HomeGear8 Best Smart Pens and Tablets We've Tried So Far (2023)

8 Best Smart Pens and Tablets We've Tried So Far (2023)

January 20, 2023

8 Best Smart Pens and Tablets We've Tried So Far (2023)

  • Moleskine smart pen
    Photograph: Moleskine

    How Smart Pens Work

    The Specs

    A smart pen doesn't act alone (at least not yet). You'll also need a special notebook and an accompanying app. An infrared camera near the pen's point tracks your writing strokes. As you write in the notebook, dotted grids plot the pen's movements. You then use a Bluetooth connection or USB port to transfer the files to your computer. Like regular pens, these do also require ink refills eventually.

    For now, you won't be able to use your favorite paper notebooks, which is a bummer for those of us with serious notebook feelings. However, at CES 2023 we saw the Nuwa Pen ($279) that promises smart notes on any paper. We'll try it as soon as it's available (hopefully by the summer).

    Smart pens can …

    • Transcribe your notes into text files, making them easier to read and manipulate.
    • Export files from the app as PDFs, Google Docs, Evernote files, and more.
    • Be used without opening the app. Just make sure the pen is on. You should be able to transfer data later, but transfer frequently so you don't run out of storage (or in case you lose the pen).

    ★ Remember: You have to keep your pen charged and ready, so you don't run out of battery mid-sentence. The pen will still write, but it won't digitize anything.

  • Photograph: Neo Smartpen; Illustration: Medea Giordano

    Our Favorite Smart Pen

    Neo Smartpen M1+

    The Neo Smartpen M1+ is the thinnest and lightest of all the pens I tried, which makes it feel a bit more like your standard pen and—more importantly—comfortable in your hand. You should be able to find whatever size and style of notebook you need, like spiral-bound college-ruled ones, as well as planners.

    The Neo Studio app (available on iPhone and Android) is nice, with an easy-to-navigate notebook system and the ability to search for pages by page number or date. You can change the color of the ink and thickness of the lines right on the page as you go, or you can switch them up later and edit the colors of what you've written. This pen doesn't record audio, but if that's something you want, Neo sells a separate recorder that pairs with the pen.

    ★ Alternative: The Neo Smartpen Dimo ($59) is the cheapest and uses replaceable batteries instead of a rechargeable one. It isn't compatible with Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook like our other picks. We haven't tried the Neo Smartpen N2 ($169) yet, and though it looks sleeker, you probably don't need to spend the extra $40.

    $129 at Neo Smartpen

  • Photograph: Target

    A Reusable Notebook

    Rocketbook Core

    I find a lot of joy in brand-new notebooks, but there's no doubt that they can be wasteful. Rocketbook makes several reusable notebooks, planners, and accessories like flashcards. Take notes with an erasable Pilot Frixion Pen (one should come with whichever item you buy), scan photos to the Rocketbook app, and erase the whole thing with the damp microfiber cloth. The app is designed to keep everything organized and easily send things off to Google Drive, Evernote, OneNote, and a handful of other options.

    The paper isn't as nice to write on as regular paper, but it's made to withstand a damp cloth. Can you write in any notebook with a pencil or erasable pen, take photos, and erase it? Yes absolutely, but that will eventually ruin the integrity of the paper. It all depends on your budget and habits. If I took a ton of notes every day, I'd probably want really good paper, but I like that one notebook can last as long as you take care of it. I stuck with the black pen it came with, but some people buy colorful Frixions for more organized notes.

    $27 at Amazon
    $34 at Rocketbook

  • Photograph: Apple

    Try an iPad

    iPad + Apple Pencil

    If you don't mind writing on a screen and have several hundred dollars you can spare, an iPad and Apple Pencil make great options for writing or drawing. Plus, you get all the other conveniences of an iPad. The Apple Pencil is much more precise than the cheap, bulbous-tipped styluses you might be used to. 

    WIRED writer Jaina Grey uses her 11-inch iPad Pro ($769) with the GoodNotes and Notability apps for her writing, but any of the current iPad lineup should work fine. Our guide explains the differences in depth, but the 2021 iPad ($330) is the best for most people, and it works with the first-gen Pencil and Smart Keyboard. The Mini ($500) and Air ($560) have their own advantages. 

    $429 at Amazon (iPad)
    $121 at Amazon (Apple Pencil)

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