DevicesUpdated Oct 31, 20263 reviewed

The best E-ink tablets

Paper-feel screens for handwriting, reading and marking up PDFs without the pull of notifications. The main split: a closed, focused system or an open Android tablet that runs any app.

Quick answer: the best is BOOX Note Air5 C (8.3/10, best open e-ink tablet); reMarkable Paper Pro (7.5/10, best for handwriting); Kindle Scribe (2025) (7.4/10, best for Kindle readers).

Attribute	BOOX Note Air5 C	reMarkable Paper Pro	Kindle Scribe (2025)
Score	8.3	7.5	7.4
From	$499.99	$629	$499.99 (launch)
Best for	Users who want an open Android e-ink tablet that runs third-party apps alongside color note-taking.	Distraction-free handwritten note-taking and PDF markup in color on a large page.	Kindle readers who want a large-screen e-reader that doubles as a simple digital notebook.
Capability	9.0	8.7	8.0
Ease of use	7.2	8.8	8.7
Value	7.3	6.1	6.7
Compatibility	9.1	6.6	7.3
Openness	8.8	6.0	5.5

Underlined values win their row.

№013DeviceE-ink tablets

Best open e-ink tablet

BOOX Note Air5 C

The Note Air5 C is the e-ink tablet for people who don’t want to give up their apps: it runs Android 15 with three years of updates, takes microSD cards, and has physical page-turn buttons — on top of what TechRadar calls one of the best writing experiences it has tested. Colors look muted and it’s heavy.

Android 15 with 3 years of software support
Excellent writing experience

Expensive
Some colors appear muted

$499.99Full review

№011DeviceE-ink tablets

Best for handwriting

reMarkable Paper Pro

The Paper Pro keeps everything people love about reMarkable — a focused, notification-free notebook — and finally adds color and a light for dim rooms. It’s slim and beautifully made. It is also expensive at $629, and reviewers still notice the screen’s lag.

Color is a welcome, useful addition
Backlight (reading light) lets you work in dark environments

Expensive
Display often feels slow

$629Full review

№012DeviceE-ink tablets

Best for Kindle readers

Kindle Scribe (2025)

If you already read on Kindle, the 2025 Scribe is a lovely upgrade: arguably the best display on any e-paper writing tablet, a thin and sturdy body, and Google Drive and OneDrive support. As a notebook it’s simpler than rivals, annotating books is frustrating, and it costs as much as an iPad Air.

Arguably the best display on an e-paper writing tablet
Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive support improve usability

Expensive; costs as much as an iPad Air but does less
Handheld use is difficult (taller body, slim bezels)

$499.99 (launch)Full review

Compare them in detail

E-ink tablets: questions

What is the best E-ink tablet in 2026?

BOOX Note Air5 C scores highest in our ranking at 8.3/10. The Note Air5 C is the e-ink tablet for people who don’t want to give up their apps: it runs Android 15 with three years of updates, takes microSD cards, and has physical page-turn buttons — on top of what TechRadar calls one of the best writing experiences it has tested. Colors look muted and it’s heavy.

What’s the cheapest option?

BOOX Note Air5 C: $499.99 (device only; $529.99 bundle).

BOOX Note Air5 C or reMarkable Paper Pro?

BOOX Note Air5 C (8.3) — get it if you want Kindle, Kobo, Readwise and your note app all on one paper-like screen. reMarkable Paper Pro (7.5) — get it if you handwrite a lot, mark up PDFs, and want a device that does nothing else.

How did you rank these?

Specs come from each maker’s official spec page (or newsroom, where the store blocks automated access). Pros and cons come from Engadget, Tom’s Guide and TechRadar reviews, linked inline.

Read the methodology