Best E-Ink Tablets: My Recommendations

In this article, I will list what I feel are the best e-ink writing tablets currently on the market and explain the reasons why I love them.

Unlike other ‘best e-ink tablet‘ webpages I’ve seen, I have actually bought, tested and regularly use the devices I review.

I am not a generic tech reviewer – I specialise in e-ink and other eye-friendly technologies – and all my reviews are 100% my own genuine and honest opinion.

Here’s a picture of some of the e-ink tablets I own:

I think every single device listed on this page is awesome, but for very different reasons – I found it very difficult to rank them (and I often changed my mind) but in the end, I based it primarily on which device I tend to use the most or regularly reach for when I want to take some notes.

However, please bear in mind that these are my own subjective views based on my own personal needs, preferences and workflows. Depending on your own requirements, any of these eNotes would be a good investment.

To further help your decision-making, I’ve built a tool for searching, filtering, and comparing e-ink tablets that you may find useful.

Changelog

Date	Change
1/10/26	Replaced Boox NA5C with Boox NA6C for ‘Best All-Round Color E-Ink Tablet‘ and ‘Best E-ink Laptop Replacement‘ (not a massive amount of difference, but an incremental upgrade to latest model)

Tier List

For those that don’t have time to read this whole article (it is over 14,000 words!), I’ve summarised my recommendations in the tier list below.

It is important to note that I think all of the e-ink tablets on this tier list are decent (they had to be to make my shortlist). This is just a way for me to visually rank all of my recommendations. So even those devices at the lower end of this tier list are (in my opinion) a more favourable option than devices that did not make the list at all!

Having said that, I do believe that the devices categorised in the top three tiers (S, A, and B) are going to be the best option for 90% of use cases.

Devices in tiers C, D, E, and F, whilst not being as universal in their appeal, tend to offer something a bit different, such as a form factor or firmware that are perhaps better suited to more niche use cases.

S	[Affiliate Link] Supernote A5 X2 Manta* 🏆WINNER Best Overall E-Ink Tablet 🏆WINNER Best Pure Note-Taking Tablet Read my review...
A	[Affiliate Link] Viwoods AI Paper* 🏆WINNER Best All-Round Monochrome 🏆WINNER Best for Voice & AI Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Boox Go 10.3 Gen 2* 🥈RUNNER-UP Best All-Round Monochrome 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Value Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Boox Go 10.3 Gen 2 Lumi* 🏆WINNER Best Value Read my review...
B	[Affiliate Link] Boox Note Air6 C* 🏆WINNER Best All-Round Colour 🏆WINNER Best Laptop Replacement Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Boox Palma 2 Pro* 🏆WINNER Best Pocket-Sized Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Supernote A6 X2 Nomad* 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Pure Note-Taking Tablet 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Small Screen Read my review...
C	[Affiliate Link] Viwoods AI Paper Mini* 🏆WINNER Best Small Screen Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Boox Note Max* 🏆WINNER Best Large Screen 🥉HON. MENTION Best Laptop Replacement Read my review...
D	[Affiliate Link] Boox Go 6 Gen 2* 🏆WINNER Best Budget 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Pocket-Sized Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Boox Tab X C* 🥈RUNNER-UP Best All-Round Colour 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Large Screen 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Laptop Replacement Read my review...
E	[Affiliate Link] reMarkable 2* 🏆WINNER Most User-Friendly Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] reMarkable Paper Pro* 🏆WINNER Best E-Ink Typewriter Read my review...	[Affiliate Link] Kindle Scribe 2024* 🥈RUNNER-UP Best Budget 🥈RUNNER-UP Most User-Friendly Read my review...
F	[Affiliate Link] iFlyTek AINote 2 🥈RUNNER-UP Best E-Ink Typewriter 🥈RUNNER-UP Best for Voice & AI Read my review...

What is an E-Ink Writing Tablet?

E-ink tablets (also known as eNotes and ePaper) are electronic tablets that can be used for writing and sketching using stylus-based input. They can be perhaps be thought of as an infinite stack of paper, and are often used as a replacement for traditional notepads and sketchbooks.

They differ from LCD and OLED devices such as Apple’s iPad because they use an E-ink display. This is the same technology used on Amazon Kindle screens, and it looks and feels like real paper (well, as close as you can get from a digital device).

Moreover, they don’t emit light, so they can be more comfortable for the eyes and can be viewed clearly outside, even on sunny days. And they usually consume very little power, so can last for several days (and even weeks) without needing a recharge.

The main drawback is that they have a low refresh rate, which means that although they are ideal for reading, writing, and sketching, they are not ideal for looking at things that are constantly moving, such as games or videos (although some manufacturers have developed proprietary refresh technology that is closing this divide).

You can get a good overview of the advantages and disadvantages of e-ink tablets in my Beginner’s Guide and Buyer’s Guide.

Best Overall E-Ink Tablet: SUPERNOTE MANTA

If I had to choose just one e-ink tablet to keep, out of all the devices I’ve reviewed, it would be the Supernote Manta.

And this is evidenced by the fact that the Manta is my constant companion and I use it almost every single day to bring structure and organisation to my thoughts, emotions, plans, tasks, and schedule.

There are several reasons for this. It has a thin and lightweight design, which is reinforced by the thin and lightweight ‘half-folio’ (there are other tablets are a little slimmer and lighter but then have a thicker and heavier folios, negating the original specs).

It is modular, which means if the battery or motherboard become defective, you only have to replace the component rather than the whole device. This has practical, financial, and environmental benefits. And the plastic chassis and screen make it feel more durable than tablets with a metal chassis and glass screen – I feel more comfortable tossing it around like a real notebook than being especially delicate with it.

The tactile writing feel is the best I have used – admittedly this can be subjective, but the hard thin nibs on a screen that offers a decent level of resistance and texture provides an experience that I find extremely pleasant and analogous with real pen-and-paper. Also contributing to the writing is the low latency and precision when making pen strokes.

The operating system and native note-taking app has pretty much everything you need to maintain structured, organised and easily-navigable notebooks. And I use Supernote’s calendar and todo list systems to manage my schedule and tasks.

And it all works perfectly offline – in fact, I prefer to have the wifi turned off most of the time, only connecting when I need to sync my calendar, task list or notes. One of the great things about Supernote is that they don’t force you into using their own proprietary system, cloud drives, or online services. Even handwriting-to-text conversion and handwriting search can be performed locally, without need of an Internet connection.

The operating system is extremely user-friendly and everything just feels so clean, easy and frictionless to use. You really can tell that the development team think very carefully about how the features should be implemented and how they interoperate.

Who is the Supernote Manta for?

The Supernote Manta is for users that are primarily looking for a digital replacement to consolidate their analogue notebooks, post-its, and scraps of paper. If you currently take a lot of notes, but have difficulty organising them, the Supernote combines the simplicity of pen-and-paper note-taking with the power of digital.

Who should look elsewhere?

Having said all that, the Supernote Manta will not be the best choice for everyone. If you need a colour screen or a frontlight, or wish to run third-party Android apps, then the Supernote will not be for you. In addition, although the native reading app is okay, other brands provide a more comprehensive ebook reading experience (e.g. you cannot do dictionary word lookups on Supernote).

Runner-up

Instead of choosing a single device as runner-up in this category, I’m going to recommend any of the winners of the subsequent categories below.

This is because I don’t feel that there is one particular tablet that is objectively better than another – it really depends on use case and personal preferences. For example, if you are looking for simplicity over complexity, then a reMarkable might be the best choice but if you are prepared to sacrifice simplicity for versatility, the a Boox would probably be preferable.

Indeed, the same could be said for the Supernote Manta, but I felt that I had to include it at the head of this article because it is the e-ink tablet that I, personally, would be lost without!

Second-hand alternatives

The Supernote A5X is the predecessor to the Manta and whilst it doesn’t have the same hardware (e.g. there is no replaceable battery), it runs virtually the exact same software and still receives regular firmware updates (Supernote continue to support their tablets even after they are no longer commercially available). You can sometimes get the A5X for a substantial discount over the Manta (which was originally known as the A5X2) on websites such as eBay.

Best All-Round Monochrome E-Ink Tablet: VIWOODS AI PAPER

For a long time, the Boox Go 10.3 had been my top pick for best all-round monochrome e-ink tablet, and in many ways it is still a great device. But over the past year, however, Viwoods has improved its firmware at an extraordinary pace, whilst BOOX’s software has evolved much more slowly. And, in some respects (particularly ghosting performance on recent BOOX models) I actually feel the experience has regressed. As a result, I think the Viwoods AI Paper has now earned the top spot.

And, in a personal capacity, I’ve been using it for a lot of the planning, drafting, and task management I do for this website (eWritable). Admittedly, it is not my daily driver (as previously mentioned, that accolade falls to my Supernote Manta) but I have been using ait quite a lot recently.

Viwoods’ rapid firmware development is one of the things that makes the AIPaper a solid choice. The tablet is a far more capable device than it was 12 months ago, with features added such as voice to text transcriptions, task lists, personal knowledgebase, and support for custom dictionaries amongst many others. The Viwoods team genuinely listen to their user database and are quick to introduce additional functionality where it improves user experience.

The Viwoods AIPaper is extremely thin and light, has a high-clarity 300PPI monochrome screen, and a gorgeous folio. The tactile writing experience is very good, but personally I find it a little on the smooth side (I would prefer a bit more friction and texture). General performance is responsive, with little delay when navigating the interface, switching notebooks or opening documents. It is not quite as configurable as BOOX, but it feels pleasant and dependable during everyday use.

It does not have as many additional hardware features as some as its competitors – there’s no frontlight, speakers, SD card support, g-sensor etc. However, it does have a microphone, which supports voice input. If you are looking for a device with a colour screen or frontlight, scroll down for other recommendations in these categories.

And it runs on Android 13, which means that third-party apps from the Google Play Store can be installed, so you can run software like a web browser, email client, and other book-reading apps, such as Kindle and Kobo.

However, I should note that the slower refresh rates and resolutions of e-ink screens mean that not all third-party apps will run comfortably (or at all), particularly those that utilise faster frame rates. This is true of all devices with e-ink screens, not just Viwoods, however some brands do squeeze better performance out of third-party apps than others, or offer more granular configuration options. Viwoods sit somewhere in the middle in this regard – Boox and Bigme devices are usually higher performance, Supernote and other Android tablets tend to be not so good. And of course non-Android devices, such as reMarkable, Kindle, and Kobo cannot run third-party apps at all.

Although third-party apps can be hit-and-miss, it is the pre-installed native software that gives Viwoods a competitive edge over many other brands. The comprehensive note-taking app has all of the features that you’d expect as well as some that you wouldn’t (such as AI processing of your notes and voice-to-text transcription). Understandably, there are limits to these processes (a maximum of 60mins of voice recording, and up to 5 pages at a time for AI processing) but they fall within the range of what I expect most users would need.

The in-built calendar app is also exceptionally useful and supports syncing events with third-party calendars, such as Google and Outlook, as well as maintaining your todo list and keeping a log of all the tasks you’ve completed, the notebooks and ebooks/PDFs you’ve accessed and your handwritten daily memos. For those looking for a device that will help you manage both your task list and schedule along with reading and note-taking, Viwoods provides one of the best platforms on the market.

The native reading app is also good, but admittedly not quite as sophisticated as brands that have historically focused on e-reading devices (such as Amazon Kindle, and Boox) but it is perfectly suitable for reading and annotating PDFs and ebooks. Viwoods also provide tools for capturing information whilst using others apps (e.g. when browsing the web). You can take screenshots, and take notes on a semi-transparent overlay. This information is stored in a searchable knowledgebase, along with any responses you’ve saved from the AI Chat interface, making the Viwoods a good option for users that will be carrying out a lot of research.

None of these individual features are unique on their own, but Viwoods has done an excellent job of integrating them into a coherent workflow. The result is a tablet that feels genuinely designed around reading, thinking and organising information rather than simply providing a blank notebook.

Who is the Viwoods AI Paper for?

The Viwoods AI Paper is best suited to people who spend a significant amount of time reading, writing and organising information. Students, researchers, professionals and anybody who keeps extensive handwritten notes will appreciate its polished note taking software, excellent organisational tools and continually improving firmware. It is also one of the strongest choices for users who want an Android based tablet that feels focused on productivity rather than endless configuration.

Who should look elsewhere?

The AI Paper is probably not the best choice if you regularly read in poor lighting, as it lacks a frontlight, or if you specifically want a colour display. Users who require better support for third-party Android apps may also find BOOX or Bigme devices more flexible. Likewise, if your primary requirement is simply reading novels, a dedicated e-reader or e-ink tablet from a brand with more sophisticated library management and reading software will usually provide a better experience.

Runner-up

Second-place in this category goes to the previous winner – the Boox Go 10.3.

And, honestly, I feel it is a very close call between the two. The Boox Go 10.3 hardware specs are objectively better and it has improved support for third-party apps. It also has some features that the Viwoods does not (such as global handwriting search).

The native note-taking app is extremely capable (although I would probably rank the Viwoods slightly higher), and the native reading app is one of the best on the market (better than Viwoods). Viwoods have a much better native calendar and task management app in my opinion, and I also find the Viwoods interface to have a cleaner and more intuitive interface than Boox.

But the Go 10.3 has a lower price tag and although the learning curve is steeper, it has more versatility in what it is used for (e.g. you can listen to podcasts via the internal speakers, or optimise the display of a third-party app to make it more comfortable to view).

It is also worth mentioning that there are currently three versions of the Boox Go 10.3, and they look almost identical. They are; the Gen I, the Gen II, and the Gen II Lumi.

The Gen I was released back in 2024 and is still a great e-ink tablet, but it uses an older operating system (Android 11) and has less than a year of guaranteed firmware updates left (Boox provides 3 years of updates to their tablets). Practically, these are not massive issues – the device will still work absolutely fine when software updates stop, but won’t get any new features.

The Go 10.3 Gen II is extremely similar to the Gen I, using an identical chassis. And the Gen II Lumi is the same as the regular Gen II, apart from the fact it has a frontlight. Because Gen II models are newer, they will receive firmware updates for longer and are built on the newer Android 15. However, the stylus input is (in my opinion) a regression from Gen I – it uses an Active Pen rather than an EMR pen – and the level of the ghosting is, quite frankly unacceptable. Ghosting is when faint traces of previous text can be observed on the screen because it hasn’t fully cleared. You can set up a gesture to do a manual refresh which resolves it, but this is an extra step that would be unnecessary if the Boox software did it automatically.

This ghosting is the main reason that I have dropped the Go 10.3 into second place in this category. Admittedly, it is something that Boox could easily fix with a future firmware update, and if it were to be resolved I would definitely reassess. But as it stands, I feel the Viwoods is currently the better choice.

Second-hand alternatives

As mentioned above, although the Boox Go 10.3 Gen I has been superseded by the Gen II, the original is still a great e-ink tablet in my opinion – and in some ways is better the second generation. It will only be guaranteed firmware updates until 2027, but as long as it does everything you need right now, it will continue to do so even when it is no longer supported. Sometimes a bargain can be had on eBay.

Best All-Round Color E-Ink Tablet: BOOX NOTE AIR6 C

The Boox Note Air6 C (NA6C) is, in my opinion, one of the most versatile and flexible e-ink tablets that you can buy right now.

The NA6C has a colour screen, frontlight (with warmlight), speakers, microphone, and Bluetooth. It has a fast octa-core processor, BSR (for faster refresh rates), 6Gb RAM and 64Gb storage. There are very few other e-ink tablets that can compete with these top-notch specs. It also performed extremely well on my CPU benchmark tests. However, it should be noted that this power does come at a cost of battery life when compared with other e-ink tablets that do not utilise super-fast refresh technology.

The inherent nature of the colour Kaleido 3 screen does mean that all tablets that utilise this screen tech are visibly several shades darker than monochrome alternatives, resulting in lower contrast if the frontlight is turned off. Color e-ink also has a few other drawbacks when compared with monochrome.

In terms of software, it runs Android 16 and has access to the Google Play Store, which means that third-party apps (e.g. Google Chrome, Facebook, Kindle etc.) can be installed on it. And Boox’s own native e-reading and note-taking apps are also very comprehensive.

So, if you are looking for the e-ink writing tablet that is on the cusp of e-ink technology and offers a great deal of power and versatility at a reasonable price, then Boox’s Note Air6 C is a very good choice.

Who is the Boox Note Air6 C for?

The NA6C is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a single device that can comfortably handle reading, handwriting, annotation and general Android productivity without feeling unnecessarily restrictive. It is particularly well suited to students, academics and professionals who regularly work with colour PDFs, textbooks, diagrams or annotated documents, as the Kaleido 3 display adds genuine practical value rather than simply making book covers look more attractive. It is also an excellent option for users who appreciate the flexibility of the Android ecosystem and want access to multiple reading, note taking and productivity apps on one device.

Who should look elsewhere?

Whilst the NA6C is one of the most capable and versatile e-ink tablets available, it will not be the right choice for everyone. If your work revolves almost entirely around black and white text, a monochrome e-ink tablet will deliver noticeably sharper text, higher contrast and a brighter display whilst often costing less. Equally, if you are looking for the simplest possible digital notebook with minimal distractions, the flexibility of Android and BOOX’s extensive feature set may feel unnecessarily complex. Finally, if your budget is limited, there are several excellent monochrome alternatives that offer a very similar handwriting experience and many of the same productivity features for considerably less money. Unless colour genuinely enhances the way you read, annotate or organise information, you may find better value elsewhere.

Runner up

If you will be viewing a lot of PDFs, particularly academic studies, research papers and textbooks that have columns and smaller fonts, then a tablet with a larger 13.3″ (A4-Sized) screen can make reading and annotation much more comfortable. The Boox Tab X C fulfills this role perfectly, and (at the time of writing) had the highest CPU performance benchmark of any e-ink tablet I’ve reviewed. However it is quite a bit more expensive. And it also uses an Active Pen, rather than an EMR stylus as used on the NA6C, which, although perfectly usable, is in my opinion inferior.

Second-hand alternatives

Because Boox incrementally upgrade their product range on a very frequent basis, the last three iterations of the Note Air (the NA3C, NA4C, and NA5C) are extremely capable alternatives. As with the Boox Go 10.3, these older generation models run older versions of Android and will stop receiving firmware updates sooner, but they still work great. And although the older versions are now only available on second-hand market, they still work great.

Best Dedicated Note-Taker: SUPERNOTE MANTA

Whilst Supernote e-ink tablets have nowhere near the raw processing power and flexibility of those manufactured by Boox, they have been designed to do one task (note-taking) exceptionally well.

And it is for this reason that the Supernote Manta is my current daily driver (and it’s predecessor, the Supernote A5X was my constant companion for many years before that). As a note-taking device, it is just so effortless to use, just like my traditional paper notebooks were. I simply open my notepad, flick to the next blank page and write. And with the latest generation, Ratta Supernote have introduced easily swappable batteries and motherboards as a way to increase their longevity (currently, the only e-ink tablet manufacturer to offer this feature).

The native note-taking software has some really nice and unique features that I find really useful. For example, when I start a new page, I write the title at the top, and then lasso-select it and turn it into a heading and the Supernote automatically builds me a Table of Contents based on my headings. I can also draw a five-pointed star anywhere on the canvas to mark the page as important and then do a search for all my stars so that I can action them. There is a touch-sensitive swipe bar on the right-hand bezel which brings up a quick access menu whatever I am doing so that I can quickly flick between notebooks and documents. And the handwriting search feature is supremely fast.

Whilst a Supernote tablet is a very innovative and useful tool for note-taking and writing, it is not designed to replace any of the tasks that you would perform on your computer or laptop. True, it has an email client, and a calendar (that syncs with your Google/Outlook calendar). But these are provided more for convenience rather than productivity – it’s useful to check your email box and schedule but you wouldn’t want to be writing lengthy emails using the on-screen keyboard.

And the native reading app is pretty decent, but not as good as the likes of Boox or Kindle devices. You can install the Kindle app, but the Supernote lacks a frontlight, so reading can potentially be a bit uncomfortable if there is not enough ambient light.

In addition, for me, many of the things that should perhaps be considered drawbacks of the Supernote (lack of versatility, monochrome screen, no frontlight, etc.) actually add to the tablet’s charm because it provides a natural, pleasant and minimalistic writing experience without any distractions.

I just find the speed with which I can navigate my files, the intuitive options for structuring and organising my notebooks, and the fact that it is extremely lightweight but feels very sturdy and robust is perfect for my own use case. If, like me, all you want to do is write, the Supernote Manta is incredible. But if you are looking to do more than this, such as browsing the web, installing third-party apps, working with text etc. there are better options available.

Who is the Supernote Manta for?

The Supernote Manta is for users that are primarily looking for a digital replacement to consolidate their analogue notebooks, post-its, and scraps of paper. If you currently take a lot of notes, but have difficulty organising them, the Supernote combines the simplicity of pen-and-paper note-taking with the power of digital.

Who should look elsewhere?

Having said all that, the Supernote Manta will not be the best choice for everyone. If you need a colour screen or a frontlight, or wish to run third-party Android apps, then the Supernote will not be for you. In addition, although the native reading app is okay, other brands provide a more comprehensive ebook reading experience (e.g. you cannot do dictionary word lookups on Supernote).

Runner-up

Ratta Supernote also manufacture a smaller (and less expensive) 7.8″ tablet called the Supernote Nomad. Many people prefer the smaller footprint because it can fit more easily into a handbag or satchel, however, I personally find the smaller screen size to be too restricting for the long-form notes I like to write.

Second-hand alternatives

The Manta’s predecessor, the Supernote A5X is still an excellent note-taking device, and still receives firmware updates. If you can find a cheap second-hand unit, it is well worth buying in my opinion. And the Supernote A6X (predecessor to the Nomad) is also a great note-taking tablet. However, the Kindle app no longer works on these older models because they run on Android 8.1 and Amazon no longer supports the Kindle app on older versions of Android.

Best Budget E-Ink Tablet: BOOX GO 6 (GEN II)

Incredibly, Boox have managed to create a fully functional e-reading, note-taking Android e-ink tablet that retails at less than $200. This makes the Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) the cheapest e-ink writing tablet currently available on the market.

One of its greatest strengths is that it combines both reading and note taking in a device that remains genuinely pocketable. The 6 inch display is naturally better suited to quick notes, annotations, shopping lists and ideas rather than lengthy handwritten documents, but that same compact size makes it far easier to carry than larger tablets. It is a device that is much more likely to accompany you throughout the day, and a notebook only becomes useful when it is close at hand.

The software experience also sets the Go 6 apart from many similarly priced alternatives. Running Android gives you access to an enormous range of reading applications through the Google Play Store, allowing you to choose the services and workflows that suit you rather than being tied to a single bookstore or cloud platform. Whether you prefer Kindle, Kobo, Libby, InstaPaper or another reading application, the Go 6 accommodates them all whilst still providing BOOX’s flexible note taking tools.

Naturally, there are compromises. The smaller screen is rather uncomfortable for reading PDFs, multitasking or writing long pages of notes, and the hardware is not intended for demanding Android applications (I use it for Kindle and NYT Puzzles, but I wouldn’t open an Excel spreadsheet on it or try to watch a video). And, as with some other Boox devices, it uses an Active Pen, that works fine but lacks the benefits of an EMR stylus.

For anyone seeking an inexpensive entry point into the world of e ink tablets, it is difficult to think of a more complete package. The BOOX Go 6 combines excellent portability, handwriting support, Android flexibility and an attractive price into a device that punches well above its weight. If your priorities are reading, capturing ideas and carrying your notebook everywhere, it is arguably the strongest budget e ink tablet currently available.

Who is the Boox Go 6 for?

The Boox Go 6 is best suited to anyone looking for an affordable entry into the world of e ink tablets without sacrificing flexibility. It is an excellent choice for readers who also want to jot down quick notes, annotate books, keep simple lists, or capture ideas throughout the day. Its compact size makes it genuinely pocketable, meaning it is far more likely to accompany you wherever you go than a larger tablet.

It is also a good fit for those who appreciate the freedom of Android but only intend to use lightweight applications. Reading apps, RSS readers, dictionaries, and other low demand software all run well, making the Go 6 a surprisingly capable companion despite its modest price. If you have a limited budget and value portability above all else, the BOOX Go 6 is one of the easiest e ink tablets to recommend.

Who should look elsewhere?

The Boox Go 6 is not the right choice for everyone. If you regularly write long pages of handwritten notes, study from textbooks, or spend a significant amount of time reading PDFs, the 6 inch display will quickly begin to feel restrictive. A larger e ink tablet will provide a much more comfortable writing and reading experience.

You should also consider another device if colour is important to your workflow. Whether you are reviewing colour documents, highlighting diagrams, or simply prefer a more vibrant reading/writing experience, a colour e ink display will be a better fit.

Finally, although the Go 6 runs Android and has access to the Google Play Store, its hardware is designed for lighter workloads. It performs well with reading apps, and everyday utilities, but anyone expecting to run more demanding Android applications or frequently multitask would be better served by a more powerful model.

Runner-up

I was very indecisive about whether I should include the Kindle Scribe 2024 as the runner-up in this category because it is technically a discontinued product and probably belongs to the second-hand alternatives section below.

But I very often see ‘Like-New‘ units selling for around the $300 mark on Amazon and I think that is an absolute bargain for a device with extremely crisp 10.2″ screen, a frontlight, and a very pleasant tactile writing expensive. So I felt I had to include it here.

That said, there are some caveats. In general, Amazon do not release all that many firmware updates for their devices, and this will be the case even more for the Kindle 2024, which is an older generation model (and not so much a priority).

In addition, the Amazon Kindle ecosystem can be rather restrictive and is designed to keep you using other Amazon products, such as the Kindle Store (DRM-protected e-books bought from other stores will not work on a Kindle, and Kindle ebooks will not open on other devices unless you use the Kindle app). If, however, you are already invested in Amazon products, this becomes less of an issue. And these restrictions do tend to make Kindle products very user-friendly and intuitive, at the expense of the complexity of interoperability and versatility.

And whist I really like the native Kindle Scribe reading app, especially the ability to make inline handwritten annotations, the note-taking app is rather immature compared to competitors. For example, you cannot search your handwritten notes, and with no way to split notebooks into section or tag certain pages, any notebook with more than 20-or-so pages becomes quite unwieldy to navigate.

Second-hand alternatives

Because second-hand prices of e-ink devices often fluctuate quite a lot, it can be difficult to recommend more affordable products because any bargain I find today may not be available tomorrow. Even the $300 Kindle Scribe 2024 is a ‘Limited-Time Deal’ that keeps disappearing and reappearing every few weeks.

So, rather than picking out individual products, my advice would be to look at the ‘Second-hand alternatives’ sections for all the sections in this article, whittle them down to the ones you feel will fit your needs best, and then keep a lookout for deals on those particular models on second-hand marketplaces, such as eBay.

Best Value E-Ink Tablet: BOOX GO 10.3 (GEN II) LUMI

The best value category isn’t simply about finding the cheapest decent e-ink tablet, as was the case with the previous category. Instead, I’m looking for the devices that offer the most bang for your buck: a strong combination of hardware, features, software and overall usability for the asking price. A more expensive tablet can therefore represent better value than a budget model if the additional capabilities comfortably justify the extra cost.

My pick for the best value e-ink tablet is the Boox Go 10.3 Lumi. One of the things that makes it particularly interesting is that it combines a 10.3-inch monochrome display with a frontlight, something that has become surprisingly uncommon in recent years. Frontlights tend to be reserved for colour devices, while manufacturers of monochrome tablets often prioritise keeping the writing surface as close to the display as possible. The Lumi therefore occupies a useful middle ground, retaining the clarity of a monochrome screen while remaining practical for reading and writing in poor lighting. Having said that, you should be aware of the drawbacks to having a device with a frontlight.

The underlying hardware is pretty decent as well, with a capable processor and a reasonable amount of memory, alongside useful additions such as a microphone and speakers. The writing experience is perfectly usable, although, as I’ve mentioned previously, I personally prefer tablets that use an EMR stylus. I’m also not particularly enamoured with the folio, which feels a bit naff, and I dislike the way the stylus attaches to the tablet and cover. More significantly, the current firmware produces more ghosting than I would be willing to accept from an otherwise accomplished device.

However, those shortcomings need to be weighed against just how much the Lumi can actually do. BOOX’s native reading and note-taking applications are exceptionally comprehensive, while its support for third-party Android apps gives it considerably more versatility than most e-ink tablets. At around $450, it sits firmly in the mid-range rather than the budget end of the market, but you’re getting an unusually broad collection of hardware and software capabilities for that price. For me, that combination makes the Go 10.3 Lumi the tablet that currently offers the most bang for your buck.

Who is the Boox Go 10.3 Lumi for?

The Boox Go 10.3 Lumi is best suited to someone who wants a versatile, full-sized monochrome e-ink tablet and will genuinely make use of the frontlight. It is particularly useful if you regularly read or write in the evening, in bed, or in other environments where ambient lighting is less than ideal. Combined with BOOX’s comprehensive reading and note-taking software, capable hardware and access to third-party Android apps, that makes the Lumi an unusually versatile tablet for its mid-range price.

Who should look elsewhere?

If you don’t expect to use the frontlight very often, I would probably look elsewhere. A monochrome tablet without a frontlight can offer slightly better clarity and a more precise writing experience, with less distance between the pen tip and the strokes appearing on the display. I would also consider alternatives if handwriting quality is your highest priority, as I prefer the feel and precision of EMR based devices. Finally, the Go 10.3 Lumi may frustrate those who are particularly sensitive to ghosting, while its rather underwhelming folio and awkward stylus attachment detract slightly from an otherwise capable package.

Runner-up

The Boox Go 10.3 (Gen II) takes the runner-up spot for many of the same reasons as the Lumi. It offers the same broad BOOX experience, with comprehensive native reading and note-taking apps, capable hardware and the flexibility to run third-party Android applications. The principal difference is that the Go 10.3 (Gen II) does not have a frontlight, which helps to keep the display closer to the physical writing surface.

At around $400, it is also $50 cheaper than the Lumi. If you don’t need a frontlight, that arguably makes the standard Go 10.3 the more compelling proposition: you’re not paying for a feature you won’t use, while benefiting from the advantages of a simpler display stack. However, for those who regularly read or write in dimmer environments, I think the additional $50 for the Lumi’s frontlight is money well spent.

Second-hand alternatives

The most obvious second-hand alternative is the original BOOX Go 10.3. As I’ve mentioned previously, I actually prefer its EMR stylus to the Active Pen used by the newer models, and in my experience it also suffers from less ghosting. The main compromise is longevity. It runs an older version of Android and is approaching the end of the three-year period for which Boox guarantees firmware updates. That doesn’t necessarily mean updates will stop immediately, as Boox has continued supporting some devices beyond their guaranteed period, but it is something to bear in mind when buying used. And it doesn’t mean that once firmware updates stop, the device will cease working – it will continue to work as before, it just won’t get any new software features. Nevertheless, if you can find one in good condition at an attractive price, the original Go 10.3 remains an extremely capable tablet and potentially represents excellent value for money.

Best Large-Screen E-Ink Tablet: BOOX NOTE MAX

The most popular e-ink tablets have a screen size of around 10.3″ (around A5-sized), which seems to be the happy medium between readability and portability.

However, PDFs are often designed to be printed on A4 paper, which means they can sometimes look a bit scrunched up on a 10.3″ screen, particularly if columns and smaller fonts are used.

There are software solutions for this issue (e.g. viewing half a page of a PDF at a time in landscape mode) but for those that will be reading/annotating a lot of PDFs, it is well worth considering an e-ink tablet with a 13.3″ (A4-Sized) screen. You are able to read PDF documents in exactly the way that were intended to look, and personally, I love the extra real-estate on the note-taking canvas.

But there are a few drawbacks, most notably the additional weight and footprint of these tablets, as well as how expensive they are.

In addition, 13.3″ tablets are a very rare breed – there are very few models on the market.

My pick for the best large-screen e-ink tablet is the Boox Note Max. Its 13.3-inch display provides substantially more working space than the more common 10.3-inch tablets, making it particularly well suited to reading and annotating full-sized PDFs, working with documents, taking extensive handwritten notes and using two applications side by side (split-screen). The larger screen is especially valuable for PDFs and other documents originally designed for A4 or Letter-sized paper, which can feel cramped when scaled down to a smaller display.

Despite its size, the Note Max retains much of the versatility that makes Boox tablets appealing. It runs Android with access to the Google Play Store, has strong hardware by e-ink standards, and Boox’s native reading and note-taking applications are among the most comprehensive available. The additional screen real estate also makes Android applications considerably more practical, particularly productivity apps where menus, toolbars and multiple panes can otherwise consume a significant proportion of a smaller e-ink display.

I also think the Note Max makes more sense as a serious productivity device. Pairing it with a Bluetooth keyboard gives you an expansive, distraction-resistant environment for writing, while the split-screen functionality means you can have reference material open alongside your notes or documents. There are even POGO pins for Boox’s optional keyboard cover, allowing it to function as something approaching an e-ink laptop when required – having said that I really did not like the keyboard folio very much for various reasons laid out in my full review.

There are compromises. A 13.3-inch tablet inevitably sacrifices portability, and the Note Max is considerably less convenient to carry around or hold for casual reading than a 10.3-inch device. It also lacks a frontlight, although I don’t consider that an entirely negative omission: without the additional lighting layer, the monochrome Carta display has excellent clarity and the content appears very close to the physical surface. And I also have to say that the Boox Note Max (like the newer Go 10.3 devices) suffers from more ghosting than I would like.

Ultimately, though, if screen size is the priority, the Note Max combines that enormous 13.3-inch canvas with a breadth of software and functionality that few competing large-screen e-ink tablets can match. Rather than simply being a bigger digital notebook, it is a genuinely versatile device that takes advantage of the additional space.

Who is the Boox Note Max for?

The BOOX Note Max is primarily for people who genuinely need the additional working space of a 13.3-inch display. It is particularly well suited to academics, students and professionals who regularly read and annotate large PDFs, academic papers, textbooks or technical documents, where a 10.3-inch screen can feel restrictive. The extra space is also valuable for split-screen working, extensive handwritten notes and anyone wanting to pair an e-ink display with a keyboard for longer writing sessions. With Android and access to third-party apps, it can become a surprisingly capable productivity device. However, its size means that it makes most sense as a device predominantly used at a desk, rather than something you expect to carry around and casually pull out throughout the day.

Who should look elsewhere?

If you don’t specifically need a 13.3-inch screen, I would probably look elsewhere. The Note Max’s enormous display is its principal advantage, but it also makes the device significantly less portable and comfortable to hold than a 10.3-inch tablet, as well as being considerably more expensive. Those wanting something primarily for casual reading, everyday note-taking or carrying around throughout the day will probably be better served by a smaller device. You should also consider an alternative if you need colour, or a frontlight, since the Note Max doesn’t have them,

Runner-up

The Boox Tab X C takes the runner-up position. It is more expensive than the Note Max and uses Boox’s Active Pen technology (InkSpire), which I find inferior to an EMR stylus for handwriting. However, it compensates with several significant advantages. Most notably, its large display supports colour, which can be particularly useful for diagrams, charts, textbooks and documents that rely heavily on colour coding. It also has a frontlight, making it much more practical in poorly lit environments, and a faster processor gives it additional performance for demanding Android applications and multitasking. If you want the benefits of a 13.3-inch screen but prioritise colour, illumination and performance over handwriting feel and price, the Tab X C is the stronger choice.

Second-hand alternatives

If you’re happy to buy second hand, the previous generation Boox Tab X and Boox Max Lumi 2 are both worth considering (both are older-generation monochrome 13.3″ tablets). They are showing their age compared with Boox’s current generation, particularly in terms of Android version, processing hardware and firmware updates, but the fundamental benefits of that enormous display remain. If either can be found at a sufficiently substantial discount, they can still make excellent large-screen workhorses.

Most User-Friendly E-Ink Tablet: REMARKABLE 2

A quick note before I begin: the reMarkable 2 has recently been superseded by the reMarkable Paper Pure, and there is a very good chance that the newer model will ultimately take its place as my recommendation in this category. However, I haven’t yet been able to obtain a Paper Pure for review, and I don’t want to recommend a device as the winner without having first-hand experience of using it. For the time being, therefore, the reMarkable 2 retains its position as my most user-friendly e-ink tablet, although I expect to revisit this once I’ve properly tested the Paper Pure.

The reMarkable 2 wins this category because of its pure simplicity. Whereas devices from manufacturers such as BOOX can provide an enormous assortment of features, settings and applications, reMarkable takes a much more focused approach. The interface is clean, uncluttered and intuitive, with relatively little that needs to be configured before you can simply pick up the tablet and start reading, writing or organising your notebooks.

That simplicity extends throughout the experience. There aren’t countless menus to navigate, numerous refresh modes to understand or Android settings to configure. File management and notebooks are straightforward, handwriting tools are sensibly presented, and the restrained operating system makes the tablet feel clean and coherent. Your files are seamlessly synchronised to the cloud, where you can continue to work on them on other devices (e.g. phone, laptop etc.) via the reMarkable app – however, its important to note that only text can be added/edited from other devices, not handwriting/sketches. It also has truly gorgeous keyboard folio for those that do a lot of typing.

There are downsides to this simplicity. The native reading app is fairly basic and, frankly, rather poor compared with the much more comprehensive software offered by pretty much every other manufacturer. I’m also not keen on reMarkable locking certain features behind its Connect subscription. Nevertheless, neither issue changes what the reMarkable 2 does particularly well: providing a clean, focused and exceptionally straightforward environment for handwriting and working with documents. If ease of use matters more to you than having an enormous catalogue of features, it remains one of the most approachable e-ink tablets available.

Who is the reMarkable 2 for?

The reMarkable 2 is best suited to people who want a simple, focused digital notebook without a steep learning curve. It is particularly good for handwriting, sketching, planning and annotating documents, with an uncluttered interface that allows you to concentrate on your work rather than configuring the device. It is also a strong choice for anyone who finds the extensive menus, settings and functionality of something like a Boox tablet overwhelming or simply unnecessary. If your priority is an elegant, distraction-free writing experience rather than third-party apps and an enormous feature set, the reMarkable 2 remains an excellent option.

Who should look elsewhere?

The reMarkable 2 isn’t the best choice if you want a versatile e-ink tablet that can do much more than reading, writing and document annotation. There is no conventional app store, so anyone wanting to install third-party applications will be much better served by an Android device such as a Boox. Its native reading software is also rather basic, making it difficult to recommend to anyone who intends to use their tablet primarily as an e-reader. The lack of a frontlight is another consideration if you regularly work in dim environments, while some functionality is locked behind the optional Connect subscription. Ultimately, if you value features and flexibility over simplicity, there are substantially more capable alternatives.

Runner-up

A similar caveat applies here: the Kindle Scribe (2024) has now been superseded by the 2025 Kindle Scribe, which could potentially replace it as my runner-up in this category. However, I haven’t yet tested the newer model, so I’m sticking with the device I’ve actually used. Technically, the 2024 Scribe could probably now be relegated to the second-hand alternatives section, but when it comes to pure simplicity and ease of use, I have always felt that Kindle and reMarkable lead the pack.

The Kindle Scribe is exceptionally straightforward to get to grips with, particularly if you’re already familiar with the Kindle ecosystem. Amazon keeps the interface relatively simple, and there is very little configuration required before you can start reading or writing. It doesn’t bombard you with the settings, applications and customisation options found on more sophisticated Android tablets, which makes it an approachable option for people who simply want something that works without much tinkering.

Its greatest advantage over the reMarkable 2 is arguably on the reading side. The Scribe is a Kindle first and foremost, providing access to Amazon’s enormous ebook ecosystem and a much more accomplished reading experience. Its note-taking capabilities have also improved considerably since launch, although I still think reMarkable provides a slightly more refined and focused experience for people whose primary concern is handwriting and organising their notes.

Ultimately, the Scribe earns its runner-up position because it follows much the same philosophy as reMarkable: minimise the feature set to keep things relatively simple and make the core functionality easy to use.

Second-hand alternatives

If you’re happy to buy second hand, the original reMarkable 1 and Kindle Scribe (2022) are both still perfectly usable options for anyone prioritising simplicity. Neither offers the latest hardware or features, but their streamlined software remains easy to understand and largely free from the complexity found on more feature-rich e-ink tablets. The original Scribe remains particularly capable as an e-reader with handwriting functionality, while the reMarkable 1 still provides the focused, distraction-free note-taking experience that established reMarkable’s reputation in the first place. If you can find either at a sufficiently low price, they remain straightforward devices that cover the fundamentals well.

Best E-ink Laptop Replacement: BOOX NOTE AIR6 C

First of all, I have to say that even the most cutting-edge Android e-ink tablets are not going to provide an experience completely analogous to a conventional Android tablet, largely because of the inherent limitations of e-ink. Colour reproduction is considerably more limited, while refresh rates remain much slower than LCD or OLED displays. Tasks such as web browsing, email and document writing are perfectly viable, but anything involving significant movement(most obviously video) can suffer from noticeable degradation in both image quality and performance.

The trade-off is that an e-ink display can be considerably more comfortable on the eyes, particularly during long periods of reading or working with text. Historically, exceptional battery life was another major advantage, but I don’t think that argument is quite as compelling in this particular category. The more powerful e-ink tablets use faster processors and sophisticated refresh technology to improve responsiveness, and that additional hardware consumes considerably more power. As a result, some of the traditional battery-life advantage of e-ink is negated when you start demanding laptop-like performance from it.

Nevertheless, there are now several comparatively powerful colour e-ink tablets that can be paired with keyboards and used as credible laptop replacements for a significant proportion of everyday productivity. They won’t replace a conventional computer for everybody or every workload, but for writing, research, email, web browsing and working with documents, they can provide a much more eye-friendly alternative.

My top choice in this category is the Boox Note Air6 C. Its colour display, capable hardware, Android operating system and access to third-party apps (along with Boox’s proprietary GPU-driven super-fast refresh rates) give it the versatility required for this kind of role, while the 10.3-inch screen provides a reasonable compromise between workspace and portability.

Boox also offers a dedicated keyboard folio, although personally I’m not particularly keen on it. Instead, I use the Note Air4 C folio with a cheap third-party Bluetooth keyboard. One of the biggest advantages of this setup is that the older folio can prop the tablet up in portrait orientation, which I find much better for working with documents and webpages that scroll vertically. It isn’t quite as elegant as an integrated keyboard case, but in practice I’ve found it to be a much more flexible and comfortable setup for getting actual work done.

Who is the Boox Note Air6 C for?

The Boox Note Air6 C is particularly well suited to people who want to replace some of the time they spend working on a conventional desktop, laptop or tablet with a more eye-friendly e-ink display. It works particularly well for text-heavy productivity tasks such as writing, editing documents, email, research and web browsing, while Android and Google Play access mean you aren’t restricted to Boox’s own software. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and it becomes a surprisingly capable portable workstation. It makes most sense for someone whose daily workload revolves primarily around reading and producing text, rather than video, graphics or other applications that depend upon fast refresh rates and accurate, vibrant colour.

Who should look elsewhere?

The Boox Note Air6 C isn’t the best choice if you expect an e-ink tablet to completely replicate the experience of a conventional laptop or tablet. Video, animation, gaming and other visually demanding applications remain compromised by the limitations of e-ink, while colour is considerably more muted than on an LCD or OLED display. In these cases, you would be better getting a device with a more conventional screen, such as an iPad or Samsung tablet.

Also, if you don’t think you will need high performance, colour, or a frontlight, there are additional benefits to not having them on top of the fact that devices without them tend to be more affordable (e.g. better battery life, better contrast between blacks and whites, less of a parallex effect).

Runner-up

The Boox Tab X C is my runner-up because it offers much the same software experience as the Note Air6 C, but on a considerably larger display. Its 13.3-inch screen provides significantly more room for writing documents, browsing the web and multitasking, making it particularly appealing if you want something that feels closer to a laptop-sized workspace.

There is also an optional keyboard folio, although, like Boox’s other keyboard folios, I don’t think it is particularly good. Personally, I’d be inclined to use a separate Bluetooth keyboard instead.

There are a couple of other reasons why I prefer the Note Air6 C. The Tab X C uses Boox’s Active Pen, whereas the Note Air6 C uses an EMR stylus, and I find the latter provides a noticeably better handwriting experience. The Tab X C is also considerably more expensive. You’re therefore paying a substantial premium primarily for that larger display, and unless the additional screen real estate is particularly important to your workflow, I think the Note Air6 C represents the better-balanced option.

Other contenders

There are a couple of other tablets that were serious contenders for this category but didn’t quite make the top two.

The Boox Note Max certainly has the performance and versatility to work as a laptop replacement, and its enormous 13.3-inch display is arguably better suited to desktop-style productivity than the smaller Note Air6 C. The main reason it misses out on the runner-up position is simply that it has a monochrome display. I’m making the assumption that most people looking to replace a laptop will want at least some colour for webpages, documents, charts and application interfaces. If colour isn’t important to you, however, the Note Max is a very credible alternative.

The Bigme B10 is another interesting option. Its hardware is broadly comparable to the Note Air6 C, and I’ve found that it performs particularly well when running third-party Android applications. Where it falls behind is the software developed by Bigme itself. The native applications can feel rather clunky and buggy, which is something I’ve encountered with a number of Bigme devices. For a tablet intended to take over some of the responsibilities of a laptop, I think the more polished overall software experience offered by BOOX gives it the advantage.

Second-hand alternatives

There are also some excellent options on the second-hand market. The BOOX Tab Ultra C Pro and Tab Ultra C were genuine e-ink powerhouses when they were released and remain capable productivity machines several years later. Their keyboard folio was actually better than BOOX’s more recent attempts in my opinion, although attaching it transformed an already substantial tablet into a particularly heavy package. Neither model is now readily available new, but at the right second-hand price they remain interesting laptop-replacement options.

The Boox Note Air3 C, Note Air4 C, and Note Air5 C are also obvious alternatives. As predecessors to the Note Air6 C, they offer much of the same fundamental proposition: a 10.3-inch colour e-ink display, Android, strong third-party app support and a feature-rich productivity environment. They’re older and (slightly) less powerful than the current model, but if you can find one significantly cheaper second hand, either can still perform many of the same text-heavy productivity tasks perfectly well.

Best Pocket-Sized E-Ink Tablet: BOOX PALMA 2 PRO

My pick for the best pocket-sized e-ink tablet is the Boox Palma 2 Pro. Its smartphone-like dimensions make it genuinely pocketable, rather than merely being a smaller tablet that still needs to be carried around in a bag. I’ve found that this makes an enormous difference in practice: it’s a device I can have with me throughout the day and pull out whenever I have a few spare minutes.

For me, the Palma 2 Pro works best primarily as a reading device, with the additional option of occasional short-form handwriting. The small display and Active Pen mean that I wouldn’t recommend it for lengthy handwritten notes, journaling or anything else requiring a substantial writing canvas. It should be noted that there is no in-built method for keeping they stylus and Palma physically together, such as a pen loop or magnetism, which means they have to be carried separately – a major design oversight in my opinion.

However, for quickly jotting something down, creating a checklist or making a brief note, its diminutive size becomes an advantage. It’s light, sits comfortably in the palm of the hand and is so easy to pick up and use that there is very little friction involved.

It is also considerably more capable than its small dimensions might suggest. Like the Note Air6 C, it combines colour e-ink with reasonably powerful hardware and Boox Super Refresh (BSR), making third-party Android apps surprisingly practical. I’ve installed and regularly used apps including ChatGPT, NYT Games, KOReader, Kindle and Chrome, among many others.

That versatility is a significant part of the appeal. The Palma 2 Pro isn’t simply a miniature digital notebook or an e-reader with a few additional features; it is closer to a pocket-sized Android e-ink tablet. As long as you accept that the small screen places natural limitations on handwriting and more complex productivity tasks, I’ve found it to be one of the easiest e-ink devices to incorporate into my life – indeed, it sort of crept into my workflows without me realising.

Who is the Boox Palma 2 Pro for?

The Boox Palma 2 Pro is ideal for anyone who wants a genuinely pocketable e-ink device that they can carry everywhere. It is particularly well suited to reading ebooks, articles and webpages, while its Android flexibility makes it a great choice if you use several different reading services or other lightweight apps. The stylus support is useful for quick checklists, annotations and jotting down short notes, while the small size and light weight make doing so remarkably frictionless (as long as you can remember where you put your stylus!). If you want something that sits somewhere between an e-reader, digital notepad and smartphone-sized Android tablet, but with the eye-friendly qualities of e-ink, the Palma 2 Pro is an excellent fit.

Who should look elsewhere?

The Boox Palma 2 Pro isn’t the right choice if you want to do substantial amounts of handwriting. Its small screen is excellent for quick notes, lists and occasional annotations, but it becomes restrictive for journaling, extensive note-taking or working with large documents such as PDFs. I would also look elsewhere if handwriting quality is particularly important to you, as I prefer the feel and precision of an EMR stylus to Boox’s Active Pen. Finally, if pocketability isn’t particularly important, a larger e-ink tablet will provide considerably more space for reading, writing and productivity while retaining many of the same Android capabilities.

Runner-up

The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is my runner-up and offers a broadly similar software and handwriting experience to the Palma 2 Pro, but at a considerably more affordable price. It is another genuinely pocketable device, with a lightweight form factor that makes it extremely easy to carry around and pull out whenever you want to read or jot something down – but again, there is no slick method of stylus storage baked into the tablet or folio, so it has to be carried separately.

The compromises largely come down to the display and hardware. The Go 6 has a monochrome screen rather than colour, while its processor and memory are significantly more modest than those of the Palma 2 Pro. Lightweight third-party Android apps generally run perfectly well, but multitasking exposes the limitations fairly quickly. With several apps open, background applications are more likely to be closed because of the restricted memory, and performance is noticeably slower in general.

Nevertheless, if you primarily want a small e-reader with occasional note-taking and access to relatively undemanding Android apps, the Go 6 (Gen II) makes a lot of sense. It sacrifices some of the performance, colour and multitasking capabilities of the Palma 2 Pro, but in return provides much of the same fundamental versatility and exceptional portability at a substantially lower price.

Second-hand alternatives

For this category, I don’t really have any second-hand recommendations. Stylus support on genuinely pocket-sized e-ink devices is still a relatively recent combination, so there simply isn’t much of a back catalogue to choose from.

Even the earlier Boox Palma and Palma 2 were essentially dedicated e-readers, with no handwriting support. There are some 7-inch e-ink tablets that support a stylus, but I’m reluctant to include them here because I don’t consider them to be genuinely pocketable. Technically, I can squeeze some of them into a jeans pocket, but it’s hardly comfortable or convenient, and that rather defeats the purpose of this category.

So, unusually, I’m leaving the second-hand section empty. If you specifically want a genuinely pocketable e-ink device with handwriting support, your realistic options are currently limited to newer hardware.

Best E-Ink TypeWriter: REMARKABLE PAPER PRO

My recommendation for the best e-ink typewriter is the reMarkable Paper Pro. A significant part of that recommendation comes down to its beautifully designed Type Folio (keyboard folio), but just as important is the wider reMarkable ecosystem and the workflow it creates for producing and editing text across different devices.

You can do the bulk of your writing on the Paper Pro, benefiting from the distraction-free e-ink display and physical keyboard, but your documents aren’t confined to the tablet. By installing the reMarkable app on your computer and smartphone, you can continue working on the same text elsewhere. If you’re sitting at your computer, you can make edits there; if you’re out and about with nothing but your phone and inspiration strikes, you can quickly make a revision before returning to the Paper Pro later. It is this cross-device workflow for typed and text-based creativity that makes the Paper Pro particularly appealing as an e-ink typewriter.

There are, of course, the usual caveats that come with reMarkable devices. They’re excellent for writing and typing, merely okay for reading, and they don’t really do much else. Whether that’s a weakness or a strength depends entirely on what you’re looking for. Some people will find the restrictions frustrating; others will appreciate the philosophy of one device, one task, with fewer opportunities for distraction. I’m also not particularly keen on the fact that some software features are locked behind the Connect subscription.

And because many of the advantages I’ve described come from the reMarkable ecosystem rather than the Paper Pro specifically, I could quite easily have chosen the reMarkable 2 to win this category. It’s cheaper and has an equally gorgeous Type Folio. Ultimately, though, I’ve given the Paper Pro the top spot because of its larger display. That extra screen width/height translates into a wider keyboard, and I suspect most people (myself included) will find that more comfortable when typing for extended periods.

Who is the reMarkable Paper Pro for?

The reMarkable Paper Pro is ideal for writers who want a focused, distraction-free environment for producing text. Its excellent Type Folio and larger screen make it particularly comfortable for longer writing sessions, while the reMarkable ecosystem allows you to continue editing the same documents from your computer or phone when you’re away from the tablet. It is especially well suited to authors, bloggers, journalists, screenwriters and other people whose work revolves around typed words and who appreciate having a dedicated device for writing rather than the distractions of a conventional laptop. If the restrictions of the reMarkable ecosystem feel more like a way to maintain focus than a limitation, the Paper Pro makes a compelling digital typewriter.

Who should look elsewhere?

The reMarkable Paper Pro isn’t the best choice if you want your e-ink typewriter to double as a general-purpose productivity device. You can’t install conventional third-party apps, so tasks such as working directly in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, email or a web browser are better suited to an Android-based alternative. Its reading capabilities are also relatively weak, and some software functionality is locked behind the Connect subscription. Finally, if you don’t need the Paper Pro’s larger display and wider keyboard, the cheaper reMarkable 2 provides a very similar distraction-free typing workflow and may represent better value (and honestly the wider screen makes very little different to canvas space in landscape mode because there are wide margins on the right and left – it is more that it indirectly leads to the keyboard being wider).

Runner-up

I was tempted to choose the reMarkable 2 as the runner-up in this category, but ultimately felt that it was too similar to the Paper Pro: essentially offering the same fundamental typing workflow, but with a smaller monochrome display. Instead, I’ve gone for the iFLYTEK AINote 2, which provides a rather different take on the e-ink typewriter concept.

Like the reMarkable Paper Pro, the AINote 2 has a beautifully designed keyboard folio that makes it feel like a cohesive writing device rather than simply a tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard attached (after reMarkable, I feel that the iFLYTEK keyboard folio is second-best). However, one of its biggest advantages is Android. This gives you much greater freedom over where you actually do your writing, with the option to install third-party applications such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs or WPS Office rather than being restricted to the manufacturer’s own software.

That flexibility also means you can create your own cross-device workflow. Store your documents in a cloud service such as Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive and you can work on them from the AINote 2 before continuing on your phone, laptop or desktop computer. It requires a little more initial configuration than reMarkable’s tightly integrated ecosystem, but in return you have considerably more control over the applications and services you use.

Some readers may wonder why I haven’t chosen a Boox device here. After all, Boox also uses Android, offers excellent third-party app compatibility, and several of its newer tablets have dedicated keyboard folios. The answer is quite simple: I don’t think Boox’s current keyboard folios are particularly good. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the keyboards themselves – they type perfectly well – but I’ve found their design as a stand and protective folio rather underwhelming. I’ve gone into the specific problems in more detail in my individual reviews.

For someone who wants the freedom of Android without sacrificing the integrated keyboard-and-tablet design that makes a dedicated e-ink typewriter appealing, the AINote 2 is a very compelling alternative to the Paper Pro.

Second-hand alternatives

The reMarkable 2 is perhaps the most obvious second-hand alternative. At the time of writing, it is still available to buy new, but its natural successor, the reMarkable Paper Pure, has recently launched -interestingly, the Paper Pure doesn’t have a Type Folio of its own, so the older reMarkable 2 remains particularly relevant for anyone interested primarily in typing. The arrival of the newer model also means that more reMarkable 2s are beginning to appear on the second-hand market. Paired with its excellent Type Folio, it remains a superb distraction-free writing machine and provides much the same cross-device workflow as the Paper Pro.

More generally, though, you don’t necessarily need a dedicated keyboard folio at all. Typing is a relatively undemanding task, so virtually any reasonably modern Android e-ink tablet with Bluetooth can potentially be turned into an effective e-ink typewriter. Add an inexpensive third-party Bluetooth keyboard and, if necessary, a stand, and you can use applications such as Word, Google Docs or WPS Office without requiring particularly powerful hardware.

That makes the second-hand market especially interesting for this category. An older (or generic) Android e-ink tablet that might feel somewhat sluggish for more demanding applications can still be perfectly adequate for displaying and editing text. It might not provide the elegant, integrated experience of the Paper Pro or AINote 2, but if your priority is simply typing on an eye-friendly e-ink screen, there is little reason to spend a fortune.

Best Small-Screened E-Ink Tablet: VIWOODS AI PAPER MINI

This is probably the category I struggle with most, largely because 7- and 8-inch e-ink tablets aren’t a form factor that I personally enjoy using regularly. To me, they occupy a slightly awkward middle ground. They’re too small for comfortably reading many PDFs without scaling the page down to the point where text becomes difficult to read, and the limited writing area means that longer handwritten notes can have you creating a new page every few sentences.

At the same time, they’re not quite small enough to provide the effortless portability of something like the Boox Palma 2 Pro. You’ll generally still need a bag or a reasonably large coat pocket to carry one around, while the additional width and weight can make them less comfortable to hold one-handed for prolonged reading than a dedicated e-reader.

That is very much a personal preference, though, and I appreciate that this intermediate size is precisely what makes these tablets appealing to other people (I do talk about the various screen sizes of e-ink devices here). They’re considerably smaller and lighter than a 10.3-inch tablet, easily slip into most bags and are generally more affordable, while still providing substantially more writing space than genuinely pocket-sized devices.

With that caveat out of the way, my recommendation for the best small-screen e-ink tablet is the Viwoods AI Paper Mini. The reasons are largely the same as those that led me to recommend the larger Viwoods AI Paper in the monochrome category. The software has developed into a capable and thoughtfully designed environment for reading, writing, organisation and knowledge collation, while the hardware and writing experience make it a strong all-round package.

The Mini also has one useful advantage over its larger sibling: a built-in frontlight. It only provides a cool white light rather than offering adjustable warm, reddish tones for evening reading, which is a little disappointing, but it nevertheless makes the Mini considerably more practical when you’re reading or writing in poorly lit environments.

So, while the 7–8-inch category isn’t one that particularly suits my own workflows, if this is the size you’re looking for, I think the AI Paper Mini currently provides one of the strongest combinations of portability, handwriting, software and general usability.

Who is the Viwoods AIPaper Mini for?

The Viwoods AI Paper Mini is best suited to people who find a 10-inch tablet unnecessarily large but still want enough screen space for fairly comfortable handwriting and reading. Its smaller dimensions make it easier to carry around in a bag and lighter to use on the move, while still providing a substantially larger writing canvas than a pocket-sized device. It’s particularly appealing if you want a capable monochrome digital notebook with a good handwriting experience, comprehensive software and a frontlight for working in poorer lighting. If you regard the 7–8-inch form factor as the sweet spot between portability and productivity, rather than the awkward compromise that I personally find it to be, the AI Paper Mini is an excellent choice.

Who should look elsewhere?

The Viwoods AI Paper Mini isn’t the best choice if you regularly read PDFs or produce lengthy handwritten notes, as the smaller display can quickly begin to feel restrictive for both. Equally, if portability is your overriding priority, I would consider something genuinely pocket-sized instead; the Mini is smaller than a 10.3-inch tablet, but you’ll probably still need a bag or large pocket to carry it comfortably. Finally, if you primarily want an e-reader, a narrower and lighter dedicated reading device will generally be more comfortable to hold for extended periods. For me, the Mini only really makes sense if you specifically value the compromise offered by the 7–8-inch form factor.

Runner-up

The Supernote Nomad takes the runner-up position, but I would primarily recommend it to people whose main priority is handwritten note-taking. Much like the larger Supernote Manta, the Nomad benefits from Supernote’s excellent note-taking software, with powerful tools for organising, linking and navigating handwritten information. The writing experience is also very good, making it particularly well suited to people who maintain extensive notebooks, journals, planners or personal knowledge-management systems.

Its limitations are also broadly similar to those of the Manta. The Supernote ecosystem is much more focused than something like BOOX, and although some third-party Android apps can be sideloaded, I wouldn’t choose it primarily for running external applications. Nor is reading its strongest suit compared with a dedicated e-reader or some competing tablets.

However, the smaller form factor makes the Nomad particularly attractive if you want Supernote’s excellent handwriting and organisational tools in something considerably easier to carry around than the Manta. If note-taking is overwhelmingly your main use case and you specifically want a 7–8-inch device, I think the Nomad is one of the strongest options available.

SIDENOTE: If your main priority is reading rather than handwriting, the Boox Go 7 and Boox Go Color 7 are also worth considering. Boox’s native NeoReader app is one of the most comprehensive reading applications available on an e-ink device, while the lightweight design makes these models comfortable to hold for extended periods. They also have physical page-turn buttons, which I find particularly useful on a device primarily intended for reading. The Go 7 offers the greater clarity of a monochrome display, while the Go Color 7 is the better choice if you value colour for book covers, comics or other illustrated content. However, I found the writing experience to be substandard on both these models.

Second-hand alternatives

There are several worthwhile options on the second-hand market, including the Boox Tab Mini C, Supernote A6 X and even the much older Supernote A6.

The Boox Tab Mini C is particularly interesting if you want a small tablet with colour and the flexibility of Android. It was a relatively powerful device for its generation and remains capable of running Boox’s comprehensive reading and note-taking software alongside third-party applications. It is rather chunky and heavy for its screen size, though, which exacerbates some of my reservations about the 7–8-inch form factor, and the screen was very dark when the frontlight was turned off.

For those primarily interested in handwriting, the Supernote A6 X remains an excellent second-hand alternative to the Nomad. It provides much of the same note-taking philosophy and organisational functionality, albeit on considerably older hardware. Even the original Supernote A6 could be worth considering if you encounter one particularly cheaply. It’s decidedly long in the tooth now, but for straightforward handwritten note-taking, its age matters rather less than it would for someone wanting to run modern Android apps or perform more demanding tasks.

It’s worth noting that the Supernote are still rolling out regular firmware updates for the A6X. I believe the A6 and Tab X C no longer receive firmware updates (but I no longer have these particular devices so am unable to check for sure).

Best E-Ink Tablet for Voice & AI: VIWOODS AI PAPER

Voice input and AI might initially seem like two separate features, but in practice I’ve found that they tend to go hand in hand. The devices that provide the most sophisticated voice functionality also tend to have the strongest AI integrations. More importantly, the people who want to use voice transcription to quickly get their thoughts onto the page will often also benefit from AI tools that can subsequently summarise those thoughts, extract the important points or turn a lengthy stream of consciousness into something more concise and organised.

For me, this category was essentially a two-horse race between the Viwoods AI Paper and iFLYTEK AINote 2. In fact, these are the only two major e-ink tablet brands I’ve used that currently combine genuinely useful voice transcription with deeply integrated AI functionality. Boox supports voice transcription via the virtual keyboard, but has no option for AI summarisation (unless you copy/paste into the preinstalled AI Chat interface, but this isn’t very good). Conversely, Kindle Scribe devices can summarise and neaten your notes using AI, but do not support voice input (they don’t even have a microphone). reMarkable and Supernote offer neither. There are a few newcomers that offer these features, Cuneflow being the first that springs to mind, but I don’t yet feel they are mature enough to be true contenders.

Ultimately, I’ve given the win to the Viwoods AI Paper. Both devices provide strong voice and AI capabilities, but I think the surrounding software ecosystem on the AI Paper is considerably more mature. Its note-taking application is excellent, while features for reading, scheduling, task management and building a personal knowledge base make it a more complete productivity system. Rather than voice transcription and AI feeling like isolated additions, they complement a much broader collection of tools that I already find useful in my everyday workflow.

There’s also the question of ongoing cost. Some of iFLYTEK’s more advanced functionality is locked behind a subscription. In particular, accessing some of the latest AI language models requires a monthly payment. Viwoods currently provides access to its selection of AI models without requiring an additional subscription.

That distinction helped tip the balance for me. The iFLYTEK AINote 2 remains an exceptionally strong competitor (and I’ll discuss it in more detail below) but the Viwoods AI Paper combines excellent voice transcription and useful AI functionality with what I consider to be the stronger overall e-ink productivity platform. And importantly, you don’t have to take out another monthly subscription to make full use of those AI capabilities.

Who is the Viwoods AIPaper for?

The Viwoods AI Paper is particularly well suited to people who want to capture ideas quickly using their voice and then use AI to organise, summarise or refine them. It is a great option for meetings, lectures, brainstorming sessions or simply recording thoughts when typing or handwriting would be inconvenient. Its broader suite of note-taking, reading, scheduling and knowledge-management tools also makes it particularly appealing to people looking for an integrated productivity system rather than voice transcription as an isolated feature. And, because its AI functionality is currently available without an additional subscription, it is especially attractive if you expect to make frequent use of AI and don’t want another recurring monthly expense.

Who should look elsewhere?

The Viwoods AI Paper may not be the best choice if you regularly want AI to process large quantities of handwritten or typed material in a single operation, as its AI processing is currently limited to five pages at a time. That isn’t particularly restrictive when summarising shorter notes or individual meetings, but it can become cumbersome if you want to analyse a lengthy notebook or document. I would also look elsewhere if language translation is particularly important to you. Although the AI Paper offers translation functionality, I don’t think it is as accomplished as the equivalent features on the iFLYTEK AINote 2, which I’ll discuss next. Finally, if you have little interest in voice transcription or AI, much of what distinguishes the AI Paper in this category becomes irrelevant, and there are cheaper or more specialised tablets that may better suit your needs.

Runner-up

The iFLYTEK AINote 2 is a very close runner-up and, depending on your priorities, could actually be the better choice. Like the Viwoods AI Paper, it combines handwriting, voice transcription and AI tools within a single device, but iFLYTEK’s particular strength is its voice technology. Transcription works very well, and its translation capabilities are more sophisticated than those offered by Viwoods, making the AINote 2 particularly appealing for multilingual meetings, conversations and other situations where translation is important.

It also provides useful AI functionality for taking lengthy transcripts or notes and turning them into something more manageable, such as summaries and structured information. In some respects, therefore, iFLYTEK has the edge when looking purely at voice-related functionality.

The reason it doesn’t quite take the top spot is the wider software experience. I find Viwoods’ surrounding ecosystem, particularly its note-taking, reading, scheduling and knowledge-management features, more mature and comprehensive. There is also the question of cost: some of iFLYTEK’s more advanced AI functionality, including access to the latest language models, requires a paid subscription, whereas Viwoods currently provides its AI functionality without an additional monthly fee.

It’s therefore a very close contest. I’d favour the iFLYTEK AINote 2 if transcription and particularly translation are your highest priorities, but I think the Viwoods AI Paper currently offers the stronger overall package for someone wanting voice, AI and a comprehensive e-ink productivity system.

Second-hand alternatives

There aren’t really any older-generation devices that I can recommend in this category. Integrated AI and sophisticated voice transcription are relatively recent additions to e-ink tablets, so there simply hasn’t been enough time for a substantial selection of capable older models to filter down onto the second-hand market.

If you’re lucky, you may find a used Viwoods AI Paper or iFLYTEK AINote 2 at a worthwhile discount on second-hand markets. It’s also worth looking out for their smaller-screened siblings, the Viwoods AI Paper Mini and iFLYTEK AINote Air 2, which provide broadly similar voice transcription and AI capabilities in more compact packages.

However, unlike categories such as reading or conventional note-taking, there aren’t really any older generations that provide a comparable experience. If voice transcription and integrated AI are specifically what you’re looking for, you’re largely going to be choosing between relatively recent devices, whether you buy new or second hand.

Final Verdict

If there is one thing that should be apparent from the recommendations above, it is that there is no single e-ink tablet that is going to be the best choice for everyone. The market has diversified enormously over the past few years, and the right device will depend on what you intend to do with it, the features you value most and, inevitably, your own personal preferences.

For someone primarily interested in handwriting and building an organised system of notes, I think the Supernote Manta is currently the strongest overall choice. If you want a more versatile monochrome tablet capable of running Android apps, the Viwoods AI Paper gets my recommendation, while the Boox Note Air6 C is my preferred all-round colour option. These are three quite different devices, and that illustrates why I don’t think it makes sense to declare one tablet unequivocally superior to everything else.

The same applies once you start looking at more specialised requirements. The Boox Note Max is my choice if you want an enormous 13.3-inch workspace, while the Boox Palma 2 Pro sits at the opposite extreme and provides an extraordinarily capable e-ink device that genuinely fits in your pocket. For those who prioritise simplicity, the reMarkable 2 remains one of the most intuitive tablets I’ve used. In contrast, the Boox Note Air6 C, whilst having a much steeper learning curve, is considerably more appropriate if you want something capable of taking over some of the duties of a conventional laptop.

There are also devices that excel because they are particularly good at one specific job. The reMarkable Paper Pro is my favourite e-ink typewriter, largely because of its excellent keyboard folio and cross-device writing workflow. The Viwoods AI Paper takes another win for its combination of voice transcription and AI, while its smaller sibling, the AI Paper Mini, is my preferred option in the 7–8-inch category.

Price complicates matters further. If you’re working with a limited budget, the Boox Go 6 (Gen II) provides an impressive amount of functionality for the money. Meanwhile, my best value award goes to the Boox Go 10.3 Lumi, although, as discussed earlier, I think its value proposition only makes sense if you’re actually going to use its frontlight.

Perhaps the most useful approach, therefore, isn’t to ask “What is the best e-ink tablet?” but rather “What is the best e-ink tablet for me?” Think about what you’re actually going to use it for. Do you predominantly read, write or type? Do you need colour? Is a frontlight important? Do you want third-party Android apps, or would you prefer a deliberately restricted and distraction-free environment? Will it live on your desk, travel in a bag or need to fit into your pocket?

Once you’ve answered those questions, the field becomes considerably narrower (and then you should probably read my in-depth reviews of the devices that made your shortlist). My winners and runners-up aren’t intended to suggest that one device is objectively better than another in every respect; they’re the tablets that I think currently provide the strongest experience for a particular type of user and a particular set of requirements – and of course there will always be an element of my own personal viewpoints no matter how objective I try to be. Hopefully, the categories above make it easier to work out which e-ink tablet might be right for you.

Feature Comparison

The specs and features of all the tablets listed above can be compared in the table below.

You can also compare many other e-ink tablets using my giant comparison matrix here.

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