Right off the bat I should probably say that an epaper productivity tablet like the reMarkable 2 or the Supernote Manta isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you’ve been eyeballing one of these options, consider the ViWoods AiPaper instead.
From an open Android ecosystem that lets you download as many third-party apps as you might need to a native mail application that even allows you to handwrite or dictate your emails, this 10.65-inch epaper tablet has plenty to keep power users happy.
Despite being the most expensive E Ink productivity tablet I’ve tested to date, I still couldn’t help give it a TechRadar Recommends seal of approval. It’s high price tag, however, isn’t as much of an issue right now thanks a generous 33% discount on Amazon – down to AU$806.99 from an eye-watering AU$1,199.99.
I can wax lyrical if I start discussing this epaper productivity tablet, but you can get the full lowdown on it in my in-depth ViWoods AiPaper review. I was so impressed by it that I think it’s now the best ereader for writing.
Calling it an ‘ereader’, however, is doing it a disservice: it wasn’t designed for reading, and the lack of a frontlight means you can’t do so in bed without having a light on in the room. During the day, though, you can still use it as an ereader, but it was meant to help you organise your thoughts and your day.
It comes with several native applications precisely for that purpose, including one called Paper for note-taking, another called Picking for drawing and doodling, and a Daily app that’s essentially your diary.
Other than Supernote, ViWoods is the only other company I’m aware of that offers a native Mailbox app that you can set up to send and receive emails. In fact, you can even handwrite your replies that the AI assistant can then convert to text before sending. Now, watch out for handwriting recognition – I found it wasn’t always perfect, but it will be right most of the time. The good news is you can always make edits via the onscreen keyboard before sending the email on its way.
That’s not all: you can input diary entries via voice prompts. There’s a mic on board that didn’t have a lot trouble understanding me, but I found it easier to write my diary entries and to-do list into the Daily app.
The only native application I had a little confusion understanding was the Learning app, but it quickly became clear that’s where the library is nestled and it’s the perfect platform for marking up PDFs.
There are also a bunch of third-party applications already preinstalled, including Kindle, Kobo, Libby, OneNote and The New York Times. There’s even Marvel Unlimited and Wattpad all ready and waiting for you to sign in if you use either of those platforms.
Needless to say the ViWoods AiPaper offers a ton of useful features without overwhelming you with its user interface – it’s not as minimalist as reMarkable but neither does it go overboard like Boox.
And it’s all wrapped up neatly in a beautiful chassis that’s the thinnest I’ve come across personally, and its 10.65-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display doesn’t even make it look all that bigger than other 10-inch epaper tablets. The supplied stylus is lovely to use, and the magnetic case that ships with it keeps the thin form factor intact while adding a layer of water protection to the tablet.
I really could go on, but suffice to say I love the ViWoods AiPaper and can’t recommend it highly enough… even at its steep price. But take advantage of Amazon’s discount, it’s a good one.
