Amazon’s note-taking tablets replace bulky notebooks — from $90

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Tablets are multifunctional and portable devices that students, working professionals, and everyone in between can benefit from. They can be used for entertainment to play games, stream movies, and scroll through social media, but when it comes to productivity, there are so many possibilities.

Many tablets can be paired with accessories that transform them into powerful productivity tools. With a keyboard, a tablet can become a mini workstation as a two-in-one laptop and tablet. With the simple addition of a stylus, a tablet can turn into a digital notebook that’s perfect for taking notes, digital planning, and more. If the latter piques your interest, now is a great time to invest. With back-to-school season in full swing, tablets for note-taking are flying off the shelves, and some of them are on sale. 

Why use a tablet for taking notes?

There are many benefits of taking notes on a tablet. For one, it reduces physical clutter. Think of all the notebooks, notepads, loose papers, and binders that have likely accumulated over the years from taking notes, whether it’s for class, meetings, or daily to-do lists. With a tablet, you can condense all of your notes into one portable device that you can take on the go. 

Opting for a digital notebook can help keep you organized. You can create folders, making your notes easier to sort through and find. You can also enhance your note-taking by adding charts, pictures, and more. The digital aspect makes it easier to integrate your laptop with cloud-syncing and helps with multitasking with two screens instead of one.

In addition to taking notes for work and school, tablets with stylus pens are also fantastic for digital planning, journaling, and creative hobbies. With tablets, you can create planners and use templates to plan your day-to-day tasks, monthly goals, and more. And the fun part? You can use hyperlinking to switch to different tabs or to highlight a product that’s on your shopping list.

For creatives, tablets can be a great way to get expressive. As someone who loves stationery and has more than enough notebooks, pens, and the like, I also have an iPad that I use for some writing and planning, but I mostly use it for creative hobbies, like collaging and drawing.

Case in point, tablets are highly versatile devices with features that students, working professionals, and creatives can make the most of.

EHFiDC Android 16 2-in-1 Tablet with Keyboard

TCL NXTPAPER 14 Android Tablet

Apple 11-Inch iPad Air

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite 10.9-Inch Tablet

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Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 12.7-Inch Tablet

E-ink tablets for note-taking

Writing on a tablet doesn’t feel the same as putting pen to paper, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely rule them out. E-ink tablets, sometimes referred to as paper tablets, have matte, anti-glare screens with a paper-like feel. The e-ink displays, often used in e-readers like the Kindle, also reduce eye strain, which makes them easier on the eyes. 

Because these tablet screens feel similar to paper, they can be easier for some to take notes on. However, e-ink tablets tend to have fewer features than standard tablets. While some have access to additional apps and function more like a typical Android tablet, some are distraction-free devices with more limitations, making them ideal for just taking notes or reading books. 

Pro tip: If you want the full capabilities of a non-e-ink tablet, but want to try to emulate that pen-to-paper feel, there are screen protectors you can get to provide just that. I have the ESR Magnetic Screen Protector for my iPad Air, and it works well.

reMarkable Paper Pro Bundle 11.8-Inch Tablet

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

Boox Note Air 5 C 10.3-Inch Tablet

Are tablets worth it for note-taking?

A tablet is a smart buy for note-taking, as it reduces physical clutter, enhances productivity and organization, and is portable. And since they’re so versatile, you can use them for beyond taking notes. They’re powerhouses for productivity and work and school just as much as they are for entertainment and creative hobbies, which makes them a worthwhile investment. Prices start as low as $90, especially with back-to-school sales going on right now, so this is the perfect time to invest ahead of the school year. 

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