XPPen Magic Note Pad Review: A Paper-Feel Notes Tablet
Quick verdict
A note-taking tablet with a paper-like screen, Ink mode, Android apps, and the pen and case in the box. It's an LCD, not e-ink, and the pen can't really tilt.
Buy it if
- You want a paper-feel tablet for notes and PDFs.
- You want Android apps, not just a notes app.
- You want the pen and case included.
Skip it if
- You want e-ink battery life. Look at the Kindle Scribe or BOOX.
- You shade with tilt.
- You want a rear camera to scan documents.
Specs
| Screen | 10.95 in X-Paper LCD (not e-ink), 90Hz |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 |
| Color | Full color, plus muted and black-and-white Ink modes |
| Front light | Backlit LCD, 400 nits |
| Storage | 128 GB, 6 GB RAM, no card slot |
| Apps | Android 14 with Google Play |
| Pen | X3 Pro Pencil 2, 16,384 levels |
| Pen included | Yes |
| Battery | 8,000 mAh (about a week of light use, claimed) |
| Weight | 495 g |
| Thickness | 7 mm |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Paper-like writing surface.
- Ink and muted color modes, plus full color.
- Pen, magnetic case and charger included.
- Lifetime XPPen Notes membership included.
Cons
- LCD, not e-ink; battery life is tablet-normal.
- Tilt barely works with this pen.
- No rear camera, no microSD.
- Visible IPS glow; dim in sunlight.
Real-world math
Writing space. The 10.95-inch 16:10 screen is about 236 x 147 mm, or 348 square centimeters. Similar to the BOOX Note Air5 C.
Sharpness. 1920 x 1200 on 10.95 inches is about 207 pixels per inch.
Battery. XPPen claims about a week at 3 to 4 hours a day in power-saving mode. That's 21 to 28 hours of use. E-ink tablets go for weeks.
What's included. Case, pen and 20W charger. Many tablets make you buy all three.
Writing and drawing
Parka Blogs found the matte surface a joy to write on, with good pressure. Slow diagonal lines wobble slightly, and the pen can't tilt low enough for tilt brushes. Creative Bloq gave it 8/10 for notes, reading and light sketching.
The trade-offs
It's not e-ink, so it doesn't have e-ink's battery. The Gadgeteer pointed out the Magic Drawing Pad offers more storage and cameras for similar money. There's no rear camera and no card slot, and Parka Blogs noted obvious IPS glow.
How it compares
| Spec | XPPen Magic Note Pad | BOOX Note Air5 C | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 7.6/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Screen | 10.95 in X-Paper LCD (not e-ink), 90Hz | 10.3 in Kaleido 3 color e-ink | 10.9 in LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 300 PPI black and white, 150 PPI color | - |
| Color | Full color, plus muted and black-and-white Ink modes | - | - |
| Front light | Backlit LCD, 400 nits | Yes, warm and cool | - |
| Storage | 128 GB, 6 GB RAM, no card slot | 64 GB + microSD, 6 GB RAM | 128 GB + microSD, 8 GB RAM |
| Apps | Android 14 with Google Play | Android 15 with Google Play | - |
| Pen | X3 Pro Pencil 2, 16,384 levels | BOOX Pen3, 4,096 levels | S Pen, no battery |
| Pen included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 8,000 mAh (about a week of light use, claimed) | 3,700 mAh | - |
| Weight | 495 g | 430 g | - |
| Thickness | 7 mm | 5.8 mm | - |
| Refresh rate | - | - | 90Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | - | - | - |
| Chip | - | - | Samsung Exynos 1580 |
| OS | - | - | Android, long update support |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Is it e-ink?
- No. It's an LCD with a paper-like finish and an Ink mode that turns everything black and white.
- Does the notes app cost extra?
- XPPen includes a lifetime XPPen Notes membership. One reviewer mentioned ads in the free tier; the included membership should cover you.
- What's in the box?
- XPPen lists the tablet, magnetic folio case, X3 Pro Pencil 2, 4 soft nibs, a nib extractor, USB-C cable and 20W adapter.
- How long does the battery last?
- XPPen says about a week at 3 to 4 hours a day in power-saving mode. Expect less with full brightness.
Bottom line
If you want a comfortable notes tablet that also runs apps, and you don't need e-ink, this is a good value. For serious sketching, the Magic Drawing Pad does more.