As our personal lives and work environments become increasingly digital, notepads and pens are becoming a thing of the past. That said, technological advancements haven’t discounted the widespread appeal and use of putting pen to paper.
Digital writing pads cater to just this, each offering something unique in terms of functionality and design. These devices give you all the benefits of handwriting, without the hassle of handling physical notes.
This article reviews the best digital writing pads for laptops, which means the products mentioned either sync with cloud services, connect to your laptop via Bluetooth, connect in real-time or allow for digital capture via a smartphone.
Table of Contents
The ReMarkable is the best writing pad with internal storage. This digital paper tablet has all the features you’d want from a digital writing pad. This device offers handwriting recognition, cloud software, and storage, as well as an authentic handwriting feel thanks to a combination of analog and digital components.
The Mobiscribe E-Ink Tablet is the best e-writer if you’re on a budget. This digital writing pad has most note-taking functions you’ll need, as well as advanced features from the accompanying stylus.
The Moleskin Pen & Ellipse Writing Set has a great combination of analog and digital elements. This amazing device saves your notes in real-time, so no need to worry about syncing your notes manually.
From LCD tablets to graphic drawing tablets and basic e-writers, here are the reviews for the best digital writing pads on the market.
| Product | Best For | Image | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reMarkable Digital Paper Tablet | All-round | 9 | Check Price | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite | All-round | | 7 | Check Price |
| MobiScribe E-Ink Tablet | Notes | | 6 | Check Price |
| Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse Smart Writing Set | Notes | | 9 | Check Price |
| Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad | All-round | | 8 | Check Price |
| Huion Inspiroy H640P Drawing Tablet | Drawing | | 7 | Check Price |
| Rocketbook Fusion Smartbook | Notes | | 8 | Check Price |
Closest feel to pen and paper No backlight Only syncs to ReMarkable cloud services
ReMarkable is an established brand and the digital paper tablet is a great option for pure note-taking. The price point is high but the tablet has the benefits of active handwriting to text conversion, as well as sharing capabilities.
You can store notes on the device or share them via email. The ReMarkable tablet also supports E-book and PDF formats, which makes for a versatile contender for digital writing pads.
Two-week battery life
USB Port
10.3”
Codex OS
2048 Pressure sensitivity
Storage 64GB WIFI Durability Strictly Android LCD Display with glare
Of the Samsung tablets that come with a stylus, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is the most affordable. The S Pen is ideal for taking notes, annotating documents, and even free-hand drawing.
This nifty device isn’t just lightweight and sleek, it’s also got built-in handwriting recognition to convert your notes to text if needed. This is super helpful if you like handwriting notes, but you need to be able to share them as well.
With WIFI capability and cloud support, the Galaxy Tab makes sharing and storing your notes seamless and simple. The S Pen is not as responsive as other styluses, but it certainly fulfills its promises.
One drawback of taking notes on a tablet is the LCD display. Some users take issue with glare and reflection and prefer to choose analog drawing and writing pads for this reason. Check out our reviews of other tablets.
Click to Check Lowest PriceCompact Compatible with most software Battery-free stylus No LCD screen Handwriting recognition not native to the device
The Inspiroy is compatible with pretty much every software you’ll need for, well, anything. That includes Onenote, Microsoft Word, Adobe, Illustrator, you name it. It supports Windows, Mac, and Android. It can even screen share on Zoom.
Being compatible with OneNote is particularly useful as this application has handwriting-recognition, meaning you can convert your handwritten notes to text.
The Inspiroy is essentially your laptop shrunken down to fit in a tote bag. The included stylus is high resolution, battery-free, and has ideal pressure sensitivity – yet another testament to the Inspiroy’s versatility.
8192 Pressure sensitivity
Battery-free stylus
Micro SD Card
10”
Companion app saves notes automatically Affordable Good combination of analog and digital components Works with iCloud, Google Drive, Windows10, and Adobe Suite We can’t think of any!
The best feature of the Moleskin writing set is the seamless page to screen transfer. Rather than capturing notes with your phone or uploading them manually, you can write freely knowing everything is being stored digitally.
The Moleskin is definitely the most efficient digital writing pad for this reason. Sure, it doesn’t have storage, but the companion app negates the need for that altogether.
This versatile and unique writing tool can also record audio, which you can sync with your notes.
8.2”
Recognizes 15 languages
Android and Apple
Paper to pen fee Reusable templates Sync with Google Drive, Slack, Evernote, and iCloud Great for organizational purposes No device storage Only save function is with a smartphone Must allow 15s for the ink to dry
This is one of the most unique writing pads out there because it combines digital and analog functionality. If you enjoy taking physical notes, but also need to be able to save them digitally, then this is the perfect notebook for you.
The Rocketbook Frixion pens use actual ink, which can be wiped away with a microfibre cloth. While this isn’t entirely necessary, it certainly appeals to people who have never used an e-writer before. Simply scan your documents to save them to the cloud, wipe the ink, and start fresh.
There are 42 template pages, including a blank one you can sketch freely in, which can appear quite limiting at first. However, the set templates actually give this product a competitive edge. It looks and feels like a physical, weekly diary.
The one catch with this notebook is how you save your documents and notes. Like the Blackboard device, you need to scan your notes from a smartphone in order to save them. This can become quite tiresome, especially if you fill your templates up quickly.
Lightweight
8.5”
iOS and Android
Dot grids
Affordable Sleek design Pen and paper feel Handwriting recognition only available for subscribers Limited app support No storage
The Bamboo Folio Smartpad allows you to write naturally. It even allows you to flip over to the next page, mimicking the real notebook experience. You can also easily convert handwriting to text (but only with a subscription).
Capture your notes with your smartphone to easily transform them into digital files. These files can be shared and edited in JPG, PDF, PNG, and SVG formats. You can also save notes using the device’s save button, which stores your docs in the cloud.
Android and iOS compatible
Bluetooth enabled
9.8”
Compact Precise stylus SD card for storage No handwriting to text recognition No Microsoft Suite apps supported Limited formats
The Mobiscribe tablet has one of the most precise stylus controls, thanks to 4096 pressure sensitivity. This, combined with a touch-screen display, means the tablet can detect your gestures to avoid erasing or unintended writing.
Unlike LCD tablets, the Mobscribe has anti-glare from every angle. You can also adjust its front light as needed. This tablet also has pre-loaded templates, though not as many as the Rocketbook Fusion smart notebook.
Micro SD card
High-resolution display 300PPI
Android only
Digital writing pads come with a variety of stands, covers and more. Read about the best digital writing pad accessories below.
This tablet stand is adjustable and can hold your drawing tablets, writing pads, and cellphone. It’s a great companion for using your tablet and laptop at the same time and supports a multi-angle view.
The stand is portable and can be folded up neatly into your laptop case or bag. It’s also durable with a rubber protector for your tablet or writing pad.
Click to Check Lowest PriceThis adhesive pencil holder sticks to any tablet or e-writer case you’re using. It’s a great way to store your stylus if your device doesn’t come with a magnetic grip for it. The lycra-leather material is sleek and stylish, as well as compatible with a number of different stylus sizes.
This holder was designed for the Apple pencil, but no need to worry, any stylus will fit.
Click to Check Lowest PriceThis versatile leather cover can protect your smart notebook. The OOKU cover fits the Moleskin smart notebook and the Rocketbook Fusion smart notebook. It’s perfect for storing your device, pens, cellphone, even your cards, and other carry-ons.
The leather material is durable, not to mention stylish, and is a great way to keep your tablet or notebook in good condition. This cover is a great option for working on the go and traveling.
Naturally, your preferences and priorities will guide your ultimate decision on which digital writing pad to buy. Below is a breakdown of key elements to look out for when weighing up your options.
If your digital notebook doesn’t have internal storage, you must ensure that it syncs with applications you need on a day to day basis. This is particularly important if you need to save and send documents online. You want to ensure you can upload your notes in the format you need.
Also, keep in mind the operating system the device uses and choose something in your comfort zone. If you’re familiar with OS and you work with mostly Android devices, make sure your writing pad is either compatible with both, or simply stick to OS.
In more concrete terms, ‘advanced’ means customizable or versatile. The more you can do with your tablet, the better value for money. Think about the kind of projects you’ll be working on and what tools you’ll need to bring it to fruition.
Some notable features to look out for are programmable hotkeys – these will save you time and you can modify them as needed. Also check for multi-touch displays, which will allow you to scroll and zoom.
Portability is a key consideration, so get a sense of the weight and dimensions of the tablet relative to your phone. If you can sneak it into your or pocket, all the better. Look out for the surface area, though, as there are drawbacks in resolution and detail the smaller you go in size.
The whole point of using a digital pad is to retain the natural feel of handwriting. Of course, this boils down to the grip, weight, and size of the stylus (or pen) your tablet comes with.
Pens vary from rubber to metal, with either nibs or actual ink depending on the product. If you like having something tangible to work with, a smart notebook may be more suited to you than a fully digital tablet.
You’ll also need to ensure that either your stylus or your device has an app for handwriting recognition. Converting handwriting to text is often needed when sharing notes and documents.
Whether you’re in the market for a digital writing pad for work or for personal use, it’s important that you take stock of your priorities. Consider your and needs and how you plan to use the device.
Make sure you understand our buyer’s guide to get a sense of what components to look out for. This way, you’ll be able to compare the best of the digital writing pads and drawing tablets and make an informed decision you won’t regret.
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