Can a stylus like the Apple Pencil help boost your memory and revision skills?

You may have been told by a teacher that writing by hand was the best way to learn and revise – and looking at recent research, they may have been right. But that doesn't mean you have to lug around a pen and reams of paper.

Whether you're studying, revising or trying to get important information to stick, a stylus to use with your tablet, laptop or other device could be the answer.

From the Apple Pencil to e-ink devices, we take a look at the options for this modern take on the trusty pen to see what could best help you.

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Does using a stylus help with revision and recall better than typing?

Opinions vary as to whether writing can help your memory – and there's research to argue the case either way.

Arguments for

• The science behind why writing by hand may boost learning and recall better than typing suggests the brain makes stronger neural connections when you're writing by hand (according to a 2024 study in the Frontiers in Psychology journal).
• A 2014 Princeton University study of students using either a laptop or pen and paper found that, while both groups remembered facts, the handwriting cohort better explained concepts as a result of engaging with the information to summarise it, compared to laptop users who took notes verbatim rather than 'reframing it in their own words'.
• According to the authors of a 2021 study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal and hosted on the US National Library of Medicine website, writing with a stylus on a digital device increases our ability to learn compared to keyboard typing, especially once we have got used to it.

Arguments against

• A 2019 meta-analysis reproducing the 2014 Princeton study found only slight differences between handwriting and typing, with little impact on factual recall.
• A study published in the Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions in 2022, hosted on the US National Library of Medicine website, concluded there was no significant advantage in using long-hand note-taking rather than a device.

Which tech could help you with revision and recall?

If you've decided to incorporate a screen of some kind into your revision or learning, the kit you'll need depends on the tasks you want to complete.

Simply scrolling through information may mean you need something less high-tech than if you are using your device to transcribe handwritten lecture notes, annotating documents for revision or creating graphics to help you remember concepts.

• Stylus These simple devices, which work by using pressure, are ideal for on-screen commands such as tapping, swiping or scrolling, rather than using a finger. 
• Digital pens More sophisticated, these work with sensors and electronics in both the stylus and the screen. Features differ, but you can tilt to shade, plus squeeze or tap for extra commands. They are good for precise work, including drawing.
• E-ink tablets These recreate the experience of writing on paper on a screen and are designed to let you focus on your work. So, unlike a regular tablet, they don't have notifications or apps that could distract you.

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Apple Pencil and other styluses

The global stylus pen market was worth around US $16.4bn in 2023; by 2032 it is predicted to more than double at around $36.5bn (source: imarc).

Do be aware that some are proprietary, which means they will only work with devices made by the same company – this includes the Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro. There are also some that won't work with older devices even the same brand. So if you have an older tablet, phone or laptop, double-check before you buy.

We've rounded up a few of popular ones here (we haven't lab-tested these).

Apple Pencil 

The Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro can be used for writing, sketching and drawing. The Pro is more expensive but comes with extra features. It responds to pressure, lets you double-tap and squeeze to change tools, and rotate to change the shape of the nib onscreen. You can also use the Find My App to track it down if you lose it.

If you buy an Apple Pro directly from Apple for £129, you can get it engraved for free. 

• A cheaper alternative to an Apple Pencil is the LAUT Active Pen for iPads. It has fewer features, but you can still tilt it for more accurate shading. You can buy it from Currys for £40.

Samsung S Pen

The Samsung S Pen works with a variety of Samsung devices. It comes in three different versions: S Pen Pro Edition, S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Creator Edition. 

Which one you get depends on what device you have, so check before you buy. As a rule of thumb: the Fold is only compatible with Fold3 phones or newer, and the Pro works with most S Pen devices; meanwhile, the Creator won't work with Fold phones. 

The Pro has more advanced features, including air actions – you gesture to open apps, for example, or browse. All S Pens will convert your onscreen handwriting to text.

Microsoft Surface Pen

The Microsoft Surface Pen has a tilt action to shade sketches and Zero-Force inking tech for effortless note-taking or doodling, plus it has a traditional barrel shape with an eraser at the end. You can right-click it like a normal mouse. 

It comes as the standard Surface Pen and also the slightly more expensive Surface Slim Pen, both of which are compatible with a wide range of Surface devices. However, do check which Pen works for your device and for the functionality you require. For example, the Surface Slim Pen's Haptic feedback is only compatible with devices including the Surface Pro (11th edition) and Surface Laptop Studio with Windows 11.

Some students, parents, teachers, NHS staff and members of the Armed Forces can get £10 off the RRP if they buy directly from Microsoft; you can check other prices below.

Other styluses to consider

There is a wide range of other styluses to match your needs as well as your budget. 

The Kobo Stylus 2 has a precision tip and pressure sensitivity (ideal for writing and drawing). The digital Logitech Crayon digital pencil for iPad models enables you to convert handwriting to text with Scribble software. And the Penoval USI 2.0 has palm rejection technology, 4,096 pressure points (the same as many branded digital pens) and magnetic absorption for a smooth writing or drawing experience.

Double-check before buying that it works with your model.

• You can buy a straightforward stylus for as little as £4.99, like the Sandstrom SSTYBK21. Again, check it's compatible with your device before you buy.

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E-ink devices

Using an e-ink device is akin to learning with a pen and paper. Some models lack digital distractions, such as app pings, messages and even a clock, so you can focus properly.

AN e-ink device would suit students, writers and professionals who need to take extensive notes or annotate documents. They're for people who don't mind paying to strip features out of their device so they can concentrate.

ReMarkable Paper Pro

We asked Which? researcher/writer Jonny Martin to try out the ReMarkable Paper Pro (£559 with stylus, available directly from reMarkable), to see how it compares to writing on an iPad. 

The Paper Pro converts handwriting to text, has a subtly textured screen that mimics writing on paper and lets you add colour to help your notes pop. Infinite scroll allows you to write freely without the restrictions of actual paper – your note pages, unbound from actual paper, can roll down and you can let your ideas expand. 

You can share your notes or pdfs via the device's app on your phone or tablet. There are no apps vying for your attention on the Paper Pro itself – it's just you and the screen so you won't get distracted from your work.

Jonny Martin said: 'I enjoyed my time with the Paper Pro, but there's no doubt you're paying a lot for what is essentially the fanciest (though sole) piece of paper you'll ever need.'

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Other e-ink devices include:

• Kindle Scribe An ebook reader that's also a digital notebook.  Unlike the ReMarkable Paper Pro, it lacks handwriting-to-text conversion.
• Kobo Elipsa 2E This comes with a stylus, offers handwriting conversion and integrates with the online storage and sharing service Dropbox for easy document syncing – ideal if you work with PDFs and annotations. 

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Additional research by Jonny Martin.