Frankly, I don't remember the last time I used good ol' pencil and paper to take notes while studying. I still need to go the traditional paper-and-pen route during exams and certain assignments, but outside of that, digital note-taking has taken over almost entirely. Initially, I started typing out my notes on Google Docs, but it quickly became clear that typing wasn’t helping me retain information the way handwriting did.

Soon enough, my TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube were filled with students using an Apple Pencil and iPad to take aesthetic, color-coded notes. Naturally, I was tempted to try it too... and that's exactly what I did. Since then, I've been primarily relying on my iPad for all my note-taking and nearly everything academic-related. But over time, I'm starting to realize where iPads fall short, especially when it comes to studying.

Given that my next semester is just a couple of weeks away, I'm currently in the process of preparing for it in advance. And one of those prep days recently involved a pretty big decision: I finally decided to ditch my iPad and switch to an E-Ink tablet instead.

An e-ink tablet usually doesn’t cost as much as an iPad

Starting with what usually matters most to students: the price. It's no secret that Apple products don't come cheap, and iPads aren't an exception. I currently have a 5th generation iPad Air with 64GB of internal storage. Though it's been a couple of years since I bought my iPad, the device itself cost me around $630. Since I primarily bought it for note-taking, I also ended up buying the second-gen Apple Pencil, which added an additional $130. My total from the Apple Store came down to $760, but the spending didn’t end there either.

Eventually, I caved and decided to purchase a keyboard for my iPad as well. This time, I decided not to go with Apple’s own iPad keyboard offerings, like the Magic Keyboard, since that would've meant spending over $270 again. Instead, I opted for a third-party alternative, the Logitech's Flip Folio, which is priced at $160 for my 11-inch iPad. I also had to get an iPad case, a screen protector, and an iPad stand.

Though I’ve spent even more than mentioned above on my iPad, all of the above alone adds up to over $1000. And while I won’t deny that the iPad is undoubtedly a powerful device, spending over a thousand dollars just to create a note-taking setup that felt slightly overcomplicated for what I actually needed started to feel... unnecessary.

Coming to E-Ink tablets, there are now a wide range of options available at much lower price points. I’ll talk specifically about the one I opted for, since that’ll help make a better and much fairer comparison. I ended up going with the Boox Note Air 4C, which is available on Boox’s own website and online retailers like Amazon. The standard bundle retails for $529.99 and comes with the tablet, a black stylus, a magnetic case, and replacement tips for the stylus.

I ended up going with the standard bundle, and though it’s still pricier than I’d have liked, it cost me half of what I spent on my iPad and its accessories, which is a significant amount for students like me. Of course, there are a lot of other E-Ink tablets available for much cheaper, but the Boox tablet offers perks that make the price point worth it.

An E-Ink display really makes all the difference

E-Ink tablets come with, well, an E-Ink display. I initially thought it wouldn’t make a huge difference and assumed it was probably just another way to lure you into buying a product you don’t really need. But the moment I started using it, I realized having an E-Ink display makes all the difference.

During my semester, there are days when I'm glued to my desk and iPad for hours on end. I’ve had twelve-hour study days where I fall asleep at my desk with my Apple Pencil still in my hand. And though all that studying typically ends up being worth it, staring at a bright LCD screen for hours left my eyes feeling sore and dried out by the end of the day. Once I’m done studying, I usually end up working for a couple more hours on my MacBook, which only makes matters worse.

I didn’t realize just how much my iPad’s screen was contributing to the eye strain until I spen a few hours taking notes on the Note Air 4C. Unlike a lot of E-Ink displays, the Boox Note Air 4C isn’t limited to just black and white, it supports color too. That means I can still highlight, organize, and review my notes exactly how I like, without straining my eyes in the process. It’s not as vibrant as an iPad screen, of course, but it’s more than good enough for studying.

Turns out, studying feels better on an E-Ink screen

Despite being on summer break right now, I was too excited to wait until my semester began to see how the Note Air 4C holds up when it comes to studying. So, I decided to spend a couple of hours voluntarily studying during my vacation, just to get a feel for how it compares to my usual iPad setup.

And honestly? The difference was immediate. I didn’t have to squint, take as many breaks, or constantly adjust the brightness. The display felt natural to look at, almost like reading off paper, and I could focus for longer stretches without feeling fatigued. Taking notes on the Boox Note Air 4C was also a pleasant display.

If you’ve used a stylus and a normal tablet to take notes, you likely know how the stylus glides across the screen almost too smoothly. It can feel a bit like writing on glass. The Note Air 4C, on the other hand, has a matte screen that adds just the right amount of resistance. It makes the writing experience feel far more paper-like.

Though I've heard people say getting a matte screen protector for an iPad can help replicate that feeling, it's an additional cost I wasn’t willing to take on. It also supposedly damages the Apple Pencil’s tips, and getting replacement tips is yet another cost. The Boox Note Air 4C, on the other hand, comes with replacement tips right in the box.

Most E-Ink tablets have fantastic battery life

With my iPad Air, I'd typically need to charge it before leaving for college, and by the time I came home, it was already close to dying again. On heavy study days where I'd spend my free time studying in the library, I'd need to plug it in midway through the day just to make sure it lasted. Though I'm yet to head back to college and test how the Note Air 4C holds up in a full day of classes, I’ve already noticed a major difference.

After hours of studying, note-taking, and tinkering with the device during my break, the battery barely budged. It has a 3700 mAh battery, and though I haven't been taking notes right now as I would be during the semester, I've spent hours reading this week, and I'm yet to feel the need to plug it in. So, I’m already sure I won’t need to carry around a charger with me all day, something I always had to do with my iPad.

Looking back, I should’ve made the change sooner

Though I don't particularly regret getting an iPad for college, and it's still one of the best investments I made for my studies, if there’s a better option available, I’m not going to ignore it just because I’ve already spent money. Strangely enough, getting an E-Ink tablet was all I needed to actually look forward to studying again.