Best Tablets With Stylus For Note Taking

The iPad Pro remains the best tablet for note taking as of yet. Packed with a ton of exciting features, I use this tablet for my own note taking due to a few reasons. Firstly, it features an excellent 120 Hz ProMotion display with a high response rate that makes the Apple Pencil glide on the screen.

 Moreover, the newer iPad Pro comes equipped with Apple Pencil Hover, a feature that lets you identify where exactly your stylus is landing even before it gets there. Moreover, the Apple Pencil 2 just works great with the iPad Pro. Featuring a dedicated magnetic strip on the side for charging and storage, the Pencil 2 just seamlessly connects to the iPad.

 The impressive plethora of applications, such as Procreate, doesn’t cease to amaze either. Apple’s ecosystem truly shines here, and its quite obvious that the Pro goes leagues beyond what other tablets (even ones from Apple) are presenting when it comes to note taking.

 Might I add, the iPad Pro has a desktop-grade Apple Silicon M2 chip that doesn’t really even sweat it when you take notes. But, the excellent display and cameras help ensure that you’ll be able to use the tablet for other tasks such as video editing, photo editing, playing games, and performing resource-intensive tasks with relative ease. 

 Plus, the impressive M2 chip with its 10-hour battery life doesn’t really hurt. You’ll be able to take notes for hours on end with your hand fatiguing before the iPad runs out. All in all, the best choice for note taking this year.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 / Plus / Ultra area ll a great tablet for digital note-taking. Each of them shares the same infrastructure, with the only bifurcator being their screen size. I love the fact that Samsung included S Pen in the price. I find it comfortable to use and quite ergonomic, and the weight gives it a premium feel.

 However, from what I’ve seen online and some of my slight personal experience, the nib does tend to wear off a bit quicker than the Apple Pencil. This is dependent on what type of screen protector you have on your tablet. But, for most, I suggest keeping a few replacements in handy just in case.

 The oval-shaped button located on the side of the pen allows you to interact with the tablet even further by opening up notes, taking screen grabs, or accessing the quick access panel in the bottom right corner of the screen.

 The palm rejection on the tablet is excellent, it has great pressure sensitivity, and coupled with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it definitely isn’t a slouch by any stretch of the imagination. So, if you are looking for a proper iPad Pro contender in the world of tablets with its own 120 Hz, Super AMOLED, HDR 10+ display then the Tab S8 lineup is an amazing choice for note-taking.

The iPad Air is a note-taking tablet from Apple that’s meant for the most budget-conscious among you. It still definitely isn’t cheap. But it is a long shot from the iPad Pro. Surprisingly though, you don’t sacrifice on much if you opt for the iPad Air compared to the iPad Pro.

 For instance, you gain access to the Apple Pencil Gen 2, which has the same response rate but with a reduced refresh rate of only 60 Hz. Moreover, you also get the magnetic side charger but with no Apple Pencil Hover this time.
 
Performance remains identical since you’ll be dumbfounded in trying to find a difference in the M1 and M2 when it comes to just taking note. Personally speaking, I find the 10.9 inch form factor quite convenient as it’s easier to carry around compared to the 12.9 inch iPad Pro.

 You gain access to the same ecosystem of applications, the same battery life (if not slightly better), and an astonishingly long time of software support. Moreover, third-party accessories such as Apple Pencil grip covers from Paperlike and screen protectors really elevate your experience. 

If budget is what truly matters, the iPad 10th Gen is truly king. Coming in cheaper than the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, the iPad 10th Gen is equipped with all the essentials for avid note-taking. However, in true Apple fashion, there are a few drawbacks you’ll have to get used to.

 Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the iPad 10th Gen comes compatible only with the first Generation Apple Pencil. This means that there’s no magnetic compartment for storage and charging as the Pencil is charged with wire.

 Now, here comes an important question, the iPad 10th Gen is equipped with USB-C, but the Apple Pencil comes with a Lightning Jack; how do I charge it? Well…dongles. While it was quite annoying with the initial iPad Pro Series to have a protruding Pencil when it charges, the 10th Gen goes a step further with you requiring a USB-C to Lightning Jack dongle to charge the Pencil with no compartment to house it.

 If you are okay with this, then there’s no other major difference. The Apple Pencil 1 is slightly worse for artists as it doesn’t respond to pressure as well. But, to be fair, we’ve not really seen this issue to be very grounded, as even Apple hasn’t commented on the performance difference between the two styluses. 

 The iPad 10th Gen comes equipped with an A14 Bionic. Granted, it isn’t going to setting Geekbench records, it certainly isn’t a slouch by any stretch of the imagination either. So, if you are into casual video editing, photo editing, and gaming, you should be good to go.

 With a stellar battery life, and a decent 60 Hz display while also packing in all the essentials, the iPad 10th Gen is one of the best budget tablets for note-taking made.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a laptop that also doubles down as a tablet when it comes down to it. Equipped with the Surface Slim Pen 2, the Surface Pro 9 delivers an excellent experience when it comes to taking notes.

 The only aspect it is limited by Windows OS. Don’t get us wrong; there are some excellent applications you can use to take notes on the tablet. But, Apple has been in the game for a fair amount of time now. Overall, Apple has created better apps and a better experiences overall, when it comes to taking notes with the Stylus type of device on your tablet. 

 For instance, you can use the Apple Pencil to quickly take notes at any time using the iPad. While Windows alternatives do exist, they lack the finesse and polish that a closely-knit operating system provides. Besides that, we have little to no complaints. The stylus feels like an actual pencil, has a reasonably tactile nib, and the stylus feels great to hold, especially if you’re more used to pens rather than pencils.

 The tablet itself is fantastic. It has an excellent display, runs full Windows, and has a sleek design coupled with the Signature Keyboard that really lets you get in on some of that productivity action. (You have to buy the keyboard separately, but it really can turn your tablet into a laptop) The reason why I really like this tablet for note-taking is that in some classroom situations where you need a laptop, the Surface can act as one.

 And, on other places where you just want to take notes, you can let go of all the Windows jargon and just focus on one application to be able to seamlessly take your notes. Talk about double duty!

The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro was released alongside the Precision Pen 3. Both are meant to complement each other, with the Pen allowing the tablet to take notes. Now, I’m a huge fan of the tablet itself.

 
It features a sleek, gorgeous design alongside a fantastic 12.6 inch 2K AMOLED display equipped with a Snapdragon 870. The tablet is fairly quick, has an 8-9 hour battery life, and checks all the boxes especially given its relatively reasonable price.

 But, for note-taking. I have some issues. First of all, the screen is highly sensitive. In essence, palm rejection doesn’t really work all that well here, and you’ll see random squiggles in your sheet more often than not. Plus, the stylus just feels cheap to hold and tires you out if you hold it for longer periods of time.

 In my opinion, the stylus made more sense when browsing and clicking or taking quick notes rather than for serious note-takers.(Maybe Samsung and Apple has spoiled me) This is because the stylus’s interface itself needs improvement. It feels bogged down by the plethora of features that the tablet tries to throw on you and feels glitchy sometimes.

 But, if you are someone who can let go of all the third-party nuances and features, then the nib and overall stylus just feels alright. Compared to others in the list, it does feel a bit plasticky. However, it is hard to complain at this price point.

 I found this a bit disappointing simply because the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is an excellent tablet. And, if it wasn’t for the sub-par stylus, I would’ve easily classified it at the top of the list. 

The Tab S6 Lite is Samsung’s budget entry tablet that features a premium metal chassis and Samsung’s S Pen, which magnetically latches onto the side when not in use. It comes right in the box and doesn’t need to be charged.

 This means that while the stylus lacks some of the wireless features that the Tab S6 has, it’ll never let you down when you are in a pinch. The tablet features a suite of applications for note-taking, which you can access by holding the stylus’s singular button.

 One great feature for note-taking I found when using the tablet was the ability to change the transparency of the note-taking window and to be able to use it even when a video is being played on the screen. This allows students and professionals alike to jot down notes while also being able to view videos, perfect for exam revision sessions.

 Even at this price point, we are met with a fully laminated display which means that there’s no actual gap between the S Pen and the display. All in all, the S6 Lite is a great tablet for note-taking simply because it comes with the stylus right out of the box, requires no additional setup, connects seamlessly, and also works great.

The iPad Mini 6 is the smallest tablet in this list when it comes to note taking capabilities. But don’t be fooled by its size. What it loses in size, it certainly makes up for in utility and portability. Coming in at a measly 8.3 inches, the iPad Mini 6 is any note-taker’s dream.

 Featuring the Apple Pencil 2, coupled with a magnetic charger on the side and all the Pencil 2’s bells and whistles except Apple Pencil Hover, the iPad Mini 6’s A15 Bionic complements the whole package quite elegantly. 

 For note-taking, the Mini 6 felt right at home with the rest of the iPad lineup, with the only caveat being the fact that it does not support Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but there are some alternatives. In essence, you’ll either have to connect a Bluetooth keyboard or use your fingers to do all your typing.
 
If that doesn’t seem to be a problem, then the iPad Mini 6 will feel right at home. While the small size may feel appealing to some note-takers, I find out to be a great form factor, especially for students who find the portability of the essence. 

Overall, the iPad Mini 6 is one of my favorite tablets. It’s a great option in many categories – games, reading, chilling, etc. I personally like to experience it while taking notes on it, but I feel that the display is a bit too small for this purpose. You can definitely do it, but it’s just way more comfortable if you have a 10.9-inch screen. If you have bigger hands, even more so. I would recommend a bigger screen. Besides the size, it’s the perfect power tablet that you can fit in your pocket. 

The Chromebook Duet 3 is an interesting choice for taking notes. This is because, as of yet, it doesn’t really have a proprietary stylus. Instead, it supports USI 1.0 and USI 2.0 standards which means that there are a few styluses that you can use with the Duet 3 to take notes.

 Now, the Lenovo USI 2.0 Pen is already out in some markets. But, you’ll probably be finding an HP or a Lenovo USI 1.0 Pen with your local retailer. Both of these styluses are fine. They feel quite cheap, and they don’t live up to the same standards as some of the other styluses we’ve mentioned in the list.

 While a more open standard is great, it also leads to less customization and proprietary features. Chromebooks are not that great for taking notes in comparison to some of the premium tablets on the list. The entire experience can feel slow, and a lot of times, you won’t be able to get the same level of quality out of your notes as compared to a mobile-based platform such as Android.

 While Windows does suffer from the same fate, it is to a lesser degree compared to Chromebooks. It’s clear that this is an evolving platform. However, if basic note taking is more your thing and you just want a working solution on a Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 definitely isn’t a bad choice.

If you just want to take notes, the ReMarkable 2 is the best choice here, period. It features a low-latency E ink display that has a simplistic UI primarily meant for annotating PDFs and taking notes. And boy, does it accomplish that very well.

 Built off Wacom’s EMR technology, you can use some other styluses such as the Samsung S21 Ultra’s S Pen, just fine. However, stuff that uses Bluetooth, like the Apple Pencil, will not work. I absolutely love ReMarkable’s very basic UI. You can transfer files from the tablet to your mobile / PC, and that’s pretty much all you need.

 What I don’t like is some features being locked in a paywall. For instance, ReMarkable just ends up deleting notes stored in the cloud after 90 days if you don’t shell out an additional $4.99 per month. And, $7.99 per month lets you transfer files from their cloud servers to DropBox or Google Drive while also unlocking OCR.

 But, when it comes to pure note-taking experience, this E Ink tablet is the best we’ve seen so far and can even be compared to heavy hitters like the iPad Pro. With the battery lasting about a week, it’s quite clear that the ReMarkable 2 isn’t meant for YouTube, but it serves one purpose. And that’s taking notes.