Display: Since a tablet is mainly used via touch input, having a large display for both control and a great viewing experience is quite important. Hence most note taking tablets range between 10 inches and 13 inches which should be plenty. You should also check their resolution as a QHD display is much better than an FHD one. Operating Systems: The operating system of your tablet can completely change your whole experience in terms of the features and apps that you can use. Even though an Android tablet is good enough for basic usage, iPadOS tablets and Windows tablets are much more versatile for productivity and specific workloads. Processor: Other than supporting a large number of apps and functions, your tablet should also be able to handle those tasks well by having a powerful processor. This is due to the reason that something like the Apple A14 CPU will be much faster than any Snapdragon, Exynos, or MediaTek CPU that you will find in budget tablets.
Surely these factors are quite important to consider while going with a note taking tablet, but there is still more to check. Hence, all the best note taking tablets present here also have their important features and specifications well explained along with a detailed “Buying Guide” so that you can go with the right one by the end of this listicle.
Best Note Taking Tablets 2023
Best Note Taking Tablets Reviews
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Best Features:
Uses a 10.1-inch FHD display Runs on FireOS Powered by MediaTek Helios P60T Features 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage Powered by a 6300 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Highly affordable note taking tablet Decently powerful for the price Fairly large 10.1-inch FHD display
Cons:
RAM capacity is a bit low
2. 2021 Apple iPad (8th Generation)
While Apple is primarily known for offering premium and high-end electronics, the original iPad still comes at a fairly affordable price making it a great value for money pick for basic usage. Apple’s iPad 2020 8th Gen note taking tablet comes at the 2nd position of this listicle as it offers the superb iPadOS experience at a fairly low price tag. Because this is not the pro version of Apple’s iPad, it comes with the entry-level but still decent 10.1 inch 2160 x 1620 display which is much better than any other budget option out there. Even though the 8th gen Apple iPad uses the older Apple A12 chip with just 3 GB RAM, it is the most powerful option in its class. Unfortunately, you only get 32 gigs of storage with this tablet which cannot even be upgraded. Although, you won’t be disappointed from its 8800 mAh battery that can easily deliver its rated 10-hour long battery life. Best Features:
Uses a 10.1 inch 2160 x 1620 display Runs on iPadOS Powered by Apple A12 Features 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage Powered by an 8800 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Excellent value for money Smooth iPadOS experience on a budget Pretty long battery lif
Cons:
Limited storage capacity
3. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab
Samsung is one of the largest manufacturers of home appliances and electronics since it offers all kinds of products including high-end Android tablets which offer all kinds of features. This Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Plus note taking tablet comes at the 3rd position of this article because it is the best Android tablet that you will find out there. Starting with its display, you get a superb 12.4 inch 2800 x 1752 AMOLED display with it which is even better than much more expensive options out there. Although, despite running Android 10.0 and being ready for Android 11.0, it doesn’t match iPadOS in terms of app support which limits it a bit. Fortunately, Samsung has included highly powerful hardware in the form of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 CPU along with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB of storage which should be more than enough for most. In fact, this tablet even comes included with the S Pen stylus for easy handwritten notes and drawing using this tablet. And to make all of its features enjoyable, this tablet features a 10090 Mah battery which easily lasts for a pretty long time. Best Features:
Uses a 12.4 inch 2800 x 1752 AMOLED display Runs on Android 10.0 Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Features 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage Powered by a 10090 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Superb performance with powerful internals Excellent AMOLED display with high resolution Includes the Samsung S Pen in the box
Cons:
Android is not as good as iPadOS
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung also offers much cheaper and budget-friendly options out there if you are looking for a simple tablet for usage like note taking and basic productivity tasks. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite note taking tablet is one of the cheapest options out there for those who want something for handwritten notes since it offers an included stylus in the box. As for the display on which you will be using this stylus, this budget-friendly tablet includes a 10.4 inch 2000 x 1200 display. Since this is a Samsung tablet, you get Android 10.0 installed in it. To keep the price tag low, Samsung has used its own Exynos 9611 CPU along with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage which is quite decent for the given price when it comes to basic usage like note taking. You also get a decent battery life of up to 12 hours from its 7040 mAh battery thanks to the low power CPU it uses. Best Features:
Uses a 10.4-inch FHD display Runs on Android 10.0 Powered by Samsung Exynos 9611 Features 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage Powered by a 7040 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Affordable note taking tablet Includes a stylus in the box Quite a long battery life
Cons:
Cannot be used for heavy-duty usage
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Touch-Screen
Apart from making Windows, Microsoft also offers a few tablet and laptop models that are quite versatile and unique in terms of their design and features which are perfect for note taking. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 note taking tablet is one of the best options out there if you are looking for something between a laptop and tablet. To ensure that you can easily use it as a tablet and a laptop, the Surface Pro 7 uses a 12.3 inch 2736 x 1824 display. And as you would expect, it uses Windows 10 for its operating system allowing you to use desktop apps on this tablet. For allowing you to easily run such heavy-duty apps, it uses the Intel Core i5 10th Gen 1035G4 and 8 GB RAM which is pretty good for high-end performance. Although, its inbuilt 128 GB SSD is a bit limited in terms of its storage capacity. Fortunately, despite being a full-size laptop and tablet combination, you still get a 10.5-hour battery life from its 43.2 Wh battery. Best Features:
Uses a 12.3 inch 2736 x 1824 display Runs on Windows 10 Powered by Intel Core i5 1035G4 Features 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage Powered by a 43.2 Wh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Hybrid between a tablet and a laptop Quite great performance for its form factor Superb display with stylus support
Cons:
SSD capacity could have been higher
6. 2020 Apple iPad Air (4th Generation)
Apple also offers various mid-range options that can be a great option for those who are looking for something recent and powerful without paying a premium for the same. This Apple iPad Air 2020 4th Gen note taking tablet is quite a great performing option at a fairly justified price tag at the expense of a few features found in the higher-end iPad models. For starters, you get a 10.9 inch 2360 x 1640 display which is one of the best looking options out there. And since this is an Apple iPad, it runs on iPadOS which is one of the best tablet operating systems out there. Because this tablet from Apple is quite recent, it uses the fairly recent Apple A14 CPU which is paired with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage which offers excellent performance thanks to iPadOS. Since both the operating system and its CPU are highly efficient, its 7606 mAh battery offers up to a 10-hour long battery life. Although, just like most other Apple iPad models, this one also lacks storage expansion. Best Features:
Uses a 10.9 inch 2360 x 1640 display Runs on iPadOS Powered by Apple A14 Features 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage Powered by a 7606 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Superb mid-range iPad model Latest CPU model with great performance Great looking 10.9-inch display
Cons:
Storage cannot be upgraded
7. 2021 Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch 4th Generation)
Apple’s Pro lineup of tablets can be the perfect option for those who are looking for a high-performance tablet that is made for heavy multitasking and heavy-duty applications. The Apple iPad Pro 2020 4th Gen note taking tablet is the most powerful and feature-rich option stated here which is to be expected at its given premium price tag. To begin with its display, you will find a large 12.9 inch 2732 x 2048 120 Hz display resulting in a very smooth experience. This smoothness is further improved thanks to the iPadOS used by this tablet for its operating system. While it may not be the latest CPU, its Apple A12Z processor offers excellent performance, especially when combined with its 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage capacity. And to allow you to get even more out of this high-performance tablet, it features the support for Apple Pencil stylus and Magic Keyboard cover. Despite its large display, you get up to 10 hours of battery life from its 9720 mAh battery capacity. Best Features:
Uses a 12.9-inch FHD display Runs on iPadOS Powered by Apple A12Z Features 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage Powered by a 9720 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Excellent performance numbers Superb looking display with a fairly large-sized display Supports a wide range of handy features
Cons:
Quite an expensive note taking tablet
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4inch
We have yet another note taking tablet from Samsung in this listicle which is essentially a different color model of the previously stated Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite up above. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite note taking tablet is a great budget-friendly option as stated earlier in this listicle. Just like that one, this also features a handy stylus in the box for handwritten notes and drawing. Moving over to its display, you will find a decently detailed 10.4-inch display with a 2000 x 1200 resolution. Being an affordable tablet from Samsung, it happens to be running on Android 10.0 which is to be expected. While this tablet might not be the best for high-performance usage, it is certainly great for basic usage thanks to its Exynos 9611 CPU, 4 GB RAM, and expandable 64 GB storage capacity. You also get a fairly large battery capacity of 7040 mAh with it which is able to offer a battery life of up to 12 hours. Best Features:
Uses a 10.4 inch 2000 x 1200 display Runs on Android 10.0 Powered by Samsung Exynos 9611 Features 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage Powered by a 7040 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Comes with a handy stylus Decent quality screen for the price Great for basic usage at an affordable price
Cons:
Only ideal for basic usage like note taking
9. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
Lenovo is primarily known for laptops and computers which also happens to be offering a few tablet models that are generally quite affordable and perfect for basic usage like note taking. This Lenovo Tab M10 Plus note taking tablet can be another great entry-level option for many. Being an entry-level tablet model, you get a 10.3-inch display with it that has an FHD resolution which is to be expected at this price. Although it runs on Android, it runs on the older Android 9.0 version which might be a bit limited in terms of the features it offers. Taking a look at the internals of this tablet, you get the MediaTek Helios P22T CPU paired along with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage capacity. You also get a decently large 7000 mAh battery with this note taking tablet. Unfortunately, it does not mention a battery life rating like most others. Best Features:
Uses a 10.3-inch FHD display Runs on Android 9.0 Powered by MediaTek Helios P22T Features 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage Powered by a 7000 mAh battery Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Entry-level note taking tablet Quite a decent display for the price Fairly powerful CPU at a budget
Cons:
Android version is a bit old
10. Dragon Touch Notepad K10 Tablet
Dragon Touch is one of the smallest and a fairly new brand of tablets out there that might be a viable option for those who are on a tight budget and want something for note taking. The Dragon Touch Notepad K10 note taking tablet is the cheapest option given here in this article. Starting with the display of this tablet, you get a screen size of 10 inches with a resolution of 1280 x 800 which might be a bit low for some. Even though it is a bit affordable, you get Android 9.0 with it which is quite decent. Similarly, its other internals are also a bit limited because you only get a quad-core CPU, 2 GB RAM, and 32 GB storage with it. Thankfully, this storage capacity can be expanded using up to a 128 GB micro SD card. And as you would expect for the price, its battery life is also limited to up to 7 hours. Best Features:
Uses a 10 inch HD display Runs on Android 9.0 Powered by a Quad-Core CPU Features 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Highly affordable note taking tablet Decent quad-core CPU Fairly large display size for the price
Cons:
Poor performance numbers compared to others
Buying Guide for the Best Note Taking Tablets
While tablets might not be as commonly used as smartphones or laptops, they still offer a great middle-ground making them ideal for specific usage. One such common usage of tablets is note taking which can be great for both students as well as professionals. Thus, some of the best note taking tablets have already been stated earlier in this listicle. For helping you pick the right tablet, all these various note taking tablets also have their significant features and specifications well explained. And those of you who wish to know further can check out this extensive buying guide for the best note taking tablets:
Display
As you would expect, one of the biggest benefits of getting a tablet over your smartphone is that you get a much larger display. Such a large display can be great for both typed notes as well as handwritten notes via a stylus. Thus, going with a large display size like 12 or 13 inch makes for a much more versatile tablet than a 10 inch one. Other than the size of your tablet’s display, you should also consider checking its display resolution. This is due to the reason that a QHD resolution display or anything similar will offer much better quality and detail than an FHD or an HD display. In other words, a high resolution and large-sized display makes for a great note taking tablet which will also offer a great media consumption experience.
Operating System
While the internal components and the hardware of your tablet can certainly affect its performance, the operating system of your tablet can change the overall performance as well as the user experience. Most of the note taking tablets given above and available out there will use Android or a modified version of Android for their operating systems which is good enough for something like note taking. But for heavy multitasking and running productivity apps, a tablet with iPadOS or Windows 10 will be much better. Not only are these operating systems more efficient for better performance, but you get much more apps and features in general.
CPU
Coming back to the hardware specifications of your tablet, making sure that it has powerful components inside is highly important. Thus, starting with the CPU of your tablet, it is always great to go with a tablet that offers a powerful CPU. While entry-level tablets may offer CPUs like Apple A10 or other similarly powerful Snapdragon, Exynos, and MediaTek options, higher-end models may have Intel Core i5 CPUs or Apple A14 and A12Z CPUs which are much more powerful. And while note taking might be a basic task, a powerful CPU is always great for running multiple apps together as well as for playing games on your tablet if you ever want.
RAM and Storage
Another thing to consider while ensuring that you are going with a powerful tablet is its included RAM and storage. Both of these can heavily affect your overall experience and the multitasking performance of your tablet. Starting with RAM, any tablet that offers 6 GB or more RAM should run just fine especially if it is running the highly efficient iPadOS. Although, budget tablet models might be limited just to 3 GB or 4 GB RAM which can result in mediocre performance while running heavy apps. Coming to the storage of your tablet, it is used for installing apps and storing your personal media files and documents. Thus, a large storage capacity of 128 GB or more is going to be much more practical than 32 GB. Although, a few tablets may allow you to increase the storage capacity via an external micro SD card which is always handy.
Stylus
If you are going to use your tablet for taking notes, then a lot of you might be interested in taking handwritten notes as well. For the same, it is always a great idea to check for stylus support with your tablet. If you are going with an Apple, Samsung, or a Microsoft tablet, then it most likely supports one. In fact, in most cases, Samsung tablets even come included with a stylus in the box which is always a great bonus. While looking at the stylus of your tablet, you should look for things like having more pressure points, magnetic charging points, and possible buttons on the stylus for extra functionality.
Battery
While you may have all the powerful hardware and software features in your note taking tablet, it won’t be practical if its battery doesn’t last long enough. And since tablets are made thin and light for portable usage, checking the battery capacity of your tablet is always a great idea. One simple way to check this is to simply check the battery life given directly in hours as 8 hour long, 10 hour long, or 12 hour long. But for a better comparison, you can check the battery capacity given in mAh as a 10000 mAh battery will last much longer than a 6000 mAh battery.
Cameras
Even though you won’t be using your tablet for photography any time soon, it is always a great idea to check its cameras. This is due to the reason the cameras of your tablet can come in handy for scanning documents, adding media files to your notes, and joining video calls via the internet. In general, a camera with a higher megapixel count is going to offer better image and video quality. Other than the megapixel count, if your tablet comes with multiple cameras, then you can enjoy benefits like having optical zoom, depth sensing for portrait mode, and even for scanning objects using the LIDAR system present in the iPad pro.
Connectivity Options
To get the most out of your note taking tablet, it is most likely that you are going to get additional accessories for it. For the same, checking the connectivity options offered by it is always a great idea. Starting with wireless connectivity options, all tablets feature WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity with higher-end models offering newer versions of these wireless connectivity options. As for physical connectors, you may or may not find a headphone jack along with a charging port depending on the tablet that you are going for. Some high-end tablets like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 may even offer full-size USB ports for easily connecting peripherals like a mouse and keyboard. Speaking of the keyboard, some Samsung and Apple tablets may have magnetic connectors on the side for connecting a touchpad and keyboard case which offers a great laptop-like experience with your tablet.
Warranty
Whether you are going with a high-end tablet or an entry-level one, you would want yours to stay fully functional for as long as possible. Therefore, checking the warranty included with your note taking tablet is always a great idea. Fortunately, all of the best note taking tablets present above come backed by a decent 1-year warranty for your peace of mind. Other than the warranty, it is also always a great idea to check the build quality of your tablet since a well-built one is always great for portable usage.
Conclusion
Even though a tablet can be used for all kinds of tasks like media consumption, drawing, office apps, and more, taking notes on one is a great experience. This is due to the large displays and pen support offered by most tablets. And if you also want a tablet for note taking, then you can simply get one of the best note taking tablets given up above. Alongside these various note taking tablets, we have also stated their major specifications and factors. And while there is also a detailed buying guide for the best note taking tablets present above, you can go with one of our favorite recommendations if you are still confused: Comment * Name * Email * Website
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