r/androidtablets • u/Raficsea • 1h ago
Request Considering to make the switch from paper to tablet and i'm uncertain on what to get
I’m in my 3rd year of engineering degree. I’ve been debating for about 3 years whether I should make the switch from paper to a tablet.
I love the freedom that paper gives me, and writing everything down by hand definitely helps me retain information better. That said, I’ve reached a point where I’m fed up with carrying around one notebook for lecture notes and another for exercises for every single class. I end up spending more time transcribing information that’s already on the lecture slides just to keep my notes organized than actually listening to the prof and jotting down what they’re explaining. I even get lost in my own notes and struggle to find info across the different notebooks I use because I run out of room in my main one.
Given all of that, I’m pretty sure it’s time for me to make the switch and that this isn’t just a passing thought.
The question now is: which tablet should I get? It needs to meet a few requirements:
- I need stylus support so I can write on it. The stylus should either be included or have a reasonably priced alternative available.
- I need an app/software that lets me write and organize my notes, PDFs, PowerPoint slides, and Word docs.
- File transfer between the tablet and my other devices (phone, laptop) needs to be fairly straightforward.
- The tablet should be intuitive to use and fast enough to handle my workflow without lagging.
- It should be budget-friendly. My target is $350–$500, but I’d be open to stretching it if it's genuinely justified.
My current setup is an HP laptop and a Samsung phone that is seriously overdue for an upgrade (it's 7 years old). If there’s an interesting bundle or promotion that would let me get a tablet and upgrade my phone at the same time, that would definitely catch my eye.
I'm mainly looking for recommendations here since I'm not really in the loop when it comes to tablets. ¯_(ツ)_/¯