Huion Note E: notebook, tablet, and e-reader for less than $400
Three devices in one.
Image by Cybernews
- Huion Note E combines a digital notebook, Android tablet, and e-reader for $370.
- It comes with battery-free pen, anti-glare screen, and built-in note apps with handwriting conversion.
- The device also comes with a built-in camera for document-scanning functions.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
While I’m a big fan of pen and paper, I’ll never say no to trying out a digital version of a notebook.
I’ve had my fair share of tablets and e-notebooks to try, often testing Huion devices, including regular tablets such as the Kamvas Slate 13, displays such as the Kamvas 22 3rd-generation, and the Montblanc-like Huion Note smart notebook.
This time, I decided to try the company’s Note E digital notebook, which serves as a 3-in-1 device that lets you take quick notes, browse, read e-books, and more.
Huion Note E design and specifications
The A5-sized notebook already comes with a cover and a magnetic pen, reminiscent of an actual paper notebook.
Once I took it in my hands, the device felt quite thick (at 7.4mm) and heavy (it weighs almost 350g).
I was surprised to see that the 8.4-inch electronic notebook comes with only 6.5 hours of battery life (at 50% brightness). Since I used it mainly for scribbling notes, I used it for days.
What I was glad to find was that the pen doesn’t need charging, since it's battery-free and powered by Huion's PenTech 3.0 technology. It also doesn’t need to be paired via Bluetooth and works the second you have it in hand.
Huion Note E as a notebook
When opened, its main page includes Notes and To-Dos applications, where you can instantly add your notes and see them all on the main display, which I found convenient, as I didn’t have to go through the menu to find these apps.
To add a note or start my to-do list, I needed to use the pen and write it down as I would with a regular pen. My handwriting then was turned into a typewritten message.
What I noticed is that I couldn’t add text any other way (there was no keyboard), unless I decided to edit my note. Then the device would place a keyboard for me to delete or add to the existing message.
I was glad to see that there was an edit option, since there were a few times when the device misinterpreted my handwriting, but that’s on me since I’m far from being a calligraphy master.
The feature I was eager to try out was recording and note synchronization. It records what’s being said while you’re taking notes, later linking the recording with what you wrote, this way allowing you to find which part of the recording corresponds to the audio.
Huion Note E as a tablet
Since the device runs Android, it also functions as a standard tablet with the Google Play Store, where you can find all the apps that you might need.
I took the opportunity to download the Kindle app to see if I could also use the notebook as an e-book reader, thanks to its paper-like anti-glare display.
The only bump in the road was that I couldn’t access the internet or the Google Store because I kept getting a pop-up saying the device “isn’t Play Protect certified.”
Even after I resolved the issue, the pop-up was still there.
Nevertheless, given that the company has a dedicated website for this issue with frequently asked questions, it suggests this is a common issue that many users encounter.
The device also comes with an 8MP rear camera for document scanning, which I found convenient, since I didn’t need to get an app for it.
Is it worth it?
The $370 device felt a tad bulkier than its Note smart notebook, possibly because it also serves as a tablet, which you can use to browse and run your favorite apps.
However, at first, I struggled to remove the “isn’t Play Protect certified” pop-up. Even though it later allowed me to browse and go to the Google Store, it still didn’t disappear.
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The notebook can also be used as an e-book reader thanks to its anti-glare screen. The device also comes with a camera, which is convenient if you quickly need a digital copy of a physical document.
When it comes to notebook-related features, I enjoyed all the usual ones, with my favorite being the recording and note-synchronization feature.
While the device’s price could be justified as it’s a multipurpose device, I do believe its potential would be best used by students or users juggling multiple projects at once.
Huion Note E pros and cons
