
While Apple’s iPad might be the most well-known tablet out there, it’s not always the best choice if you’re prone to eyestrain, distractions, or just plain prefer a more paper-like reading or writing experience. If that sounds familiar, then an e-ink tablet might be exactly what you’re looking for. With their low-distraction designs, easy readability, and frequently excellent handwriting experience, they’re a standout alternative for students, professionals, and anyone who craves a bit more focus in their life.
E-Ink tablets have been on the rise for years and there’s no shortage of options to choose from these days. I’ve done the testing and am a verified lover of all things e-ink, so if you’re on the hunt for anything from a paper replacement, to a “second brain,” to a simple e-reader, I’ve got something in mind.
TL;DR – These Are the Best E-Ink Tablets
E-Ink first came into the mainstream with the Amazon Kindle. Like many people, it was my first experience with it, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Compared to traditional tablet LCD displays which use bright backlights and quickly flashing images to display motion, e-ink displays don’t have lights behind the screen to shine into your eyes and only refresh the image as much as necessary to display the content – even if that’s only one time to change the page you’re reading.
Modern e-ink tablets have evolved from simple e-readers into feature-rich alternatives to normal tablets. Many run on modified versions of Android for their operating system and some even offer Google Play Store access. Most offer an array of reading, writing, planning, and productivity apps to support your needs through the day, even if you can’t freely download any app you’d like. The handwriting experience is often much better too, as the screens most often utilize Wacom EMR technology and micro-textured surfaces to deliver a more paper-like writing experience.
Even with these advancements, the limited nature of the display technology makes them much less likely to distract you while you read or take notes. While you can browse the web or load a video on some models (not all), the experience isn’t as fast, seamless, or tempting, allowing you to focus and accomplish more.
How to Choose the Best E-Ink Tablet
E-Ink tablets aren’t new anymore and as the technology has advanced, there are more factors to weigh when it comes to best meeting your needs. I’ve done the research and testing to find the best picks for most people, but if you’d rather consider options on your own, these are the things to look out for.
Stylus Support
Just like with traditional tablets and tablet PCs, stylus support can vary between brands and models. The most common stylus technology for e-ink tablets is Wacom EMR (electromagnetic resonance). Wacom styluses are a popular choice for their natural and responsive writing experience and exceptional palm rejection, and they don't actually need to be recharged since they don't run on batteries. Any EMR stylus will work with any EMR tablet, but the same can’t be said for capacitive styluses, which are the second option.
Capacitive styluses are commonly found on traditional tablets. But, just like that world, there are multiple standards applied between brands. You'll need to do research to ensure any aftermarket option you consider is compatible. Right now, the leading options are Bluetooth, USI, and USI 2.0. USI 2.0 is backward compatible with USI, but the opposite isn't true. As you can see, things can get confusing if you’re not careful. In general, however, if the tablet you’re considering offers stylus support, go for Wacom if possible.
Tablet Size
From the smartphone-like Boox Palma to the paper-sized Boox Note Max to middle-ground options like the Viwoods AI Paper at 10.3 inches or the Remarkable Paper Pro at just over 11 inches, there is a wide range of size options. If you're looking for a simple e-reader, a smaller tablet may be a better choice for its increased portability. If you read a lot of large PDFs or want to write on a sheet that's nearly the same as physical paper, a 13.3-inch option would be a good fit. In my experience, if you're not sure, opting for something in the middle is the safest bet, such as one of the 10.3-inch options in this list.
Color or Monochrome
Do you want color on your screen, or will black and white suffice? Color can be an important feature if you read files with color imagery or highlighters, download apps, or spend a lot of time browsing the web. If you'll mainly be using your tablet for reading, writing, or sketching, then monochrome is a fine choice and often comes with benefits, such as a lower price. One important thing to remember is that color e-ink is significantly less vibrant than color on an LCD tablet. Think of it more like color newsprint, and you'll be on the right track.
OS and App Support
As you consider what you would like to do with the tablet, one of the most important aspects to think about is whether you want access to an app store or if you'll be content with the features and functions provided by the manufacturer. While many e-ink tablets are deliberately designed to avoid downloadable apps for their propensity to distract, others, like those from Boox, aim to offer a full Android experience in an e-ink format. Just because a tablet runs on Android doesn’t mean that it will offer Google Play support, though. Be sure to verify that the tablet you’re considering offers access to the tools you’ll need to make it through your day.
Screen and Resolution
As you look into different tablets, you'll surely notice different screens highlights in feature and specification lists. Unless you’re shopping the used market and are considering a tablet more than 2 or 3 years old, you don’t need to get too hung up on this. For e-reading and writing, most displays will work similarly. Instead, I recommend paying closer attention to the resolution of the display and its pixel density (measured in Pixels Per Inch or PPI). As of this writing, the gold standard is 300 PPI, which offers a crisp reading experience with enough resolution to fully enjoy illustrations and photos.
As with most things, doing your research is still important. In the world of color e-ink, panel technology is advancing quickly, so a newer screen may offer more vivid colors and less ghosting. As always, take a gander at user reviews before pulling the trigger if you’re shopping for prior years’ models.
Reviews, Reviews, Reviews
I can't stress this enough: Even if you feel totally confident in a certain tablet being a great fit for you, take the time to read and watch different reviews to get a better idea of its strengths and weaknesses. Ghosting performance, app performance, update cadence, and battery life are all qualities with an element of subjectivity to them and aren’t things you can typically clean from product listings. Depending on your preferences, any of these qualities could turn a tablet that’s popular among others into a frustration for you. Do yourself a favor and do your research before pulling the trigger. You'll be glad you did.

1. Boox Tab X C / Boox Note Max
Best E-Ink Tablet
In the e-ink space, the current best contenders for all-around performance come from the same manufacturer, Boox. If you're looking for the best color e-ink tablet, go with the Boox Tab X C. If you don't need colors for the best handwriting experience in an extra-large form factor, go with the Boox Note Max. Either way, you can count on one of the best reading, writing, and minimal distraction tablet experiences available today.
I usually avoid doubling up on picks for the top spot, but the Note Max is the ying to the Tab XC's yang. Both tablets are very similar, with a couple of core differences. They each offer an A4 paper-sized 13.3-inch display with a high resolution, 300 PPI pixel density. But, as the slight differences in their names make clear, the Tab X C is intended more for traditional tablet use (i.e., typing, web browsing, and applications), while the Note Max emphasizes handwritten notetaking.
No matter which one you choose, both tablets promise a great experience. Boox has been quietly refining its operating system for years now, and its head start on many of its competitors is evident in the level of functionality and polish. It's even come up with solutions to common issues like writing latency in Microsoft OneNote, which means both tablets can offer wider compatibility with third-party applications.
The Boox Note Max is the perfect fit for anyone that's doing a lot of reading and writing. Its screen is high enough resolution that text is crisp and clear, and microtexturing on the screen makes handwriting feel satisfyingly tactile. The Tab X C, on the other hand, offers full color, but with a glossy screen that enhances its clarity and vividness.
The biggest downside to this pick is that the Tab X C does not use a Wacom EMR stylus. Instead, it uses a capacitive stylus with haptic feedback compared to other capacitive styluses. The implementation is quite good, especially if you keep the haptics a notch or two below their max. Still, the Note Max is better in that department, so consider picking up a Bluetooth keyboard or its official keyboard case for a great typing experience.
2. Viwoods AI Paper
Best for Students
The Viwoods AI Paper has been one of the biggest surprises of the year in the world of e-ink tablets. It launched strong with a solid feature set that emphasized handwriting and AI integration, but it has leaned into a rapid update cadence that has dramatically expanded its functionality and features since its release. It's now the unquestionable leader for e-ink tablets for students.
This tablet comes with a comparatively large 10.3-inch screen with a 300 PPI pixel density, so text looks crisp and clear no matter what you're doing. Its presentation is relatively unique with different sections dedicated to writing, sketching, planning, and organization. It covers all the bases you would hope for from an e-ink tablet and then adds layers on top to make it so useful it's likely to become an indispensable companion for any student.
For starters, updates have allowed it to integrate into existing planning systems like the Google Drive suite. Its Calendar app can tie into Google Calendar and pull down any scheduled events as well as sync events that you might add from the tablet. You can back up to Drive and utilize Gmail. Outlook is another option if your school uses the Microsoft suite instead.
Viwoods has expanded its ability to utilize tags and keywords to sort and connect your thinking. This is exceptionally useful for students to be able to connect different ideas and tag them with keywords to quickly search and retrieve lines of connected information and notes. This also applies to handwritten notes, as its AI functionality allows it to recognize handwritten characters for searchability and text conversion.
I was impressed at what it offered months ago in my original review. With the number and quality of updates, it’s much, much better today.
But it's the AI Papers' ability to leverage ChatGPT and several other LLM services that makes it the best overall fit for students. A dedicated AI button and microphone allow you to call up and talk to your AI assistant at any time. It's able to interpret what's on the screen and offer feedback and context.
In simpler terms, you can organize conversations into a personal knowledge base that the AI can use for reference. The AI integration is able to offer you additional insights, suggestions, and context to act as anything from an editor to a research assistant or tutor and can have knowledge bases for each class you're taking.
While other tablets offer you the ability to use AI in set applications or for set purposes, Viwood's significantly deeper integration makes it far more useful and a part of the core experience. All of this in addition to its great handwriting experience and ability to install applications from the Google Play Store. And did I mention that it’s great for sketching?
This tablet is the perfect choice for students but it’s also one of the best e-ink tablets out there period, so consider this one a wholesale recommendation.
3. Boox Note Air 4C
Best Color E-Ink Tablet
The Boox Note Air 4C is the little brother to our shared top pick, the Tab X C. Unlike that tablet, however, the Air 4C features a textured screen and Wacom EMR stylus support for an even better writing experience. It’s smaller too, which makes it more portable and useful as an on-the-go e-reader.
At 10.3 inches, it offers ample screen real estate for reading and note taking. One of my favorite things to do on it is read graphic novels. While e-ink is inherently less vibrant than LCD, it’s great to be able to experience those colors and have outdoor sunlight make the viewing experience better rather than worse.
Like many other Boox tablets, the Note Air 4C offers the full Android experience, including providing access to the Google Play Store. The company has developed its own suite of apps for reading, writing, planning, and web browsing, but you’re free to download anything you’d like if you would rather use it instead. Microsoft One Note even works fine thanks to some clever behind the scenes workaround Boox has applied to get around the input latency that plagues other e-ink tablets.
The Air 4C is one of the Boox’s most popular tablets and for good reason. It’s blend of high-resolution color screen, great writing experience, and responsive performance make it hard to beat – in fact, when the Tab X C released, many people were disappointed that it wasn’t just a bigger Air 4C! In my review of the Air 4C, I was a big fan of the writing experience and that it was fast enough to play Threes In my downtime.
There are some quirks, like minor ghosting in apps with regular animations and a charging port that required you to take the tablet out of its protective case to recharge. Overall, though, it’s a stellar pick if you plan to do a lot of handwriting but still want to best color e-ink experience.
4. Kindle Colorsoft (2025)
Best E-Reader
There is no e-reader as well-known as the Amazon Kindle, and with its latest release, the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft has slid into the top spot for anyone that doesn't mind purchasing their e-books from Amazon's vast library. Of course, if you don’t care about color, the Kindle Paperwhite is the next best, but either way, Amazon continues to have the e-reader market on lock.
The Kindle Colorsoft is the latest version of the Kindle to come to market, and it’s a welcome one. The original Kindle Colorsoft was plagued by yellow banding issues distorting colors along its bottom edge. With this release, it appears that Amazon has officially solved those issues, making it one of the most cost-effective and easy to use e-ink tablets out there.
Unlike most of the other devices in this list, the Colorsoft isn’t trying to be your do-it-all tablet. Instead, this is a purpose-driven device, designed to provide you with easy access to your ebook library anywhere you might be. You’ll need to be in the Amazon ecosystem or use a tool like Calibre to add non-Amazon ebooks, but if you are, you’ll find that this is the hands-down easiest way to access your entire library.
Like the other color tablets on this list, the Colorsoft’s plentiful assortment of hues adds a new dimension to anything with color pictures or illustrations. It makes a strong first impression, too, rendering all of your book covers in full color. As is the case with all e-ink screens right now, they won’t be as vibrant as an LCD reader can produce, but the few other places benefit from a paperlike screen than good, old-fashioned reading.
The new Kindle Colorsoft goes for $250 but tends to go on sale whenever there’s a major shopping event. If you don’t need color, the Kindle Paperwhite is only $160.
5. Ratta Supernote Manta
Best Digital Notebook
The Supernote Manta from Ratta is one of the most popular digital notebooks out there. It has a dedicated fan base, which is true of many options on this list, but few are as enthusiastic as the Manta's. Thanks to an existing customer-first approach to business and a design that emphasizes interconnecting your thoughts in a way that few others do, it's as close to a "second brain" as e-ink tablets have been able to deliver so far.
Here's the thing: While many, if not most, of the leading e-ink tablets on the market allow you to organize your notes and add tags, the Manta allows you to link between ideas more deeply and easily than anything else out there I'm aware of. You can add links to previous notes, categorize them with keywords, and search handwritten text. Notes can be linked to documents, images, and web pages. It’s also smart enough to create outlines for your documents on the fly, so even mid-note, it puts organization at the forefront.
In addition, it highly emphasizes the quality of the writing experience. The Supernote Manta uses a soft surface with a proprietary screen protector to give a gel pen-like writing experience. It comes with lots of purpose-built templates you can use to create your notebooks and allows you to sort everything into your choice of custom or pre-made folders, including subfolders, to really personalize your workflow.
Ratta has also implemented its own dedicated art application called Atelier. While basic note-taking still has a relatively limited pen selection, there are significantly more options built into Atelier, including different pencil hardnesses to shade with just gradients.
It never ceases to impress me what actual artists can create using the Manta. While I would never classify myself as an actual artist, I've still had a lot of fun using it for impromptu drawing and practicing new handwriting techniques. If you’re an art major, though, or just enjoy sketching, the Manta provides a lifelike drawing experience with an easy ability to move your draws off of the device into the cloud or directly to your PC.
While some people will find its lack of Google Play Store support limiting, it's one of the few devices that allows you to create a Wikipedia-like web of connection between your thoughts, which impressed me in my review. It should be on your radar if you’re looking for a digital notebook that can become integral to your day and be genuinely helpful to supplement your memory and planning.

6. Remarkable Paper Pro
Best Paper Replacement
In the e-ink space, Remarkable is probably the most well-known brand out there. The original Remarkable and its successor, the Remarkable 2, were very highly regarded and brought the idea of digital notebooks to a large mainstream audience in a way that shook the industry and made many of these other tablets possible. The Remarkable Paper Pro continues its legacy of delivering a class-leading writing experience and feels the most premium of any e-ink tablet I've used thus far. As far as paper replacements go, it’s great.
One of my hands-down favorite qualities about it is its excellent handwriting experience. Not only does the screen feel great to write on with its subtly textured surface, Remarkable is pulling some software magic behind the scenes to make your handwriting look better than anywhere else. Impressively, the changes are small enough that your handwriting still looks like your own, but looking back at it, it's satisfyingly refined in a way that will leave you wishing other tablets did the same.
There's also something about the way colors render on the screen, initially black and then chased by a colored line that's oddly satisfying. Its color presentation is quite good and is one of the more vibrant options out there today. It's perfect for reading PDFs and color coding within your own notebooks and templates.
Remarkable has never hid the fact that it is a handwriting-first device. Over the years, its "first to the mainstream" bona fides have allowed the company to occupy a somewhat luxurious space. That's evident in the weighty, metallic build of the Paper Pro, and, it must be said, its comparatively high price.
Whether or not this is a good fit for you will depend entirely on whether you are looking for a pure paper replacement. While there are lots of downloadable templates and resources to aid in your writing and organization, there are no outside apps, no dedicated art functions, and there's not even an ability to access Kindle, so your e-reading needs are limited to PDFs and ePubs. You can view Microsoft Word and Powerpoint files, too, so you can still access and review those files.
Overall, the Remarkable Paper Pro is limited in comparison to many other e-ink tablets but is a good example of choosing one thing, replacing paper, and doing it well.
E-Ink Tablet FAQs
Are e-ink tablets better for your eyes?
Many people think so! E-Ink displays work differently than the LCD or OLED displays found on traditional tablets. Those displays project light outward and flash their images many times per second. Both qualities are known to cause eye strain, and some people are more susceptible to this than others.
E-Ink tablets can refresh a single time to display a static image, and rely on outside light or edge lighting for illumination. Both qualities tend to make them easier on the eyes and much more like traditional paper.
Are e-ink tablets good for drawing?
That depends on the specific tablet in question, but many of them are. A large amount of e-ink tablets use the same electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology found in Wacom art tablets, which is currently one of the leading brands among digital artists. This stylus, in combination with a well-implemented screen and drawing tools, can provide a near paper-like sketching experience.
Art isn’t a primary concern of every e-ink tablet, however, so pay attention to what features and apps the model you’re considering supports. If you’re on the hunt for a great e-ink art tablet, definitely consider the Boox Note Max or Viwoods AI Paper, as both offer a robust selection of art tools and Photoshop-like canvas layering.
Why are e-ink tablets so expensive?
There are several reasons for this, but the biggest is that e-ink, while consistently rising in popularity over the years, is still a small market with less awareness than traditional tablets like the iPad. They’re also not for everyone as their screen technology is inherently more limited than similarly priced LCD or OLED options.
Other reasons include a limited supply chain (branded “e-ink” displays are produced solely by the E Ink Corporation) and the company’s themselves are frequently smaller. This translates into a reduced ability to operate at scale, which usually allows for lower prices.
Can e-ink tablets play videos, games, or browse the web?
Yes and no. Remember, e-ink displays don’t refresh as much as LCD displays and both movies and games rely on fast refresh rates to deliver smooth motion. E-Ink tablets that can refresh faster than once per page turn are comparatively very slow. Videos and games are often plagued by blurry motion and ghosting that make the experience less than optimal.
With that in mind, the door isn’t completely closed. Newer tablets like the Boox Tab X C can play YouTube videos well enough to make out what’s going on and can refresh quickly enough for simple games like Threes to be very playable. It still won’t compare to a normal tablet, but it’s possible on some tablets. Also, if you’re more concerned with hearing the video than seeing what’s on screen, the refresh rate may not matter at all.
Web browsing is another matter and many e-ink tablets can handle that just fine. Ghosting is still sometimes an issue, but many tablets offer different performance modes or even come with their own browsers to improve performance. If the tablet you’re considering comes with a web browser, it’s usually safe to assume that web browsing and checking up on social media won’t be an issue.
Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.