Here Are the Best Writing Tablets for Making Lists, Taking Notes, and Doodling

If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent hours on end sitting on the floor of a Staples or Office Max trying to choose between an uninspired selection of notebooks for one that’ll fix all your disorganization problems. Spoiler alert: A new notebook won't make you meet your deadlines—but a writing tablet just might.

Remove the stress of picking out a new notebook every few months with a dedicated writing tablet fit with tools to help you organize, get creative, or take notes on documents. Typically made with E Ink screens for the most paper-like feel, good writing tablets typically have features like glare resistance, palm rejection, built-in calendars, cloud syncing, and ideally, a marketplace for extra apps.

While picking up your writing tablet each time you're ready for a new to-do list might take a bit of getting used to, the trade-off is a streamlined note-taking system that puts your notes in-hand whenever you need them (even if you don't have your tablet on your person). Here are our favorites.

The Best Writing Tablets of 2023

What to Consider

Any tablet can serve as a writing tablet, but finding one dedicated to the purpose of note-taking means prioritizing specific features like backlights, stylus feel, and syncing with other devices.

Display

E Ink screens are the best option for dedicated writing tablets because they’re most similar to paper, they resist glare, and they’re easier to configure with palm rejection (as in, the tablet doesn’t register the side of your hand as a touch command). They’re also easier on the eyes compared to the glare of a blue screen. If you intend to draw or sketch on your tablet, look for an E Ink tablet with a high refresh rate that’ll register your pen strokes instantaneously. High refresh rates are also helpful if you write quickly or want to use your tablet to read.

Traditional LCD screens are also a good pick if you want a multipurpose tablet for playing games, sending emails, editing photos, and also writing. Some LCD screens don't have palm rejection built in, so make sure to look out for that when shopping.

Storage

The best writing tablets have on-device storage as well as the ability to sync with your other devices. We recommend options that sync with an app on your phone or computer so you can access your grocery lists and meeting notes whenever you need them. The file types used on writing tablets are typically very small, so you don't need a ton of storage space—around 32 GB is plenty for most users.

Software

Every tablet uses an operating system to run its software. Some of our picks use open-source software with very few parameters, while others have lock-and-key operating systems that don't offer any extra apps. If you're using your tablet for purposes besides writing and reading documents, pick an option with software that allows downloads from the marketplace, such as the App Store or the Android Store.

Feel

Switching from pen and paper to stylus and screen can feel like a betrayal of your writerly sensibilities. That's why prioritizing the feel of writing on your new tablet is so important. During testing, we found that we struggled to integrate writing tablets with poor feel into our daily lives because they didn't remind us enough of notebooks or legal pads. A good stylus and screen combo should glide easily with a touch of resistance or friction to mimic the feel of pencil. Get a comfortable stylus to go with your tablet, or pick up a Bluetooth keyboard for even faster writing (but make sure your tablet is compatible first).

How We Selected

We found the best writing tablets by researching what other publications, like Digital Camera World and CNET had to recommend. We also consulted our product testing, including the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 7. We scoured through dozens of writing tablets at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart, and considered user reviews among the bestselling products. This list is compiled with consideration of all budgets, tablet styles, and aesthetic choices.

Looking for more productivity tools? Check out our picks for the best Chromebooks, and the best tablets for students.