The Best Digital Notebooks 2025: I Tested Notebooks From Almost Every Price Point

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Summer brings a alteration of pace, and that makes it a awesome clip to rethink really you shape your ideas. A integer notebook offers a paper-like consciousness pinch nary of nan clutter, whether you're mapping retired goals aliases jotting down concepts successful a formation chair.

Our apical pick, nan Boox Note Air 4 C, captures this emotion acknowledgment to its paper-like penning feel, transcription functions, and portable capabilities. Other awesome physics notebooks for illustration the Kindle Scribe, pinch its included pen, awesome artillery life, and Microsoft suite compatibility, are comparable to our apical pick. The champion integer notebooks will support tasks and notes organized to your liking.

Best tablet deals of nan week

Deals are selected by nan CNET Group commerce team, and whitethorn beryllium unrelated to this article.

What is nan champion integer notebook correct now?

To thief you determine which smart notebooks are worthy nan investment, we tested and researched nan champion ones connected nan market. We considered nan device's wide feel, retention capabilities and options, typical features, and price. Based connected our hands-on experience, our prime for nan champion smart notebook wide is nan Boox Note Air 4 C thanks to its notetaking and productivity features and soft colour display. We besides included notebooks from brands for illustration Kindle, Rocketbook, and different brands that ZDNET unit usage and recommend.

Also: Best Windows tablet successful 2025

The champion smart notebooks of 2025

Why we for illustration it: Based connected ZDNET's hands-on acquisition pinch nan Boox Note Air 4 C, it is nan champion smart notebook. While it doesn't person arsenic crisp a colour show arsenic a accepted tablet for illustration an iPad, this tablet's intent is for notetaking, and it does an fantabulous job.

It has each nan champion features of nan champion apps, for illustration templates, audio recording, color-coding, inserting links and attachments to notes, and more. Plus, built-in artificial intelligence allows for matter recognition, style perfection, and a strikethrough erase characteristic that makes erasing overmuch easier.

Some of its standout features heighten your productivity, for illustration nan divided surface characteristic that allows you to move betwixt 2 different apps, truthful you tin return notes connected 1 broadside while reference an article connected nan other.

Review: Boox Note Air 4 C

Who it's for: In addition, if you request to usage this tablet for schoolhouse aliases work, you tin easy nonstop files to nan tablet from your machine aliases smartphone utilizing BOOXdrop. It takes specified seconds, and you tin easy annotate PDFs and different Word documents. One Reddit personification noted that nan tablet is outstanding successful position of PDF files.

Who should look elsewhere: This Boox tablet is not cheap. In fact, it's a batch pricer than nan cheapest iPad astatine $530. Those who are connected a fund should astir apt steer clear, arsenic location are options that are cheaper and will do nan occupation conscionable arsenic good, if not better. Plus, nan included pen is very bulky and is difficult to support fastened to nan tablet.

Boox Note Air 4 C tech specs: Colors: Black | Storage: 64GB | Display: 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 display, 1240 x 930 (150 PPI) for colour and 2480 x 1860 (300 PPI) for achromatic and achromatic | Connectivity: Wi-Fi + BT 5.1

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Why we for illustration it: The Rocketbook Fusion Smart Notebook has versatile page and template options for only $40. The notebook's synthetic insubstantial allows you to constitute pinch nan included Pilot FriXion pen, past swipe nan page cleanable pinch a damp cloth to reuse it repeatedly.

In addition, you tin prevention your pages to nan Rocketbook app's unreality by tapping your pen connected nan icon astatine nan bottommost of nan page to make them easy to find later.

Also: Best fund tablet of 2025: High quality, debased costs

Who it's for: I person gone hands-on pinch nan Rocketbook Fusion. It scratches that itch of restitution erstwhile hand-writing notes/to-do lists while besides letting maine cheque those lists via nan app erstwhile I'm retired and about. I besides appreciated nan different page styles specified arsenic play and monthly planners, extremity setting, task trackers, an ideas page, dot grids, and lined pages. The Rocketbook Fusion meant I could transportation astir 1 notebook alternatively of three.

Amazon customers who person bought and reviewed this smart notebook besides work together that nan Rocketbook Fusion's easiness of use, quality, organization, performance, and penning acquisition make it a awesome fund option.

Who should look elsewhere: Sometimes, nan ink smudges, and if you property difficult enough, nan pen tin indent nan pages. Plus, if you're looking to do activity connected a much accepted tablet, this whitethorn not beryllium for you. Although this action is nan astir environmentally friendly, and is besides 1 of nan astir portable options.

Rocketbook Fusion features: Color options: Nine | Pages: 42 | Page styles: Seven

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Why we for illustration it: The precocious updated Kindle Scribe is possibly nan cleanable illustration of an e-reader-tablet hybrid to fulfill your reading and notetaking needs. Its updated AI features see a caller show pinch flush achromatic borders and a paper-like texture, and Active Canvas -- a caller acquisition for taking notes successful books.

The Active Canvas allows you to return notes and scribble your thoughts straight onto nan pages of your book. ZDNET editor Kyle Kucharski put nan Active Canvas to nan trial and appreciated nan characteristic arsenic an avid note-taker.

Read nan review: The Kindle Scribe is nan E Ink tablet I urge most

"The cool creation constituent present is that nan notes you tie pinch nan cookware beryllium connected different 'layer' than nan book text, allowing you to edit what you constitute without messing pinch nan matter successful nan book," Kucharski wrote successful his review. "I really recovered that I preferred utilizing nan sticky notes function, which drops a mini icon connected nan matter that, erstwhile tapped, opens up a floating model pinch your notes that tin past beryllium closed."

Who it's for: The device's AI features tin besides summarize up to 15 pages successful a notebook, neatly extracting cardinal takeaways from nan text. It tin besides transcribe handwritten notes into text, which mightiness use those pinch questionably legible handwriting.

The Kindle Scribe now comes pinch nan Premium Pen, a measurement up from nan Basic Pen, pinch devices for illustration a dedicated eraser and a shortcut button.

Who should look elsewhere: A batch of these features person a flimsy learning curve, making it a spot difficult to maestro quickly. If you want thing much familiar, a different tablet aliases action whitethorn suit you more. Not to mention, nan Scribe's is simply a small pricey, truthful you whitethorn not want to tummy that value tag.

Amazon Kinde Scribe tech specs: Display: 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite show | Storage: 16 GB, 32 GB, aliases 64 GB | Weight: 15.3 ounces | Dimensions: 7.7 x 9.0 x .22 inches | Connections: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C | Battery life: Up to 12 weeks (at 30 minutes per day)

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Why we for illustration it: The Rocketbook Core has go nan notebook I popular successful my purse aliases tote. If you're for illustration me, nan champion measurement to usage a notebook is to transportation it astir pinch you and constitute down thing that comes to mind. For example, my moving database of restaurants successful my area that I request to try. Or my database of things that bring maine joy, pinch items specified arsenic watching Wes Anderson films and making dill ranch from scratch.

Who it's for: The astonishing point astir nan Rocketbook is that you really ne'er tally retired of pages. When my lists commencement to overflow nan page, I tin simply scan them pinch my telephone and upload them to nan bigger moving lists connected my Google Drive. And erstwhile they're uploaded, nan ink connected nan page tin beryllium wiped distant pinch a damp cloth. It combines tech and contented successful a measurement that still stimulates my brain, but keeps maine organized. And it's a triumph for nan environment, arsenic you're utilizing little paper.

Who should look elsewhere: My only issues pinch nan notebook were nan smudging I encountered whilst passionately penning successful nan notebook. The pen that comes pinch it needs a fewer moments to afloat dry, truthful it smears, particularly if you property down difficult erstwhile you constitute for illustration I do. It besides only comes pinch achromatic ink, truthful if you want much color, you'll person to bargain much pens from nan Pilot Frixion line, arsenic those are nan pens that are compatible pinch nan notebook. This Rocketbook Core size is tinier than its siblings; this notebook does amended pinch planning, lists, and doodles alternatively than a alloy for notes during lecture. If you request it for class, I would urge getting nan bigger size. However, it still useful dang good, and I'll beryllium keeping it successful my purse for nan clip being.

Rocketbook Core features: Color options: Ten | Pages: 12 | Page layouts: Dot grid and lined | Sizes: Letter and executive

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Why we for illustration it: If you admit nan look and consciousness of Moleskine notebooks, past nan company's Pen+ Smart Writing group is nan correct smart notebook for you.

The notebook features nan signature dotted Moleskine page successful a "paper tablet" format, truthful nan pages are tucked successful betwixt a sturdy tablet-like design. Ncoded exertion is embedded wrong each page, which enables nan accompanying smart pen to admit wherever it is wrong nan notebook and to transportation each your freehand notes from page to surface successful real-time.

Who it's for: You tin upload aliases stock your notes digitally done nan Moleskine Notes app and stock them to Google Drive aliases Evernote. In addition, you tin usage nan pen to grounds audio that lines up pinch what you've written, creating a multimedia note-taking experience.

Read nan review: Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse: Smart note-taking cuts retired integer distractions

ZDNET put nan Moleskine Pen+ to nan trial and peculiarly appreciated nan replay option, which allows you to re-run really your notes came together. "This mightiness not look very useful for elemental note-taking," Steve Ranger, who wrote nan review, said, "but if you're drafting aliases brainstorming, it's really rather useful to spot really an image aliases a group of ideas travel together."

Who should look elsewhere: We thought that artists, successful particular, whitethorn find playback useful to spot really their drafting process evolved. Customers who person bought nan Moleskine agree, saying it's awesome for sketching, but cautions that nan transcription process is simply a small slow.

Moleskine Pen+ features: Color options: Black | Pages: 176 | Page styles: Ruled and dot grid

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Why we for illustration it: Those diligent note-takers looking to really splurge connected a smart reusable notebook should see nan reMarkable 2. This notebook is much of a large-screen tablet pinch a low-latency E-Ink penning acquisition that makes you consciousness for illustration you're penning connected insubstantial alternatively than connected a tablet screen. In addition, pinch reMarkable's Connect unreality app, you get entree to standout features for illustration surface sharing, handwriting conversion, and unlimited unreality storage.

Read nan review: reMarkable 2 E-Ink tablet: Superb for on-screen writing, but cardinal features are still missing

Who it's for: ZDNET contributor Sandra Vogel was impressed pinch really it felt penning successful nan notebook. "There's a 'gritty' consciousness to utilizing nan stylus on-screen that's not dissimilar penning connected paper," she said. "Both styluses support 4,096 unit levels, and location are plentifulness of pen choices and ink thicknesses to prime from."

The reMarkable 2 comes pinch nan action of either nan Marker aliases Marker Plus pen, which doesn't request charging and has a built-in eraser (only successful nan Marker Plus). Customers complaint this smart notebook 4.6 retired of 5, citing its usage arsenic an organizational instrumentality for students and professionals alike.

Who should look elsewhere: There are a fewer caveats, though. There is nary backlight, truthful it whitethorn not beryllium perfect successful low-light areas aliases dimly lit lectures. It's besides costly for nan constricted functions it has. For example, you can't link pinch your library's ebook system.

reMarkable 2 features: Color options: Black, blue, red, gray, and achromatic | Storage: 8GB soul retention | Pages: Stores astir 100,000 pages | Resolution: 1872 x 1404

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The champion smart notebook is nan Boox Note Air 4 C. I made this prime based connected its value for nan price, mean rating, and standout features it offers, specified arsenic templates, split-screen, matter recognition, and more.

Smart notebook	Price	Pages/Storage
Boox Note Air 4 C	$510	64GB
Rocketbook Fusion	$35	42 pages
Kindle Scribe	$400	16GB, 32GB, aliases 64GB
Rocketbook Core	$32	12 pages
Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set	$279	176 pages
reMarkable 2	$460	Stores astir 100,000 pages

*MSRP astatine nan clip of writing. Please statement that existent prices whitethorn alteration depending connected disposable sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.

While immoderate of these smart notebooks are awesome options, it yet comes down to what size notebook you want, what benignant of notes you will take, and what value you're consenting to spend.

Choose this smart notebook...	If you want...
Boox Note Air 4 C	The champion wide option. Its included templates and colour e-ink surface make it a productive device.
Rocketbook Fusion	A budget-friendly smart notebook. It has 42 pages and 7 page styles for you to capable up.
Kindle Scribe	A smart notebook that's besides a awesome reference tablet. You tin easy make notes wrong nan books you're reading.
Rocketbook Core	A portable, reusable notebook that's environmentally friendly.
Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set	A stylish smart notebook from a classical brand. You tin moreover grounds audio notes.
reMarkable 2	A smart notebook packed pinch plentifulness of features worthy nan splurge. You'll consciousness for illustration you're penning connected existent insubstantial acknowledgment to nan low-latency E-Ink penning experience.

If you're connected nan obstruction astir buying your first tablet:

What precisely is simply a integer notebook?
The sole intent of a smart notebook is precisely that: to digitize a normal notebook. A smart notebook will heighten your basal note-taking acquisition to different level pinch amended handwriting integration and unreality services.
What's nan quality betwixt a integer notebook and a tablet?
A tablet usually runs connected a mobile operating strategy and offers a wider scope of functions specified arsenic browsing nan web, multimedia, gaming, and different tasks. A integer notebook is much niche and designed specifically for note-taking and integer penning tasks.
Is a integer notebook worthy it?
You tin find a integer notebook for good nether $20, making it a beautiful budget-friendly action for students aliases anyone looking to shape their notes without breaking nan bank. However, if you for illustration for each your devices to beryllium accordant successful position of software, past you mightiness beryllium amended disconnected spending a small much for a tablet.

When you're deciding which smart notebook to buy, deliberation astir nan pursuing important factors:

Notebook feel: Does nan notebook person a accepted notebook feel? Does it person a solution that makes it consciousness much for illustration a tablet arsenic opposed to a notebook, aliases an due latency?
Storage capabilities: While immoderate of these smart notebooks usage existent paper, others person integer retention options. I considered some page count and retention capacity, truthful you person plentifulness of room to constitute notes.
Price: Smart notebooks scope successful value points from $10 each nan measurement up to $450. The little value points will get you existent insubstantial notebooks you tin person to integer notes, while nan higher value points are much tablet-like notebooks.
Special features: You whitethorn not request typical features successful a smart notebook, but they are bully to have. These see audio notes, page templates, and unreality compatibility.

A batch of these integer notebooks tin besides beryllium categorized arsenic tablets. When we trial different kinds of tablets, we typically travel nan aforesaid regular for each 1 to spot which performs champion when tested successful nan existent world.

Display: We measurement nan brightness level successful different lighting conditions and measure colour accuracy. We besides comparison nan display's capacity pinch what nan shaper promised, trial nan screen's responsiveness to touch, and measure nan capacity of immoderate other features, for illustration a manufacturer's stylus.
Performance: For real-world capacity metrics, our reviewers measurement really quickly nan tablet reacts to input, measure crippled capacity and framework rates, trial really nan tablet handles having aggregate apps moving simultaneously, measurement nan clip it takes to motorboat apps, and moreover measure nan tablet's somesthesia during intensive tasks.
Battery life: We trial different scenarios for artillery life, including measuring really agelong nan artillery lasts while streaming, web browsing, utilizing productivity apps, and playing games.

For a deeper look into our testing process, cheque retired our comprehensive tablet testing methodology.

Most smart notebooks already see a smart pen, but it will besides dangle connected nan shaper and circumstantial model. Smart notebooks specified arsenic reMarkable 2 and Wacom Bamboo Slate see nan smart pen pinch their notebook.

Keeping your notes and reminders organized connected a azygous instrumentality for schoolhouse is nan champion measurement to amended your productivity successful and extracurricular of class. That is why we urge each students look into our champion database of smart notebooks and find which is correct for their needs. The Boox is simply a awesome action since you tin link it to galore third-party apps done nan Android shop and transportation immoderate files onto it, for illustration essays aliases notes from class.

Also: The champion tablets for students

That depends connected nan circumstantial product. For example, Rocketbook's lineup of smart notebooks are made pinch existent paper, arsenic is nan Moleskine smart notebook. However, different options for illustration nan Kindle Scribe and nan ReMarkable 2 person low-latency, e-ink screens that consciousness paper-like, but you tin still decidedly show they are much of a tablet than an existent notebook pinch paper.

While you won't get nan "feel" of existent insubstantial pinch an iPad, you tin usage an iPad arsenic a measurement to return notes digitally, particularly if you person a value stylus for illustration nan Apple Pencil. iOS apps for illustration Noteflow allow you to return notes, annotate PDFs, sketch and doodle, and much while syncing to nan cloud.

Recent updates

In our June 2025 update, we added nan Rocketbook Core to nan database arsenic nan champion portable integer notebook, updated our charts, added much information, and prices connected definite models.