A digital notebook brings the feel of paper, without all the mess. It works for setting goals and jotting down ideas, and is great for sketching doodles as well. And with a digital backup for note-taking from important meetings and classes, it's easier than ever to stay on top of homework and projects.My top pick is the Boox Note Air5 C. It nails that balance with a paper-like writing feel, transcription tools, and portability. The Kindle Scribe also impressed me with its included pen and long battery life. Microsoft Suite compatibility is another great feature.
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Best tablet deals of the week $140 (save $80) $274 (save $75) $230 (save $170) $70 (save $70) $190 (save $90) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. What is the best digital notebook right now? To help you decide which smart notebooks are worth the investment, we tested and researched the best ones on the market. We considered the device's overall feel, storage capabilities and options, special features, and price. Based on our hands-on experience, our pick for the best smart notebook overall is the Boox Note Air5 C thanks to its notetaking and productivity features and smooth color display. We also included notebooks from brands like Kindle, Rocketbook, and other brands that ZDNET staff use and recommend. Also: Best Windows tablet in 2026In our January update, we replaced our top pick with the newer Boox Note Air5 C based on hands-on testing. Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. Allison Murray/ZDNET If you're looking for a light and thin note-taking tablet, the Boox Note Air5 C should be on your radar.Why we like it: The Boox Note Air5 C is a color e-ink tablet that is built for note-taking. The screen has a 1240 x 930, or 150 pixels per inch (ppi), resolution in color. When used in black and white, it has a 2480 x 1860 resolution, or 300 ppi -- the same as the Kindle Scribe. Plus, it's super lightweight at just under a pound. This tablet has all the best features of the top note-taking apps built right in. There are dozens of templates to use, audio recording, color-coding, and inserting links and attachments into notes. Plus, built-in artificial intelligence enables text recognition, shape correction, and a strike-through erase feature that makes erasing much easier.Review: Boox Note Air5 CWho it's for: I went hands-on with this tablet, and it is geared towards habitual note-takers looking to replace their daily planner, journal, and notebook of to-dos in just one device. It is completely customizable to exactly how I like you lists, instead of a planner that has limited pages and set out page types that might not flow with how you create and organize. The Pen is also an upgrade from previous generations, with 4,096 levels of pressure and ultra-low latency and captive touch to make it feel like you are writing on actual paper with a real ballpoint pen. Also, an upgrade for this generation's model is an attachable keyboard you can buy, if you'd rather take notes by typing (or if you have messy handwriting).Who should look elsewhere: If Android isn't your jam, you probably won't like the Boox Note Air5 C, since it's noticeably slower than a traditional tablet like the iPad. Also, if you want AI features, the ones in this tablet leave much to be desired and are suited for basic tasks instead of optimizing your productivity. Boox Note Air5 C tech specs: Display: 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 display | Processor: Octa-core + BSR | Storage: 64GB | Weight: 15.5 ounces | Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.6 x 0.23 inches | Connections: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1 | Battery life: 3,700mAh Li-ion Polymer
