Excels as a tablet and e-reader

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2025 Verified Purchase I will preface by saying I am not an artist. I strictly used this tablet for productivity, reading, and editing a pdf bullet journal/planner. I honestly thought the screen switching between normal tablet mode and pseudo e-paper mode was just a gimmick and would get used once in a blue moon. But, I have found myself switching back and forth for different tasks, and it has really improved the overall experience. Going from black and white while reading at night, to faux color e-paper for editing my planner pdf, then back to normal mode for browsing the internet. It has been a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Another thing which is very important that this tablet excels at; minimum brightness. This is something that doesn't get talked about much but is essential for a device like this. The minimum brightness is incredibly dim. You could use this in a pitch dark room and not bother your eyes. It is perfect and should be talked about more. I also had concerns about the performance, but I have been pleasantly surprised by that as well. I wouldn't play games on it of course, but just browsing, using apps, and typical productivity tasks it is perfectly performant. (I split screened Firefox with several tabs and an 1800 page pdf open in the native notes app next to it with no issues). It also weighs a good bit less than my wife's iPad 10th gen, which helps when reading. I don't find this device to be particularly fatiguing, but of course it isn't as light as a purpose built e-reader. Battery life is also excellent. I have no problem ending the day with 50-60% battery. If you came here looking for a competent Swiss army knife tablet, you will not be disappointed with this one.

Great hybrid Android tablet for drawing, notes and reading

In my opinion, the XPPen Magic Note Pad is a fantastic hybrid device that pulls in the features that I wanted and more that I didn’t know I wanted but truly appreciate. I was looking for a new tablet with a focus on drawing since current tablet is from 2015 and the battery life on it lasts about an hour, so it has to be constantly plugged in. I saw a review on YouTube for the Magic Note Pad that had just recently been released so I went ahead and purchased it since I thought the price was more than fair. The 3 screen modes weren’t something I was shopping for, but I’m really stoked to have it. The full color mode is good, and I use that for web browsing and lite gaming. The second mode is colored paper, which is a washed-out version of full color, and it is easier on the eyes for drawing and note taking. And the third mode is a black and white like e-paper mode that is great for reading kindle books without causing eye strain. The screen has a soft matte finish that makes drawing on it a lot better than drawing on smooth glass. The drawback of this finish is that the viewing angle is narrower, so you must be directly in front of the screen to see it clearly. Being as it’s not a large screen I only plan on using it solo. The pen has 16k pressure sensitivity and is battery-less. Paired with the matte finish on the screen the drawing and note taking experience is really good. I use Clip Studio and Artflow for drawing and I use Noteshelf 3 for notes, and with the how light this tablet is it’s easy to take this along and use anywhere. The only con I have with the device is that it is on an Android OS and there is only a lite version MS Word available, so you don’t have all the editing features as you would on the full blown version in Windows OS.

Perfect for Students – Feels Like Real Paper, Super Convenient!

As a student who takes tons of notes every day, I’ve tried several digital devices before, but the XPPen Magic Note Pad is by far the best one I’ve used. What initially sold me were the triple color modes (especially Light Color mode, which makes reading comics an absolute joy), but what blew me away was how well it works for note-taking in class. The writing experience is smooth with just the right amount of resistance—it feels like using a ballpoint pen on paper. And best of all? It’s silent. No annoying tapping noises during lectures! One of my favorite features is the ability to tap the locked screen and jump straight into the Notes app. It’s a small thing, but incredibly useful when you need to jot something down quickly. The pen doesn’t need charging either, which is another huge plus. There’s also a built-in audio recording feature, and the handwriting-to-text conversion is a game-changer. I’ve used it to turn class notes into typed-up assignments—no more retyping everything from scratch. If you’re a student or someone who takes extensive notes and reads frequently, I 100% recommend this device. It’s easy on the eyes, super responsive, and honestly just a joy to use.

Very convenient for work

It's super handy for work. There's a physical button that lets you switch between three screen color modes, which I didn’t think I’d care about—but it actually makes a big difference when switching between tasks or lighting. Easy on the eyes too. Plus, the Notes app it comes with gives you full premium access for life once you sign up. No fees, no subscriptions. Love that. Not gonna lie, things weren’t perfect right out of the box. One thing that bugged me was the promise that you could download any app from Google Play—but when I tried a few (like Microsoft Whiteboard), they came up as incompatible. I reached out to XPPen’s customer service, and to their credit, they were quick and helpful. They guided me a workaround using APKPure to install the apps I needed. Bit of a detour, but it worked. Customer service told me it's because the device was designed without a rear camera, but some apps'code requires the device to have both a front and rear camera in order to be downloadable from Google Play. Kinda weird requirement, honestly. Good news is, they also said this issue should be fixed in a software update by the end of the month—so hopefully it’s just a temporary thing.

It is convenient to take notes

As a student, I take a ton of notes every day, so I’ve been looking for something that’s easy on the eyes and actually feels good to write on. I’ve tried a few other devices before, but they either didn’t feel right when writing or just weren’t comfortable to use for long. And the tapping sound some screens make when I write? Super annoying—I really can’t stand that. I got the XPPen Magic Note Pad mainly because of the triple color modes (and yeah, I love reading comics too). The Light Color mode is honestly perfect for that—it seriously feels like reading a real comic book. That was such a nice surprise. But what I love most is using it for class notes. One feature I really love is that even when the screen is locked, I can just tap the screen to instantly open the XPPen Notes app. It’s super convenient, especially for quick note-taking in class. Writing on it feels smooth, with just enough resistance—kind of like using a ballpoint pen on paper. And it’s quiet, which I really appreciate during lectures. The pen doesn’t need charging either—just pick it up and go. Super responsive. Plus, I can record audio while taking notes, and there’s this handwriting-to-text feature that’s been a lifesaver. I’ve used it to turn my handwritten notes into typed-up assignments without needing to retype everything. It saves so much time and makes schoolwork way easier.

paper-like screen amazing

I’ve been using the XPPen Magic Note Pad for about a week now. And I’ll be honest—when I first got it, I was pretty excited. The whole “paper-like” screen experience sounded amazing. However, after testing it out, I have to admit- it didn’t immediately feel like writing on real paper. The surface is smoother than I expected, and there wasn’t that scratchy resistance I usually associate with traditional notebooks or some e-ink notetaking tablets. At first, I thought, “Okay, maybe this isn’t for me.” But then I dug a little deeper. Turns out, the screen is made of nano-etched glass—not just for show, but to reduce glare by up to 97%. That really makes a difference. I’ve spent long hours reading and taking notes on it, and my eyes definitely felt less strained compared to using a glossy tablet or even some e-ink screens. It also doesn’t have the ghosting effect like some e-ink screens during writing. That’s a big plus. I also learned that the device has received TÜV SÜD Low Blue Light Certification, which gave me even more confidence to keep using it. So, while the tactile “paper” feeling may not be 100% there, the eye comfort and visual clarity are genuinely impressive after long-time use. And the pen has a soft tip that gives just enough resistance to feel controlled and smooth—not too slippery, but also not scratchy. If you’re looking for a balanced note-taking experience with excellent eye protection, it’s a smart choice. It’s not copying paper—it’s redefining it. And honestly, it’s starting to grow on me.

Way More Affordable Than ReMarkable

I was considering the ReMarkable 2, but after seeing the price and the mandatory subscription for cloud storage, I decided to go with the XP-PEN Magic Note Pad instead. Honestly, it was the best decision! The writing experience is just as smooth, and the XP-PEN Notes app is completely free—no extra fees for syncing or exporting notes. I can save my work as PDF, PNG, or even convert handwriting to text, all without hidden costs.

Good value for money

I was hesitant at first, but the Magic Note Pad has proven to be a great investment. It feels just like writing on paper, making it very convenient for taking notes.

So practical and convenient

I travel a lot and the XP-PEN Magic Note Pad has become my go-to tool for capturing ideas. It's very simple to use and lightweight, making it perfect for on-the-go. Compared to higher-end models, the price and performance make this a clear winner.

Ideal for simple sketches and notes

I've been using the Magic Note Pad for a while now and it's been very reliable. The free XP-PEN NOTES software is a big plus and the pressure sensitivity is great for light drawing and note taking. The only minor quibble is that there's no screen protector in the box, which would have prevented the screen from getting scratched. Still, for the price, it's a great device.

Perfect for a Paperless Office!

As a student, I would say Magic Note Pad is perfect for me! I can export my notes as PDF or images, and the free XP-pen Notes converts my handwriting into text very accurately. Very convenient for organizing and sharing notes!