Microsoft OneNote for Android and iPad review

OneNote mobile apps compared

Of the two tablet apps, OneNote for iPad is by far the better looking and the easiest to use. The app's interface bears little resemblance to that of OneNote for Windows, but it does take full advantage of the iPad's larger screen and isn't simply a scaled-up version of the iPhone app.

Notebooks are shown either as a pop-up list when the iPad is in portrait mode, or as a permanent left-hand sidebar in landscape. Tapping a notebook then opens its sections alongside, then tapping a section reveals its pages and sub-pages.

OneNote for iPad bears little resemblance to the Windows application, but is good-looking and very easy to use.

OneNote for Windows leaves all other notebooks, sections and pages in view when a particular page is being edited, the iOS app just show the pages and sub pages. This keeps the limited-resolution screen free from clutter and makes for a simpler user experience, but it does mean that lots of tapping is required to navigate up and down the notebook's hierarchical structure just to look at pages in other sections and notebooks.

Both mobile apps reproduce most synced desktop content very accurately, but inked notes are not supported.

OneNote for Android, on the other hand, is simply the smartphone app write large and its simple interface looks particularly utilitarian on a tablet.

OneNote for Android is extremely utilitarian and lacks the user-friendly design of the iPad app.