reMarkable 2: A Sophisticated Note-Taking Tablet with Limited Appeal

The reMarkable 2 made its debut in 2020, meaning it isn’t a completely new item that the company is introducing to the market, but a concept that was developed years earlier. This tablet is designed to mimic the sensation of writing on paper, facilitating the transformation of handwritten notes into editable digital files. However, with the prevalence of smartwatches that run apps, make calls, and monitor health, televisions that integrate apps or serve as decorative pieces, and headphones that can translate languages and respond to voice commands, the reMarkable 2 is likely to miss the mark for average consumers looking for maximum value in products.

Having used this tablet for several months, I have not transitioned to using it as a planner or diary (I’ll elaborate on this later), but I have discovered its usefulness in situations where traditional pen and paper feel more appropriate. If you’re deliberating on whether the reMarkable 2 paper tablet fits into your life, this review aims to provide clarity.

reMarkable 2 Review: Price in India

The reMarkable 2 is available in India as a bundle for Rs. 43,999. This includes the reMarkable 2 paper tablet and the Marker Pen Plus accessory, which features a built-in eraser. The second bundle, which I received for review, is known as the reMarkable 2 Bundle with Folio, priced at Rs. 53,999, and it includes a Book Folio cover for basic protection.

reMarkable also provided their Type Folio Keyboard cover for review, introduced in 2023. It is offered in two finishes: Ink Black and Sepia Brown. I received the Sepia Brown version, which has a suggested retail price of Rs. 19,499.

reMarkable 2 Review: Design and accessories

Regarding accessories, reMarkable offers only the Marker Plus pen in India. It operates without a battery and therefore requires no charging. It features a built-in eraser with a slightly rounded tip. The pen package includes 9 additional tips, providing ample supply even for enthusiasts or heavy users.

The optional Book Folio cover provides basic protection for the reMarkable 2’s screen, but users wanting to shield it from falls will need to seek third-party accessories.

The Type Folio cover is quite remarkable. While it resembles a standard tablet cover made of synthetic leather and plastic, it is an engineering feat. Similar to the Marker Plus pen, it doesn’t include a battery and thus doesn’t require charging. Its power is drawn through five pogo pins situated within the area where the paper tablet connects.

The Type Folio cover for the reMarkable 2 allows for a lower display angle for both writing and typing access

 

When closed, the Tan Brown cover looks like a typical tablet folio case. It’s quite challenging to notice that there’s a keyboard concealed underneath the paper tablet. The Type Folio offers three positions. The first position sees the front flap, which normally protects the display, wrapped around the back, making it perfect for taking handwritten notes when resting on your lap or a flat surface.

Next, the second angle, which I refer to as «typing mode,» has the tablet upright with the keyboard accessible beneath, ideal for distraction-free typing.

The third mode I dub «review mode.» This setting maintains the tablet at a less inclined angle with the keyboard available for typing while also allowing for comfortable writing by resting your palm on the display instead of hovering your hand in «typing mode.»

A detail I found lacking was the paper tablet’s capacity to wake up when the Type Folio or Folio covers are opened. Upon opening the flap, you must press the power button at the top to awaken the tablet. While you can opt to keep it powered on constantly, this will drain the battery rapidly. Fortunately, there is a passcode lock option to keep your tablet secure from unauthorized access.

The reMarkable 2 does not come with a charger; instead, it includes a branded USB Type-A to Type-C cable in the packaging.

The paper tablet is as slender as a Type-C USB port

 

As for the design of the paper tablet, it is remarkably thin (just 4.7mm) and surprisingly lightweight (403g) compared to standard electronic tablets from Apple or other brands. It’s essentially as slender as the USB-C port located at the bottom left corner. The only button on the tablet, the power button, is situated at the top left corner and is used solely to turn the device on or off.

The tablet combines metal and glass to ensure it remains sturdy while maintaining a slim and lightweight profile. Its slimness enhances the writing experience, allowing the base of your palm to rest comfortably on the table when reaching the bottom of a page, mitigating wrist strain typically associated with writing in notebooks, long books, or diaries. It feels very natural, offering a writing experience that is far more welcomed than conventional notebooks.

The display doesn’t completely occupy the entire frontal surface, leaving a sufficiently wide border at the bottom. Since the bezel matches the E Ink display panel’s color (white), it is challenging to distinguish them from a distance. The back glass panel covers the complete rear side from edge to edge and features the reMarkable branding in the center, alongside four small rubber stoppers that prevent the tablet from sliding during use.

The front and rear of the reMarkable 2 look quite similar when the device is in sleep mode. Left: Display, right: Rear panel

 

reMarkable 2 Review: Performance

The reMarkable 2 paper tablet features a 10.3-inch monochrome digital paper display with a resolution of 1,872 x 1,404 pixels (226 PPI), which is sharp enough, but I frequently noticed that typed text during editing mode appeared jagged, which can be frustrating when coming from high-resolution smartphones and tablets. However, this seems to be solely an issue with typed text, as handwritten strokes consistently look smooth and flawless, depending on the digital writing tool used or the pressure applied. The rest of the minimalist software interface renders just fine. Typed notes also appear without issue once you exit editing mode and simply preview documents.

The software is quite basic, which aligns with the creators’ intentions. You can think of it as Windows Explorer or macOS Finder, serving as a straightforward file manager to store, modify, and share your notes in the cloud.

You can start jotting down notes with a Quick sheet, providing a fast way to capture thoughts or ideas without the need for templates, files, or folders (read organization). Alternatively, a more structured approach involves creating a Folder and then adding a Notebook to it.

The Linux-based software interface is designed for purpose and is devoid of embellishments

 

All notes and folders are continuously updated and synced to the cloud using Wi-Fi (supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz), enabling access to them from an iPhone, Android device, or even a PC or Mac. While software updates (which are frequent) are the only use of the Wi-Fi, the tablet lacks a web browser, as intended by its developers. Fortunately, a web clipper is available for Chrome desktop browsers, allowing you to select and save web pages as PDF documents for later reading.

reMarkable’s cloud service is known as Connect. It is recommended to subscribe if you own the tablet, as it allows seamless syncing of your notes or ideas from the reMarkable 2 with your other digital devices (for further reference). For Rs. 299 per month (or Rs. 2,990 annually), you can access unlimited cloud storage, which is beneficial given that the device’s internal storage is limited to around 8GB, with no potential for expansion.

Despite its premium price, the reMarkable 2 lacks a front light, which is common in other e-readers and tablets

 

Editing Office documents on the reMarkable 2 is also feasible. This can be accomplished once you activate and install the reMarkable office add-in on your main machine within the Office app. Similarly, users can integrate and sync files from other services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Integrating these services requires visiting the reMarkable website and securely adding these services.

This seems to endow the slim tablet with considerable functionality, so I decided to experiment with Google Drive integration. I discovered that it doesn’t allow for editing (adding text or making changes) to any documents stored in the cloud. Instead, you can only annotate or comment on existing documents using the Marker Plus. Documents must first be imported for annotation and then exported back to the cloud once completed. This process can become cumbersome over time and appears rather basic compared to what an iPad app can achieve in similar contexts.

The reMarkable 2’s ultra-slim design makes it very pleasant for writing

 

The primary role of the reMarkable 2 is writing or note-taking. This function is where I heavily utilized the tablet. If you enjoy planning, writing, or brainstorming on paper, a wealth of PDF templates can be downloaded from fellow reMarkable enthusiasts, including calendars, to-do lists, and more. There are even premium templates available online that you can acquire if you’re not satisfied with the built-in options.

The ability to edit handwritten notes is what sets the reMarkable apart. It was enjoyable to select, copy, and drag and drop handwritten notes between pages or even notebooks. There are a multitude of options when using the Marker Plus as well. I preferred the fine liner as my primary tool, though options include a ballpoint pen, highlighter, paintbrush, and even a calligraphy pen (ideal for the creative).
Regular software updates add new features, including a recent addition that makes drawing straight lines a breeze.

Handwriting recognition is efficient, assuming your handwriting is legible. I found that using a lined template made my handwritten notes much neater than scribbling on a blank sheet. Palm rejection functions excellently.

While it provides numerous writing tools, the display surface feels somewhat overly smooth

 

What I found lacking in the writing experience was the insufficient friction of the display surface. It doesn’t fully duplicate the sensation of writing with pen on paper or pencil on paper, which is much rougher and provides some grip for the pen’s tip during writing.

Like many E Ink screens, the reMarkable 2 also lacks a front light, making it challenging to use in low-light conditions. I often had to direct light onto the display unless I was writing near a window or in a well-lit environment.

Despite being able to handle and open PDF, EPUB, JPG, and PNG file formats, it’s a missed chance that it doesn’t function as a full-fledged e-reader like an Amazon Kindle. However, you can manually download books in EPUB format for viewing.

The reMarkable 2 is packaged with a Type-A to Type-C charging cable

 

The battery life from its 3,000mAh battery seemed somewhat lacking. Given that it goes into sleep mode automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity, I anticipated this tablet to last for weeks with my basic note-taking habits and the absence of a front light. However, I was surprised when it ran out of power in just two weeks. With intensive use (several hours each day), it endures around 3-4 days before needing a charge. When connected to a 30W charger, it takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to fully charge.

reMarkable 2 Review: Usage

Galaxy Note revolutionized the market in 2011 by introducing the stylus. Nonetheless, larger screens and more dependable virtual keyboards meant that all my note-taking eventually happened on smartphones, as they were always handy. Thus, I have relied on note-taking apps like Evernote. Consequently, my note-taking has predominantly been typing rather than writing.

I found the Kindle 2022’s display outshone in clarity and brightness across all lighting environments (even with its front light off)

 

Thus, when I was assigned the reMarkable 2 for review, I had to consciously establish new habits of writing rather than typing. I utilized it for note-taking during product briefings and attempted using it for handwritten notes while reviewing items. I even positioned it on my workspace (without a case or cover) for easy access. Ultimately, I found it necessary to adapt my usage; otherwise, my go-to response, even when a thought crossed my mind at night, was to grab my phone, launch my note-taking app, and type it out. One particularly useful application I discovered for this paper tablet was in the kitchen. It proved to be an effective tool for jotting down notes, creating shopping lists, and gathering instructions as I could utilize the web clipper to extract grocery lists from the web and then insert them into a notebook amid my handwritten notes.

The typing experience with the Type Folio cover’s keyboard was satisfactory. The keys provide good travel and effective feedback upon pressing. Its layout closely resembles that of a 13-inch laptop keyboard, although it lacks a few symbols typically present on standard keyboards, such as box brackets and forward slashes.

reMarkable 2 Review: Verdict

Discussions with the creators of reMarkable revealed that their primary goal was to replicate the experience of writing on paper and transition it into the digital domain. The reMarkable 2, along with all its companion applications (for Android, iOS, Windows, etc.), appears to have successfully fulfilled this mission. The reMarkable paper tablet is not intended for everyone, and according to the team at reMarkable, that’s completely acceptable since it was not designed to replace an iPad or a laptop but rather to complement them.

After several months of usage, I realized that the reMarkable 2 does not adequately fulfill my basic note-taking needs. Writing as a note-taking method is still a habit I need to cultivate intentionally. This shows that my use for it is quite limited. The high price tag makes it challenging to justify, especially when compared to an Apple iPad (9th Gen with all accessories) that accomplishes much more (including note-taking) at a significantly lower price point (in comparison to the reMarkable 2). While I value the engineering and design choices present in the reMarkable 2, it needs to be priced much more affordably, considering its singular focus.

Should you choose reMarkable or an iPad?

 

That singular focus may attract users of leather diaries or planners, college students (despite the price), knowledge workers (ideators), and those who work frequently with PDF documents, making them likely to consider purchasing one or finding it enticing. For the majority of others, an expensive note-taking tablet is hardly a necessity.

For those searching for a more efficient e-reader capable of running applications without causing eye strain on an E-Ink display, the BOOX Tab Ultra C serves as a superior choice, although it is not officially available in India. It also features a faster refresh-rate display, which benefits users wanting to run several applications while taking advantage of stylus functionality for annotation or note-taking. Nevertheless, keep in consideration that it is not as lightweight, focused, or minimalist as the reMarkable.

Pros:

• Eye strain-free E Ink display
• Excellent note-taking experience
• Well-crafted accessories
• Efficient Connect cloud sync

Cons:

• No front-light available on the display
• Minimal software functionality
• Somewhat sluggish interface
• Lacks additional features
• Limited third-party service integration
• High price point

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Is the new expensive 10th generation iPad worth buying instead of its predecessor? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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