Best E Ink tablets in 2024

If you’re like us, you’ve also stayed up until the wee hours under the hypnotic blue glow of a phone or tablet, reviewing spreadsheets, taking notes, and maybe watching a TikTok video or two (or ten). But let’s face it, a tablet just can’t do what your trusty notebook can. Good old-fashioned paper’s simplistic nuances can’t be denied — its unmistakable texture, the directness of the pen meeting page, and the freedom from the incessant need to recharge are all worth noting.

But there are downsides to paper, too, like the inability to back up notes and the inevitability of coffee spills. That’s where E Ink tablets come in, offering a more traditional reading and writing experience. They may not have the bells and whistles of high-powered LCD or OLED Android tablets, but they blend the digital with the tactical paper-like feel of a favorite notebook or organizer. (And if you spill coffee, all those meeting notes are stored safely in the cloud.) However, the price of admission isn’t cheap, as even the most affordable E Ink tablets are expensive. Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile investment for those seeking to blend analog with digital.

We’ve reviewed our fair share of E Ink tablets and have found some true standouts. So, if you’re ready to streamline how you jot, sketch, and read, take a peek at the picks below.

The greatest E Ink tablets around

We like to think of the Onyx Boox Note Air3 C as a happy medium where price and value meet. It’s certainly not a budget buy, but for $500, you get a fair number of features like a colored display, exceptional battery life, and Android 12. Whether that’s enough of an incentive is entirely up to you, but in the world of E Ink, the Air3 C has a lot going for it.

First off, the Air3 C makes good use of its slim design. There’s even a decent pair of speakers on this thing and a MicroSD card slot for extended storage. Despite these add-ons, it’s lightweight and easy on the wrist. We particularly appreciate how Boox extended the left side of the bezel. It’s true that other E Ink tablets also offer bezels, but not as wide as the Air3 C. Most tablets, E Ink or otherwise, tend to minimize the bezel for a sleeker look, but the Air3 C’s asymmetrical design provides a more comfortable grip for extended reading and writing sessions. It’s a thoughtful perk we wish more E Ink tablets would adopt.

Similar to Boox’s other models, the Air3 C’s 10.3-inch screen houses a Kaleido 3 display protected by a Carta 1200 glass screen. However, rest assured that the glass screen will not take away from the paper-like experience you’re paying for. The Air3 C uses a textured film that mimics your favorite notebook. We found that writing and drawing with the included stylus feels remarkably natural.

The display itself features two screens with different resolutions. While the resolution for color images is only 1240 x 930, the Air3 C shines when it comes to black-and-white content, ramping up the detail at a crisp 2480 x 1860 resolution. This high-resolution mode excels especially for text-centric activities like reading e-books or reviewing documents. Still, the color display is certainly passable for casual image viewing, delivering respectable quality for those who appreciate the added splash of color in their reading material or graphic novels.

When it comes to software, Boox’s tablets tend to be Android-friendly, and the Air3 C is no exception. Access to so many apps is definitely an advantage Boox has over its competitors. Like other Boox tablets, you’ll also have control over the display’s refresh settings. That means you can tailor the refresh rate according to the app you’re using, which should help minimize ghosting.

And let’s not forget about the battery. At 3,700mAH, it doesn’t have the largest capacity compared to some of our other contenders, but it should last the average user several days without a charge. That said, if you’re streaming audiobooks for hours on end or use the blacklight, you’ll need to charge it more often.

We’d say that the Onyx Boox Tab X falls under the if-you-have-money-to-burn category of E Ink tablets. It’s expensive — like, really expensive. The price you pay for the Tablet Tab X could get you a pretty nice tablet or even a laptop, but some E Ink enthusiasts may be willing to pay more for less — so long as it’s worth it, and the Tab X might be.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Tab X is its screen size. The Tab X’s display is an astounding 13.3 inches, dwarfing the dimensions of its competitors, as well as conventional tablets. You usually see that type of screen real estate on laptops. Size isn’t all that matters, however, and the Tab X’s E Ink Mobius Carta display boasts inky blacks, perfect for writing and drawing. You won’t find a colored display here, and we’re fine with that. At this size, we’d gladly trade low-resolution color for better contrast capable of displaying up to 16 shades of gray.

No E Ink tablet is complete without a stylus, and we’re pleased to report that the Tab X comes with one of the best. The included Wacom-powered stylus is very responsive, with up to 4,096 pressure points. Everything from handwriting to detailed sketches will look staggeringly similar to real paper. We did notice some slight lag with drawing, but it’s not terribly distracting. The eraser is our favorite stylus feature. Just apply a little pressure, and it’ll do the job almost as well as the real thing.

Central to Tab X’s innovation are its five distinctive refresh modes: HD, Balanced, Fast, Ultrafast, and Regal. Each one of these modes is tailored for specific tasks. So whether you’re reading, web browsing, or engaging with various applications, Tab X will keep up.

What’s interesting about the Tab X is that it runs very much like a typical tablet. You’ll find widgets and user-friendly digital buttons. Plus, the inclusion of Android 11 means that you’ll have access to apps, such as YouTube, Kindle, and more. Admittedly, not all the apps are designed to work on the Tab X (like YouTube), but the mere fact that you can is a testament to the Tab X’s versatility.

You’ve probably noticed that there aren’t a lot of budget-friendly E Ink tablets out there. Sure, there are some cheap off-brands and older models, but steer clear of those. The spotty quality and dated hardware are not worth the extra bucks you save. However, if you want more for your money, the Kindle Scribe is not a bad pick. Existing Kindle users will enjoy a familiar interface, and newcomers will appreciate the Scribe’s versatility.

If you own a Kindle e-reader or something similar, it’s worth pointing out that the Scribe isn’t just for reading. While e-readers allow for clunky note-taking within the margins, the Scribe goes for a more tactile approach with handwritten “sticky” notes or direct note-taking on PDF docs. Unlike the real deal, you won’t encounter flaps of paper sticking out of your book or ink bleeding through the page.

The Scribe’s note-taking abilities go beyond books. There are templates and a wide range of brushes to make the whole experience feel like you’re still using your trusty old planner or spiral notebook. You’ll get a stylus with your purchase, too, and we think it works quite well. There’s no obvious delay when drawing or writing. Whether drafting to-do lists, journaling your thoughts, or scratching sketches in the park, the Scribe appears adept at everything. And yes, you’ll have more digital-friendly tools when you need them, like a lasso tool for quick edits and placement, along with easy folder organization. You can also email from the device and subscribe to Microsoft 365, should you need a competent word processor.

Visually, we found the Scribe looks similar to standard Kindle readers, though it’s much larger. It’s a plus that two pages can be viewed in landscape mode — the experience feels more like a real book. It also borrows from the Air3 C design with its extended bezel. However, we must admit that we weren’t as wowed by the Scribe’s implementation. The bezel is smooth, so it can be hard to grip. Nonetheless, the Scribe has other great features, like its backlight. We’re not sure if any other E Ink tablet can say that it has 35 LEDs capable of a range of warm and cool lighting.

Overall, the Scribe has a lot of perks. Between its weeks-long battery life and sharp display, you’ll probably enjoy keeping one of these in your messenger bag. It’s a great blend of a Kindle e-reader and an E Ink tablet.

If you’ve been researching E Ink tablets, you’ve probably encountered the Remarkable 2. As far as E Ink displays go, it’s become the gold standard. It’s also one of the thinnest, at 4.7mm, and its 1-pound weight is less than the average 300-page spiral notebook. But what tech the Remarkable 2 offers is more interesting, or, rather, doesn’t offer. Tablets like these are all about minimalism, and the Remarkable 2 absolutely delivers.

The Remarkable 2’s display is something to behold. Handwritten notes and doodles with the Marker Plus stylus look incredibly close to the real thing. Even the surface feels similar to paper. You may even get the urge to swipe the non-existent eraser shavings during a sketch session. Is the stylus eraser as precise as an actual eraser? No. But it’s reasonably accurate for most note-taking and drawing purposes and allows users to correct mistakes. The only caveat would be the stylus’ size and weight. It’s 10 inches and 19 grams, so it can feel bulky after extended use.

The Remarkable 2’s display is adequate for reading, as it supports PDFs and e-books. Keep in mind that you can’t purchase books on this tablet, so if you’re an avid Kindle or Nook user, look elsewhere. DRM-free and PDF-based books will do fine and are compatible with the Remarkable’s intuitive note-taking abilities.

As you’d expect, there’s no YouTube or distracting social media notifications. However, you can send notes and other documents via email or through your favorite cloud service like Google and Dropbox. And whatever notes you take can be converted to typed text. This is all done through Remarkable’s Connect subscription, which is free for the first year. After that, you’ll be charged $3 per month.

Speaking of extras, if you go on Remarkable’s website, you’ll see that the tablet is only $300, but that doesn’t include the recommended Marker Plus stylus. Remarkable also sells a $200 keyboard, should you want a distraction-free writing tool — you know, for that next great American novel you’ve been working on.

Similar to the Note Air3 C, Boox’s Tab Ultra C Pro features a 10.3-inch HD E Ink Kaledio 1200 anti-glare display with that great paper-like film. It’s also colored and offers the same resolution for color and black-and-white displays. You’ll also enjoy everything Android 12 provides and expandable memory via microSD. So, why would you dish out more cash on the Tab Ultra C Pro?

Well, it comes down to power. Boox has equipped this tablet with an 8-core processor that hits speeds up to 2.8GHz. The Ultra C Pro uses what they call BSR, or Boox Super Refresh. According to Boox, the Pro is 13% faster than its predecessor, the Ultra C. You’ll also get 6GB of RAM, 2 more gigs than the Air3 C, and double the internal storage.

The 12MP camera is perhaps the Tab Ultra C Pro’s most surprising feature. It turns your E Ink tablet into a handy scanner. Most phones these days are probably just as efficient, but it’s a nice perk.

The Tab Ultra C Pro has a steep price tag, and we think most E Ink users will be plenty satisfied with the Air3 C. But if you want to page through the Sunday newspaper in color, the Tab Ultra C’s premium features bridge that gap between E Ink and traditional tablets with finesse.

The Onyx Boox Tab Mini C differs from its larger sibling, the Tab Ultra C, focusing on E Ink tablet essentials while still holding its own. But that’s what we like about it. The Mini C is a unique E Ink tablet due to its compact 7.8-inch Kaleido 3 color display. This display offers a wide range of colors at 150ppi, along with a sharp 300ppi black and white resolution. These specifications are similar to those of the Ultra C, with the main difference being the Mini C’s smaller size.

The Mini C is more than ready for extended reading and creative sessions courtesy of its 5,000mAh battery. There are also adjustable front lights for comfortable all-day reading and a responsive G-sensor for automatic screen orientation. Unlike the utilitarian Ultra C, the Mini C is more of a reading-focused tablet, doubling as a digital sketchbook and journal.

Underneath the Mini C’s little hood lies the Android 11 OS, providing a full suite of app compatibility. Whether downloading reading apps or sketching tools, the Mini C should deliver a smooth experience using one of Boox’s refresh modes — HD, Balanced, Fast, or Ultrafast.

We don’t all want to shove a 10-inch slab into an already crowded backpack, messenger bag, or purse, and the Mini C’s beautiful display and efficient OS packs all the power you need in a manageable size. And yes, the Mini C may be a niche in an already niche market. Still, the Tab Mini C is a worthy choice for E Ink enthusiasts desiring a highly portable, color-rich device with comprehensive app support.

Out of all the selections, the Supernote Nomad is the most practical. The Nomad is a no-frills option whose main perk is a user-friendly interface. There’s no color display and forget about Android 12. However, we were pleasantly surprised by all this little E Ink tablet offered.

The first surprise is Nomad’s modularity. Unlike other tablets, E Ink or otherwise, Supernote easily allows for battery replacement when the time comes, extending the Nomad’s life and reducing waste. How many of us have ditched our devices simply because of a battery? Moreover, the Nomad includes a micro SD slot for extra storage in case the 32GB is insufficient.

For creatives, the Nomad’s 7.8-inch screen might be limiting next to the larger E Ink tablets covered here. But for on-the-go inspiration, this little device will more than satisfy. The Nomad’s screen is softer than most, with a texture that feels pretty darn close to paper. Supernote also added new painting software with a large brush selection. As we said, there’s no color, but the 16-level grayscale provides you with all the shading you’ll need, and you can also transfer your illustrations to PSD should you need to add color.

Of course, the Nomad is also great for just plain note-taking. The way the stylus glides along the tablet is practically indiscernible from writing in a journal or notebook. You’ll have to pay extra for a stylus, which sets you back at least $60; there are several models ranging from $60 to $90. Depending on which stylus you pick, you’ll be spending around the same price (or more) as the Remarkable2. We’d go with the Heart of Metal Pen 2 ($75) because it has a nice weight to it. Though, you can’t go wrong with the Push-Up Standard Pen ($60) as well. All the styluses have 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. You’re just paying extra for the build quality.

Connectivity and synchronization are also central to the Nomad. You can sync files with Google Drive, Dropbox, or Supernote Cloud and keep track of events via Google or Outlook Calendar. And with functionalities like screen mirroring during Zoom or Google Meet sessions, the Nomad is a handy collaboration tool.

This little tablet may be around the same price as the Remarkable 2, but if you need a portable note-taker, the Nomad may offer enough features to justify the purchase.

The Kobo Elipsa 2E isn’t the only one with a backlit display, but it’s the only one with Kobo’s ComfortLight Pro. This particular backlight lets you toggle the color temperature and brightness. Whether reading on a sunny afternoon or late at night, the screen is easy on the eyes.

Like our other selections, Kobo offers note-taking and drawing abilities, along with handy tools like its lasso tool for quick editing and a ton of templates. The included Kobo Stylus 2 is responsive enough for any task, from jotting notes to highlighting text. Some E Ink tablets, like the Scribe, only let you write on e-books with their virtual sticky notes. The Elipsa 2E will also mark up any document you throw at it, including e-books.

The Elipsa’s internal storage is only 32GB, and there’s no microSD option. That being said, 32GB holds around 24,000 e-books. That should be more than enough for most users. And you can always access the Kobo Cloud or transfer files via USB-C to free up some space. You’ll want to keep some extra space handy because Kobo’s online bookstore has literally millions of books available.

Okay, this isn’t a tech feature, but appreciate that Elipsa 2E is made with eco-friendly materials, including recycled and ocean-bound plastic. The world has enough plastic, and thankfully, brands like Kobo are taking responsibility by incorporating sustainable practices into their production.

Finding value in E Ink

Each iteration of E Ink tablets balances a fine line between innovation and staying true to the simple, paper-like reading and writing experience, like our top pick, the Boox Note Air3 C. It offers a color display along with Android 12 for more app usability, but it still feels more like E Ink than an iPad.

If money is no object, consider the Onyx Boox Tab X for it’s large, 13.3-inch display. Despite the gargantuan size, it only weighs 19.7 ounces (560 grams). To put it in perspective, the 12.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ weighs 22 ounces (628 grams). The Boox X is fast, responsive, and has a gorgeous display, but it’s expensive.

It was hard to decide whether the Kindle Scribe should be the best overall pick or the best value. Ultimately, it came down to price. The Scribe is the most “affordable” of the bunch at $340. For the most part, it does what the other offerings do, offering a lasso tool and various brushes and templates — though its ecosystem is more limited given its Amazon roots. However, its lower price, backlit display, and robust battery more than makeup for its lack of third-party integrations.

There’s a lot to like about E Ink tablets. If you’re okay with spending more for less, you’ll appreciate the distraction-free environment these unique devices create in an increasingly distracting world.