This sits in our Supernote hub. New to the devices themselves? See our Supernote Manta review and Supernote Nomad review.
The basics
Do Supernote devices come with a pen?
No, and it catches people out, so it is worth saying plainly: a Supernote pen is a separate purchase. The Nomad and Manta ship without one in the base configuration, so the sticker price is device-only and you add a pen on top. That matters, because the pen is not an afterthought on a Supernote; it is half of the writing experience the whole brand is built around, and which one you pick changes how the device feels in the hand.
The good news is that the choice is simple and the pens are shared across the line, so the same options fit both the Nomad and the Manta. What they all have in common is the ceramic nib, which is the single most important thing to understand before you spend, so we will start there after laying out the lineup.
The pens
The Supernote pen lineup
There are three Supernote pens worth knowing, and they climb in price and finish rather than in raw writing quality, since they share the same nib and the same screen. Here is how they line up.
| Pen | From | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pen | ~$65 | Lightweight ceramic-nib pen; the everyday default |
| Heart of Metal Pen 2 | ~$83 | Metal body, 0.7 mm ceramic nib, 4096 pressure levels, built to last |
| LAMY EMR pen | $99 | LAMY design and feel for fans of the brand’s grip |
Nibs
Why the ceramic nib matters
Most e-ink styluses use a felt or plastic tip that wears down with use, so you replace it every few weeks or months, an ongoing cost and a small hassle. Supernote’s pens use a ceramic nib instead, which the company calls NeverReplace, and it barely wears at all. In practice that means you buy the pen once and stop thinking about tips, which over the years a device lasts is both a real saving and one less thing to manage.
The nib is also central to the writing feel that draws people to Supernote in the first place. On the textured film of the screen, the ceramic tip gives the paper-like drag reviewers rate among the best in e-ink. We have not tested the pens ourselves, so treat feel notes as third-party impressions, but the consistency of that praise across the range is unusual, and it is why the pen is worth choosing deliberately rather than grabbing the cheapest stylus that fits.
Accessories
Folios and other accessories
Beyond the pen, the accessory most people add is a folio case, which protects the screen and props the device for writing. Supernote sells folios sized to each model, and because the pen and case are the two things you will use every day, it is worth buying both up front rather than leaving the device bare. A pen loop or magnetic hold keeps the stylus with the device, which sounds minor until the first time you reach for a pen that is not there.
One practical note on compatibility: because the Nomad and Manta share the same pen technology, a pen bought for one works on the other, so if you own both, or upgrade later, your pen carries over. Folios do not, since they are cut to each device’s size, so match the case to the specific model you own.
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly
Does the Supernote come with a pen?
Which Supernote pen is best?
Do you have to replace the Supernote pen nib?
Does the same pen work on the Nomad and the Manta?
People also ask
Other questions, briefly answered
Which Supernote pen did you land on, and has the ceramic nib really lasted the way the reviews promise? Tell us in the comments, especially if you have run one for a couple of years. We keep this guide current as Supernote updates its pens and accessories.
