Handwriting today: Sharp's electronic notebooks (電子ノート)

This page gives a comparative overview of Sharp's WG-series electronic notebooks for freeform handwritten digital memos. All WG-series devices released so far have Japanese user interfaces and their main features are note-taking, managing todo lists and schedules. These devices do not compete with tablet computers or ebook readers. There are no apps, timers, reminders, calculators or handwriting recognition. They do not have wifi or any other kind of network connectivity. Models up to WG-S50 have monochrome and low contrast displays, the WG-PN1 introduces an E-Ink screen. The sole purpose of Sharp's WG-series is to replace paper notes and agendas with a digital handwriting solution.

NB: The author of this page has no affiliation or relation with Sharp Corporation. Do you have questions or do you want to help extend this page? Contact me.

Latest updates

31 October 2021 – Updated information about the WG-PN1 model
2 November 2019 – Added preliminary information about the announced WG-PN1 which will feature an E-Ink screen
9 December 2017 – Added information on the new WG-S50
5 February 2017 – An unofficial English version of the WG-S30 manual is now available thanks to Albert Kwok's translation:

Feature comparison of all models

	WG-N10	WG-N20	WG-S20	WG-S30	WG-S50	WG-PN1
Dimensions	width 111mm × depth 155mm × thickness 9.9mm	width 111mm × depth 155mm × thickness 9.9mm	width 112mm × depth 150mm × thickness 10.9mm	width 111mm × depth 155mm × thickness 9.9mm	width 111mm × depth 155mm × thickness 9.9mm	width 114mm × depth 157mm × thickness 10.4mm
Weight	210g (315g with cover and stylus)	210g	222g (233g with stylus)	210g	215g (285g with cover and stylus)	210g (285g with cover and stylus)
Variants	WG-N10	WG-N20-B WG-N20-W	WG-S20	WG-S30-T WG-S30-B	WG-S50	WG-PN1
Display type	LCD, monochrome	LCD, monochrome	LCD, monochrome	LCD, monochrome	LCD, monochrome	E-Ink, e-paper display
Screen size	6"	6"	6"	6"	6"	6"
Resolution	600x800px (SVGA)	600x800px (SVGA)	600x800px (SVGA)	600x800px (SVGA)	600x800px (SVGA)	600x800px (SVGA)
Invertible display	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✘
File format	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps	600×700px, 16-color bitmaps
User interface language	Japanese only	Japanese only	Japanese only	Japanese only	Japanese only	Japanese with English elements
Notebooks	100	100	100	100	100	100
Schedules	✘	✘	9 (up to four years)	9 (up to four years)	9 (up to four years)	9 (up to 9 years)
Pages	1000	2000	3000 (2000 note pages and 1000 schedule pages)	4000 (3000 note pages and 1000 schedule pages)	6000 (5000 note pages and 1000 schedule pages)	7000 (5000 note pages, 1000 schedule pages, 1000 todo pages)
Todo	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔
Built-in backgrounds	9	9	9	9	9	28 (9 for schedules, 18 for notebooks, 1 for todo)
Own backgrounds	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bookmarking	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Page thumbnails	✘	✘	✘	up to 9 per page	up to 9 per page	up to 9 per page
Pager	page by page	page by page	page by page	page by page and continuous	page by page and continuous	unknown
Retrieve and edit pages	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Auto-save	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	unknown
Copy/move page	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔
Copy/move page section	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Write protect pages	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔
Undo	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔
Pen types	pen and marker with three sizes of thickness; eraser	pen and marker with three sizes of thickness; eraser	pen and marker with three sizes of thickness; eraser	pen and marker with five sizes of thickness and three shades; eraser	pen and marker with five sizes of thickness and three shades; eraser	pen and marker with five sizes of thickness and three shades; eraser
Stamps	✘	✘	✘	40 types	120 types	240 types
Shapes and lines	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Classification	10 different categories	10 different categories	10 different categories	10 different categories	10 different categories	10 different categories
Search	by date and classification	by date and classification	by date and classification	by date and classification	by date and classification	unknown
Screen-lock	✘	with a 4-digit pin	with a 4-digit pin	with a 4-digit pin	with a 4-digit pin	with a 4-digit pin
Desk clock/calendar mode	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✘
Battery	rechargeable (lithium-ion)	rechargeable (lithium-ion)	rechargeable (lithium-ion)	rechargeable (lithium-ion)	rechargeable (lithium-ion)	rechargeable (lithium-ion)
Battery charge	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days	10 days
Accessories	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable	stylus, cover and micro-USB cable
Product page	unknown	unknown	unknown	official product page	official product page	official product page
Manual	instructions and operating guide	instructions and operating guide	instructions and operating guide	instructions and operating guide	instructions and operating guide	instructions and operating guide
Promotional material	flyer (archived)	flyer (archived)		flyer	flyer	flyer
Launch date	January 2013	August 2013	December 2013	October 2015	September 2017	November 2019
Utility software	The Enote Utility can transfer files from (support for .bmp, .jpeg and .png) and to (support for .bmp, .jpeg, .png and .pdf) computers download link, source code, installation manual Official OS Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 7, 8.1 and 10