School usually requires: take lots of notes, whether you’re in ninth grade or college. Typing notes on a laptop might be faster, but writing something down physically helps you to remember and learn more. Putting real pen to paper also just feels good. But having a digital backup comes in handy for organizing and studying on the go.
There are smart pens, notebooks and tablets made to store digital files of your handwritten notes or drawings. You can save files as PDFs, images, and Word documents, or transcribe them to a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can also record, which is great for lectures and interviews. If your notes need an upgrade, we recommend giving this one a try.
Be sure to check out our guide to Best Dorm Essentials, as well as our favorite laptop backpacks and bags.
Updated August 2022: We’ve added more options for digital notes, including the Boox Note Air2 Plus, Rocketbook’s reusable notebooks, the Kobo Elipsa, and Repaper Tablet.
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