Best Tablets for Reading & Annotating PDFs in 2025
For professionals, students, and lifelong learners, the ideal PDF tablet in 2025 blends clarity, annotation ease, long battery life, and user comfort. Whether you’re marking passages in dense reports, sketching notes in margins, or multitasking with research and editing, this updated guide delivers expert-level picks across styles and platforms.
Best Tablets for Reading & Annotating PDFs to Buy in 2025
Kindle Scribe (2024) — Best Overall for Reading & Writing
Why It Stands Out: A true PDF powerhouse that combines a high-resolution E Ink display with responsive handwriting tools. The Kindle ecosystem makes file imports easy.
Pro Insight: Ideal for heavy readers who also like to mark up and take notes. Battery lasts for weeks, and the premium pen offers near-natural writing feel.
Kobo Elipsa 2E — Best for EPUB & PDF Note-Taking Flexibility
Why It Stands Out: A larger E Ink screen with versatile stylus support, EPUB compatibility, Dropbox sync, and fluid annotation.
Pro Insight: A flexible alternative to Kindle, great for students and professionals collaborating across platforms.
Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro — Best Feature-Rich E Ink Tablet
Why It Stands Out: A 10.3″ color E Ink tablet running Android 12, with stylus input, handwriting-to-text, and wider app support.
Pro Insight: Excellent for multitasking users who juggle PDFs, note-taking, and other productivity apps in one device.
reMarkable Paper Pro — Best for Focused Annotation
Why It Stands Out: A distraction-free tablet with color E Ink, smooth stylus interaction, and ultra-simple PDF reading and markup.
Pro Insight: Streamlined for creators, writers, and readers who prize focus over features.
Lenovo Smart Paper — Best Upcoming E Ink Option
Why It Stands Out: A 10.3″ E Ink tablet with notebook features, promising intuitive PDF annotations and lightweight form.
Pro Insight: Watch out for its release—potentially an affordable yet capable new entry.
iPad 11 — Best for Multitasking & Interactive PDFs
Why It Stands Out: Fast M-series chip, Apple Pencil Pro, and unmatched app ecosystem (Adobe Acrobat, GoodNotes, Notability).
Pro Insight: Perfect for professionals shifting between reading, note-taking, and cloud-based editing.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — Best Android PDF Workflow
Why It Stands Out: AMOLED display with S Pen support and robust multi-window capabilities under a clean One UI interface.
Pro Insight: Great for Android users who want vibrant screen readability and stylus-driven annotation.
Comparison Table
| Tablet | Unique Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle Scribe | Smooth note markup + ecosystem | Readers & notetakers |
| Kobo Elipsa 2E | EPUB support + stylus annotations | Open format multitaskers |
| Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro | Android-powered E Ink versatility | Power users & app multitasking |
| reMarkable Paper Pro | Ultra-focus and distraction-free feel | Writers & deep readers |
| Lenovo Smart Paper (TBD) | Future intuitive e-paper option | Waiting-list smart readers |
| iPad 11 (2025) | Performance, flexibility | Interactive PDF user workflows |
| Galaxy Tab S10 FE | AMOLED visuals + S Pen comfort | Android lovers & visual annotators |
Final Thoughts
- Most Balanced Choice: Kindle Scribe—combines simplicity, capability, and ecosystem strength.
- Most Flexible Reader: Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro—a hybrid tool for reading and apps.
- Best for Pure Annotation: reMarkable Paper Pro—simplicity meets precision.
- Best Overall Multitasker: iPad 11 (2025)—powerful, sleek, and versatile.
FAQs
Do I need a stylus?
Yes—especially if you annotate PDFs frequently. Stylus support greatly improves precision and productivity.
E Ink vs LCD—what should I choose?
E Ink excels for long readings and paperwork; LCD is better for charts, color visuals, and editing PDFs extensively.
What about cloud integration?
iPad and Android work smoothly with tools like Dropbox or Google Drive. Kindle and Kobo use their own cloud, while Boox runs Android for wide compatibility.
Can I convert handwriting to text on all these devices?
No—only select models like the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro and iPad (with certain apps) offer reliable handwriting-to-text conversion.
