Since the ReMarkable 2 hit store shelves, it has been my go-to tablet for travel and taking notes. Its slim size and solid writing experience made it ideal for a no-nonsense experience for taking notes, distraction-free writing, or just reading some files while on a plane. Now, the company is shaking things up with their new ReMarkable Paper Pro, and I have found a new favourite e-ink tablet. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the ReMarkable 2, this new device introduces colour capabilities and enhanced features that cater to writers, artists, and professionals alike, as well as new specs that make for a fantastic overall experience.
I loved the look of the ReMarkable 2, and the ReMarkable Paper Pro builds on that design concept, keeping the sleek lines and premium materials that made the first tablet so nice to use. At 7.4mm thick, it’s slightly bulkier than the ReMarkable 2 but still impressively thin for a tablet of its capabilities. The device feels premium in hand, with a solid aluminum body that exudes quality.
While the overall body of ReMarkable Paper Pro is stunning to look at, it is the 11.8-inch colour e-ink screen that helps it stand out from the previous ReMarkable 2. If you like taking notes with the feel of a full-size piece of paper, this is the tablet for you. It is a great size to sit there and use for drawing, note-taking or any sort of pen-to-paper activity. This new screen technology allows for the use of colour while maintaining the paper-like texture that ReMarkable users have come to appreciate. The display supports nine main colours, which can be layered and shaded to create various hues.
Colour e-ink screens are becoming more commonplace, with the Kobo Libra Colour being one that gave a solid offering. It allowed for some note-taking, but the ReMarkable implantation in the Paper Pro feels more refined. The colours feel like they sit on top of the standard black and white screen, making it fantastic for highlighting or making corrections, giving a more tactile experience compared to other tablets of this type.
“And with seven pen styles to choose from, the ReMarkable Paper Pro offers enough options to express yourself the way you want, even if the end results won’t jump off the page.”
The colours are far from vibrant, though, so be warned—they feel more in line with pencil crayons or light highlighters than a more eye-popping Sharpie. With options like primary red, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan, you have enough choices to draw or mark on a document. And with seven pen styles to choose from, the ReMarkable Paper Pro offers enough options to express yourself the way you want, even if the end results won’t jump off the page.
The introduction of colour is a major step for the ReMarkable line, opening up new possibilities for note-taking, annotation and artistic expression. Users can now highlight text in different colours, create more vibrant sketches, and add visual elements to their notes with ease. While I loved what the ReMarkable 2 brought to the table, the Paper Pro feels like the perfect evolution, with enough enhancements to elevate the creative experience on the tablet, making it hard to ignore.
Even though there are tablets with 16 million colours and OLED screens, it’s the experience of writing on the ReMarkable that makes it so unique. The company has managed to make the Paper Pro feel remarkably similar to writing on paper, thanks to the 4,000-plus levels of pressure sensitivity and the reduced distance between the stylus tip and the e-ink layer. The writing experience is snappy and responsive, with minimal lag compared to previous models.
“While I loved what the ReMarkable 2 brought to the table, the Paper Pro feels like the perfect evolution, with enough enhancements to elevate the creative experience on the tablet, making it hard to ignore.”
However, it’s worth noting that the texture of the screen has changed slightly. While the ReMarkable 2 felt like drawing with a pencil on an artist’s sketchbook, the Paper Pro’s surface is smoother, more akin to using a ballpoint pen on printer paper. This change may take some getting used to for long-time ReMarkable users, although I like it. I’ve been using the Paper Pro for a few weeks now, and I honestly find it hard to go back.
Much like the ReMarkable 2, the Paper Pro runs on ReMarkable’s proprietary operating system, which focuses on distraction-free writing and reading. The software includes features for note-taking, sketching, and reading PDFs and e-books. It is worth noting that while you can use accessories like the Type Folio, much like its predecessor, the Paper Pro does not support any sort of Word documents, so you will need to use the ReMarkable app and drop your documents in directly should you want to work on them in a distraction-free environment.
Perhaps the next most noticeable feature with the Paper Pro is the new built-in front light, a first for ReMarkable tablets. This feature allows for comfortable use in low-light conditions, addressing a common complaint about previous models. It is barely noticeable when in daylight, but once you are in a dark room, it gives enough light to make the e-ink display visible and usable at night.
“…the ReMarkable Paper Pro is a solid offering that’s hard to beat, especially for artists, creators or anyone who wants that paper-like experience.”
While the Paper Pro offers enhanced features, these improvements come at the cost of battery life. The device needs charging about twice a week with regular use, a significant decrease from the weeks-long battery life of the ReMarkable 2. That said, compared to most tablets on the market, the ReMarkable Paper Pro can last a full day with constant use, and as long as you remember to make charging part of your routine, you should not have any issues.
Running on a 1.8 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 processor with 2 GB of RAM, the Paper Pro feels more responsive compared to past iterations. ReMarkable claims the display latency can be as low as 12 milliseconds, a notable improvement over previous models. However, some users may still notice lag when flipping through documents or using certain tools. When using the tablet for typing with the Type Folio, I noticed no issues, and it delivered a snappy, responsive experience. It’s worth noting, however, that this is a purpose-built tablet, and it does what it does well.
To enhance your ReMarkable Paper Pro experience, there is a range of accessories that let you customize your setup as you see fit. The most important one is, of course, the stylus, with a choice between the ReMarkable Marker (included with the tablet) and the Marker Plus stylus ($50 upgrade). The main difference between the two options is that Marker Plus has an eraser at the end of it, but honestly, either works well, so you won’t really be struggling with either option.
The styli are now active, giving them a more accurate feel with fewer issues reading handwriting or making a clear, precise line, but this also means they can run out of charge. They now charge by magnetically connecting to the main tablet—similar to an iPad—and it works relatively well. The folio cases include a small magnetic strap to keep the stylus in place, which is a welcome addition that ensures I don’t lose the stylus in a bag and that it remains charged when I want to use it.
Much like the ReMarkable 2, the ReMarkable Paper Pro comes with a range of folio covers that help protect the tablet. This is a well-built device, but tossing it in your bag could lead to damage, so I’d suggest investing in at least the basic option. It gives the tablet more of a book feel and keeps it safe while travelling. If you’re like me, the Type Folio ($229), which adds a keyboard attachment, is a fantastic—if expensive—option and, as with the ReMarkable 2, is one of the most invaluable additions if you want to use the tablet for distraction-free work.
Now for the tricky part: the ReMarkable Paper Pro starts at $579 USD (approximately $785 CAD) with the standard Marker included. This places it in a premium price bracket, competing with high-end tablets like the iPad Air.
“…if you want a more precise and direct writing experience, the ReMarkable Paper Pro is an excellent choice.”
While the Paper Pro offers unique features tailored to writing and drawing enthusiasts, its price point may be hard to justify for some users, especially given its more limited functionality compared to general-purpose tablets. It’s a solid offering, but it is hard to justify unless you prefer the paper-and-pen experience and find that an iPad simply doesn’t cut it.
I personally use it whenever I travel, and the Type Folio has become my go-to way to type on planes. The limited space and distraction-free writing make it fantastic for getting work done, especially when you just want to focus. That said, this is a purpose-built device, and unless you specifically need what this tablet offers, it’s a lot to spend on what may feel like a novelty.
There are e-readers that do 80 percent of what the Paper Pro does, which can work for the budget-conscious, but if you want a more precise and direct writing experience, the ReMarkable Paper Pro is an excellent choice. For owners of the ReMarkable 2, unless you need colour and a slightly larger size, there is little reason to upgrade to this tablet unless the new features feel essential. For anyone looking for one of the best writing experiences available on a tablet, with the addition of colour and light, the ReMarkable Paper Pro is a solid offering that’s hard to beat, especially for artists, creators or anyone who wants that paper-like experience.
The ReMarkable Paper Pro carves out a unique niche in the tablet market. It’s not trying to be an iPad competitor but rather a digital tool that closely mimics the experience of writing and drawing on paper, now with the added dimension of colour. For those who find value in this specific use case, the Paper Pro could be a worthwhile investment in their digital workflow. It’s my personal go-to writing tool and one that goes with me whenever I travel. It may be a premium device, but it has proven invaluable to me. The real question is: does it do enough to make the $579 price of entry make sense for your needs?
