If you’re starting university — or already halfway through it — you’ve probably asked yourself this question:
Should I take notes with a notebook, tablet, laptop… or just my phone?
Short answer:
👉 There is no universal “best” option.
Long answer: some options are clearly better than others — and some are straight-up bad ideas.
I've tried all the mainstream notetaking devices, so let’s break it down from a real student’s perspective.
Yes, people still write by hand.
And yes — in some cases, it actually works.
Helps with memory retention
No distractions
Cheap
Works everywhere
Slow
Hard to organize
Terrible for diagrams, slides, and revisions
Not great for technical subjects
Best for:
Humanities, theory-heavy courses, smaller classes, or universities where laptops aren’t really used in lectures.
If your uni is very “classical” — pen and paper might still be enough, and if you're that type of person who learn better by writing things down this is an easy yes for you.
I only used paper notebooks when I studied for exams to practice lessons. Otherwise I always reorganized my notes (so a tablet was better solution for me).
This one is personal.
For the first 3 years of university, I used an iPad for note-taking.
And honestly?
For the first 1.5–2 years, it was amazing.
Handwritten notes + digital storage
Easy diagrams
Clean, organized folders
Perfect for PDFs and slides
Feels modern and efficient
My learning style changed.
I realized I:
Took fewer notes
Focused more on listening
Learned mostly from presentations and summaries
Started using AI tools to understand and revise content
At that point, handwriting became unnecessary friction. Don't get me wrong, I loved that thing. I didn't have to worry about forgeting a book at home, the notes synced across all my devices, so before an exam I just pulled out my phone for a quick recap. Sadly it slowly become a Netflix machine, and for that price I didn't wanted to use it just for that. Tablets are great early on — but not always a long-term solution.
If I were on a graphic design or architect major, I would definitely use a tablet.
Eventually, I switched to a laptop.
And for my current workflow, it just makes more sense. I can do all the things that I did on my iPad and so much more, but with a bigger screen and longer battery life. Tablets are tablets, even if you buy a keyboard case for them.
Fast typing
Easy access to slides, docs, AI tools
Perfect for projects, essays, group work
Better for revision-based studying
Easy to get distracted
Not always allowed in lectures
Can feel “too digital” for some people
Best for:
Upper years, project-heavy majors, tech/business/photo/video/... students, or anyone using AI and digital materials a lot.
A little advice:
You don't always need the more expensive piece of tech. For example when I'm not doing schoolwork on my laptop I make videos and photos for brands and for myself and my laptop's power is more than enough for me. (I use a Macbook Air M4)
Let’s get this out of the way. At this point just don't take any notes, just full focus in classes.
Using your phone for note-taking at university is the worst option.
No debate.
Tiny screen
Constant notifications
Zero focus
Easy to fall into Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, anything
If you’re using your phone, you’re not taking notes — you’re pretending to. Honestly, have you ever read notes/lessons from your phone? Don't lie.
Do yourself a favor and don’t build bad habits early.
This part matters more than people think.
Some universities:
Require Windows laptops
Use specific software
Expect digital submissions only
Others:
Barely use laptops
Prefer handwritten exams
Don’t care what device you use
👉 Before you buy anything:
Check your university’s requirements
Ask older students
Ask professors
Look at your curriculum
Buying the wrong device can be expensive and useless.
Don’t overinvest immediately
Wait a few weeks
Observe how classes work
See what others use
Ask yourself how you actually learn
Are you memorizing or understanding?
Do you revise from notes or slides?
Are you using AI tools?
Your tools should support your brain, not fight it.
The “best” note-taking tool isn’t a device — it’s what helps you learn.
What worked for me:
Tablet early on
Laptop later
Less note-taking, more understanding
Smarter studying, not more studying
What definitely doesn’t work:
Taking notes on your phone
Your university, your subjects, and your learning style matter more than trends.
Choose wisely — and don’t be afraid to change when your needs change.
👉 Want more student tools, workflows, and study tips?
Check out our other blog posts where we break down systems that actually help students survive uni.
Snackable advice. Real student experience.