Do you accept it? Lots of notes? Whether it’s a daily to-do list, class notes, or just taking down various thoughts in our brains, it’s great to write everything down somewhere. Of course, you can open the Notes app, but writing something on your body can help you remember and learn more. It’s also nice to stop typing for a minute and write your thoughts in your mind. If you are worried that you will lose these notes without digitization, then the good news: we have the best digital notebooks and many more.
There are E-ink tablets, smart pens and laptops to save digital files for handwritten notes or drawings. You can save the file as PDF, images, and Word Docs, or transcribe it into a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can also be recorded, which is perfect for lectures and interviews. If your notes need to be upgraded, we recommend you give it a try. If you are looking for a real paper option, don't miss our paper planning guide, and if you are looking for more home office upgrades, capture our guide for the best home gear, the best computer monitor and the best mechanical keyboard.
If you are considering buying one of these, it's time to do so. Supernote has issued a statement on Reddit that plans to raise prices by the end of April due to tariffs, while extraordinary prices have also announced prices in May. We may see other alternatives in this guide. There has been some growth since earlier this year, with Kobo Libra up $10. Don't miss the opportunity to get one of them before the price rises.
Update April 2025: We have moved the Kindle Scribe (2nd Generation) to this guide and provide detailed information on tariff pricing that affects Super Annotations and extraordinary products (and other options in this guide). We also removed the off-stock Boox Note Air3 C as a draft pick.
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Do you need a digital note-taking device?
The short answer is no. These devices are expensive, usually a simple notebook and pen cost a few dollars, usually hundreds of dollars. But if you like the physical behavior of writing, rather than typing, but need to have a digital copy, they are worth considering.
advantage:
- The digital notebook is thin and light, but holds hundreds of notes.
- You can transcribe your notes into text files to make them easier to read and manipulate.
- Depending on the device, you can export files as PDFs, Google Docs, Evernote files, etc.
- Digitalize your art now.
shortcoming:
- Expensive.
- A fee is required.
- There is a learning curve.
- Most smart pens need to be paired with the included notebook. The upcoming Nuwa pen is expected to be any Paper. We will try it as soon as possible when it is available. As of this writing, it is expected to start shipping in January 2025.
