magiXX Pen Review: Erasable for Neater Writing?
If your child makes mistakes when writing then an erasable pen is usually the go-to pen type. Often knowing errors can vanish gives students the confidence to write. But which one is best? Most students grab a pen by Pilot called Frixion. However other erasable pens are out there. This month we tested the magiXX.
This October's Mystery Pen: magiXX
Every month in the Get Set Write Club students are sent a mystery pen. This month it was the magiXX by a German company called ONLINE.
Quick Facts
- Pen Name: magiXX
- Brand: ONLINE
- Pen Type: Erasable gel pen
- Grip Style: Soft plastic where fingers are positioned with very slight indentations for where fingers can be placed.
- Best for: Any age. Left and right handed writers. Students who make mistakes or like everything to look perfect.
- Price Range: Medium - £3 + shipping costs
Why I Chose This Pen (The OT Perspective)
Every month I choose a different pen and this month is an erasable pen.
Everyone knows Frixion pens but I wanted the students to consider other brands. I particularly chose a pen from a German manufacturer because, in my experience, they understand the ergonomics of writing the best, making writing comfortable The magiXX pen is the same width as what they would have used before. It has a very small indentation for how the fingers should be positioned. Thus making it suitable for writer who use a tripod or quadrupod grip.
One of the biggest differences is that the the rubber is on the end of the pen lid rather than on the end of the pen. This is helpful for those who just want to put the lid on the pen when writing. Other pens do not offer this feature.
What Our Students Said: The Real Truth About The magiXX Pen
- Overall Rating: 5.5/10 stars
"Ink flowed too fast but I liked it"
Year 8 Student
"Smudges and only lasted me 2 hours of revision"
Year 10 Student
"Eraser doesn't work on some kinds of paper"
Year 7 Student
"Ink not a strong colour - used black and it looked like a pencil"
Year 8 Student
Being frank, this feedback was very disappointing. Only one student gave it a 9/10. I personally used it and found the nib, being 0.7mm, thicker than I like but it was ok. I too found the colour of the ink a little diluted. However the resounding response from the students was the phrase “it smudges”. It is also a concern that two students commented on it running out. One after 2 hours of use and one after 5 days.
The Parent's Guide: Is The magiXX Pen Right for Your Child?
✅ Consider This Pen If Your Child:
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Needs a comfortable pen but only writes in short bursts. The rubberised grip with very small finger indentations works well for students who struggle with pen control. Might be a good option for a 10-15 minute homework task or answering one worded test-style questions.
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Wants to trial an erasable pen. The benefit of being able to place the lid on the end of the pen and have the rubber there is good. With a Frixion pen you have to place the lid somewhere else because the rubber is on the end of the pen.
❓ You Might Want to Try Something Else If:
- Your teen is a heavy writer or note-taker. Our students reported the pen running out after just 2 hours of continuous revision or 5 days of school use. If your child takes detailed notes across multiple subjects daily, the refill costs and frustration will add up quickly.
- They already smudge their work. The smudging issue dominated our student feedback. This was for both right and left handed users. The ink clearly was not drying fast enough. If you child is prone to smudging a ballpoint pen might be better. check out our review on the EcoBall ballpoint pen here.
💡 Pro Tips for Success (If You Do Try the magiXX):
Buy the refills at the same time as the pen. Don’t wait until it runs out mid-homework. Our students were surprised at how quickly the ink depleted. Stock up on 2-3 refills immediately so you’re not scrambling when it dies during coursework deadlines.
The Verdict on the magiXX Pen
The magiXX has solid ergonomic design, but the execution falls short for most secondary school demands. At 5.5/10 from our student testers is not great. The real issue is that it doesn’t help solve any handwriting challenges your child might need to address.
OT Recommendation: The magiXX pen did not meet my expectations. Usually pens from Germany are great but not this time. The issue was all about the ink in terms of how fast it flowed and smudged. As a gel pen it also cannot be used in a GCSE exam. I would suggest giving this a miss.
Student Verdict: Here is another student view: “I liked erasing it but it keeps running out so I have to flick it”. It appears the concept is good but this wasn’t a pen for them.
Parent Takeaway: Not one to buy your child.
Coming Up Next Month
Our next mystery pen will be an fine tip pen. We will be going from a 0.7mm tip to a 0.1mm tip pen. Those students who write quite small might like this one but who knows?
Imagine your teen’s teachers commenting positively on their handwriting improvement – Get Set Write Club members regularly experience this boost in confidence. Let’s make it happen together. Find out more here.
