Tablets are one of the most wonderful devices out there. From entertainment to work to keeping kids busy, they perform a lot of jobs, and excel at all! Not to mention they have always been a great value for money, given how expensive bigger gadgets can get today.
Taking notes is a big reason why people buy tablets. Which is why there are tablets specialized for this purpose that make it so much easier to use. While you can take notes on every tablet out there, the ones listed here are designed for this purpose specifically, which makes them more suitable.
If you are on the hunt for the best tablet for taking notes, take a look down below. We have a fine selection of the top-quality models in the market, the qualities they possess, and we also show you how they compare with competitors.
Contents
5.Microsoft Surface Pro (5th Gen)
8.Boogie Board Gray Jot eWriter
9.Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100
PRODUCT | DISPLAY (INCH) | RESOLUTION (PIXELS) | STORAGE | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Samsung GalaxyTab S3 | 9.7 | 2048×1536 | 32 GB | |
XP-Pen Deco 01V2 | 10×6.25 | N/A | N/A | |
Microsoft SurfaceBook 2 | 15 | 3260×2160 | 256 GB | |
HP Envy x2 | 12 | 1920 x 1280 | 128 GBFlash | |
Microsoft SurfacePro (5th Gen) | 12.3 | 2736 x 1824 | 256GB | |
Acer ChromebookTab 10 | 9.7 | 2048×1536QXGA | 32GBFlash | |
Wacom IntuosGraphics DrawingTablet | 7.9 X 6.3 | N/A | N/A | |
Boogie BoardGray JoteWriter | 8.5 | N/A | N/A | |
Asus ChromebookTablet CT100 | 9.7 | 2048×1536 | 32 GB | |
M.Way LCDWriting Tablet | 10.5 | N/A | N/A |
Samsung is well known for its tablets and the Galaxy line is pretty famous. This is the Galaxy Tab S3, which is the first one we will be discussing.
This tablet comes with a 9.7-inch screen. This is not the biggest size, but if notetaking is what you aim to do, this is a very good size. It lets you take down your work, but at the same time, it is pretty compact and small too, so you will not have trouble carrying this to class.
The S Pen is included with the tablet. We love this feature because a lot of tablets do not come with their own stylus, and you have to get them separately, which can add to your costs. Having this with the tablet also means you can stow this away nicely where it belongs, which lessens the chances of losing it.
You get 32 GB of storage on this. While you do not need a lot of storage when it comes to taking notes, it is good to have this high storage as it lets you use the tablet for other reasons too.
The XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 is a good work tabletwhere you can use this by connecting it to your computer or laptop. It comes in a large size where you have a 10 x 6.25-inch area to work on.
This large space gives you the freedom to work freely and with creativity. Also, more space always lets you work faster since you are not constricted.
Being only 8mm thick, this is also easy to carry wherever you go. Bring it to work, or take it to your friends to work on graphics together, it is very versatile.
You always want a good tilt support with these devices. Otherwise, the writings or drawings do not come out as you want them to. Here you get a support up to 60 degrees.
This lets you run the pen smoother, and gives you that tilt brush effect you really want. Lines become more natural and strokes are easier to create thanks to this.
The stylus you get here is battery-free, like most good onesare today. This means that you do not have to charge it, so that is one less work to do. Plus, no battery also means that the stylus weighs less, and hence lets you have more control.
If you seek versatility from your device, and you want one device for all your work, this is the one to go for. More often than not we are afraid of having multiple functions in one device for the fear that it will slow down.
However, with the 8th generation Intel Quad-Core i7 Processor, the 1TB storage space, and the whopping 16 GB of RAM, you can be sure that this is one of the most powerful devices out there.
Of course, it comes at a steep price too, but these figures make it worth it. Not to mention, you can use this in a laptop mode, in a studio modem a view mode, and of course the tablet mode.
The 17 hours of video playback let you use this for long hours without needing a recharge in between. For schoolwork or presentations where you need to constantly be on your tablet, this will surely support you.
And the 15-inch screen gives you ample space to take notes, draw, stream videos and so much more! Yes, it is a bit bigger than most other tablets, but that is because you get to use this as a laptop too.
The HP Envy x2 is a good option for you if you are looking for a tablet that has LTE. This one features 4G LTE built-in so you can stay connected at all times, even if your Wi-Fi fails.
It comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 which gives you a fast and speedy device which is essential if you want a lag-free device.
Battery life is one of the most impressive on this since you get 22 hours of playback at one go. For busybodies, look no further, because you can literally go an entire day without needing a charge.
So from the morning when your work starts, to having entertainment breaks, you can do it all at one charge. Other than that, the connected standby time is 1000 hours, and the wireless streaming time is 19 hours.
The HP digital pen allows you to work effortlessly and give you clean lines as you go. But what we really love is that the pen is included with the tablet. You do not have to buy an extra one which means, no added cost!
You also get a rear camera of 13MP and a front camera of 5MP. Both of these can be used to take photos that give you amazing clarity and brightness.
The last tablet is the Microsoft Surface Pro (5th Gen) and this is for those who like to have all their devices condensed into one. Besides using this as a tablet, you can also use this in a laptop or studio mode. Hence, you need not carry or use multiple devices.
Besides being a multi-purpose device, this packs a punch when it comes to power. So you know that no matter what mode you decide to use it in, it will work just as smoothly and just as fast thanks to the 7th generation Intel Core i7 Processor.
Then you have the 8 GB RAM and the 256 GB of storage which give you a lot of space too. Although you do not need as much for taking notes, we are guessing you will be using this for other work too, since this can also be used as a laptop.
Battery life is also high, where you can use this for 13.5 hours straight, which is 50% higher than its previous generations. This lets you work at a go without needing breaks to charge the tablet.
For taking notes, you want a tablet that has a decent screen size that allows you to freely move your hands. Tablet screen sizes usually start at 7 inches and go up from here.
But we do not recommend the 7 inches for this work because it is pretty small, and does not give you the freedom to take notes quickly, as you can on paper.
Try to go for ones with an 8.9-inch screen size or larger. These have a good space that allows for freehand movement.
The bigger your screen, the larger the tablet itself is also going to be. If you seek high portability too, then try to stay on the middle ground where the size is not too big or too small. Sizes around 9 inches are good for this. They are not super heavy, but have a good screen space too.
Not all tablets come with a stylus. If you want to have one, look at models that come with one. And if you want to leave it for later, look for models that support a stylus and are compatible with your desired ones, so you can buy one separately in the future.
The best note taking tablets will be the ones with a high battery life. This is because when someone wants to buy a tablet for taking notes, we assume that person is a student or a professional who has to work outside a lot.
This means you need a good battery life to keep you going through that class, or that seminar without losing power in between.
The key is to look at the maximum continuous work-time you will spend on this, and try to match that to the battery life to get one. If your class lasts for 3 hours, your battery life should be at least 3 hours.
Storage is not a key feature for tablets when it comes to taking notes since it takes up such a small space. But you still need to check it out, because you might end up using the device for other purposes too.
It is always a good idea to have a decent storage of 16 GB that allows you to keep some files for entertainment or other purposes. Of course, if you want this to be a multi-use device, you can opt for higher storage.
Pressure sensitivity is an important feature for tablets where you have to work on the screen with a stylus. Although it matters more when it comes to drawing on tablets, it surely matters too when you are writing on them as well.
The way to understand this is, how easily do the lines appear when you draw them on. And do the lines and their thicknesses change as you change the pressure you apply. The better the screen understands this and can pick it up, the higher the pressure sensitivity.
Levels can be found between 300 up to 3000. For writing only, you do not need a very high level, and can stay within 1000 levels for good work.
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - Walmart Link
Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1" 1080p full HD display, 32 GB) – Black (2019 Release) - Walmart Link
2019 Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Space Gray - Walmart Link
2020 Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB) - Silver (4th Generation) - Walmart Link
Wacom DTK2420K0 Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display – 4K Graphic Drawing Monitor with 8192 - Walmart Link
Microsoft Surface Pro X – 13" Touch-Screen – SQ1 - 8GB Memory - 128GB Solid State Drive – - Walmart Link
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7+ Plus 12.4-inch Android Tablet 128GB Wi-Fi Bluetooth S Pen - Walmart Link
1.Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 - Walmart Link
2.XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 - Walmart Link
3.Microsoft Surface Book 2 - Walmart Link
5.Microsoft Surface Pro (5th Gen) - Walmart Link
6.Acer Chromebook Tab 10 - Walmart Link
8.Boogie Board Gray Jot eWriter - Walmart Link
9.Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100 - Walmart Link
10.M.Way LCD Writing Tablet - Walmart Link
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - eBay Link
Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1" 1080p full HD display, 32 GB) – Black (2019 Release) - eBay Link
2019 Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Space Gray - eBay Link
2020 Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB) - Silver (4th Generation) - eBay Link
Wacom DTK2420K0 Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display – 4K Graphic Drawing Monitor with 8192 - eBay Link
Microsoft Surface Pro X – 13" Touch-Screen – SQ1 - 8GB Memory - 128GB Solid State Drive – - eBay Link
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S7+ Plus 12.4-inch Android Tablet 128GB Wi-Fi Bluetooth S Pen - eBay Link
1.Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 - eBay Link
2.XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 - eBay Link
3.Microsoft Surface Book 2 - eBay Link
5.Microsoft Surface Pro (5th Gen) - eBay Link
6.Acer Chromebook Tab 10 - eBay Link
8.Boogie Board Gray Jot eWriter - eBay Link
9.Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100 - eBay Link
10.M.Way LCD Writing Tablet - eBay Link
You will find at least a few hundred models when you look up tablets online. But finding the best tablet for taking note, and one that is a good value for money, yet can be used for other purposes occasionally is not the easiest.
The tablets included in this list can all be used for taking notes, and that is how they are designed.
But some can surely be used for other activities too. So checking them out, along with the guide that tells you what to look out for can help you find the perfect fit for your work.
About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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