Note-taking has evolved beyond simple pen and paper. Whether you’re a student, professional, or creative, the modern tablet provides a dynamic and versatile platform to capture ideas, organize your workflow, and even sketch with incredible precision. Thanks to improved stylus technology, brighter and faster displays, and powerful software ecosystems, the best tablets for note-taking in 2025 make handwritten notes feel just as good (or even better) than the traditional experience.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the top three tablets that are leading the charge in 2025 for note-taking. Each offers a unique blend of performance, display quality, stylus support, and software compatibility that makes it stand out. Whether you prefer the seamless Apple ecosystem, the Android flexibility of Samsung, or are looking for a budget-friendly powerhouse, we have you covered.
Best Tablets:
- Apple iPad Air (2025, M3 Chip)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Apple iPad Air (2025, M3 Chip)
The newly released iPad Air 2025, powered by Apple’s blazing-fast M3 chip, is an exceptional tablet that strikes the perfect balance between performance, portability, and value. It’s a top choice for anyone who wants a premium note-taking experience without stepping into the iPad Pro’s price territory.
Key Features:
- Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display
- Stylus Support: Apple Pencil Pro (2nd generation)
- Processor: Apple M3 chip
- Operating System: iPadOS 18
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
The iPad Air’s Liquid Retina display offers true-to-life colors and pin-sharp text, which is essential for reading back notes or reviewing PDF documents. The 2025 version supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which brings advanced features like pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and haptic feedback. The Pencil feels incredibly smooth to write with, and Apple Notes has evolved into a powerful app, supporting handwriting recognition, tagging, and cross-device syncing.
Beyond the Apple Notes app, the iPad Air supports a wide range of productivity apps such as Notability, GoodNotes 6, and Microsoft OneNote, all optimized for iPadOS. With the M3 chip, multitasking is seamless—whether you’re taking notes while on a Zoom call or sketching out wireframes in a design app.
One major selling point is the ecosystem. If you use a MacBook or iPhone, the continuity between devices is unrivaled. You can copy text from your iPhone and paste it directly into your iPad notes, use AirDrop to transfer sketches, or even use Sidecar to make the iPad a second screen for your Mac.
If you’re serious about note-taking and want something that’s future-proof with excellent app support and hardware, the 2025 iPad Air is a compelling option.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
If you want the biggest and most immersive note-taking experience on a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is your dream machine. With its massive 14.6-inch AMOLED display, included S Pen, and powerful performance, it’s built for professionals and creators who value space and precision.
Key Features:
- Display: 14.6-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
- Stylus Support: S Pen (included, magnetic charging)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Operating System: Android 14 with One UI 6
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra isn’t just big—it’s brilliant. The Super AMOLED display offers stunning clarity and contrast, making it ideal for detailed diagrams, handwritten annotations, and sketching. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth writing with the S Pen, which comes included in the box and features ultra-low latency, tilt recognition, and pressure sensitivity.
Samsung Notes has become one of the most powerful default note-taking apps out there, and it seamlessly syncs across Samsung devices and even to Microsoft OneNote. With One UI 6, multitasking is effortless—you can easily split the screen between your notes and a lecture video or web browser.
Artists will appreciate the color accuracy of the display, and students will love the handwriting-to-text feature that makes sharing notes much easier. Plus, the S Pen’s remote control functions (Air Actions) allow you to control presentations or media playback with a flick of the wrist.
Although large, the Tab S9 Ultra is surprisingly thin and lightweight, making it portable enough for daily use. It’s also IP68 water and dust resistant, offering durability alongside performance.
For those who want the best Android tablet experience for notetaking in 2025, this is the one to beat.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Not everyone needs ultra-premium features, and that’s where the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE shines. It’s a budget-friendly alternative that retains key features from its pricier siblings, making it a fantastic value for students and budget-conscious professionals.
Key Features:
- Display: 10.9-inch LCD, 90Hz refresh rate
- Stylus Support: S Pen (included)
- Processor: Exynos 1380
- Operating System: Android 14 with One UI 6
- Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
The Tab S9 FE doesn’t cut corners when it comes to note-taking features. Despite its lower price point, it includes the same S Pen as the Ultra model, ensuring a fluid and responsive writing experience. With a 90Hz screen, pen strokes feel smooth and immediate.
The tablet runs the full version of Samsung Notes and is compatible with other great Android note-taking apps like Nebo, Squid, and Microsoft OneNote. It also supports multitasking, although the performance is slightly more modest compared to flagship devices. Still, for most note-taking tasks, including typing, handwriting, and PDF annotation, it performs very well.
The Tab S9 FE also has an IP68 rating, making it one of the few budget tablets that’s resistant to water and dust—ideal for use on campus, in the field, or in a coffee shop. Its battery life is excellent, often outlasting some flagship tablets, and the build quality is surprisingly premium for the price.
If you’re looking for a reliable and effective tablet for note-taking without spending a fortune, the Tab S9 FE is arguably the best budget pick in 2025.
Each of these tablets brings something unique to the table:
- Apple iPad Air (2025) is perfect for those immersed in the Apple ecosystem who want a powerful, stylish tablet with an incredible stylus experience and a wide range of note-taking apps.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is ideal for users who crave the biggest, most vibrant display and the full-featured S Pen for detailed note-taking, multitasking, and digital art.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the go-to choice for anyone seeking an affordable, capable tablet that doesn’t compromise on core features like stylus support, durability, and battery life.
With any of these tablets, you’ll be able to organize your thoughts more efficiently, boost productivity, and take your creativity to the next level. Stay tuned for our upcoming deep-dive comparisons and app reviews to help you make the most of your new tablet!