What's the best note taking app?

[u/CardiologistFresh257]

What note taking app do you suggest for samsung s9 fe other than the samsung notes.

[u/dalbatichoormaa]

Samsung Notes itself for me

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/dalbatichoormaa]

Thank you, but it's been glitchy after a new update.

[u/dalbatichoormaa → u/CardiologistFresh257]

Ohh Didn't know about it... haven't used lately.. only pro for me was how quick it was in adding pdfs when compared to other apps

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/dalbatichoormaa]

Oh... Yes it's very quick to add a PDF into the app and do the work

[u/Caju_47]

Star note is the best one I've ever tried.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Caju_47]

Thank you. I will give it a shot.

[u/latonyaburson → u/CardiologistFresh257]

I second starnote

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Caju_47]

I tried and I liked it very much.

[u/icantouchgrass_1]

The only other note-taking app I've ever used is Noteshelf.

Not as good as Samsung Notes, I can tell you that.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/icantouchgrass_1]

Thank you.

[u/Worried_Tour_5687]

Notein or Notewise. Notability will release an Android app soon and they have a beta available. In general i recommend staying away from Samsung notes if you plan on exporting and Sharing pdfs. They look awful unless you open them in Samsung notes.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Worried_Tour_5687]

Thank you.

And yeah my black note always gets converted into white pdf

[u/braddo99]

If you make handwritten lists and would value rearranging and reorganizing your tasks and ideas digitally, you might like inkList. It is simple, elegant, and unique as far as I am aware. This video shows using a Boox eInk device but it works great on any Android tablet. I use it on my Tab S11 Ultra: https://youtu.be/lYVIzvRPNi0?si=awoni9VEZ1rj7D4k

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/braddo99]

Thanks, I will definitely give it a try. I mainly use mine for maths and science.

[u/Veggyhed]

Considering you are not interested in using Samsung Notes, might I suggest Microsoft OneNote?

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Veggyhed]

I had once tried Microsoft OneNote but I feel it's very complex for me to understand how to even use it.

[u/Veggyhed → u/CardiologistFresh257]

It may seem that way at first but think of the left side as folders. These are the notebooks and they are nested or you can look at it as subfolders and that's how you organize things. Other than that you just use the ribbon across the top. Remember this can also be used out of a web browser. You do not need an app; however I think the app does work a little better.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Veggyhed]

Thank you so much. I will try it.

[u/DynamoLion]

Obsidian without a doubt. Has a load of features, is multiplatform and is totally free if you have a way to synchronize files through some cloud or own server.

Though, Samsung Notes are excellent.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/DynamoLion]

Yeah samsung notes was excellent for me too but I don't know what happened to it after a new update.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/DynamoLion]

Can I write using S pen in Obsidian? I always thought I just have to type.

[u/el_f3n1x187 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

Not that I can recall, I tried it a couple of months ago, but you can modify the samsung keyboard or google g-board to pop a handwrite to text area instead of the keyboard when you call it.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/el_f3n1x187]

Thank you. Yes I have used that handwriting to text feature but my handwriting is not so good for that ...

[u/el_f3n1x187 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

Yeah mine always confuses the translation, ironically i had an easier time with the Lenovo system that currently with my S11Ultra.

Checkout NoteIn and Starnote, however the handwriting to text translation is a premium festure using AI but they are robust for that.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/el_f3n1x187]

Thank you. I will definitely try Starnote and NoteIn. I had tried NoteIn but it felt a lot slower than all I tried, i guess it might just be a temporary glitch with the system.

[u/SubstanceFew5136 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

You can use excalidraw plugin. But it will be basic in terms of support with spen. Also there was a plugin that will let you insert a space to current page, and write by hand. 

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/SubstanceFew5136]

Thank you.

[u/araphuni]

Hey, I’ve had lag too since the Samsung Notes update. Tried a few apps—best ones are Starnote, Notewise, and Flexcil. Flexcil’s free but handwriting feels kinda off. I’m on Notewise and it’s solid, though some features cost. Worst case, just download the APK from somewhere and use it :p

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/araphuni]

Thank you

[u/ajwalker430]

If you find one, let me know. Samsung Notes works good for me but I'm always open to trying something new.

The biggest issue I find is that note taking apps on Android aren't pen-enabled first. You either have to write in some little box or it forces conversion to text. That's why I always end up going back to Samsung Notes 😅

It "feels" like iPad apps must be more pen aware since the Apple Pencil exists but very few Android tablets use a stylus so developers aren't really thinking about using a pen.

[u/Far-Specialist590 → u/ajwalker430]

I've been looking for an app that prioritizes the pen first. I have a Lenovo, so I didn't think of using Samsung Notes. I will try it. Thanks. edit: just found out it's not available for me, haha.

[u/ajwalker430 → u/Far-Specialist590]

Yup, Samsung Notes is exclusive to Samsung devices, just like Apple Notes

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/ajwalker430]

Yes, I will definitely do share if i find any similar. I do face same issue while conversion to text and as my handwriting is bad so it feels like it's writing some alien language....

[u/ajwalker430 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

Did you invest in a paper-like screen protector or you trying to have good penmanship with plastic on glass? 🤔

It really makes a difference.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/ajwalker430]

No I don't have a paper like screen protector. If it's about handwriting then its worse in pen and paper so yeah.

[u/ajwalker430 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

I think I came up in a different time when penmanship had to be legible. I understand that isn't the focus in many schools nowadays and hasn't been for a while. 😓

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/ajwalker430]

Yeah for me it's completely true. I didn't focus much on handwriting while growing up.

[u/ajwalker430 → u/CardiologistFresh257]

That's unfortunate. So many people complain about not having good handwriting but it's something, like anything else, just takes practice.

Here's a study to peruse if you are going to school for anything in the medical field.

The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle?

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/ajwalker430]

Thanks for the article. I will definitely try to improve my handwriting.

[u/Leif3D]

There isn't really a best. Depending on what you need one or another might be better for the job. To mention a few that support pen

Note-In, Noteshelf 3, Notewise, Concepts (good for vector drawings), Flexcil, J Notes , Kilo Notes etc

There are many more. I would make a list of what you care about and then compare them all. Most have trial periods to test them before purchasing into it.

Also think about a backup strategy of it you need cross platform compatibility / sync and such stuff. They handle such stuff in quite different ways.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/Leif3D]

Thanks.

After trying the suggestions in the comments I found that Starnote is the best for my use case. It has the ruler feature which is paid on Notewise and a few apps I had seen.

[u/abf2366]

Many of the note apps I've tried create a copy of the original pdf and force me to save it separately. Is there any app that can do it on the original file? Other than Xodo of course, which is a pdf-exclusive app.

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/abf2366]

You can use samsung notes I guess. You can just store your original PDF open it on samsung notes and highlight or do your work there.

I guess importing it into samsung notes may create a new file.

[u/ParticularBicycle279]

not sure what you exactly looking for.. but did you try "Evernote"?

It's been around for so long that the description has no 'release date' lol

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/ParticularBicycle279]

I am looking for a handwriting notes app and Evernote seems to be a notes app where I have to type.

[u/yokeome]

Personally, for my college notes I love using Concepts, it's not advertised as note taking but I love it for notes because of the infinite canvas

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/yokeome]

Thanks for suggestion. I don't want an infinite canvas because i want it to be line by line.

[u/MacDrunk]

Evernotes, ese uso yo para notas diarias

[u/iBr4h]

For me, 1st Notein then Notewise, and two of them work flawlessly in the Galaxy Tab S Series. I have the S11U. I tried both in the Honor Tablet 12.3. The stylus input was so laggy.
JNotes & INKredible Pro works so good in S11U
I like the pencil so much in the Noteshelf 3 App

My Current Tablets and E paper
iPad Pro 11 2018
iPad Pro M4 13 with Apple Pencil Pro with Barrel Rotation
iPad Mini 7 with Apple Pencil Pro with Barrel Rotation
Galaxy Tab S4
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Honor MagicPad 2 12.3
Huawei Matepad 12 X with Huawei M Pencil Pro with Barrel Rotation, Notewise not worrking

ePaper
Boox Note Air 5C
Viwoods Ai Paper 10.65
iFlyTek AiNote 2 (Return it)

[u/CardiologistFresh257 → u/iBr4h]

Bro dropped a whole studio setup 😭

Thanks though, the stylus latency comparison will help a lot.