When you write with a standard pen or pencil, all you are doing is connecting to the tip of the pen and writing on a page. However, the best smart pen technology will capture not only the position of the tip of the pen, but also pressure levels, and the angle that the pen is being held at.
By capturing all of these data points, a smart pen can offer something that a standard pen cannot ” the ability to preserve and interact with all of the information inside of the pen in real time.
Some of the most popular uses for a best smart pen include:
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook | Best Overall |  |
| Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set Pen & Dotted Smart Notebook | Budget Pick |  |
| Livescribe 3 smartpen Black Edition | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
Pros:
- Funnels hand-written notes into notebooks
- Has multiple uses
- Decent user support
- Incorporates useful companion apps
- Offers extra pages for notes and other information
A unique product that plays the role of a smart pen and a notebook all in one, the Rocketbook uses a combination of heat and microfiber to turn your handwritten notes into digital text.
2. NEO SMARTPEN N2 Bluetooth Digital Pen Compatible
Pros:
- Bluetooth streamlines the note-taking experience and allows you to take notes virtually anywhere
- Integrated with a free note-taking software
- Easy to use
- Produces smooth results
- Free App for handwriting recognition
- 1 year warranty
- Extended battery life
- Waterproof
- Comes with tools (e.g., a needle?) for cleaning
- Ergonomic design
Cons:
- There have been issues about quality control and some have defective (i.e., they write very light)
- Expensive
- Does not work well with thick paper
The N2 is a fantastic alternative to pens, pencils, and highlighters. This pen is compatible with a variety of devices and is great for those who want to take notes in different places.
The integrated highlight tools make it easy to highlight, highlight over images, or doodle. It also has a built-in battery life indicator, so you know when it’s time to recharge it and take some more notes.
You will receive a free app that easily translates your handwriting to text and can work on Windows, Android, iOS, and more. If you’re always on the go and want to take handwritten notes without even penning them down, this is a fantastic choice.
3. Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse Smart Writing Set Pen & Ruled Smart Notebook
Pros:
- Free app works with any smartphone
- Notes can be kept securely online
- Includes a pocket-sized wirebound notebook
- Pen lasts for a long time
(Retina Display iOS, Android)
Moleskine has been one of the top brands when it comes to stationery. Most of the things they make – journals, notebooks, etc. – are supplied to students. The Moleskine Pen is one of their first steps towards integrating digital and analog curriculum.
The Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse Smart Writing set is a set of digital smart tools for taking down notes. You can stuff it in your pocket or backpack and take it with you wherever you go. Once you get back home or to your office, you can sync it to your Moleskine Notes app and file it easily via color-coded categories.
4. Livescribe 2GB Echo Smartpen
Pros:
- Documents go offline on the pen
- Records and syncs easily with free Livescribe+ App
- Two-year battery life and water-tightness
- Uses special paper that saves ink
- Unlimited file storage in the app
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Expensive
- Pen is heavier than others
- Apps can be glitchy
The Livescribe Echo Smartpen is our top pick because of its unique design that enables you to record and save your lectures or meetings and find the information you need almost immediately. It has been designed to record both audio and video, and the files are available to you on the pen. They stay there until the files are synchronized to Livescribe+ App. And this can be done anytime, anywhere since the app is available on almost all devices ranging from Android, iPhone, tablet, Mac or Windows laptops. The syncing process takes mere minutes, which is fantastic considering the 2GB data space.
5. Wacom Bamboo Spark Smart Folio Digital Ballpoint Pen
Pros:
- Hands-free smart functionality
- Wireless connectivity
- Compact and ergonomic
- Great app integration
- Can be used with both hands for natural feeling
- Pen comes with two batteries
Cons:
- A bit expensive
- No eraser on pen, which can be inconvenient
- Only available for the Air 2 tablet
- Pen is slightly on the heavier side
The Digital Ballpoint Pen from Wacom offers smart functionality without using a stylus. It comes with a magnetic connector on the tablet which can be used for multiple features. The pen comes with a rechargeable battery.
When turned on, the pen can be used as a wired mouse. It has a tripod mode for a better grip. When the pen is placed on the tablet, it will automatically turn off, and it will automatically turn on when picked up. This is designed to conserve battery life.
The pen can be used as a stylus or an eraser alongside your finger. This is possible with the built-in touch ring. Every time you move this ring on the back of the pen, it will act as a left-click on your screen. But you can set it to act as a right-click if you prefer.
6. Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Compact and wireless
- Works well with many software applications
- Very accurate
- Works well with smartphones
- Inbuilt features a touchscreen display
Cons:
- Cumbersome to use
- Writing can be difficult for some
- Battery uncertain
The Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner is a very affordable option for the best smart pens. It's compact and lightweight, so it doesn't feel cumbersome to hold. Like the other products on this list, this pen connects to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to carry out functions like note-taking or text annotation.
The OCR digital highlighter and reader stylus works with many software applications including file sharing page, Evernote, and SmartAnnotate. With the touchscreen capability, you are able to write directly onto the screen. Overall, this pen is a decent option if you're looking for the best smart pens for the money.
7. Livescribe 3 smartpen Black Edition
Pros:
- High-quality color screen
- Updated mobile app
- Good integration and interaction with other Livescribe products
- Excellent sound quality
- Option to take notes in both pen and paper mode
- Proprietary paper looks good, but can be expensive to purchase
- Automatic syncing of all your notes and recordings to your smartphone
- Available in three colors
- Elegant, lightweight design
- Impressive battery life and charge time
Cons:
- A bit bulky and heavy to carry around with you
- Some features get lost in the mobile app
- Might be difficult for students to use in the classroom
- Requires expensive proprietary paper to take notes
- Screen is not as high-resolution as other smart pens offer
If you’re in the market for the best smart pens for students, then look no further than the Livescribe 3 smartpen. It’s sleek and stylish, and boasts a sleek color screen that makes note-taking and sharing easier than ever. Synchronization with your mobile device is simple, and the whole experience feels more like using a smartphone or tablet than a pen and paper.
8. NEO SMARTPEN M1 Bluetooth Digital Pen
Pros:
- Lets you capture ideas anywhere … anytime
- Easy to use
- Strong Bluetooth connection to your device
- Has a built-in memory
- Two writing stylus varieties … soft and hard
- Battery life is decent for the price
- Comes with compatible notebooks
- Makes it easy to export sketches to your devices
- Can be used for fun activities like art creation, games, and learning
- You can also get free refills for the notebook
Cons:
- Its functionality is limited by your device’s
- Lacks extra features like cloud storage and supporting OS
- Sample notes are in Chinese (but the instructions are not)
Mac, PC and Evernote.
9. Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set Pen & Dotted Smart Notebook
Pros:
- Tracks writing with smartphone app
- Works with any paper (not just Moleskine notebooks)
- Sensitive stylus tip
- Organization and search features
- Notes can be shared with others
Cons:
- Notepad application was lagging in our testing
- Must use modern stylus with app
Moleskine recently released a new smart pen set to work with their smart notebooks. The Pen+ Smart Writing Set Pen & Dotted Smart Notebook are designed to interact seamlessly with the free Moleskine app on your smartphone or tablet – no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth needed. The application will track your writing with accuracy and will help you keep all your notes organized and searchable!
Plug the pen into the headphone jack of your smartphone with the audio jack wire that comes with the set. Once you download and open the app, you can start writing away, and as you do so, the app shows you which portions of the page you’ve filled.
This smart notebook is compatible with all Moleskine notebooks and is a great choice for someone looking for both a traditional notebook and a smart notebook.
10. Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad Digital Notebook
Pros:
- Features Inkspace app for your smartphone
- Connects to smartphone with Bluetooth
- Features a touchscreen interface
- Added privacy features with a 128-bit AES encryption
- Includes a pen holder
- Can turn pages with a touch
- Will work with both Apple and Windows
Cons:
- Inflexible surface
- You must purchase the pen separately
If you love writing down your thoughts, ideas and notes but hate clutter, you will benefit from the Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad Digital Notebook. The pad is really a digital notebook; you can organize your notes, drawings and more digitally.
The Smartpad surface has a pen holder, so it's easy to grab your pen when you need to create something or write a note. The surface also features a rubberized grip for your pen. You can also turn the pages with a touch.
Other features include a micro USB port, LED indicator, power switch and power LED to keep you updated on the status of the device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best smart pen on the market?
The smart pen that we recommend is the Moleskine Smartpen+ because of its superb features. The pen itself has multi-function with Wi-Fi capabilities. Aside from that, this pen has a special smart ink cartridge which makes use of the touch technology. With this pen, you can connect to your smartphone wirelessly. Also, the smart sensor records every detail of your writing.
What is a smart pen used for?
The smart pen is used to digitally record handwritten notes. There is a correct posture while using a smart pen, with the pen being held 60 degrees above the paper. You can use smart pens to record and share handwritten notes.
Do smart pens need special paper?
Most of them don't need special paper. But for the few that do, the manufacturers usually sell it as part of the package. Also, the advantage of getting the smart pen with the special paper is that it makes viewing your note on a new screen more enjoyable.
For instance, if you're using the smart pen on your smartphone, then the other option would be to transfer your notes to your computer. But, the issue with this transfer method is that you won’t be able to see the notes on your device as the larger screen size magnifies the finer details. The former, with the use of the special paper, allows you to view your notes on your device screen in a readable format.
Is there a pen that records what you write?
There exists a number of smart pens out in the marketplace. They have various ways in which they record what you write, and the variety of smart pens allows you to choose one that suits your writing activities the best.
They are not quite like the ballpoint pens of old. They come with a variety of features and at relatively affordable prices.
Conclusion
A smart pen is one that can perform tasks based on its surroundings. Or in other words, it is a smart, wireless pen that allows you to jot down notes, have them organized, synched with your computer’s documents, and more. It would also remind you of your notes, send handwritten notes via email, store your notes.
With unlimited applications, a smart pen is very useful and is a must have for anyone who is always on the run.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook | Best Overall | |
| Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set Pen & Dotted Smart Notebook | Budget Pick | |
| Livescribe 3 smartpen Black Edition | Upgrade Pick | |