Best tablet / e-ink writer to use with Zotero?

Rowkath
Hi, I'm a PhD student who has been using Zotero since my MRes days - I'm looking to get an e-ink tablet for notetaking and reading / annotating PDF's and was wondering which (if any ) allows integration with my Zotero library (both forwards and backwards) with minimal extra steps or software (I'm still very much a point and click type end-user!!)? I was looking at the Remarkable and the new Kindle Scribe but from what I can see neither integrate with Zotero very well? Am I better with an Android tablet (or I hate to say it) an iPad?!? Any advice would be gratefully received!!!
  • gustms
    I'm using both an iPad and a Samsung Galaxy Note Android tablet, besides a Pixel Android phone, and Zotero works great on all three.

    But I use the Zotero cloud storage, and the integrated annotations feature on all of them, not needing any external app for anything. If you need anything more than what Zotero already has, then check if the device will be capable of that.
  • DimaP Zotero Team
    This answer provides good explanation
    https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/498440/#Comment_498440
  • adamsmith
    If you want e-Ink, the various Boox tablets are a good options. They run the native Zotero Android app (which is what I use), though annotation on the e-ink display is a bit clunkier so they also have their own integration which uses the e-ink optimized reader that comes with the Boox.

    If you just want a tablet, by all accounts (see Zotero's lead dev in the answer linked by DimaP) iPad's work better than android (and not just for Zotero), but Android is perfectly usable. .

    I know people love their Remarkables, but Zotero integration doesn't exist so you'd have to use elaborate workarounds.
  • michelnewel
    I've got a Kindle Scribe and don't recommend it in this context. While the writing experience is a joy, and annotating and highlight PDFs works well, you need to send every single PDF to the Kindle, then back to Zotero. Its not worth the extra hassle.
  • vodaza36
    Disclosure: I make Tagged Sync, an Obsidian plugin for the reMarkable.

    adamsmith’s point stands: there is no official reMarkable integration, and the tablet only runs its own reader. If you want to annotate inside the Zotero app itself, an Android e-ink tablet, as suggested above, is the more direct route.

    If you already use Obsidian on a desktop, the reMarkable side can be scripted:
    - Papers go from your Zotero library to the tablet.
    - Your highlights come back as an Obsidian note linked to the Zotero item. That part is free.
    - With the paid Pro add-on, the highlights are also written into Zotero as native annotations.

    It handles PDFs only and was tested with Zotero 10. https://taggedsync.com/zotero
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