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Digitize Your Note-Taking With the Best Smart Notebooks

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Digitize Your Note-Taking With the Best Smart Notebooks

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Finding Your Next Smart Notebook: A Buyer’s Guide

The world is rapidly digitizing, and so are our notebooks. We live in an almost paperless world, where laptops, cell phones, and tablets have taken over traditional notebooks. Whether students or working professionals, nearly everyone uses digital tools to make notes and scribble down their thoughts. What if we told you that you can save your notes for longer while still enjoying the traditional notebook and pen method? A smart notebook just does that, a revolutionary device that offers you the traditional pen-and-paper method while affording you all the benefits of a digital device. In most cases, notes are automatically sent to cloud-based apps, like Dropbox or Evernote, while converting your handwritten notes into editable, searchable text for increased convenience. If you want to transform your note-taking method, keep reading to check out reviews of some of the leading smart notebooks of 2023.

Smart notebooks can make your work and school lives a lot easier, but shopping for these handy items can be a bit tricky. Now that we’ve gone through our top picks, it’s time to look at some important things you need to consider while looking for a smart notebook in 2023.

Factors to Consider

Size

Smart notebooks come in different sizes — A4, A5, and B5. A5 is the most common, A4 is a bit big, and B5 is the largest size, often used for sketching and drawing. You can choose the right size for yourself by identifying your needs and what you’ll be using your smart notebook for.

Number of pages

If you’re buying a reusable smart notebook, it should have at least 27 to 30 pages so you don’t have to frequently erase text. If you’re not opting for a reusable smart notebook, make sure you get one with at least 170 to 200 pages, as you’ll have to buy a new one after this one’s pages fill up. 

Page formats

Make sure that the smart notebook you’re planning to buy offers a variety of page formats and styles, like dotted lines, grid lines, and planning pages. This way, you’ll be able to use the notebook for pretty much every purpose, including planning, scheduling, note-taking, free-hand writing, and more. If you’re also an artist or love to draw, you can opt for a smart notebook with some blank pages as well.

Reusability

Try to opt for a reusable smart notebook, not just to save money but also to protect the environment. A reusable smart notebook allows you to write on one page multiple times instead of having to move on to a new one, helping to avoid paper wastage. All you have to do is write, save the text, and then erase it for a fresh start that’s eco-friendly, convenient, and affordable as well.

Compatible apps

Some smart notebooks have compatible smartphone applications that allow you to scan your notes, download them in your preferred format, share the files, and save them to online storage options. These applications provide a smooth, user-friendly experience that can make using your smart notebook super convenient.

Pen/stylus

The pen that comes with your smart notebook is something you won’t want to neglect. Keep in mind that you can’t use a regular pen with a smart notebook — these styluses, on the other hand, feature erasable ink, allowing you to write on and reuse a single page over and over. 

Writing implements

Various pens, markers, and other writing tools are compatible with different types of reusable notebooks. Some smart notebooks have unique technology that allows you to reuse your notes, and in these cases, you can only use pens and markers from a specific manufacturer. Others may enable you to use pens from a variety of manufacturers, giving you more alternatives and fewer constraints. The great thing is that most reusable smart notebooks come with their own stylus. If the pen runs out dry of ink or you want more variety (such as markers, highlighters, and different colors), you’ll typically have to confirm that the same manufacturer makes them. Whether it’s the Pilot Frixion or the Neo Smartpen, you must determine which writing instruments are compatible with the smart notebook you select and which are not. It’s always smart to keep an extra pen on hand — you don’t want yours to run out in the middle of class, just as the instructor is going to clarify an essential point!

Benefits of Using a Reusable Smart Notebook

Eco-friendly option

Smart notebooks are a great choice if you care about the environment, as most of them come with reusable pages that you can erase and reuse again and again. By opting for a smart notebook, you can save trees and the environment — how much easier can it get?

Better organization

If you find it hard to organize your notes or memos, smart notebooks boast state-of-the-art technology to organize your thoughts and important information in a single place. Say goodbye to hectic arrangements of sticky notes and reminders by creating memos and everyday schedules in your reusable smart notebook. 

Innovative solution

Because a smart notebook combines cloud computing with reusability, it provides you with an innovative note-taking solution. With a smart notebook, you won’t have to worry about restocking supplies, which ends up saving trees and also decluttering your desk in the process.

01 Rocketbook Smart Notebook

Are you looking for a smart notebook but don’t want to spend extra money buying a smart pen? If yes, then the Rocketbook Smart Notebook is what you need! It’s a budget-friendly option that comes with a free Pilot Frixion pen and a microfiber cloth for easy cleaning. All you need to do is write in this smart notebook with its pen and scan your notes using the compatible smartphone app to save them pretty much anywhere you want, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.

With this smart notebook, you’ll get 32 dotted pages for writing down all your ideas. After you’re done writing, simply wipe it with the microfiber cloth and your smart notebook is ready to be used again. With its affordable price tag and amazing responsiveness, this smart notebook is the top choice on our list.

Pros

  • Eco-friendly, reusable pages
  • Available in two different sizes
  • Various attractive color options

Cons

  • Only compatible with Frixion pens
Rocketbook Smart Notebook

02 Moleskine Smart Notebook

The Moleskine Smart Notebook offers you the benefits of both a traditional and a digital notebook. You can write your notes on actual paper with the ink pen and then scan the pages with the notebook’s smartphone app to convert them to searchable and editable documents. After scanning them, you can send your notes to any cloud-based application for convenient storage. 

The most unique feature of this smart notebook is that you can even scan notes without your smartphone, as the ink pen features advanced built-in technology that scans your notes as you write. With 176 pages and an affordable price tag, this smart notebook is ideal for those on a budget who still want high-quality results.

Pros

  • Classy, traditional notebook design
  • Its app offers several sharing options
  • Versatile note transfer design

Cons

  • Pages aren’t reusable
Moleskine Smart Notebook

03 Thinkers Smart Notebook

The Thinkers Smart Notebook is a versatile, premium option. It contains 256 numbered pages (both in grid and dotted formats) and can offer a lot of use, making it suitable for both students and professionals. Whether you use a gel pen, a fountain pen, or a marker, there won’t be any feathering or bleeding on its pages, not to mention that this smart notebook sports a striking design that makes it ideal for anyone who wants to make a statement while taking notes.

After writing in this smart notebook, you can use its app to scan your notes and keep them organized in your preferred format. The app can also recognize your handwriting and convert it into searchable text, allowing you to share notes with anyone. The cherry on top? The cover of each smart notebook is made of recycled bonded leather with plant oil-based colors, making it super eco-friendly.

Pros

  • Threaded binding for lay-flat design
  • Can be used with any pen/pencil
  • Features a bookmark ribbon

Cons

  • App is only compatible with iOS
Thinkers Smart Notebook

04 Homestec Reusable Smart Notebook

The Homestec Reusable Smart Notebook is super affordable and versatile, with 21 lined pages, 20 dotted pages, and seven planning pages to help you jot down all kinds of notes. It also comes with two erasable pens, and you can reuse this smart notebook more than 500 times, making it super eco-friendly. 

All you have to do is write in this smart notebook and wait 15 seconds for its ink to dry — when you need to take further notes, simply erase any previous notes and keep on writing. While there’s no specific manufacturer-designed app to scan your notes, you can use other apps like CamScanner to scan and upload notes to your desired location, like Google Drive, DropBox, or Evernote, in both JPG and PDF formats.

Pros

  • Two erasable pens and sticky notes included
  • Wirebound design to keep pages intact
  • Reusable and eco-friendly

Cons

  • Ink disappears in the sun
Homestec Reusable Smart Notebook

05 Kiyubeie Smart Notebook

The Kiyubeie Smart Notebook is another reusable, eco-friendly smart notebook with 24 high-quality pages. It comes with an erasable pen that you can use to conveniently write and erase text, and after writing, you’ll need to wait at least 15 seconds for the ink to dry and bond with its special pages. Once dried, you can scan your notes with this smart notebook’s app and save them on various cloud services.

You can reuse each page of this smart notebook up to 500 times, and it features a pen holder to keep your writing utensil nearby at all times. All pages in this smart notebook are made of thick, waterproof paper, making it perfect for use with its special technology and keeping ink safe from accidents and bleeding.

Pros

  • Spiral-bound for durability and convenience
  • High-quality, waterproof pages
  • Built-in pen holder for easy storage

Cons

  • Its app lags sometimes
Kiyubeie Smart Notebook

People Also Asked

Which smart notebook should I buy?

It depends on your preference and budget. You’ll come across a wide variety on the market, and the only way to narrow things down is to choose according to your needs. You should always go for a budget-friendly option that features a pen and offers incredible functionality and high-quality results.

Is my smart notebook waterproof?

Most reusable smart notebooks are waterproof and will keep your notes safe, but it’s better to check the packaging or manufacturer’s guidelines to double-check.

Are smart notebooks worth it?

If you prefer the traditional note-taking method and want to keep your notes safe and store them for longer periods, then smart notebooks can be worth every dollar you spend!

Denise McNamara

Aug 7, 2022

85 Articles Published

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We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.

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