Best Tablet for Note-Taking in 2026: iPad, Android and E Ink Picks

What matters for handwritten notes

• The pen, and whether it’s included. Samsung, Amazon’s Kindle Scribe, reMarkable and Boox include a pen. Apple sells it separately, so add $79 to $129 to any iPad price.
• Pressure sensitivity. It makes strokes thicker when you press harder, which matters for drawing and for handwriting that looks like ink. Not every pen has it (see the Apple Pencil catch).
• Handwriting-to-text and search. Converting notes into typed text makes them searchable and shareable. All the platforms here can do it, with different apps and, sometimes, subscriptions.
• Screen type. LCD and OLED tablets do color, video and apps. E Ink note-takers (Kindle Scribe, reMarkable, Boox) feel more like paper, have no glare and usually last far longer per charge, but they’re slower and mostly grayscale or muted color.
• The page shape. Taller screens fit a letter-size page better, which helps when writing on PDFs and lecture slides.

The Apple Pencil catch

Apple sells two current Pencils, and the cheaper iPad only works with the cheaper one:

• Apple Pencil Pro ($129): pressure sensitivity, squeeze, barrel roll, haptic feedback, double-tap and wireless charging. Works with the iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro and iPad mini (A17 Pro). Not the iPad (A16).
• Apple Pencil (USB-C) ($79): tilt, hover and magnetic attachment, but no pressure sensitivity. Works with the iPad (A16), iPad Air and iPad mini.

So a $449 iPad (A16) with the $79 Pencil gets handwriting-to-text, but not pressure-sensitive ink. It also misses Apple Intelligence, which powers newer note features like asking Siri to turn handwritten lecture notes into a study guide. For pure note-taking that’s fine; for drawing or those AI features, step up to the iPad Air or iPad mini.

Note-taking setups compared

Total cost is the tablet plus the pen it needs, at launch or maker list prices with dates, not today’s Amazon price.

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Our picks

Want the biggest Samsung screen for notes? The Galaxy Tab S12+ (12.6″, from $1,199.99) and S12 Ultra (14.6″, from $1,399.99) also include the S Pen.

reMarkable also sells the black-and-white Paper Pure (10.3″, from $399, no front light) and the compact color Paper Pro Move (7.3″, from $449). The older reMarkable 2 has been replaced.

See our 12 Pro accessories guide for the pen, keyboard and the bundle that includes both.

Note apps and handwriting-to-text

• iPad: Apple Notes is free and handles handwriting and Math Notes, which solves equations you write. Scribble turns handwriting into typed text in any text field. Goodnotes ($11.99 a year Essential, $35.99 a year Pro) and Notability (Plus $15.99 a year) add stronger organization, as of October 2026.
• Samsung: Samsung Notes is built in. It converts handwriting to text, aligns messy writing and lets you write on imported PDFs. Note Assist can summarize, format and translate notes, but needs an internet connection and works on typed text, so convert handwriting first.
• Kindle Scribe: notebooks export to OneNote as converted text or images, and import PDFs from Google Drive or OneDrive.
• OneNote is free on iPad and Android, which makes it the easiest way to keep notes in sync across devices.

Want a pen that feels less slippery on glass? A paper-feel screen protector adds friction and cuts glare, though Engadget notes they all add a slight blur.