The 7 Best LCD Writing Tablets for Notes, Lists and Doodles, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: The most complete package here, with a stylus, magnets and a kickstand on an 8.5 inch screen.

The Jot is a named-brand 8.5 inch LCD tablet that ships with a stylus, built-in magnets on the back, and a fold-out kickstand. Erasing is a single button press, and the screen wipes instantly. It is the only pick in this ranking designed around being mounted or propped, not just carried.

It ranks first because the accessories solve real daily irritations. Magnets let it live on a refrigerator or a metal filing cabinet, and the kickstand turns it into a standing message board for a shared desk. Those two features matter more than a bigger screen, because a pad you can see at a glance gets used. The 8.5 inch writing area is smaller than the 10, 11.5 and 12 inch picks below, which is the cost of choosing the compact format.

Buy it if the pad will live in a kitchen, a dorm or a shared workspace and you want something that stays put. Skip it if you want the biggest surface for the money, because the cheaper generic tablets give you more inches.

Screen

8.5 inch LCD

Included

Stylus pen

Mounting

Built-in magnets and kickstand

Erase

Instant, single button

Our verdict: A large edge-to-edge panel that recharges from a phone cable, so there are no coin cells to swap.

Here you get a 12 inch panel with almost no frame, powered by a built-in cell that refills through a Type-C port. Because the display runs nearly edge to edge, the 12 inches are mostly usable writing space, not frame. The slim body suits a desk or a bag.

It takes second place because charging is a genuine quality-of-life change. Most LCD pads depend on a coin cell, and the first sign of a dying one is faint lines or an erase that stops responding. A Type-C port means you can top the pad up with the same cable that charges a phone. It sits below the Jot because the listing mentions no stylus, stand or magnets, so it is a pure slate with fewer extras.

Choose it if you write a lot, want a roomy surface for diagrams, and prefer a charge cable to a battery tray. The caveat is that a rechargeable cell eventually wears down, and the listing gives no battery life figure to plan around.

Screen

12 inch bezel-free

Power

USB Type-C rechargeable

Design

Slim, modern body

Best for

Large writing surface

Our verdict: More room than the standard 10 inch pad, with a Hall switch and a case that protects the screen.

This is an 11.5 inch full-screen tablet with a Hall switch mechanism and a tablet case in the box. It is aimed at adults, with a plain look and a larger canvas than the 8.5 and 10 inch models.

The Hall switch is a magnet-triggered sensor, and on pads like this it is usually tied to a lock so closing the case does not wipe the screen. The listing does not explain exactly how it behaves, so treat it as a protective feature, not a guarantee. That feature is what lifts it above the 10 inch pick, along with the extra inch and a half of diagonal. It trails the 12 inch rechargeable model because it does not offer USB charging.

It suits students, designers and anyone who sketches or maps ideas, since the larger area leaves space for layouts. The caveat is the extra weight and footprint, which makes it less pocketable than the smaller tablets.

Screen

11.5 inch full-screen

Mechanism

Hall switch

Included

Tablet case

Audience

Adult-oriented design

Our verdict: The sensible default size, with a PU cover and a replaceable coin cell, for under $25.

This 10 inch tablet is the middle of the road in the best sense. It has a single-button erase, a replaceable coin-cell battery and a PU protective cover, and it falls in the under $25 price bucket.

It ranks fourth because it does what a desk scratchpad should without extras, and the cover protects the face of the screen in a bag. A replaceable coin cell means the tablet does not die with its battery, unlike sealed designs. It sits under the 11.5 inch model because the screen is smaller, and under the Jot because it lacks a stand, magnets or stylus.

Pick it for a home or business desk where you jot phone numbers, to-dos and quick math. The caveat is the same one every LCD pad shares: there is no way to save what is on the screen, so anything important still needs a photo or a pen.

Screen

10 inch LCD

Cover

PU protective cover

Erase

Single button

Battery

Replaceable coin cell

Our verdict: A plain 9.5 inch slate with a replaceable battery and no accessories to lose.

This is a 9.5 inch LCD tablet with a deliberately plain, adult-oriented design, a single erase button and a replaceable coin-cell battery. It is listed in the under $25 bucket and comes without bundled extras.

It ranks fifth because the screen size is only half an inch short of the 10 inch pick and it does without a cover. That makes the decision between the two simple: if you want a protective sleeve, take the 10 inch model. If you want a pad that lives flat on a desk, this one removes the clutter of a case. The tradeoff is that nothing in the listing helps protect the face from scratches in a bag.

Buy it as a flat desk pad or a drawer pad that gets used a few times a day. Skip it if the pad will travel, since it ships without a case.

Screen

9.5 inch LCD

Design

Plain, adult-oriented

Erase

Single button

Battery

Replaceable coin cell

Our verdict: Two big 16 inch memo boards for the price of one ordinary tablet.

This pack includes two 16 inch LCD memo boards, which is the largest surface in this ranking. It sits in the under $25 bucket for the pair, which makes it the lowest cost per screen of the seven.

It ranks sixth because size and quantity come at the expense of portability and finish. A 16 inch pad is a wall or fridge board, not a bag tablet, and the listing does not mention a stand, magnets or a case. The value is real, though: one board can live in the kitchen and the other in a home office, or one can be a spare when the first battery gives out.

It works for households, classrooms and small offices that need visible, big-letter messages. The caveat is that large LCD panels are the easiest to damage by pressing too hard or storing under weight, so treat these as wall-hung or flat-lying pads.

Screen

16 inch LCD

Pack

2 tablets

Type

Reusable memo board

Value

Lowest cost per screen

Our verdict: A truly pocketable 6.5 inch pad with a Hall switch and a cover, best for brief notes.

This is a 6.5 inch mini tablet with a full-screen display, a Hall switch mechanism and a cover case. It is the smallest model in the guide and the easiest to carry in a pocket or a purse.

It ranks last, not because it is poor, but because a 6.5 inch screen limits what you can write. A grocery list or a phone number fits, a diagram does not. The cover and Hall switch are a good combination for a pad that rides in a pocket, since the erase needs protecting from bumps. It is below the 9.5 inch pick only on writing space.

Buy it as a second pad for errands, a teacher's quick-note slate or a travel scratchpad. Skip it if you want a primary desk tablet, because the small canvas gets cramped quickly.

Screen

6.5 inch full-screen

Mechanism

Hall switch

Included

Cover case

Portability

Pocket-sized