Best Smart Pens 2023

Smart pens are impressive tools to own. They give you smoother navigation through your devices. In this guide, we shall look at the best smart pens out there. If you are interested in getting one for yourself, then you should read through this guide.

Smartpens make note-taking less stressful by eliminating the fear of missing details said during a class, lecture, or meeting. They also remove the time-consuming task of transcribing a complete lecture by enabling access to any part of a recording by tapping on words. Digitized notes are also easier to store, organize, search, and share.

Buyer’s Guide for a Smart Pen

What is the difference between a smart pen and a stylus?

A stylus pairs only with a parent device to write or draw on a responsive screen. It does not have ink and cannot be used on paper. A smart pen has ink and works either on regular paper or on a specialized notebook (some let you wipe them clean to use again and again). You are writing as you normally would with a pen.

Is the pen comfortable?

Most smart pens are designed on the scale of a regular pen and can feel similar. But you want to make sure that you find your choice comfortable so that you’ll actually use it. It’s also important to make sure your pen allows you to use the pressure you find natural. Some pens adjust to hundreds of levels of pressure so that both bold and fine strokes are captured with precision.

What is compatibility?

Look for a smart pen that is compatible with your operating system (Apple, Android, Windows). Also, be sure that the pen is compatible with your preferred language: Some are limited to English only; others can track and transcribe several languages. And, if possible, find the pen that best recognizes your handwriting: Some pens transcribe penmanship more accurately than others.

Does it record audio?

Some pens can record audio — either directly or by pairing with a mobile app that uses your phone’s microphone to do so — and then allow you to embed the recording into the notes. You may be able to tap a word in your notes to jump to that portion of the audio file.

What is the storage capacity?

Check to see the memory capability of the pen itself; many will store info until you transfer it to an app or to cloud storage. Some have a large capacity, but if the pen also records audio, know that much of that memory will be dedicated to those files.

What is the method of syncing?

Some pens still require you to snap a photo of your notes, others collect the info you’ve jotted by syncing either wirelessly (usually via Bluetooth) or via a cord (like a USB). Check to see if interested or if it can easily send to multiple cloud platforms (like Evernote or Dropbox). If so, does it allow you to create settings for which files go where (for example, drawings to Dropbox and notes to Google Drive)?

Best Smart Pen

Livescribe 3 Smartpen

The Livescribe 3 Smartpen is one of the best smart pens out there. It has phenomenal accuracy in both writing and drawing. It’s also comfortable and easy to use thanks to its soft-rubber grip and round design. We were suitably impressed with the breezy 30-second setup time. Syncing the pen was effortless once we installed the app on our smartphones.

The Livescribe 3 Smartpen didn’t record a single inaccuracy in either our writing or drawing tests. The Livescribe app also impressed us. Digitizing your handwriting is as easy as swiping left or right.  You can also start or stop audio recordings using the app or the navigation icons printed at the bottom of Livescribe’s notebooks, which is a neat feature.

This Livescribe 3 Smartpen has an impressive battery life, lasting for up to 14 hours of continuous use. It is charged via a micro-USB port at the tip of the pen.

Specifications

• Lasts up to 14 hours
• 30-second setup time
• Can audio record

Pros

• The most accurate pen we tested
• Comfortable round design

cons

• Heavier than most smartpens
• Requires expensive Livescribe notebooks

Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad

The Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad is the ideal smart pen for your needs. Thanks to the accompanying smart pad, you can use any type of paper with the smart pen, which is perfect for artists who need their ideal canvas.

During our writing and drawing tests, the Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad was almost perfect with only one small error across both tests. It’s also one of the most comfortable smart pens out there and features a simple twist mechanism to turn on. The pen itself doesn’t need charging, while the pad itself will run for eight hours before needing to be charged via micro-USB. It took us just over a minute to set up the smart pad and pair it with our smartphone.

Using the smart pad is simple, you just place a sheet of paper over the smart pad and start writing. When you’re finished, you can easily upload your work by pressing a button to synch the smart pad with your smartphone.

Specifications

• Pairs with smartphone
• charged via micro-USB

pros

• Smartpad works with any paper
• Great accuracy with writing and drawing

cons

• The paper must be aligned with the smart pad
• Short battery life

Neo Smartpen N2

The Neo Smartpen N2 is easy to set up and feels comfortable in your hand, but it does require special notebooks and writing pads to function.

The pen itself is one of the longest we tested, but the metal body and elegant design offer an attractive alternative to many of the triangular digital pens on the market. It’s also incredibly easy to use; all you have to do is press a button on the bottom of the pen to turn it on. You can also toggle the Bluetooth and pairing settings using buttons on the pen. The Neo Smartpen N2 performs better than average but there were a couple of errors in both the writing and drawing tests.

This Neo Smartpen N2 charges through a micro-USB port located on the top of the pen.

Specifications

• Five-hour battery life
• 30 seconds pair time
• Soft bottom

Pros

• Comfortable to use.
• Quick setup
• Easy to use

cons

• Short battery life
• A bit on the heavy side

Rocketbook Core

The Rocketbook Core lets you continue using paper and pen, then it digitizes your notes and allows you to start fresh without actually needing to get more paper. That’s thanks to the Rocketbook Core’s special notebook. You can write on the glossy paper with a wide variety of Frixion pens, and then when you’re all done, you just wipe the pages off with a damp cloth. The kit even comes with a microfiber towel to get you started.

After you’ve written all you want in the Rocketbook Core notebook, you scan your notes into an app on your Android or iOS device, making them digital. You can even get those notes in color. From there, AI technology allows you to smart search or add smart tiles, making it easier to go back and find what you’re looking for.

specifications

• Compatibility: iOS, Android
• Max Pages: 32 (reusable)
• Audio Recording: No
• Paper: Rocketbook Paper

Pros

• Compatible with several devices
• Comfortable to use
• Digitizes your note

Cons

• ink takes 15 seconds to dry

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

The Apple Pencil isn’t your ordinary smart pen; it’s a device made to make writing and drawing on your iPad a breeze. The 2nd Generation pencil works with the latest high-end iPads — just double-check it’s compatible with yours. It’s comfortable to hold and comes in a classy matte white finish. One side is flat, which prevents it from rolling around. There’s no Lightning port for charging; rather, its battery charges when it’s magnetically attached to the iPad.

Like many other smart pens on this list, the Apple Pencil lets you write and sketch, but it’s extremely accurate. If you’re a designer or artist using an iPad, this pen is a life changer thanks to its insane pressure sensitivity and preciseness. There are a wide variety of apps it’s compatible with to take handwritten notes, mark up documents, draw, and even edit photos.

Specifications

• Compatibility: iOS
• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Audio Recordings: No
• Paper: iPad

Pros

• Accurate
• Sensitive
• Comfortable

Cons

• Only compatible with one type of device

Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse

The Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse works just as well for notes as it does for doodles. You can sketch away in your Moleskin Smart Notebook with Ncoded technology while using the Pen+ Ellipse, and the pen will transfer it all in real-time to your Android, iOS, or Windows device.

The Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse comes with the pen itself, which features a replaceable ink tip, as well as a notebook to get you started. It totes a rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to fiddle around with opening the pen up and purchasing a new one. However, you only get 4 or 5 hours of juice with each charge. It also can feel a bit awkward and chunky in your hand at first.

Specifications

• Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows
• Paper: Moleskine Smart Notebooks

Pros

• Compatible with different devices
• Affordable

Cons

• Heavy

Maylofi Active Stylus Pens for Touch Screen

Maylofis is one of the best brands out there that specialize in making stylus pens.

One of the main reasons why people love this stylus option is because of its aggressive pricing as it’s quite wallet-friendly and works wonderfully. It has a magnificent-looking design and comes in a variety of colors as well. There’s no need for you to install any batteries as this stylus comes with an in-built rechargeable battery that gives a battery backup of about 12 hours on a single charge.

To fully charge the battery, it takes about 60 minutes which is pretty decent as well. In fact, the pen also has a battery-saving feature that turns it off if you leave it for over 30 minutes without using it. On the other hand, the pen is made from copper and even comes with a magnetic cap that covers the charging port to save it from getting damaged by water or dust. Apart from that, this stylus pen comes with a 1.5mm copper tip nib which allows you to write or draw on the touchscreen with precision while giving you a raw feel of using a regular pen.

Specifications

• Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows too
• Comes with an in-built rechargeable battery
• Offers 12 hours of active use on one recharge
• Has a 30-day-long standby time
• Comes with a 1-year long warranty

Pros:

• Works with all touchscreen devices
• Has a metallic body
• Battery life is quite impressive

Cons:

• No mention of the warranty

MENKARWHY Active Stylus Digital Pen for Touch Screen

Starting off with its design and build quality, the design looks absolutely minimal as it comes in a bright white color that almost matches any device you might be having. On top of it, the body of the pen is made from copper, hence, it’s well-constructed and built to last. The special feature of this stylus pen is that it comes with not just one, but two stylus tips. Well, it has a decent 1.5mm nob at one end that will allow you to precisely write or draw on your mobile phone or tablet device. On the other hand, the other end of the stylus features a rounded fiber tip that you can use for scrolling and tapping on the screen.

Along with the stylus pen, you will also get a palm rejection glove pair that will help you rest your hand on the touchscreen and draw efficiently. Moreover, if we talk about its battery, it comes with an in-built battery that offers a power backup of about 8-10 hours. Meanwhile, the standby time of the pen is quite long and it even has a 30-minute power-off feature that saves its battery life.

Specifications

• Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows too
• Comes with an in-built rechargeable battery
• Offers 10 hours of active use on one recharge
• Comes with a pair of palm rejection gloves
• Comes with a 1-year long warranty

Pros:

• Impressive design
• Lightweight and easy to use
• The 1.5mm nib offers a real pen-like feel

Cons:

• Charging time is long

OOCLCURFUL Stylus Pen for Touch Screen

For those of you who are looking for a high-grade stylus pen, but don’t wish to spend a lot of money on it, OOCLCURFUL has one of the best stylus options listed on the market.

Although the name of the brand might seem a little jumbled, the stylus is designed to work accurately on point with sheer precision. Thanks to its gold-plated highly conductive 1.5mm nib, this pen can work with almost any device having a touchscreen while giving you a realistic pen-like feel. In addition to that, the build quality of the pen is absolutely solid and it even comes with a fiber mesh tip at the other end of the pen.

If you take out the fiber mesh tip, it’s basically a cap that is there to protect the charging port of this stylus pen. Beneath the fiber mesh tip cap, it boasts a micro USB port that connects to its in-built rechargeable battery. Speaking of the battery, this stylus pen can work actively for about 10-12 hours on a single charge, which roughly takes about 2 hours.

Specifications

• Compatible with all touchscreen devices
• Comes with an in-built rechargeable battery
• Offers 12 hours of active use on one recharge
• Comes with a pair of palm rejection gloves
• Comes with a 1-year warranty

Pros:

• Only 40 grams of weight
• The fiber mesh tip is very soft
• The gold plating on the nib offers better conductivity

Cons:

• Replacement nibs are not available

Aoitun Stylus Pen for Touch Screens

Without a doubt, this stylus pen has a very commendable build quality if you compare it to the other options available out there. In fact, it’s pretty simple to use as it doesn’t require you to download any applications on your devices, you can simply press a button and start using it with any of your touchscreen devices. The design of the stylus is kept quite simple and it’s pretty lightweight and thin as well which helps users to have a good grip on it while writing.

In fact, if you like drawing on your tablet, you will not find a better stylus option than this one as its 1.5mm gold-plated tip offers amazing accuracy and lets you draw your imagination comfortably. Apart from that, the stylus has an in-built battery which takes about 2 hours of charging time, and offers a battery backup of about 10 hours which is quite good.

Specifications

• Compatible with all touchscreen devices
• Comes with an in-built rechargeable battery
• Offers 10 hours of active use on one recharge
• Automatic 30 minutes turn-off feature
• Comes with a 1-year long warranty

Pros:

• Very accurate feedback
• Solid build quality
• No software download needed

Cons:

• A little pricey

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, smart pens are a great investment, especially if you draw. If you have come this far in this guide, you might have seen some smart pens that caught your interest, do well to check them out and purchase them.