Neo Smartpen N2 review

The Neo Smartpen N2 is impressively comfortable, but its short battery life and heavy weight hold it back.

Neo Smartpen N2 Review
(Image: © Neo)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Neo Smartpen N2 feels great to write with, which is the most important criteria when considering a pen. It’s also easy to set up and use, but the Neo is let down by poor battery life.

Pros

  • +

    One of the most comfortable pens we tested

  • +

    Quick setup

  • +

    One-click emailing of your handwritten notes

Cons

  • -

    Shortest battery life we tested

  • -

    Longer than normal pens

  • -

    Heavy weight can be uncomfortable

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After testing the Neo Smartpen N2, we were impressed with how great the pen felt to hold and how accurate it was. This smart pen connects quickly and easily with your smart device, and we only found eight combined errors in our writing and drawing accuracy tests. That's pretty impressive, although some pens faired better - like the Livescribe 3.

The Neo Smartpen N2 is between 0.452-inches and 0.464-inches thick, and 6.14-inches long. This means that it’s no larger than your average pen, though at 0.77 ounces the N2 is quite a bit heavier than a normal pen. As smart pens go, the Neo Smartpen sits comfortably in the middle of the pack in terms of size. The Neo Smartpen N2 comes in two colors, Titan Black or Silver White, and it sits in the middle of our list of the best smart pens.

Neo Smartpen N2: Writing and drawing tests

  • Great for writing
  • Poor drawing accuracy

In our writing accuracy tests, we found one error when we wrote out the Gettysburg Address. This error occurred when we wrote close to the edge of the page where the smart pen had difficulty registering the writing. However, that is a small error and the pen was quite accurate over the 278 words of the Gettysburg Address.

In our drawing test, the pen registered 7 errors. This pen isn’t specifically designed for drawing or artists; however, if you need to make a quick sketch of something on your notes, it can do the job. For artists and sketchers, we absolutely recommend the Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad instead.

The Neo Smartpen has the shortest advertised battery life of all the pens we tested. The manufacturer says that the pen will last for five hours of use. We charged the pen once and turned it off after each test, and the battery held a charge for several days with no issue. If you turn this pen off after each use you can get a lot of use from the battery.

Neo Smartpen N2

(Image credit: Future)

Neo Smartpen N2: Apps and connectivity

  • IOS and Android apps
  • Slow to synchronize

We timed how long it took to turn on the pen and pair it with a smartphone to begin digitizing our notes. This pen took 34 seconds, which is on the longer side compared to others, it but instantly recognized the shape and size of the notepad we were writing in, which was a nice bonus.

You can connect this digital pen to iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth through the Neo Notes app. This app has the same interface as the M+ (Moleskine) app, and once you launch the app and start writing, and the app will detect the correct notepad size and show your writing, almost in real time.

Neo Smartpen N2

(Image credit: Future)

Neo Smartpen N2: Comfort and ease of use

  • Feels nice in the hand
  • Quite heavy

This pen has a triangular shape and has a smooth, metal finish that makes it feel nice in your hand. There is a power button on the back of the pen, and an indicator light on the top tells you if the pen is connected to your device. The Smartpen N2 is the same pen as the Moleskine Pen+. You charge the pen through a micro-USB port on the top of the pen.

This pen was one of the heavier pens we tested, and if you have small hands you might find it too heavy and long for your taste. It weighs about as much as five Bic pens. However, our tester found the smooth metal finish of the pen to be very comfortable to write with.

Neo Smartpen N2

(Image credit: Future)

Neo Smartpen N2: Extras

This pen has a one-year warranty that guarantees it will be free from any manufacturer defects. If you have questions about how to use the pen, you can search through Neo’s FAQs on its website. There are also tutorials online that show you how to use the pen.

Neo Smartpen N2

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Neo Smartpen N2

The Neo Smartpen N2 is the most comfortable smart pen we tested, and it’s also one of the most accurate, although not quite top of the list. The smooth metal body of the pen felt nice in our hands, even when writing out the long paragraphs of the Gettysburg Address. If you’re looking for a solid smart pen, this one is a good option.

Ian Stokes

Ian Stokes is the Tech Editor here at Top Ten Reviews. He has extensive experience in tech and games journalism, with work published on IGN, Kotaku UK, Waypoint, GamesRadar, Trusted Reviews, and many more. You'll find him covering everything from smartphones and home computers to 3D printers and headphones. He's also our resident cocktail expert.