better as compared to the one offered by the Surface Go, thereby adding to the note taking experience.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
It is the multi-mode operability that makes this tablet good enough for note taking. Plus, the stylus works like a charm and offers a pen-like scribbling experience.
Display & Inputs
There is a 10.5-inch screen on offer, boasting 1920 x 1280 pixels in terms of resolution. The IPS screen even exhibits an aspect ratio of 3:2, which translates into an exceptional reading experience. Finally, the display is strengthened by Gorilla Glass 3 to make it more enduring.
You use the Surface Pen to precision and can even pair an external keyboard, in case you want to use this device holistically.
Hardware & Performance
The Intel Pentium 4425Y is a power-efficient processor and keeps the device cool. Also, 8GB RAM seems a tad overkill for simple note taking and therefore, I would recommend this for other professional activities like content creation, editing, and more.
Next in line is the availability of the 128GB SSD, which boots up the Windows 10 OS in heartbeat. Also, you can expand the device storage by an additional 512GB, if needed.
Design & Connectivity
Made out of magnesium, this tablet weighs 1.2 pounds and measures 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches, when the dimensions are concerned. Plus, there are quite a few connectivity-specific perks to use, including the Wi-Fi AX standard, Type-C port, Surface Connect port, and more.
Battery Life & Other Features
The 10-hour battery backup lives up to the expectations. However, the Go 2 also throws in other resources for the road, including the 8MP rear shooter and Face Login functionality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is one of the top-rated Windows tablets that extends your laptop-using experience and trade-offs, seamless enough. Also, it is the same multi-mode operability that makes it better than some of the other products around.
- Bright screen
- A lot of RAM
- Wi-Fi 6 access
- Excellent battery
- Fast stylus
- The keyboard must be paid for
- Lacks a fingerprint reader
4. Best for Students: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
TheSamsung Tab S6 Lite is certainly not overkill for some of the less demanding tasks like college note taking. However, for the given price, it is surprisingly capable of taking productivity a notch higher by even assisting you with games, PDF editing, and more.
The Tab S6 Lite is quite new and readily outs the older Tab 3 Lite in every aspect but more specifically in terms of screen and resolution.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
The Tab S6 Lite is one of those tablets that come with a stylus making it good enough as a digital sticky pad. On top of that, its light form factor ensures that you can handle it as easily as you would handle a big writing pad.
Display & Inputs
Coming to the display, the 10.4-inch screen is a force to reckon with and exhibits 1200 x 2000 pixels when resolution is concerned. The TFT panel is a tad underwhelming as compared to standard IPS screens and therefore, I wouldn’t actually blare out chants about its sunlight visibility.
The S Pen works perfectly and doesn’t restrict itself to note-taking. You can even use this to draw some highly accurate illustrations and creative logos.
Hardware & Performance
The Exynos 9611 is one of the more reliable chipsets around, backed by 4GB RAM and 128GB of on-device storage. While this configuration seems adequate enough for note-taking, you can always upgrade the storage by 1TB, if needed.
Coming to performance, the Android 10 OS offers an interactive UI to use most applications. On top of that, there are no multitasking lags to experience.
Design & Connectivity
This tablet weighs a mere 1.03 pounds and still manages to sport a durable and premium metal-infused chassis. The dimensions read 9.63 x 6.07 x 0.28 inches, which are still commendable, considering the mid-range pricing.
Plus, Samsung makes room for Wi-Fi AC support followed by a standard Type-C port for charging and transferring data.
Battery Life & Other Features
The 12-hour backup exceeds expectations. On top of that, you get a pretty interesting camera setup, led by an 8MP wide shooter in the rear and a 5MP selfie camera. Plus, this tablet makes note-taking easier and even allows you to work on memos, color changes, and other relevant tasks, courtesy of the OneUI skin.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are mostly interested in note-taking, the Samsung Tab S6 Lite has enough resources for the job. On top of that, it has the best set of attributes as compared to others, when it comes to working on the drafted notes and documents.
- Fast processor
- Integrated stylus
- Responsive UI
- Excellent battery
- Slim design
- Not the best sunlight visibility
- Lacks high-end security specs
5. Best 2-in-1 with Stylus: CHUWI Hi 10 X
The CHUWI Hi 10 X is easily the most promising 2-in-1 tablet around. While the Go 2 from Microsoft is powerful enough, CHUWI makes quite an impression courtesy of the affordable price point.
If you already have a UBook on you, purchasing the Hi10X is still a good decision, considering the slimness it offers.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
The Hi10X is light and can be carried around with ease. Plus, it can be used either as a tablet or a touch-responsive laptop, which then makes note-taking easier.
Display & Inputs
This inventive tablet throws in a standard 10.1-inch IPS screen. In terms of resolution, the FHD+ panel feels vivid enough and offers exceptional sunlight visibility. On top of that, you get anti-glare functionality.
As far as the inputs are concerned, this product comes bundled with a drawing-compatible stylus, i.e., the HiPen followed by a magnetically connected keyboard.
Hardware & Performance
Next in line is the resourceful N4120 chipset that works alongside 128GB of storage space and 6GB of low-power, high-speed RAM. As far as the performances are concerned, the setup can handle most note taking apps and a lot of editing tasks at will, without lags. Also, the Windows 10 OS loads up faster than expected.
Design & Connectivity
This product measures 10 x 6.72 x 0.26 inches, which is surprisingly slim considering the price point. This 1.15-pound tablet also makes way for two Type-C, one HDMI, one Type-A, and a 3.5mm port, courtesy of the bundled keyboard. As far as wireless connectivity is concerned, you get access to dual-band Wireless AC support.
Battery Life & Other Features
The battery backup at 6 hours disappoints, in case you prefer moving around with this digital note-taking tablet. Other features that can make some difference to the overall productivity include 5MP rear and 2MP front shooters.
Conclusion
The metal-clad, CHUWI Hi 10 X also flaunts a laminated screen and ensures that all your notes are clearly projected. Plus, it comes with an evolved setup of ports, something that other tablets on the list fail to proffer.
- Top-shelf design
- Several usable ports
- A sizable chunk of RAM
- Upgradable storage
- Battery disappoints
- Lacks Wi-Fi 6 support
6. Best Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Duet
If you are seeking a note-taking tablet that allows you to work online, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet seems like a fair choice. Most importantly, this version of the Duet is more stacked as compared to the 2020-variant, courtesy of the bigger storage space.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
As a chrome-powered tablet, the Duet supports multi-mode operability, a feature that makes it easier for you to scribble down important assignments and notes. Plus, the stylus offered feels awfully similar to an actual pen.
Display & Inputs
This tablet brings in a 10.1-inch FHD screen into the mix, which is adequately bright at close to 400 nits. Coming to the inputs, you get access to a 3-in-1 stylus pen that boasts of built-in memory, a rubber tip for better responsiveness, and an aluminum chassis to let you hold it better and more like a usual ballpoint pen.
Hardware & Performance
The Helio P60T processor from MediaTek performs well enough and allows you to work on most online note-taking apps like Docs and OneNote. Adding to this is 4GB LPDDR4X RAM that keeps the operations silent. Storage-wise, there is a 128GB eMCP storage unit in play that is quite fast, making it a good tablet for college students.
Not to mention the Chrome OS that boots up quicker than Windows and Android operating platforms.
Design & Connectivity
Lenovo’s Duet weighs 0.99 pounds, which is quite appropriate considering the plastic-clad chassis. As far as the dimensions are concerned, the device measures 9.44 x 6.29 x 0.29 inches, thereby qualifying it as a relatively sleek one.
Coming to the connectivity you get access to Wi-Fi AC support, a standard type-c port, and a docking setup to pair the external keyboard at will.
Battery Life & Other Features
This tablet can run on battery power for almost 8 hours at a stretch. On top of that, you also get access to a 2MP webcam for casual work and an 8MP rear shooter to shoot and scan documents with ease.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are looking to ditch the complexities of stacked operating systems and planning to take most of your work online, I would recommend the Chrome OS tablet as the go-to device. Although it comes with several impactful features, the speed at which the OS loads, make it a better bet than others on the list.
- Light and portable
- Massive storage space for a Chromebook
- Low-power RAM that minimizes heating
- Zero bloatware
- Wi-Fi 6 seems to be missing
- Sunlight visibility is subpar
7. Best Budget Tablet: Vastking KingPad K10 Pro
The Vastking KingPad K10 Pro, despite the budget pricing, is one of the better tablets around for note taking. As a new and updated variant, the K10 Pro comes across as an exceptional upgrade over the K10, courtesy of the improved RAM allotment and storage space.
Why is it suited for Note Taking?
You can use this tablet in studio and laptop mode, which makes it easier to take notes. On top of that, the Vastking Stylus with a 1.66m tip is one of the better active pens around.
Display & Inputs
Vastking sports a 10.1-inch IPS screen with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 Pixels. The screen is one of the brightest and is served even better by the narrow bezels. Coming to the inputs, this tablet lets you dock an external keyboard to it, for donning a laptop-like appearance.
Plus, there is a reliable stylus in the picture for taking notes, like you would using a real pen.
Hardware & Performance
The existing octa-core chipset has enough processing juice to handle multiple processes at once. On top of that, you get hold of 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, which can be upgraded by an additional 256GB. The processing setup ensures faster processing and quick Android 10 boot up.
Design & Connectivity
The KingPad K10 Pro is a meticulously crafted tablet that weighs 1.10 pounds and measures 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.3 inches. The plastic made structure is still durable enough and can take the occasional bumps on the road.
Connectivity-wise, there is a Type-C port in play followed by standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi AC support.
Battery Life & Other Features
As far as the battery life is concerned, you can churn out 12 hours with considerable ease, more so if you are only using it for taking notes. Next, there is an 8MP front and 13MP rear shooter to make life simpler for the students and professionals alike.
Conclusion
While there are many good things about the Vastking KingPad K10 Pro, what stands out is its cost-to-value ratio that is way better than every other tablet on the list.
- Excellent battery
- Responsive stylus
- Accurate display
- Durable form factor
- Doesn’t look premium
- No Wi-Fi 6 support in play
Frequently Asked Questions
The best Tablet for taking notes is the one that has a responsive stylus and a screen that is touch-responsive to the T and also adequately bright. Keeping all these functionalities in mind, you are better off investing in the Tab S7 from Samsung.
While I would always recommend the iPad Pro for the job, if you are only looking to scribble around, take notes in college, and more, an iPad Air 2020 seems like a pretty good bet.
Tablets are better for taking notes as you can save them, edit them, undo the edits, and even share them with the concerned parties without being physically present.
Yes, it is possible to write on a tablet. However, for that to work, you must look for a stylus with a sharp rubberized tip and palm-rejection support.
Verdict
Each of these 7 tablets can be picked for taking notes. However, here are some of the more targeted picks to help you choose a tablet as per individual preferences.
- For all-round performance and screen clarity, there isn’t a better note-taking device than the Samsung Tab S7.
- If you are more into the Apple Ecosystem and looking to experience the real-time brilliance of the Apple Pencil, you can pick the Apple iPad Air or just the iPad 10.2, depending on the budget.
- In case you are seeking a Windows-powered tablet but on a budget, the CHUWI Hi 10 X is the perfect option to pick.
- Finally, if you are more into using Google Docs and online resources for note taking, the Chromebook Duet from Lenovo is a reliable and cost-effective pick.
While these are some of the curated choices, you are free to pick any other tablet from the list that best suits your aligned requirements, professional needs, and the depths of the pocket.
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