The best E Ink tablets for 2024

If you like using physical notebooks, you might find an best E Ink tablets helpful. I used to have many paper notebooks where I wrote down story ideas, to-do lists, and notes from meetings. But eventually, I switched to digital apps on my phone because it was more convenient. E-Ink tablets combine the feel of writing on paper with the convenience of digital tools. They’ve improved a lot recently, and now there are some good options available. We tried out different E-Ink tablets to see how well they work and which ones are the best.

Are E Ink tablets worth buying?

E Ink tablets are a good choice for some people, but not for everyone. If you like the way e paper displays look and feel better than regular tablet screens, then it might be worth it for you. They’re also good if you want to write or draw in a way that feels like using paper, although you can do similar things on a regular tablet with the right screen protector.

But there are some things to consider. Most E Ink tablets don’t use the same software as regular tablets, so they might not be able to do everything you want. Even if they can run some regular apps like Chrome or Instagram, they’re not great for casual browsing because E Ink displays refresh slowly, don’t show color, and aren’t as sharp as regular tablet screens.

One reason you might not want to get an iPad instead (which can do a lot more things and has better screen quality) is because it’s easy to get distracted by email and social media. If you’re easily distracted, you might also consider an e-reader, although most e-readers don’t let you write on them with a stylus.

Overall, if you like to take notes in books or mark up PDFs, an E Ink tablet might be a good choice for you

What to look for in an E Ink tablet

Latency

During my tests, I found four important factors that can affect how well you like using an E Ink tablet. The first one is how it feels when you write on it. This depends on how quickly the screen updates (does it change right away when you start writing?) and how quickly the stylus responds. Most tablets didn’t have any delay, but some were slower than others. Before you buy one, make sure the E Ink tablet you want comes with a stylus

Reading

The next thing to think about is how you’ll use the tablet for reading. Will you mainly read books, documents, or other stuff on it? E Ink tablets come in different sizes, but most are bigger than regular e-readers because they’re designed for writing as well. A bigger screen is good for writing, but it might be a bit harder to hold for a long time. Regular e-readers are usually about the size of a small paperback book, which feels more like reading a physical book.

Another important thing to consider is what types of files the tablet can read. This varies a lot between different E Ink tablets. Generally, if you get one from a company that sells e-books, like Amazon or Kobo, it’ll work well with the books you buy from them. For example, if you buy books from the Kindle or Kobo store, you can read them directly on your Kindle or Kobo E Ink tablet. But if you want to read books from other sources, make sure the tablet supports file types like ePUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, PNG, and more. If it doesn’t support reading apps like Kindle or Kobo, you might be limited in what you can read.

Search functionality

Thirdly, most E Ink tablets come with search features, but they can be different depending on the model. You should think about how important it is for you to be able to search through all your handwritten notes and marks. I found that Amazon’s and Kobo’s E Ink tablets make it easy to find your notes and highlights in books and files because they save them automatically. Searching is not as consistent on E Ink tablets that support different file types, but they still have powerful features. For example, some devices I tested let you search for text in handwritten notes and even recognize your handwriting, turning it into typed text

Sharing and connectivity

The last thing to think about is how you’ll share and connect with your E Ink tablet. While they’re great for focusing without distractions, it’s important to consider how you’ll access your notes and drawings from other devices. All the E Ink tablets I tested have Wi-Fi, and some can sync with cloud storage, have mobile apps, and let you email your notes. But none of them work directly with digital note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote. So if you use those apps, you might find the tablet to be an extra tool rather than your main one. It’s worth thinking about what you’ll do with your documents once you’re done with them on the tablet

Best E Ink tablets for most people

reMarkable 2

Specifications

Screen size: 10.3 inches
Battery life: Lasts for two weeks
Network connectivity: Wi-Fi
Storage capacity: 8GB
Stylus included: No, available at an extra cost
Supported file types: PDF, EPUB

The latest reMarkable tablet isn’t at the top of our list because it’s the most advanced or unique writing tablet we tested. Instead, it stands out for offering the best combination of features that people find useful in an e-paper device like this. Let’s delve into these features, starting with its build quality. The reMarkable 2 is lightweight, weighing less than a pound, and boasts a sleek design. It features a 10.3-inch monochrome digital paper display surrounded by beige-colored bezels, with the thickest part at the bottom for better grip. The tablet’s design seamlessly blends in with other high-tech gadgets, which is commendable.

Now, let’s talk about the writing and reading experiences on the reMarkable 2, which are both excellent. Writing, doodling, and sketching feel effortless right from the start. We tested the Marker Plus, which has a built-in eraser, and both it and the standard Marker offer tilt- and pressure-sensitive writing without the need for batteries or charging. The latency between touching the screen and seeing lines appear is minimal, providing a near pen-and-paper experience. While this feature isn’t unique to the reMarkable 2, it’s a crucial aspect that most E Ink tablets excel at.

In terms of reading, the reMarkable 2 supports PDFs and ePUBs. You can easily transfer files to the device via your reMarkable account on desktop or through the companion mobile app on your phone. Additionally, you can link your Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox account to access files. This is beneficial for those who frequently read academic papers or review documents for work. However, if you buy ebooks from online stores like Kindle or Kobo, accessing them on the reMarkable 2 might be more challenging.

Another convenient way to import documents to the reMarkable 2 is through the Read with reMarkable extension for Google Chrome. After installation and account pairing, you can send online articles directly to your tablet for later reading. You can even customize the format of these files and annotate them as desired. Overall, it’s easy to transfer files to the reMarkable 2 and access them from other devices.

Regarding sharing and connectivity, all reMarkable 2 tablets come with Wi-Fi connectivity. Some models support cloud syncing, companion mobile apps, and email-based note exports. However, direct integration with note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote is not available, limiting its compatibility with certain workflows.

Despite these limitations, the reMarkable 2 impresses with its user-friendly interface for digital note-taking. It offers features like organizing notes into different notebooks and quick sheets, marking up documents with various brush types, and converting handwritten notes into text. The learning curve is relatively low, making it accessible to new users.

While the reMarkable 2 isn’t the most affordable option, its blend of features and ease of use justifies its price tag. If you’re seeking an E Ink tablet with an intuitive writing experience and seamless note access, the reMarkable 2 is worth considering, especially if you prioritize distraction-free productivity over other tablet functionalities.”

Amazon Kindle Scribe (16 GB) – 10.2” 300 ppi Paperwhite display, a Kindle and a notebook all in one, convert notes to text and share, includes Premium Pen

Specifications

Screen size: 10.2 inches
Battery life: Lasts for months
Network connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Storage capacity: Up to 64GB
Included stylus: Yes
Supported file types: AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, and more

When it comes to E Ink tablets, there are two main options to consider: the Amazon Kindle Scribe and the Kobo Elipsa 2E. The Kindle Scribe came out slightly ahead of the Elipsa 2E due to its superior pen-and-screen performance, offering a smoother writing experience.

The Kindle Scribe impressed during testing, boasting minimal latency when used with its companion pen. With the latest software update, users now have access to a variety of brush types, enhancing the writing experience. The device supports the creation of multiple notebooks and offers flexibility in page addition and template customization.

As an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe shines with its 10.2-inch touchscreen featuring auto-adjusting front lights. Users have access to Amazon’s vast ebook store, making it easy to dive into their favorite titles instantly. The device also supports Audible integration via Bluetooth for audiobook listening, as well as seamless access to ebooks from local libraries.

The Kindle Scribe particularly caters to students, offering a larger screen that reduces eye strain during long study sessions. The ability to take handwritten notes directly on the device adds to its appeal for academic purposes.

However, the Kindle Scribe falls short in the annotation department, lacking the ability to make margin notes in Kindle ebooks. While recent updates have improved this aspect slightly, it still lags behind in comparison to physical book annotation.

In contrast, the Kobo Elipsa 2E allows users to make annotations directly in the margins, providing a more natural reading experience akin to physical books. Despite a slightly noticeable latency compared to the Kindle Scribe, the Elipsa excels in offering versatile notebook options, including handwriting-to-text conversion and diagram insertion.

While the Kobo Elipsa 2E offers a robust ebook marketplace and marginally better annotation capabilities, it comes at a higher price point compared to the Kindle Scribe. With the latter’s competitive pricing and strong overall performance, coupled with the extensive Amazon ebook ecosystem, it remains the preferred choice for most readers

Supernote X

Specifications

Screen size: 10.3 inches
Battery life: Lasts for weeks
Network connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Storage capacity: 32GB
Included stylus: No, available at an extra cost
Supported file types: PDF, EPUB, Word, Text (.txt), PNG, JPG, Comic book archive (.cbz), FictionBook2 (.fb2), and OpenXPS (.xps)

After testing various E Ink tablets, the Supernote X stood out to me as the most exciting one to use. As a fan of notebooks, I found it particularly intriguing. Available in 10.3-inch and 7.8-inch sizes, the Supernote X features a unique “FeelWrite” screen protector, offering a different writing experience compared to standard e-paper screens. When using the Heart of Metal Pen 2, which resembles a fountain pen, the writing feels more akin to using a gel pen rather than the usual scratchy sensation found on other E Ink tablets. Overall, the Supernote X provides one of the best writing experiences among all the tablets I tested.

The Supernote X supports a variety of file formats, including PDF, EPUB, Word, PNG, and JPG, expanding the range of content you can utilize on the device. I experimented with using it as a digital bullet journal, and it proved to be quite versatile. While it comes with built-in page templates, I was able to download additional planner templates online, resize them, and transfer them to the Supernote X using Android File Transfer. The device features a dedicated “MyStyle” folder where you can save custom templates, allowing for easy organization and customization of notebooks.

Although Supernote offers its own “app store,” the selection is limited, with only the Kindle app available from the Play Store. Additionally, the device lacks a backlight, making it less suitable for use in dark environments. However, you can still download the Kindle app and read ebooks as you would on a standard tablet, albeit without the ability to annotate books.

The true strength of the Supernote X lies in its functionality as an E Ink notebook. The software includes features such as handwriting-to-text conversion and keyword recognition, allowing for efficient organization and navigation of notes. Despite its advanced features, the device may feel somewhat inconsistent in certain aspects, such as the organization of files and the complexity of the pen sidebar options.

Overall, the Supernote X is best suited for users familiar with E Ink technology and seeking advanced note-taking capabilities. While it may not be ideal for beginners due to its learning curve, enthusiasts of notebooks and digital writing will appreciate its extensive features. However, these advanced features come at a premium price, with the A5-sized tablet, folio, and pen package starting at $532, making it the most expensive option on our list.

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