Digitize Your Notes and Drawings with A Smart Notebook (2024)

Look no further than the Remarkable 2 if you’re seeking a smart notebook that comes closest to feeling like real paper but can transform handwritten notes into easy-to-read text. The 10.3-inch display gives ample room for note taking and we found the device both lightweight and comfortable to hold. We’re especially fond of the numerous writing utensil options that are included, such as the choice among ballpoint pen, pencil, paintbrush calligraphy and more. Though we wish more ink colors were available for sketching and that the display featured a backlight for low-light situations, we like that this smart notebook automatically digitizes your notes (no phone scans necessary!) and stores them for future use.

Unfortunately, to access unlimited cloud storage and sync notes across your smartphone and laptop you’ll need a $2.99 per month Connect subscription, which ultimately can make the Remarkable 2 as expensive as a tablet. But if you go without the subscription, you’ll still have access to integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and email. That means you can send your meeting notes into Google Drive directly from your notebook. Though our pros admit that you have to invest a bit of time to feel comfortable with all of Remarkable’s many features, this smart notebook is a top choice for avid notetakers who want to get organized digitally without all of a tablet’s distractions.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: An Honest Review of the ReMarkable 2 Tablet

Combine an e-reader with a smart notebook and you get the Kindle Scribe. Like with most Kindles, you can download books straight to your device but with the Scribe you can also jot down notes and make to-do lists in the notebook section. Our pros were impressed by how nice it felt writing on the Scribe’s 10.2-inch paperwhite display, which isn’t exactly like paper but definitely doesn’t feel like a traditional tablet. We also love the comfortable feel of the included pen, which features a handy button that you can program to highlight notes or change the pen’s tip to pen, fountain pen, marker or pencil.

While this e-reader is larger than other Kindles and has a border on the left that’s larger than we’d like, our experts found it intuitive to use, fast and responsive. It also boasts a claimed 12-week battery life so you don’t have to worry about it dying on you anytime soon. Plus, avid readers will especially appreciate that you can take handwritten notes on a book’s text via sticky notes. Just keep in mind that the Scribe cannot sync your notes with popular platforms such as Google Drive or Dropbox, but you can email them to yourself to save them on another device.

If you’re a loyal user of Moleskin notebooks and love their look and feel, then this smarter version was made for you. Unlike every other smart notebook on this list, the Moleskine Smart Writing Set gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to digitize your notes on the Moleskine app while still holding on to your paper version. While it’s pricey, our pros were blown away by how effectively handwritten notes and sketches were transformed into a digital copy in the Notes App in real-time thanks to the included smart pen. Plus, even if you don’t have the app open as you write, your notes will be saved directly to the pen and later synced into the app.

Our pros found that the pen paired to Bluetooth quickly and that the compatible Notes app was easy to use and share work from. We recommend this upgraded Moleskin for working professionals or college students who like to take handwritten notes but could benefit from a digitized version. Though we wish you could reuse your notebooks once you’ve filled them up, a replacement notebook is fortunately similarly priced to standard Moleskins.

Consider the Boogie Board Blackboard if you’re looking for a smart notebook that’s as affordable as it is easy to use. While it’s not a notebook per se, the notepad display is great for kids who will enjoy scribbling notes or doddles with the included pen, similar to how you would use a whiteboard. Best of all, you don’t have to charge anything; just grab a smartphone to capture, search and share your work by scanning your screen on the Blackboard app.

While this model isn’t as easy to use with a variety of templates (we found that the templates didn’t stay in place), the Boogie Board can be a fun way to capture creative work. You won’t be able to convert handwriting to text like you can with more expensive models so it's not ideal for adults, but we do like that clearing a page is super easy with the press of the central button. The pen includes an eraser tip, though we found that this method doesn't work as effectively as the clear button. Also, keep in mind that our experts noticed fragments of lighting captured when uploading photos into the app.

✔️ Ease of use: The first question you should answer when looking for a smart notebook is whether you prefer one that’s similar to a traditional notebook or one that’s closer to a tablet (or one that falls somewhere in between). What’s easy to use for some may not be as convenient for others. For instance, some smart notebooks use paper; content is either captured through the assistance of a smart pen and uploaded into an app, or you’ll have to manually take photos of your notes to store them in the app. Alternatively, there are smart notebooks similar to tablets where you take notes and draw directly on the display. These notes are then stored on the device itself (or within a cloud) and can later be shared.

✔️ Portability: Is your smart notebook lightweight, slim and easy to transport? Consider these features if you plan on taking your notebook with you to the office or school on a daily basis.

✔️ Storage or pages: Consider the number of pages your smart notebook comes with to make sure you’ll have enough space for your needs. If you’re opting for a digital smart notebook, take into account how much storage space is available to ensure you have enough room to save your work directly to the device, or to a cloud.

✔️ Extra features: Some smart notebooks feature accessories such as cases, templates and even keyboards that you should keep in mind when choosing.