Whenever someone thinks about a tablet, the first instinct is to mention the iPad. After all, it's the device that defines the category, and there's an iPad for everyone between the pricing tiers. But it's not always the best device for specific use cases; people who get eye strain from digital screens or those who like to do their reading or work outside when it's sunny. For those and some other specific users, an E Ink tablet like the Boox Tab Ultra or a Kindle can outperform the iPad and be a much better experience.

5 For the writing experience

The Apple Pencil just can't compare to the natural paper-like feel of E Ink

I've used almost every stylus-equipped device you could name, from drawing tablets for art or architecture to iPads and phones, and none compares to the writing experience on E Ink displays. Maybe it's something in how the screen is made that gives it a delicate roughness, like writing on thick paper with a good pencil, but it's unsurpassed in my experience. It's the closest thing to not writing on a digital device that you can get, and I highly recommend trying a ReMarkable, Boox, Kindle, Kobo or any of the other big names in E Ink displays that have stylus support.

That's not to say the experience of using an iPad and the Apple Pencil is bad, but it's good in different ways. The smooth surface glass on an iPad lends itself to digital art, which you probably wouldn't be doing on E Ink anyway if you wanted to use bright colors and know which shades you're using. But for notetaking or rough sketching, E Ink is the superior experience.

4 To combat eye fatigue

E Ink displays are superior for long reading sessions

If you're part of the population that doesn't get eye strain from backlit screens, then you probably already have an iPad and are very happy using it to browse or read books or any of the other good uses for a decent-sized tablet. But if digital displays give you eye strain, headaches, or dance around in your vision after a while, you might know how life-changing using an E Ink display for work can be.

It can be truly transformative in how easily you can absorb information or stay entranced by the storyline of the fiction novel you're reading. Plus, we're always told about the potentially harmful effects of blue light emission from digital devices. E Ink uses whatever light source is in the room. If it's one with inbuilt lighting, the lights are on the front layer and point down, so the light bounces and loses strength before it reaches your eyes. Either way, it's not glaring light into your eyes from a bright source, and that should make you (and your optometrist) happy.

3 To reduce distractions

Limited notifications and muted or monochrome screens let you stay on task

Distraction is a major issue for many people, with every app trying to pop up notifications of every little thing the apps think we should be attending to. Whether it's messages, emails, or other annoyances, it's hard to stay focused when trying to get substantive work done. Plus, that's only thinking about notifications and not the ever-present desire to flick through different apps and see what's going on. Studies have shown that using grayscale on devices reduces screen time significantly, perhaps because it reduces some of the psychological tricks that app makers use to keep us using them. And even color E Ink displays are muted over the bright hues of any iPad screen.

Many E Ink devices don't even have an app store or a way to add additional apps other than what the manufacturer intended. This further reduces the level of distraction when using them, which is one of the major reasons to use them in the first place. The iPad's weakness is also its strength: the millions of apps in the App Store waiting to be used. It's awesome if you want to do multiple things, but not so much if you're easily distracted.

2 For using outdoors

E Ink tablets rule when you use them in bright sunlight

Even the best nano-coated iPads still struggle with bright light and reflections, which makes them difficult to use for any length of time outdoors. That's a real shame, especially when the weather is nice enough to be outside, but that's not a weakness shared by any E Ink tablet. Because of how they're constructed and the way they use reflected light, E Ink displays are just at home outdoors as they are with whatever ambient light you have in your room, and even the frontlit versions turn down the lighting when outside, so you get a consistent experience. E Ink is far more comfortable in bright lighting conditions, and iPads just can't compete.

1 For battery life that won't quit

E Ink only uses power when refreshing the screen

Another big strength of E Ink tablets is the multi-day battery life, especially if you have Wi-Fi turned off. Because the screen only uses electricity when refreshing, it uses almost no power when you're reading the display. If you're constantly scrolling or trying to watch videos on E Ink you'll run down the battery somewhat faster than an iPad because it uses more power per refresh, but that's not really what you'd use E Ink for. Even heavy E Ink tablet use is going to outpace an iPad, though, and devices like the ReMarkable Paper Pro could go weeks without needing charging.

The iPad might be mighty, but E Ink has the edge in some situations

I love E Ink, and my house is strewn with tablets using the technology. I love the immediacy and writing experience on the ReMarkable 2 and its distraction-free display. I've also got a Boox Tab Ultra C Pro and a handful of Kobo and Kindle devices (including the versions that allow writing notes and annotations). That doesn't mean I don't also have an iPad Pro and a base model iPad as well, as they're different tools for different uses. The app situation on the iPad is superior, and E Ink can't really be used for YouTube or other video watching. It all depends on what you're going to use your device for most, and it might make the most sense to get both.