Best Multi Pens 2025: Top 10 Picks for Smooth Writing

Introduction

Multi pens, the combination pens that pack two or three ballpoint colors plus a mechanical pencil into one barrel, are the stationery equivalent of a good everyday carry: one tool that quietly replaces four. This ranking collects ten models chosen purely for how good they feel to write with, drawing on pens bought over recent years rather than only brand-new 2025 releases, simply because genuinely new multi pen launches were scarce this year.

How This Ranking Was Put Together

The criteria were simple: writing feel first, then mechanism quality, balance, and everyday usability. Pens without a mechanical pencil mechanism, in other words pure multi-color ballpoints, were left out, since those belong to a separate category. Refill compatibility was also a recurring theme, because several of these pens share the common D1 ballpoint format, which makes swapping refills between brands easy.

One note before the list: the top three are extremely close, and the differences come down more to personal preference than clear performance gaps.

No. 10: rOtring 4 Multi Pen

The rOtring 4 Multi Pen carries black, red, and blue ballpoints plus a pencil mechanism in a fairly slim brass barrel. At over 30 grams it is a heavy pen, and that heft is part of the appeal: it sits in the hand with a reassuring solidity that lighter pens cannot match. The mechanism is a shake-to-advance system, and instead of the usual knock buttons, you open the moving clip to retract the tip. The barrel is printed with tip-position illustrations, so you rotate the indicated marking upward before shaking to select a color.

The glossy painted finish offers decent grip, and the D1 refill format means refills from the Acro Ink and Jetstream lines can be swapped in. Shake-style multi pens are uncommon enough, and ones with this kind of original mechanism even more so, which makes it a genuinely interesting pick for stationery enthusiasts.

No. 9: Uni Jetstream Multi Pen 4&1 IncLight Touch Gloss Gray

The Gloss Gray version of the Jetstream 4&1 IncLight Touch arrived in 2025 as a new color of the body style introduced the previous year, alongside a limited blue-black ink edition. Compared with the standard model, the barrel has a glossier finish and improved grip. Inside are four ballpoint colors, black, red, blue, and green, plus a pencil, all operated by a slide-lever mechanism.

The resin barrel is fairly thick and fills the hand comfortably, yet the pen is notably light for a multi pen. The Light Touch ink is low-viscosity and resists fading, so it glides more smoothly than a standard Jetstream. This style tends to appeal more to casual users than to hardcore writing enthusiasts, and that is exactly who it suits best: anyone wanting an effortless, low-pressure everyday writer.

No. 8: Penac Multi Pen

The Penac Multi Pen is a twist-style combination pen with black and red ballpoints plus a pencil, built on a slim, short brass body. Its compact size makes it a natural partner for a pocket planner or techo. This is not a new product, and because it is an OEM design, near-identical versions appear under several other brands, so you may well have seen it in stores without noticing the Penac name.

The retro, unadorned look is a big part of the charm. More importantly, both the ballpoint and the pencil show very little tip wobble, which is the main reason it ranks here. Like most of this list, it uses D1 refills, so Acro Ink and Jetstream refills can be substituted.

No. 7: Parker Sonnet Multifunction

The Parker Sonnet Multifunction shares a very similar size and writing feel with the Penac above, but with a slightly thicker and longer barrel and a far more dressed-up design. It runs black and red ballpoints plus a pencil through a twist mechanism, and the glossier finish gives the grip more bite while making it easy to handle. The price sits higher to match the premium feel.

The twist action is smooth and pleasant enough that you find yourself rotating it open and closed even when you are not writing. Tip wobble is minimal, it pairs well with small planners, and it is best understood as the grown-up alternative to the Penac: same category, more formal execution. Choose between them on design preference rather than performance.

No. 6: Ito Romeo No.4

The Ito Romeo No.4 is a shake-to-advance multi pen with black, red, and blue ballpoints plus a pencil. Two design choices set it apart: the color indicators are kept subtle so they never overwhelm the overall look, and the grip is wrapped in genuine leather, which ages and develops patina over time.

That patina is a double-edged sword. The brown version can age beautifully, but if your hands are dry or frequently covered in hand cream, the leather can discolor unevenly, so the standard leather version is the safer choice for most people. The crisp knock feel and solid writing experience make it a pen you keep reaching for, and the usual D1 refill format means Acro Ink and Jetstream refills both work.

No. 5: Sakura Craft Lab 004

The Sakura Craft Lab 004 pairs black and red gel ink ballpoints with a pencil in a twist-style body. It reflects a shift in taste: after years of favoring oil-based ballpoints that demand firm pressure, low-pressure gel and water-based inks have become far more appealing, and this pen delivers exactly that effortless writing feel.

The color is called Ash, and one of its distinctive traits is that the grip section is resin rather than brass, giving it a lighter, drier feel in the hand. The barrel is not overly long like a cap-style pen, and its quiet, understated presence makes it pair especially well with Traveler’s Notebook and similar leather covers, which is why its usage has climbed steadily.

No. 4: Uni Jetstream Prime Multi Pen 3&1

The Jetstream Prime 3&1 is the one genuine 2025 new release high on this list. It combines black, red, and blue Jetstream ballpoints with a pencil in a rotary mechanism. Older Prime multi pens carried a jewel accent that many people disliked; this version finally removes it, leaving a cleaner design that works far better in business settings.

The metal barrel wears a matte, non-glossy finish, and the Prime series’ higher price is justified by a writing experience that is simply a step above. The included refills are metal-bodied Jetstream, the cartridge format is D-type, and as with most multi pens on this list, an Acro Ink refill drops straight in.

No. 3: AOMS02in

Another 2025 new release, the AOMS02in is a shake-to-advance pen with black and red ballpoints plus a pencil, designed to match the same brand’s single-color ballpoint in styling. The brass barrel has a hexagonal grip section, and the body tapers thicker toward the tip, which turns out to be surprisingly comfortable to hold. The shake mechanism’s knock section is slightly shorter than on typical shakers, and the color markings are kept discreet.

The standout is the needle-tip ballpoint refill. Most multi pens have a short tip cone that spoils your view of the writing point, but the needle chip largely solves that problem. Tip wobble is nearly zero, and the pencil in particular writes so smoothly it is hard to believe this is a multi pen. Ballpoint refills are D1, so both the bullet-nose Jetstream and Acro Ink refills fit.

No. 2: Uni Jetstream Prime 2&1

The Jetstream Prime 2&1 is the slide-knock multi pen from Uni’s premium Prime line, carrying black and red Jetstream ballpoints plus a pencil. As with other Prime models, the barrel finish varies by color, and this beige version has a glossier coating that gives noticeably better grip than matte siblings. The metal barrel feels substantial and well finished, and the design leans casual enough to fit any situation.

Writing feel and tip stability are excellent, and the overall execution is polished enough that it seems destined to stay near the top of rankings for years. Earlier versions had known issues with the slide-knock mechanism, but those have been resolved in the current model. Initial refills are metal-bodied Jetstream, the format is D-type, and Acro Ink refills are compatible as usual.

No. 1: Zebra Shabo X TF12

The top spot goes to the Zebra Shabo X TF12, the most-used multi pen of the year. It is a twist-style pen with black and red ballpoints plus a pencil, based on the OX and built as a limited-quantity reproduction of the original Shabo. Despite being a limited model, it is still possible to buy one, though availability is never guaranteed with limited runs, so anyone interested should move early.

Two details make it special. First, the rotation is beautifully smooth, without the rattly twist feel typical of the Shabo series. Second, unlike most Shabo models where refills are sold separately, this one ships with refills included, using an emulsion ink format. Add in near-zero tip wobble and a design that simply works, and it earns the number one slot on sheer daily usefulness.

Buying Advice

If you want one pen to do everything, the Shabo X TF12 and the two Jetstream Prime models are the safest bets, with the choice coming down to twist versus slide-knock preference. If you value a compact pen for a planner, the Penac and Parker Sonnet Multifunction cover the budget and premium ends of the same idea. Design-led buyers should look at the Ito Romeo for its leather aging or the Sakura Craft Lab 004 for its quiet pairing with techo covers, while the AOMS02in is the pick for anyone who cares most about seeing the writing tip clearly. Check refill availability before buying, since D1 compatibility across these models makes long-term ownership much easier.

Conclusion

Good multi pens are defined by restraint: stable tips, smooth mechanisms, and a body that disappears in the hand. Every pen in this ranking delivers on those basics, and the differences at the top come down to feel and styling rather than raw quality. Whichever direction your preference leans, there is a model here that will happily consolidate four pens into one pocket.