The 8 Best Smart Pens and Tablets We’ve Ever Tried (2023)

The school usually requires take lots of notes whether you’re in ninth grade or college. Typing notes on a laptop might be faster, but when you physically write something down, you remember and learn more. Putting a real pen to paper is also nice. But having a digital backup is handy for organizing and exploring on the go.

There are smart pens, notepads, and tablets designed to save digital files of your handwritten notes or drawings. You can save files as PDFs, images, and Word documents, or transcribe them to a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can also record, which is great for lectures and interviews. If your notes need updating, we recommend giving them a try. Be sure to check out our guide to the best dorm items, as well as our favorite backpacks and laptop bags.

Updated January 2023: We’ve added the latest version of Kindle Scribe. We’ve also updated pricing and links throughout.