Desify sells rPen, one of the options below. Prices are list prices checked in October 2026.
If you have searched for a new Livescribe pen lately, you may have noticed the problem. On Livescribe's US store the LivePen and Echo 2 show as sold out, and the site has a page about moving LivePen notes to inq, a newer pen from the same parent company. Many Livescribe owners are students and professionals who relied on the pen for years, so here is what the market looks like now.
What Livescribe owners usually want
- Write normally, in ink, in a paper notebook.
- Have the notes appear on a phone or computer.
- Keep audio of the lecture or meeting with the notes.
- Search everything later.
The options
| Pen | Typical US price | Audio | AI features |
|---|---|---|---|
| inq (Anoto) | About $165 | Yes | Handwriting recognition |
| Neo smartpen M1+ | $129 | App records while you write | Handwriting to text; no built-in AI summary |
| Budget smart pens (Ophaya and similar) | Under $120 | Varies | Basic |
| XNote Write | $199 plus tax | Separate XNote Voice device | Text, tasks, events, AI chat |
| rPen | $175, delivery and customs included | ReNote app records the room while you write | Text, summaries, tasks to Google Calendar and Microsoft To Do, email drafts, sketch to image |
How rPen compares with your old Livescribe
Like Livescribe, rPen writes in real ink on special patterned paper and stores pages when your phone is away, about 1,000 of them. Unlike older Livescribe pens, everything goes straight to the ReNote AI app on iPhone or Android, where handwriting becomes searchable text and you can ask for a summary of a page. Printed icons on each page let you send a line to your calendar or to-do list, or draft an email, with one tap.
Audio works differently: the pen does not have a microphone. The app records the room on your phone while you write, so the recording and the notes stay together.
Before you switch
- Export your old Livescribe notebooks and audio to your own storage first.
- Check refill prices for whichever pen you choose, because every smart pen uses its own paper.
- If you use the pen for accessibility support, ask your disability services office which pens they currently support.
Questions people ask
Is Livescribe discontinued?
Livescribe has not published a single "discontinued" notice that we found, but its US store lists its main pens as sold out and points LivePen users to inq.
Can rPen use Livescribe paper?
No. Each smart pen reads its own printed pattern, so rPen uses the rPen Smart Notebook and Inner Diary refills.
Does rPen record audio like a Livescribe Echo?
The ReNote app records audio on your phone while you write. The pen itself captures your handwriting.
