Best Tablets for Note-Taking This Semester (2025 Edition)

July 6, 2025 Emma Lane 0 Comments 3 min read

Whether you’re heading into a lecture, a study group, or your favorite café corner, the right tablet can turn your note-taking from messy to masterful. But there’s a flood of devices promising “paper-like” writing.

I tested 6 of the top tablets for students in 2025—focusing on pen latency, software, comfort, and cloud sync.

Here’s what stood out:

🥇 Apple iPad Air (M2) + Apple Pencil 2 — $599 + $129

Best for: Students who want smooth writing + great apps
Apple Notes, GoodNotes, Notability = flawless
Pixel-perfect stylus + magnetic charging
Great for sketching, mind maps, math formulas

⭐ Emma’s Pick for All-Around Best Experience

🥈 Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE + S Pen — $449 (Pen Included)

Best for: Android users + PDF-heavy learners
S Pen is precise, has a rubber tip for quiet writing
Samsung Notes integrates well with OneDrive + audio sync

🔋 Bonus: Longer battery life than iPad!

🥉 Lenovo Tab P12 with Pen — $329

Best for: Budget-conscious students
Comes with stylus, good for OneNote or Evernote
Decent screen, slightly slower latency

⚠️ Not ideal for heavy multitasking or complex diagrams

✨ Others Worth Mentioning

📘 reMarkable 2 (Starting $299)

E-ink screen is super paper-like
Great focus tool—no distractions
Limited app support, no browser

🧠 Microsoft Surface Go 4 + Slim Pen 2

Good for Windows users
Runs full OneNote, Word, and other MS tools
Pen is pricey, and screen smaller than others

📝 What I Tested For

Writing feel: Is it smooth? Does it lag?
Stylus grip & pressure sensitivity
Cloud backup: Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive
App compatibility: GoodNotes, OneNote, Notability, etc.
Battery life: All-day note-taking possible?

💡 Emma’s Study Tips

Use voice-to-text transcription apps for lectures
Try color coding with digital highlighters
Sync with cloud notebooks like Notion or Obsidian for tagging

✅ Emma’s Final Word

If you want the best note-taking experience — go iPad Air with Apple Pencil.
If you’re on Android, Samsung S9 FE is shockingly good.
And if your wallet’s tight, Lenovo P12 delivers just enough to get it done.