I'm an art student looking for a tablet that can handle drawing with a stylus but also be good for taking notes in class. I've seen so many tablet recommendations online but they all seem sponsored. What are people actually using for creative work and productivity?
For tablet recommendations for artists, the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil 2 is still the gold standard. Procreate is just unmatched for digital art and the pencil feels incredibly natural. For note-taking, GoodNotes or Notability work perfectly. Yes it's expensive but if art is your main focus it's worth it.
I test tablets for my tablet reviews channel and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is actually really good for artists too. The S Pen is included and feels great, and Clip Studio Paint works well on Android. The screen is massive which is awesome for drawing. For note-taking, Samsung Notes is surprisingly capable.
If budget is a concern, check out the Xiaomi Pad 6. It's around $400 with a stylus and the screen is really good for the price. The pen isn't quite Apple Pencil level but it's definitely usable for sketching and notes. Performance is solid for most art apps and it has good battery life.
For a balance of art and note-taking, the regular iPad Air with Apple Pencil 2 is perfect. It's significantly cheaper than the Pro but still has the Pencil 2 support and a great screen. Most art apps run perfectly on it and for note-taking it's more than powerful enough. The Magic Keyboard Folio turns it into a decent laptop replacement too.