The best electric typewriters for writers are still being made, even though the category shrank to a handful of honest machines. Nakajima and Royal still build new electronic typewriters for home writers, and IBM-era daisywheel models remain widely available in refurbished form. We spent weeks working through eleven of them, comparing keyboards, correction memory, carriage width and the small annoyances that decide whether a machine gets used daily or abandoned in a cupboard.
That last part matters more than the spec sheet. A typewriter has one job, and it either feels good under your hands for two hours or it does not. The eleven machines below are the ones that survived our comparison, ranked by typing feel first and features second. We have included what each one costs you in time and consumables, because that is the part competitor roundups never mention.
If you are still comparing categories, our guide to the best portable typewriters for writers covers lighter manual machines, and the best manual typewriters for writers goes deeper on the mechanical feel. This roundup stays strictly electric.
Top 3 Electric Typewriter Picks for Writers in 2026
Nakajima WPT-150
- Portable 13 lb body
- One-line correction memory
- 13 inch carriage
- Word and character erase
Royal 69149V Scriptor
- 45-key 17-function keyboard
- 20-keystroke buffer
- 12 characters per second
- 13 inch carriage
Royal 69147T Scriptor II
- 10 12 15 pitch selection
- Superscript and subscript
- Decimal tabulation
- Relocation feature
Our editor’s choice is the Nakajima WPT-150 because it carries the largest body of real owner feedback in this list, and the feedback is mostly about a machine that simply works. The Royal 69149V Scriptor earns best value on the strength of its keyboard and buffer at a lower tier of complexity. The Royal 69147T Scriptor II takes the premium slot for writers who want pitch switching, decimal tabs and proper formatting without moving to a refurbished IBM.
All 11 Electric Typewriters Compared in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Nakajima WPT-150 |
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| Royal 69149V Scriptor |
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| Royal 69147T Scriptor II |
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 Nakajima WPT-160 |
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 Brother GX-6750 Renewed |
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 Brother SX-4000 Renewed |
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 Smith Corona Typewriter Renewed |
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 Brother EM-530 |
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 IBM Wheelwriter 5 Renewed |
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 IBM Personal Wheelwriter 2 |
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 IBM Wheelwriter 1500 by Lexmark |
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Here is the short version for anyone who wants the list without reading eleven reviews. The Nakajima WPT-150 is the safest first electric typewriter for a fiction writer. The Royal 69147T Scriptor II is the best buy for someone writing long documents who needs pitch and formatting control. The Brother SX-4000 is the one to pick if you want to read your own typing line while you write. The IBM Wheelwriter 1500 is the most capable machine here, with a 6,000-character correction buffer and a 13.2 inch writing line, but its rating rests on only four reviews.
Three names account for most of what is available new: Nakajima, Royal and Brother. Everything IBM in this roundup is refurbished, and the refurbished machines are where you will find the large paper capacities and the big correction buffers. Our vintage typewriter guide for collectors covers the machines worth restoring rather than writing on.
1. Nakajima WPT-150 – The Best All-Round Electronic Typewriter for Writers
Nakajima WPT-150 Electronic Typewriter
13 lb portable, 13 inch carriage, 9 inch print width, one-line correction memory
Pros
- Lightweight and compact for a full electronic machine
- One-line correction memory with word and character erase
- Automatic centering underlining and carriage return
- Arrives in the original box with everything needed to start
Cons
- Plastic construction feels flimsy
- Small keys are harder to read for older users
- Bent printwheel reported on some factory units
The WPT-150 is the machine we keep coming back to, and the reason is the review count rather than the specification. 646 owners have typed on it, which is more real-world evidence than any other new electric typewriter in this roundup by a wide margin. When a machine that size holds that many owners at a 4.1 average, the complaints that do appear are usually about packaging rather than mechanics.
At 13 pounds and 21 by 9 inches, it moves between a desk and a kitchen table without becoming a project. The 13-inch carriage with a 9-inch print width gives you a comfortable manuscript line without the sprawl of a wide-carriage machine. The one-line correction memory means you can back up and fix the current line, which is enough to kill most errors without retyping a paragraph.
Two setup details catch people out and are worth knowing before you buy rather than after. The plastic film on the ink cartridge has to be pulled off, or your text prints in the wrong colour, and the foam packing block under the lid is famously difficult to extract. Neither is a defect, but both feel like one on day one.
Owners also report the odd unit arriving with a bent printwheel, which on this machine is traced to correction tape fitted the wrong way at the factory. Nakajima’s service support is described in reviews as friendly and technically knowledgeable, so a problem of that kind is fixable rather than terminal.
Who the Nakajima WPT-150 suits
It suits a novelist, a journal writer or a home office user who types a page or two a day and wants the machine to disappear into the routine. Writers on r/typewriters repeatedly name Brother and Nakajima machines as the practical first electric purchase, and this is the strongest version of that argument in the new-build category.
It also suits anyone writing in a shared house or a small flat, because at 13 pounds you can put it away when the session ends instead of living with a 25-pound office machine. For pure fiction drafts, the 9-inch line is generous enough to keep sentences readable without reformatting.
Where the WPT-150 falls short
It falls short on build quality and on key size. The plastic body gives the machine a light, slightly hollow feel under pressure, and reviewers with typing experience note that the small keys can be hard to read if your vision is not what it was at 25. For a gift for an older writer, check the key legibility in person if you can.
It also has no storage memory at all. If you like the idea of recalling a paragraph from an earlier page and reprinting it, this machine cannot do it, and you need to step up to the WPT-160 or an IBM. For straightforward paper-first writing that is a non-issue.
2. Royal 69149V Scriptor – Best Value Machine for Forms and Labels
ROYAL 69149V Scriptor Typewriter
12 lb body, 45-key 17-function keyboard, 20-keystroke buffer, 12 characters per second
Pros
- Compact and portable for a full-size machine
- 45-key layout gives real formatting control
- 20-character buffer smooths fast typing
- Popular for forms checks and labels
Cons
- Weak typing pressure gives lighter print
- Some units report inconsistent key registration
- Plastic body typical of the budget class
The 69149V Scriptor has a keyboard that does not feel like an afterthought, at the simpler end of this roundup. A 45-key, 17-function layout is a real step up from a bare 40-key machine, and it is why this model keeps turning up in offices for forms, checks and labels rather than only on writer desks.
The 20-keystroke buffer is the feature that surprised us most at this level. It absorbs fast typing and releases it at a steady 12 characters per second, so a fast typist does not outrun the mechanism the way they would on a simpler portable. That single detail changes how a long session feels.
At 12 pounds and 16.25 by 14.75 by 4.75 inches it is genuinely portable, and a 13-inch carriage with a 9-inch typing width covers most letter and manuscript work. The six-month warranty is short, which is normal in this category, so keep the packaging.
The recurring negatives are consistent enough to plan around. Light typing pressure produces a lighter impression than expected, which matters if you are writing on cheap paper, and a minority of owners report key registration going erratic after the first few days. Both are mechanical rather than electronic problems, and both are reasons to test the machine before you commit to long drafts.
Who the Royal 69149V suits
It suits writers who do a bit of everything: a novelist who also invoices clients, labels products or fills in forms by hand. The buffer and the function keys reward fast typists, and 394 reviews at a 4.2 average suggest the machine holds up under that kind of mixed use.
It is also the most sensible choice for a first electric typewriter for a teenager or a student. The keyboard is standard enough to transfer from a computer, and the machine is light enough to move between a bedroom and a kitchen table.
Where the 69149V falls short
It falls short on impression strength and on pitch control. There is no pitch selector here, so you cannot switch to 10 or 15 pitch for a formal document, and the light strike pressure means the text can look faint under strong light. It is a working machine rather than a keepsake.
It also has no correction memory worth relying on for a full line, so editing is more manual than on the Royal 69147T. If your draft involves a lot of revising, the same manufacturer’s step-up model is the smarter spend.
3. Royal 69147T Scriptor II – Best Formatting Set for Long Documents
ROYAL 69147T Scriptor II Typewriter, White
11.3 lb body, 10 12 15 pitch, decimal tabs, superscript and subscript
Pros
- Rich formatting including bold underline and super/subscript
- 10 12 15 pitch with 1 1.5 2 line spacing
- Decimal tabulation across 12 places
- Relocation and right margin flush
Cons
- Weak typing pressure produces light print
- Erratic key registration reported after extended use
- Feature set takes getting used to
The 69147T Scriptor II is the feature-loaded member of the Royal 6914x family and the only new-build machine here that gives you pitch selection, decimal tabulation and proper super and subscript. For a writer producing formatted documents rather than raw drafts, that is a genuinely different machine from its cheaper sibling.
Impression control matters more than most buyers expect. You can dial the strike weight to match the paper in front of you, which is what separates a machine that produces a readable photocopy from one that produces grey smudges. Add right margin flush, auto return, indent and centering, and you have a small formatting system.
The relocation feature is the quietly important one. After a correction the carriage returns to where you were working, so you do not have to hunt back down the page. On a long chapter that saves a surprising number of interruptions.
Experienced typists rate the key action highly, and print quality is consistently described as clean and even. The recurring complaints match the cheaper Royal exactly: light typing pressure and, on some machines, erratic key registration after extended use. The feature set also takes a couple of sessions to learn if you have never used an electronic typewriter.
Who the Royal 69147T suits
It suits writers who need formatting, not just typing. A technical writer, a journalist submitting to a house style, or a novelist who wants 10 pitch for a manuscript and 15 pitch for headings has the tools here, plus electronic dictionary features that fast typists appreciate.
It also suits anyone who keeps a home office, because the decimal tabs handle invoices and forms properly instead of approximating them with spacebar runs. At 11.3 pounds it is still light enough to move between surfaces.
Where the 69147T falls short
It falls short when your typing is fast and hard, because the light strike pressure can produce a faint line and the occasional registration fault appears after heavy use. Buy it for a home office pace, not for eight-hour days.
There is also no storage memory, so recalling an earlier passage is not possible. If you want recall and retyping as well as formatting, the Nakajima WPT-160 or an IBM Wheelwriter is the next step rather than a bigger Royal.
4. Nakajima WPT-160 – Best for On-Screen Drafting and Quick Printwheel Swaps
Nakajima Wpt160 English
16k storage, 20 character LCD, drop-in 100 character printwheel, 13 inch paper
Pros
- 16k of storage for recalling and reprinting passages
- 20 character LCD shows the typing line
- Drop-in 100 character printwheel changes in seconds
- 17 function keys cover common formatting
Cons
- Highest one-star share in this lineup at 19 percent
- Function keys confuse users expecting a mechanical machine
- Bulkier footprint than the WPT-150
The WPT-160 is the memory-equipped step up from the WPT-150, and the reason to choose it is the 16k of storage. You can recall a passage you typed earlier in the session and reprint it, which turns a typewriter into something closer to a very tactile word processor without giving up paper.
The 20-character LCD gives you a visible typing line, so you are not relying entirely on what is landing on the platen. That matters most when you are drafting dialogue or anything with numbers, where a single skipped character is easy to miss on paper.
The drop-in 100-character printwheel is the sleeper feature. Changing elements takes seconds rather than a toolbox, and a second wheel gives you a genuine pitch change for scripts and formal documents without buying another machine.
Who the Nakajima WPT-160 suits
It suits writers who revise heavily and who like the idea of a paper machine with a very small memory. Screenwriters benefit most, because 12 pitch and a typewriter element produce the classic screenplay look and the printwheel can be swapped for a 10 pitch wheel when the script goes to production.
It also suits anyone who transcribes their own notes, since recall and reprint remove the retyping step. At 13 pounds it stays portable despite a larger footprint than the WPT-150.
Where the WPT-160 falls short
It falls short on consistency. 19 percent of its reviews are one-star, the highest single-star share among the new machines in this roundup, and the complaints cluster around confusing function keys and build quality that matches the cheaper Nakajima’s lightweight plastic.
Its 3.8 average is the second lowest here for a reason. If you want a simple portable machine and no screen at all, the WPT-150 is steadier, and our electric typewriter guide for home use walks through when that is the right call.
5. Brother GX-6750 – Best Lightweight Daisy Wheel for Small Desks
brother GX-6750 Daisy Wheel Electric Typewriter (Renewed)
10.4 lb body, 65-character correction memory, professional touch keyboard, cassette daisy wheel
Pros
- Genuinely compact at 10.4 pounds for a daisy wheel machine
- Professional touch keyboard feels familiar
- 65-character correction memory
- Interchangeable ribbon and wheel cassettes
Cons
- Renewed condition varies between arrivals
- Weakest rating profile here at 3.7 with 15 percent two-star reviews
- Daisy wheel consumables cost more than fabric ribbons
The GX-6750 is the lightest true daisy wheel machine in this roundup at 10.4 pounds, and that weight is the whole argument for it. If your writing surface is a small desk or a lap desk, this is the only daisy wheel here you can comfortably reposition rather than install.
The professional touch keyboard is the reason typists recommend it, and the 65-character correction memory is the largest in the new-build category outside the IBM range. Sixty-five characters covers a full sentence, which is usually enough to fix a false start without retyping the paragraph.
Interchangeable cassette ribbon and daisy wheel simplify consumables more than they simplify typing. For a writer who changes style or pitch, swapping the cassette rather than the whole element is a genuine convenience.
Who the Brother GX-6750 suits
It suits writers in small spaces, students, and anyone who wants a daisy wheel footprint without a daisy wheel price. Community consensus on typewriter forums repeatedly names the GX-6750 as a sensible first electric machine, and the keyboard is usually the reason given.
It also suits a writer who wants Courier-style output for scripts or submissions and does not want to move up to a 25-pound office machine. The 65-character memory makes the editing loop painless for a first draft.
Where the GX-6750 falls short
It falls short on condition certainty, and this is the main warning in this review. This is a renewed listing, so alignment and carriage issues arrive on some machines, and 15 percent of reviews are two-star, pointing to functional rather than cosmetic defects. Only 48 percent of reviews are five-star.
It also falls short on running costs. Daisy wheel elements cost more than the fabric ribbons used by fabric-ribbon machines, and the correction memory, while generous, is still small next to the IBM buffers. Buy this one only if you accept refurbishment risk, and test correction memory and print alignment before a long session.
6. Brother SX-4000 – Best for Reading Your Typing Line on an LCD
BROTHER SX-4000 LCD DISPLAY TYPEWRITER (Renewed)
View mode LCD, Perfectype professional touch keyboard, automatic paper insertion, 90 day warranty
Pros
- View mode LCD makes the typing line easy to follow
- Perfectype keyboard types cleanly
- Automatic paper insertion and line by line return
- Owners report dependable daily use
Cons
- Renewed units can arrive with loose rollers or detached carriage arms
- Paper advancing can be uneven on some units
- Only 26 reviews means limited long-term data
The SX-4000 solves one specific problem better than anything else here: you can read your typing line on the LCD while you write. View mode mirrors what you are typing so your eyes stay in one place, which is a real comfort on a long session and the feature that separates this from the GX-6750.
Underneath the screen it is a well-executed machine. The Perfectype professional touch keyboard types cleanly, line-by-line printing with automatic carriage return handles the return stroke for you, and automatic paper insertion saves the fussy part of loading a fresh sheet.
Forward and reverse indexing is the quiet convenience. Being able to move the carriage up a line to correct or to add a heading without retyping the block is useful in a way that only matters once you have used it.
Who the Brother SX-4000 suits
It suits a writer with a visual impairment or anyone who finds paper-only typing hard work. The LCD view mode is the closest thing in this roundup to a low-effort, low-strain writing setup, and that is the single strongest reason to pick it.
It also suits a business user or a home office handling letters and forms, because the automatic insertion and return remove most of the mechanical tedium. A4 paper support suits standard office stock.
Where the SX-4000 falls short
It falls short on condition and on evidence. Renewed machines have arrived with loose rollers and detached carriage arms, and paper advancing can be uneven. The 90-day limited warranty is the shortest protection here.
The bigger problem is the 26-review base. A 4.2 average is encouraging but thin, and the honest position is that we are trusting the model’s reputation more than the sample size. Treat the perfect 4.2 as a good sign, not a proven result.
7. Smith Corona Renewed – Best Starter Package With Consumables Included
Smith Corona Typewriter (Renewed)
12.4 lb body, extra ribbon and correction tape, two printwheels, new dust cover
Pros
- Consumables arrive with the machine including ribbon and correction tape
- Two printwheels give a pitch or style option
- New dust cover protects it between sessions
- No one-star reviews across the rating spread
Cons
- Listing names no specific model so features vary by machine
- 20 percent of reviews are three-star
- Unnamed model is harder to service or replace parts for
This is the best starter package in the roundup, and the reason is the box contents rather than the machine. It arrives with an extra ribbon, correction tape, two printwheels and a new dust cover, which removes the single most common first-week frustration: not having the right consumables on the day you want to write.
Smith Corona is also one of the most recognisable typewriter marques, and there is something about a machine with that badge on it that keeps you writing. At 12.42 pounds it is a normal portable weight for an electronic machine.
The rating spread is worth noting: 53 percent five-star and no one-star reviews at all, with the bulk of the remaining feedback at three stars. That reads as a consistent refurbished condition rather than a lottery, which is unusual for an unnamed refurbished listing.
Who the Smith Corona suits
It suits a first-time electric typewriter buyer who wants to start typing the same day the machine arrives. A bundled second printwheel means you can experiment with a different element style without buying anything else, and the dust cover matters if the machine lives in a shared room.
It also suits a gift for a writer, where the completeness of the package matters more than a long specification list. Writers on typewriter forums often warn against cheap no-name marketplace machines, and a branded, serviced listing with consumables attached is the opposite of that.
Where the Smith Corona falls short
It falls short on specificity. The listing does not name a model, so the features differ from machine to machine and you cannot research the correction memory or the keyboard layout before buying. That is a real limitation on a write-heavy product.
It also falls short on serviceability, because parts for an unidentified vintage machine are hard to source, and 20 percent of reviews sit at three stars, which points to middling rather than poor condition. If you need a specific pitch or a known correction buffer, choose a named model instead.
8. Brother EM-530 – Best for Paper Volume and Forms Work
Brother EM-530 Electronic Typewriter
21 lb body, 15-1/2 inch paper capacity, 20 cps, four typing pitches
Pros
- Large paper capacity and 12 inch writing line suit long documents
- 90000 word spell and redundancy checker
- 20 cps keeps up with moderate typing
- Owners call it a hard-working forms machine
Cons
- Heaviest new machine here at 21 pounds and physically bulky
- Electronic keyboard and dictionary confuse users wanting a simple machine
- Some units arrived with a broken correction ribbon holder
The EM-530 is built for volume, and on paper handling nothing else in this roundup matches it. A 15-1/2 inch paper capacity with a 12-inch writing line means long documents feed in without constant reloading, and the 20 cps typing speed keeps pace with moderate typing.
With a 90,000 word spell and redundancy checker, this machine can flag a repeated word across a very large document, which is rare at this level.
Owners who like it call it a hard-working machine that handles forms without complaint. That is exactly the use case it was built for.
Who the Brother EM-530 suits
It suits a home business writer producing invoices, quotations, statements and long letters where paper volume beats portability. A writer drafting a 400-page manuscript in one sitting will also appreciate never having to swap paper.
It suits anyone who wants pitch variety and spell check from a single machine, because the combination of four pitches and a large dictionary is rare at this level. If your desk can take the footprint, the capability per pound is good.
Where the EM-530 falls short
It falls short as a personal writing machine. At 21 pounds and 24 by 20 by 8 inches it is the bulkiest new machine here, and the electronic keyboard with dictionary behaviour frustrates writers who want a straightforward mechanical rhythm.
The evidence is also thin at 11 reviews, and reports include units arriving with a broken correction ribbon holder and a machine that failed to initialise and jammed against the right margin. Its 3.7 average reflects that, so buy it for capability and verify condition on arrival.
9. IBM Wheelwriter 5 – Best Wide Carriage With Storage Memory
IBM Wheelwriter 5 Electronic Typewriter – Wide Carriage -7K Storage (Renewed)
27 lb wide carriage, 7K storage memory, original functional IBM parts, renewed
Pros
- Wide carriage handles long lines in a single pass
- 7K of storage for recall and correction
- Entire rating spread sits at four and five stars
- Original IBM parts guaranteed functional
Cons
- Heaviest machine in the roundup at 27 pounds
- Only 6 reviews so reliability evidence is thin
- Part compatibility must be checked before buying
The Wheelwriter 5 is the machine enthusiasts mean when they talk about IBM reliability, and the wide carriage is what separates it from everything else in this roundup. A carriage wide enough to hold a full sentence or a line of script means far less of the constant return that interrupts thought on a 9-inch machine.
Seven kilobytes of storage is a meaningful buffer by typewriter standards. You can recall a passage from earlier in the session, correct it and reprint it, and on a wide carriage that saves a lot of hunting for the right line.
The rating distribution is unusually clean: 64 percent five-star and 36 percent four-star, with nothing at three stars or below. The listing also states that parts are original, functional and authentic, which matters more on a forty-year-old machine than the specification sheet does.
Who the IBM Wheelwriter 5 suits
It suits a writer at a fixed desk who drafts long scenes and hates retyping. The combination of a wide carriage and storage is the closest this roundup comes to a drafting machine that still prints on paper, and community consensus treats Wheelwriter reliability as a cut above older motorised units.
It also suits a writer producing technical or instructional material where long lines reduce hyphenation and awkward breaks. If your desk is a writing desk rather than a laptop perch, the weight stops being a problem.
Where the Wheelwriter 5 falls short
It falls short on weight and on evidence. At 27 pounds this is the heaviest machine in the roundup, and moving it between rooms is a two-person job. Six reviews is a very small sample for a machine of this age, so treat the 4.6 as encouraging rather than conclusive.
Parts compatibility is the buyer’s job, since the listing advises checking the original part number before purchase. If you are not comfortable confirming compatibility on a refurbished vintage machine, our guide to restored typewriters for novelists covers how specialists handle that work.
10. IBM Personal Wheelwriter 2 – Best IBM Refurb for a Fixed Desk
IBM Personal Wheelwriter 2 Typewriter – Refurbished
25.1 lb refurbished unit, Personal Wheelwriter series, vintage IBM office design
Pros
- Refurbished machine reported to look brand new
- Clean 4.6 average with no negative reviews
- Personal Wheelwriter is a respected IBM office model
Cons
- Only 2 reviews the thinnest evidence base here
- 25.1 pounds makes it a fixed desk machine
The Personal Wheelwriter 2 is a respected IBM office-era machine, and the refurbishment on this particular listing is described in reviews as producing something that looks brand new. For a writer who wants an IBM on the desk, that is the appeal.
At 25.1 pounds with a 23.75 by 17.75 by 7.5 inch package, this is a machine you set up once and leave. The Personal Wheelwriter series is valued for its build and its daisywheel output, and for long-form drafting its wide format keeps lines readable.
We want to be straight about the evidence here. Two reviews with no negative ratings is a clean result but an anecdotal one, and the model’s reputation as an IBM office machine is a stronger basis for judgement than the rating. Buy the machine, not the score.
Who the IBM Personal Wheelwriter 2 suits
It suits a writer with a dedicated desk who wants a serious machine that will stay put for years. IBM office machines were built for daily volume, and the Personal Wheelwriter series handles long documents without the fussiness of a portable.
It also suits a buyer who values the physical object as much as the output. An IBM machine carries a specific weight, sound and presence that no plastic portable in this list replicates, and enthusiasts consistently rate the IBM build above the budget class.
Where the Personal Wheelwriter 2 falls short
It falls short on portability and on proof. Twenty-five pounds rules out travel writing and shared-space use, and with two reviews there is no long-term reliability picture at all from this listing.
It also falls short on documented specifications. Weight and dimensions are published, but carriage width, correction memory and print speed are not, so you are buying on model reputation. Ask for those figures before you commit, and insist on proof of the refurbishment.
11. IBM Wheelwriter 1500 by Lexmark – Best Correction Buffer and Writing Line
IBM WHEELWRITER 1500 By Lexmark Electronic Typewriter
6,000 character correction buffer, 13.2 inch writing line, 16.5 inch paper, variable pitch
Pros
- 6000 character correction buffer is the largest in this roundup
- 13.2 inch writing line and 16.5 inch paper capacity
- Variable pitch including proportional spacing
- Spell check reprint and automatic page eject
Cons
- Highest price point here by a wide margin
- Only 4 reviews so the perfect rating is thinly evidenced
- PowerWise energy system makes it less purely mechanical
The Wheelwriter 1500 is the most capable machine in this roundup, and the 6,000-character correction buffer is the headline. That is roughly six thousand characters you can back into and fix without retyping, which is far beyond what any new-build electronic typewriter offers.
A 13.2 inch writing line with 16.5 inch paper capacity gives you a long, uncluttered line and a large sheet for scripts, chapter drafts or wide tables. Variable pitch covers 10, 12 and 15 characters per inch plus proportional spacing, so one machine handles a manuscript and a formatted document.
Column layout, margin control, tab settings, bold print, continuous underscore, super and subscript, spell check, a reprint feature for quick duplicates and automatic page eject round out a feature set that reads like a small word processor. It is the most forgiving machine here for a writer who revises constantly.
Who the IBM Wheelwriter 1500 suits
It suits a novelist or a screenwriter who drafts in long sessions and cannot afford to stop for a retyping loop. The buffer, the wide line and the reprint function remove nearly every reason to abandon a flow state for a technical reason.
It also suits a writer moving between formats, since pitch switching and proportional spacing cover typing a novel this month and a formatted report next. The PowerWise energy system means it will not run indefinitely, which is the one trade against a purely mechanical feel.
Where the Wheelwriter 1500 falls short
It falls short on cost and on proof. This is the most expensive machine in the roundup by a wide margin, and with only four reviews the perfect 5.0 average is a promise rather than a proven result. Weight is not published, so check the footprint against your desk before ordering.
It also falls short for anyone who wants the machine to be nothing but a typewriter. Spell check, an energy conservation system and a large buffer add electronics between you and the paper. If you want pure tactile writing, the Royal 69147T or a Nakajima is the more honest choice.
How to Choose an Electric Typewriter for Writing
Manual, electric, electronic or digital: know which one you are buying
Manual, electric, electronic and digital all appear in listing titles and they are not interchangeable. A manual machine uses muscle to swing type against a ribbon. An electric machine uses a motor to strike daisy wheels, daisywheels or typeballs. An electronic typewriter is an electric machine with a small memory and possibly a screen. A digital typewriter is a keyboard with a printer, and it is not a writing experience at all.
Consumer confusion between these four is the most common complaint from typewriter forums, and it is why plenty of roundups end up recommending decorative manual machines on an electric list. Every product reviewed here strikes a physical type element against a ribbon and prints straight to paper. That is the whole category we are covering.
Pitch and line width decide how a page looks
Pitch is characters per inch, and it is the setting writers notice most on the finished page. 10 pitch gives a traditional manuscript appearance, 12 pitch is the typewriter default, and 15 pitch fits more on a line. A PS or proportional setting narrows some characters for a more printed look.
Line width matters just as much. The 9-inch print width on the Nakajima and Royal portables is comfortable for prose. The 13.2 inch writing line on the IBM Wheelwriter 1500 and the wide carriage on the Wheelwriter 5 are what you want for scripts and technical work. Screenwriters should prioritise 12 pitch and a typewriter-style element over anything else.
Correction memory is the feature writers notice most
Correction memory records what you typed and lets the machine strike it again, usually in red, then return the carriage to where you were. Dead correction memory is the number one deal-breaker in enthusiast communities, and it is a mechanical fault, so it cannot be fixed in software.
The practical sizes here run from one line on the Nakajima WPT-150, through 65 characters on the Brother GX-6750, to 6,000 characters on the IBM Wheelwriter 1500. More memory means less retyping, and a relocation feature that returns the carriage to your working position is the quiet quality-of-life upgrade.
Consumables and the real cost of ownership
Ribbons and correction tape are cheap, and a new-build electronic typewriter will run for years on the ribbon that ships with it. Daisy wheel and printwheel elements are the expensive consumable, and a machine like the GX-6750 or the WPT-160 depends on them for pitch and style changes.
Members of typewriter forums warn that spools for older machines are proprietary and increasingly difficult to source. The practical advice is to check which ribbon and element format your machine uses before you buy, and to buy a spare of each while the format is still available. No competitor publishes this, which is why we have included it.
How to test a used electric typewriter before you buy
First, test the correction memory. Type a word, hit the correction key, and confirm the machine strikes it again in red and puts the carriage back where you were. A machine that does not do this will make your drafting life miserable.
Second, look at the type element. A bent, jammed or worn daisy wheel smudges the ribbon and produces uneven characters, and this is the single most common vintage purchase mistake. Third, print a full line of lowercase with descenders and check alignment. Fourth, roll the carriage to both margins and listen for grinding. Fifth, type at speed for two minutes and check for key registration drift.
If a seller claims a machine is restored with no photographs and no demonstration, treat that claim as unproven. Our vintage collector guide covers what genuine restoration evidence looks like.
New or vintage: the honest trade-off
New machines give you a warranty, consistent quality and no refurbishment risk, but they are plastic, modest and increasingly limited in choice. Vintage machines give you weight, build quality, wide carriages and large correction buffers, but you inherit the risk of a mechanism that has been sitting unused.
For a daily writing habit, a new Nakajima or Royal is the low-friction choice. For a machine that becomes part of the furniture and handles a full manuscript without interruption, a refurbished IBM Wheelwriter is hard to beat, provided you test it as described above. Neither answer is universally right, and the only wrong choice is buying without testing the correction memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does anyone make electric typewriters anymore?
Yes. Nakajima and Royal still build new electronic typewriters, and both the WPT-150 and the 6914x Scriptor range are current production machines rather than discontinued stock. The category is far smaller than it was, and Brother’s new-build electric models have largely given way to refurbished listings, but genuinely new electric typewriters are still in production.
Which electronic typewriter is considered the best?
For most writers the Nakajima WPT-150 is the strongest all-round choice, because it has the largest body of real owner feedback in the category and weighs only 13 pounds. The Royal 69147T Scriptor II wins on formatting features, and the IBM Wheelwriter 1500 wins outright on correction buffer size and writing line width if your budget stretches that far.
Are electric typewriters worth any money?
New models are worth it if you want a low-friction daily writing habit with a warranty and no refurbishment risk. Refurbished IBM machines can be worth it for build quality, wide carriages and large correction buffers, but only after you test the correction memory, inspect the type element and check carriage alignment. Poorly restored machines are not worth buying at any price.
Is a typewriter better than a laptop for writing?
That depends on your editing habits rather than the machine. Writers who revise heavily often prefer a screen because moving text is instant. Writers who struggle to stop drafting tend to do better on paper, because the linear rhythm of a typewriter removes the temptation to scroll back and edit mid-scene.
How do I test a used electric typewriter before I buy it?
Test the correction memory first, then check the type element for bending or jamming, print a full line of lowercase to check alignment, roll the carriage to both margins listening for grinding, and type at speed for two minutes to catch key registration drift. Dead correction memory and a bent daisy wheel are the two faults that most often make a used machine a bad buy.
What typewriter does Stephen King use?
King is widely associated with writing on a manual typewriter rather than a computer, but no manufacturer or confirmed interview in our research names a specific model, so any claim naming an exact typewriter should be treated as unverified. The general point stands: he has long described working on a typewriter, and that is the practice most writers are copying when they ask the question.
Final Verdict: Which Electric Typewriter Should You Buy?
If you want one answer, take the Nakajima WPT-150. It is the best electric typewriter for writers who want a portable, low-friction machine with real owner history behind it, and at 13 pounds it is the easiest to live with. If your writing needs formatting control, move up one step to the Royal 69147T Scriptor II, and if you need a 6,000-character correction buffer and a 13.2 inch line, the IBM Wheelwriter 1500 is the machine built for it.
Before you order anything, test the correction memory and check the type element. That single habit separates a good purchase from a disappointing one, and it is the advice writers on typewriter forums give each other most often. Once the machine is on your desk, keep a spare ribbon and a spare element of the right format, and start typing.