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Back in the day, people would write down important notes they had throughout the day on a post-it, notebook, or small piece of paper. Some may still do this to this day, but the evolution of technology has allowed people to have a more high-tech and productive way of jotting down notes. Many tablets on the market come with stylus support, and they’ve gotten to a point wherein it’s so snappy and responsive that you feel like you’re actually writing on a piece of paper. You can do more than simply write a note on a tablet because they also allow you to copy/paste text, proofread, quickly share with others, and more. Investing in a tablet won’t only be beneficial for your note-taking because the powerful processors that come with modern devices allow you to treat it as your own computer that you can use for school and work. Apple undoubtedly has among the best tablets on the market, but their stylus, which they call the Apple Pencil, has to be purchased separately, and it’s far from cheap. It’s undoubtedly worth the money if you can afford it, but you can also opt for Android tablets that often come with a stylus already. There are also less famous brands that release tablets that are sufficient for all your digital note-taking needs. We know scanning through all the options available on the market can be confusing, but we’re here to help you out. We’ve gathered the best tablets for note-taking in 2022. From simple and affordable to high-end, everyone will find a device to fit their needs and budget. Read on to find out the main characteristics, pros, and cons of each one.
Apple has various tablet options to choose from, but if you want the best of the best, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch model would be the ideal option for you. Like older iPads, you can choose between a Wi-Fi-only model or a variant with Cellular capabilities as well. We suggest the latter since you don’t always know if you’ll have access to a Wi-Fi network. The device is fantastic to use with the Apple Pencil because of how responsive it is. The Apple Pencil is worth $119, and you’ll have to select it as an add-on when buying the iPad from Apple. It turns your tablet into an immersive drawing canvas, and you’ll love its tilt and pressure sensitivity and how it attaches to the device magnetically. The Pencil itself has controls because you can double-tap to change your tool. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro promises breathtaking visuals with its Liquid Retina XDR display. It features a 2D backlighting system, ProMotion technology, and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic and antireflective coating. What makes the device an outstanding choice for increasing your productivity is its powerful Apple M1 chip, which has an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. You can choose between a 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB model. The iPad Pro will impress you with its Pro camera system because you can take incredible photos and videos. It has a 12MP wide camera, a 10MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP TrueDepth Ultra Wide front camera. You can record 4K videos at 60 fps, which is perfect for filming Instagram Reels or Tiktoks. Its front-facing camera allows you to make hassle-free FaceTime video calls, and its Center Stage feature ensures you’re always in focus during your calls. The iPad Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, so you won’t be disappointed with its network performance, and it comes with Bluetooth 5.0 technology. For those who get the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, you’ll experience spectacular data speeds thanks to its 5G connectivity. Users will benefit from the iPad Pro’s Face ID functionality because aside from making it easy to unlock the device, you can also use it to authenticate payments. The device comes with decent battery life, reaching around 11 hours per charge, depending on your usage. It has a Thunderbolt/USB 4 charging port, which also acts as a DisplayPort. Users can cast their iPad’s screen onto an external monitor while writing or drawing on the device, and you can also do it wirelessly via Apple AirPlay 2.
Devices works perfectly with the Apple PencilPowerful Apple M1 chipFantastic Pro camera systemDecent battery life
Apple Pencil is sold separatelyiPad Pro itself is priceyLarge size isn't for everyone
For those who want a more lightweight and less expensive table from Apple, you can opt for the new iPad Air, which hit stores in 2022. You have different customization options when you buy it from them, but we suggest you get the 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model with the 2nd Apple Pencil as an add-on. It would cost you less than $1,000, and it’s undoubtedly a fantastic deal, especially if you use it daily for work or school. The iPad Air doesn’t have a slim design, and the fact that it only weighs around 1.02 pounds means that you won’t have trouble bringing it around with you. The device has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with IPS technology, a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic and antireflective coating, and 500 nits brightness. It has the same M1 chip found on the Pro models, so you can expect the device to handle heavy workloads and multitasking. You won’t have to worry about your apps freezing or lagging when taking down important notes or organizing your planner. A noticeable difference it has with the Pro lineup is its camera system. You will only get a single 12MP wide rear camera and a 12Mp Ultra Wide front camera. Nonetheless, its primary camera can still record footage with a maximum resolution of 4K at 60 fps. The latest iPad Air will also give you a superb video call experience because it already comes with Center Stage. Like the Pro models, it supports Wi-Fi 6, 5G connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.0. You won’t get Face ID on the iPad Air, but it has the old-school Touch ID integrated into its top button. You’ll get to use Touch ID to unlock the iPad, secure personal data, and make purchases. The iPad Air comes with Apple AirPlay 2 for wirelessly casting content from your other Apple devices, and you can ask Siri countless voice commands to make your life easier. The device has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, which can be used for charging and connecting external displays. You shouldn’t expect much with its battery life because heavy usage could only give you around five hours on a single charge, but it can go up to 9 hours if you do lighter tasks.
Top-notch performance from Apple's M1 chipResponsive Apple PencilSlim and lightweightVibrant multi-touch displayDecent cameras with Center StageTouch IDWi-Fi 6, 5G connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.0
Apple Pencil sold separatelyLimited storage optionsDisappointing battery life
If you’re the type who prefers Android devices over Apple devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra would be among the best money could buy you. Unlike Apple’s iPad, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra already comes with Samsung’s high-tech stylus called the S Pen. The S Pen makes you feel like you’re writing or drawing on paper, and you won’t have to worry about misplacing it because you can magnetically attach it to the back of the tablet, and the best part is that the tablet charges the stylus while it’s attached. Note-takers will get to jot down anything they want using Samsung Notes, and you’ll get to draw or paint using Clip Studio Paint. You’ll even find the S Pen beneficial when editing videos on LumaFusion. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a fantastic 14.6-inch Super AMOLED that guarantees enough space for you to have maximum productivity. Its HDR10+ technology ensures you get more depth when viewing your content, and the tablet has superb motion handling thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. All your apps will run smoothly on the device because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. The base model of the tablet comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, but you can also spend extra for models with 12GB RAM/256GB storage or 16GB RAM/512GB storage. If you opt for the lowest storage option, you can quickly get more space by using a microSD card. Users can also use the device for content creation because it comes with a 13MP wide camera, a 6MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP wide and ultra-wide front camera. The tablet’s front and rear cameras can record 4K video at 60 fps. When it comes to network connections, you will get blazingly fast speeds from the device since it supports 5G and Wi-Fi 6e. You can also connect all the external accessories you want since it features Bluetooth 5.2 technology. The S8 Ultra has a fingerprint reader, but you won’t see it because it’s hidden underneath the display. The tablet is equipped with an 11,200 mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging. Its battery life isn’t jaw-dropping because a single charge only offers about 6.5 hours of usage when set on a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s possible to get up to 8 hours of use when downgrading to a 60Hz refresh rate.
Already comes with Samsung's S PenLarge display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ technologyPowerful processorExpandable storageHidden fingerprint reader
Not the best battery lifeCould have better camerasPricey
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 should be your top choice if you’re used to using a computer because this tablet runs on Windows 11, making it a tablet-laptop hybrid. It’s best used with the Surface Slim Pen 2 if you plan on writing or drawing on it, but you’ll have to purchase it separately. You’ll also be able to use the device similar to a laptop if you invest in the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. The device comes with a 13-inch PixelSense Flow multi-touch display with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. It has Dolby Vision support, so you can expect to get spectacular picture quality, whatever content you have on your screen. Users won’t always need to hold the display when in use because it has a built-in kickstand that can be adjusted to nearly 180 degrees. The base model of the tablet comes with 256GB SSD storage and 8GB RAM, but you can get up to 32GB RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Getting the model with the Intel Evo Platform Core i5 processor is sufficient for your day-to-day asks, but you can also upgrade to an Intel Evo Platform Core i5 processor. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 promises ultra-fast bandwidth because it supports Wi-Fi 6. The tablet has a 10MP rear camera and 5MP front-facing camera, and its Windows Hello face authentication camera is similar to Apple’s Face ID. You can expect a decent audio experience from the device because it has dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. For those who regularly connect their tablets to a wireless speaker, you won’t encounter any issues since the device has Bluetooth 5.1 technology. Unfortunately, the device doesn’t excel in the battery life department because you will only get around 7-9 hours of mixed usage per charge. Many premium tablets only come with a single port, but the Surface Pro 8 has two USB Type-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4) ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Runs on Windows 11Vibrant 13-inch PixelSense Flow multi-touch display with Dolby Vision support and a 120Hz refresh rateBuilt-in kickstandExcellent CPUWindows Hello face authentication camera2 USB Type-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4) portsDolby Atmos speakers
Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Keyboard sold separatelyBattery life could be betterUnderwhelming cameras
Some of you might still stink that the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is way above your budget, so if this is the case for you, you can buy the Surface Go 3 instead. It features a 2-in-1 design, so you can use it as either a tablet or laptop. Unfortunately, the Surface Pen and other accessories are sold separately. The device comes with a 10.5-inch 220ppi touchscreen and only weighs 1.2 pounds, which makes it ideal for those who plan to bring the tablet with them whenever they go to school or work. You will find its built-in kickstand helpful because you can easily make the tablet stand on your table. The Microsoft Surface Go 3 has different customization options, but we believe the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage is enough for you to have enough productivity. You can even upgrade to a variant with a sim card slot for accessing mobile data whenever you don’t have access to Wi-Fi. The tablet comes with an Intel Pentium Gold processor, which is sufficient for your note-taking sessions, but you might want to choose the model with the Intel Core i3 CPU if you have heavier workloads that require a lot of multitasking. Since the device runs on Windows 11, you can access complete desktop versions of different websites and even use desktop versions of Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, FinalCut Pro, and more. The tablet comes with 1080p HD front and rear cameras, which you can use for filming content or taking video calls. Its port selection is a bit better than other tablets on the market because besides getting a USB Type-C port and headphone jack, you also get a microSDXC card reader. The Microsoft Surface Go 3’s battery life isn’t the best because you get less than eight hours of usage per charge.
Lightweight and portable2-in-1 design1080p camerasBuilt-in kickstand
Surface Pen and other accessories sold separatelyDisplay quality could be betterUnderwhelming battery lifeCPU might not be strong enough for heavy workloads
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