Best Multifunction Pens of 2021: Seven Picks Worth a Spot on Your Desk

Introduction

Multifunction pens pack several tools into one barrel, and 2021 delivered a particularly strong batch. This countdown covers seven picks from the year, spanning three-color ballpoints and full multifunction pens with built-in mechanical pencils. Some impressed with quiet operation, some with value, and one claimed the top spot for sheer writing comfort. Here is how they stack up.

No. 7: Pentel Calm

Released in December 2021, the Pentel Calm is a three-color ballpoint pen in red, blue, and black. Its defining feature is a quiet switching mechanism: the click sound when changing colors is reduced by 66% compared to conventional multifunction pens, and the vibration transmitted to your hand is noticeably softened too. Switching is smooth, tip wobble is minimal, and the leather-textured long grip gives a firm, stable hold for extended writing. At around 440 yen, it is an affordable three-color pen that gets the fundamentals right.

No. 6: Staedtler Avantgarde Titanium Grey

The Staedtler Avantgarde in Titanium Grey combines a red, blue, and black three-color ballpoint with a 0.5mm mechanical pencil in a single body. The barrel is slim, but the grip section is thicker for a comfortable hold. The color-changing mechanism is a pendulum-style system: point the color you want upward and click, and that refill extends. It is an operation that grows on you. The included refills have a well-balanced writing feel, neither too smooth nor scratchy, and the overall package feels thoughtfully balanced.

No. 5: Uni Jetstream 3-Color Ballpoint Pen

The Uni Jetstream 3-color ballpoint puts the black refill in the middle position, which makes the most-used color feel intuitive to select. The black refill is also extended to roughly 70% more capacity than the standard version, so it lasts longer. Available in both 0.5mm and 0.7mm, note that the two sizes differ in details such as grip availability, so check before buying. At around 550 yen, it pairs cost performance with Jetstream’s signature smooth writing, making it one of the easiest recommendations in this list.

No. 4: Uni Jetstream Prime 3-Color

The Jetstream Prime 3-color is the higher-price-tier model in the Jetstream series, and it shows in both looks and writing comfort. The knock section is finished uniformly in black for a sophisticated, understated appearance that is genuinely appealing. The one significant quirk is its newly developed lock mechanism, which keeps the knock section from sinking in but means you need to click twice to switch colors. It is an unusual operation that slightly hurts usability. Beyond that, there is little to fault.

No. 3: Pilot Acro Drive Supra

The Pilot Acro Drive Supra combines red and black ballpoints with a mechanical pencil. On writing performance alone, it would be a contender for the top spot: the black refill is smooth, rich, and genuinely a pleasure to write with. The hesitation is aesthetic. Because the entire knock section sinks inward when locking, the shape around the knock area ends up looking a bit awkward in an otherwise sharp, handsome design. If that detail does not bother you, this is a pen very much worth recommending.

No. 2: Itoya Romeo No. 4

The Itoya Romeo No. 4 is Itoya’s own multifunction pen, combining red, blue, and black ballpoints with a mechanical pencil, and it ships with Itoya-original refills. Like the Jetstream, the ink does not feel overly smooth, but it has a pleasant, controlled writing feel that is easy to like. If you want more lubrication, standard Jetstream refills are compatible and can be purchased separately. The pendulum-style knock mechanism is what makes the slim barrel possible. The knock section carries no color markings, so it takes some practice to use intuitively, but the design payoff is a genuinely handsome pen with very little tip wobble.

No. 1: Zebra Sarasa Ultra Fine 0.4

Released in December 2021, the Zebra Sarasa Ultra Fine 0.4 is a four-color ballpoint pen in red, blue, green, and black, all at a 0.4mm tip. Sarasa ink is known for its vivid color, and even at this ultra-fine width it writes smoothly without skipping, making it ideal for small handwriting in planners and notebooks. Beyond the four-color version, there is also a three-color model, the Sarasa 3, for those who need fewer options. At around 660 yen for a four-color pen, the price is very reasonable. It is easy to use, easy to write with, and a deserving first place.

Overall Buying Advice

If value is your priority, the Jetstream 3-color at 550 yen is hard to beat, while the Pentel Calm offers quiet, comfortable switching for even less. If you want a premium feel and can tolerate a double-click quirk, the Jetstream Prime delivers on looks. For four vivid ink colors in fine print, the Sarasa Ultra Fine 0.4 stands alone. And if writing feel matters most, the Acro Drive Supra and Romeo No. 4 both deliver, provided you can accept their respective design quirks.

Conclusion

Every pen on this list earns its ranking, and the right choice depends on what you value most: quiet operation, refill capacity, slim design, or ultra-fine vivid ink. Match the feature to your daily writing habits, and any of these seven will serve you well.