reMarkable 2 review: The best features of this e-ink tablet have been hiding in plain sight

The reMarkable 2 is a piece of tech that you might be familiar with. For many, it’s that fancy looking e-ink tablet that you can draw on. But there is so much more to the story of this unique device.

This long-term, deep dive review aims to uncover the reMarkable 2’s best features, which until now have been hiding in plain sight.

How this reMarkable 2 review is different

The reMarkable line of tablets is famously positioned as “paper-like”, and it’s what initially grabbed my attention, but as I soon found out, that feature alone doesn’t tell the complete story of this device. Most reviews have compared the device to other tablets or e-readers, but I don’t think that’s a fair or accurate comparison. Plus, it glosses over the reMarkable’s other secret features; sustainability and the ability to control time. Well, not literally – but just stick with me, as I promise this will make much more sense in a moment.

All that considered, I wanted to put the paper-replacement theory to the test and find out if this e-Ink device could really be an ideal substitute for post-it’s, sketchpads and physical books, as the marketing claimed. The adverts say that this is a device that could eliminate or at least drastically reduce the amount of disposable paper that’s in play for both creative and general productivity work. Could potential buyers actually be able to forgo carrying a dedicated e-reader, tablet and notepad? And would there be any noticeable trade-offs?

This review is about truly incorporating the device into our lifestyle, and then seeing if it still had a place, many months (or years) later.

Then, there is the factor of what this device does, or rather, doesn’t do. We’ll get into the specifics in a little bit, but the device’s limited focus on note-taking, e-reader functionality and e-ink canvas has been criticised, especially when you consider the cost of the tablet. Again, this is somewhat of an unfair comparison, but one that the company itself unfortunately exacerbates with pricing.

Everything comes down to those three factors. Is this device a suitable replacement for paper, how does it fit into your lifestyle and workflows, and is it money well spent?

If you’ve made it this far into the review, you might be wondering what new information you could get from yet another reMarkable 2 review in 2023? Hasn’t the device been out for a few years now? Well, in order to test our three-part thesis, we needed actual time with the device. That meant not rushing out and producing a hastily recorded first look, or even a one week or one month review. Instead, we’ve pushed that out to well over six months of usage. The process actually started nearly a full year earlier, with much time spent researching apps, devices and various other ways to move paper-based notes into the digital realm.

This long-form, slow-review approach has worked with another, similar “lifestyle” device that also features an e-ink display – the Light Phone 2.  Taking our time allowed us space to really get to know the product, and test out as many facets as possible. This isn’t about running through a bunch of artificial tests, and simulating someone’s “regular usage”, but rather, truly incorporating it into our lifestyle, and then seeing if it still had a place, many months (or years) later.

So, in putting together this review, I enlisted the help of illustrator and designer Ilaria Gallo, who’s no stranger to sketching and note-taking and is someone that admittedly has a healthy addiction to reading books on everything design related. Who then would be better positioned to test the theory that this one, consolidated device could replace all of the disposable, paper-based products in your life? I also was curious as to how this device might fit into, or even restructure, her existing workflows, as both a prolific note-taker and sketcher.

Let’s talk about that price

If you’ve been doing your research, you would have seen a recurrent theme across most other reviews of this device, and that’s that the reMarkable 2 is a premium product that commands a premium price. The truth is, there’s more to it than that.

What you are really buying here is time. Time for yourself, and time for the planet.

Yes, everything we are about to break down in this review could technically be achieved in a more frugal manner with a budget Android tablet, second-hand Surface, iPad or stacks of notebooks. But if you decide to spend your hard-earned money on the reMarkable 2, you’re actually getting more than just a well-built e-ink tablet. What you are really buying here is time. Time for yourself, and time for the planet. I’ll expand on that later on, but it’s important to think about how this device can help you and your environment, and not just making direct comparisons to devices that are roughly the same form factor, but which vary wildly in terms of their technological components.

Because it all comes to down to the promise of how well this tablet can be used to replace paper, and how it can be used to improve your workflows and productivity. And on both factors, the reMarkable 2 is in a league of its own.

That argument however does begin to really get tested at the higher-end, and without knowing the margins on these devices, it would be curious to see if real competition would drive down the cost. Speaking of sustainability, we opted for a refurbished model, which lowered the base price from $499 AUD ($299 USD) to $469 AUD ($279 USD). Adding in the standard Marker ($119 AUD/$79 USD) brought the overall cost to $588 AUD ($358 USD). There’s also a range of folio’s available, starting at $119 AUD ($79 USD) and going up to $299 AUD ($199 USD) for the one that has a built-in keyboard, transforming the tablet into a Surface-like device.

Item	AUD	USD
reMarkable (new)	$499	$299
reMarkable (refurbished)	$469	$279
Marker	$119	$79
Marker Plus	$199	$129

For that amount of money, you could pick up an entry level/budget tablet, or second-hand device. On the one hand, it would come with undoubtedly higher specs, but there would always be trade-offs, including janky software, slow response times, lack of warranty and inferior build quality. Plus, there would be almost no paper-like functionality, which is why you’d be interested in the reMarkable 2 in the first place.

Again, most reviews seem to miss these points, confusing the devices specialisation with that of a lack of features per dollar spent. But as we are about to discover, it’s much more complicated than that.

The reMarkable 2’s hardware

In the box you’ll find the standard quick start guide, warranty and other various paperwork. Alongside this are just a few pack-in accessories – notably a set of nine replacement marker nibs and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable that is generously long (1-meter).

Turning to the device itself, it is amazingly thin and lightweight, yet feels incredibly sturdy. In fact, it’s skinny profile amounts to only 4.7mm and just over 400g in weight. Unlike other e-ink devices which are typically made of plastic and have a recessed screen, the reMarkable 2 has a build that is made of glass and a left-side strip panel (reminiscent of a book’s spine) that appears to be made from aluminium. The screen is also completely flush with its surrounding bezels, which match the slightly off-white colour of the blank screen. The effect makes it look like the entire front-side of the device is a giant screen, with bezels that are almost seamless and invisible.

The metal and glass construction also help eliminate any noticeable creaking or panel gaps that you’ll find on leading e-readers and cheaper tablets. It’s something that is immediately noticeable and helps to justify the higher price tag.

The left-side metal strip also houses two important hardware components. First is the power button, which is located along the top of the device. The USB charging port is directly opposite this, at the very bottom of the tablet. The right edge of the reMarkable is where you will find connectors for the various folio accessories, and it’s also the side that houses the magnet for the Marker to snap into.

And something that should be noted is that you aren’t locked into using the Marker with the reMarkable. Sure, you could always opt to use your fingers like a regular touchscreen device, but more importantly, the reMarkable users Wacom technology for its digitiser stack. That means many different pens and stylus on the market can work just fine. The Surface Pen, Apple Pencil and other Bluetooth-based styli won’t work, but others like the Samsung Galaxy S-Pen and Staedtler Noris Digital styli work just fine.

For this review, we used the standard Marker, which attaches to the outside of the device via magnets as you would expect. There is no battery to charge, nor are there any additional buttons or eraser either. For the luxury of an eraser tip, you’d need to spring for the costlier Marker Plus, which is slightly heavier (19g vs 15g) and comes in a sleek black colourway.

Rounding out the noticeable hardware features are a series of rubber feet on the back of the device, which help to stop the tablet from slipping when in use on a flat device. The ultra-slim profile comes in handy here too, as when resting on a surface your hand has less distance to travel between it and whatever you are leaning on. It’s comparable to writing in a book, and reaching the edge of a page, versus brushing your hand over a taller, closed book (or even your phone) and letting your hand hit the surface. Subtle, but noticeable.

Tech specs

Dimensions	187mm x 246mm x 4.7mm
Weight	403.5 grams
Processor	1.2 GHz dual core ARM
Memory	1GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage	8GB internal storage
Display	CANVAS (proprietary) 10.3″ monochrome
Resolution	1872 x 1404 (226 DPI)
Touch	Multi-point capacitive
Battery	Rechargeable (Li-ion), 3000 mAh
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz, USB-C, accessory port
Operating system	Codex (proprietary)
File support	PDF, ePUB, JPG, PNG, Word*, PowerPoint*
Marker	4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt detection

Software, subscriptions and connectivity

The reMarkable 2 runs on a proprietary operating system known as Codex, which features a simplistic UI. Aside from file and folder navigation, there are also onscreen inking tools that can be called upon when sketching, taking notes or marking up an e-book or PDF. You can also extend that experience to your desktop or mobile by using reMarkable’s suite of companion apps, available for PC, Mac, Android and iOS. The software’s main purpose is to help you view, sync, import and organise your notes, files and folders. With the mobile app you can also edit existing files either through note taking or typing. The desktop app also lets you screenshare in real-time and export files to your desktop. There’s also a Send by email feature that lets you forward files from your reMarkable device, and similar Read on reMarkable browser and Microsoft Office plugin that sends files back to your tablet.

In terms of on-device connectivity, you are limited Wi-Fi, which is configured during setup. In order to get your files off the device, you’d either need to use one of the companion apps, or sync with a cloud storage service. The company has their own reMarkable cloud service, and there are also available integrations with Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox.

Here’s where things get… complicated. Part of the major advantages of having a digital notetaking device is that those files can be accessed beyond the “notebook” itself. And whilst reMarkable does allow you to sync your files with different cloud providers, it is not what you’d expect. Without opting for the company’s Connect subscription to unlock the full functionality of the reMarkable cloud service, you don’t get the syncing experience that you might be used to from other providers, i.e.: free and full featured. You can still sync files without the subscription, but any files that you don’t use within 50 days will be deleted from the reMarkable cloud (though they will stay on the reMarkable device itself).

You can get around this by connecting to your own cloud service, so long as that’s OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox. But that sync will be “one-way” and again, somewhat limited. You can browse files and folders from integrated cloud services on the reMarkable, but you are only able to copy files from here back to your device – no editing, adding or organising anything. Once you’ve made a copy of the file, you can edit it on the tablet to your heart’s content, but you’ll then need to send it back to your cloud provider for it to be stored online. It’s clunky, but it works.  

What’s it really like to use the reMarkable?

For the rest of the review, I’m going to bring in Ilaria, who’s been using the device as a key part of her workflows and a daily driver for over six months. We’ll cover off all the pressing questions and details about what it’s like to actually use the reMarkable 2.

You’ve been using the device for some time now. What are your impressions of the hardware?

Ilaria: The reMarkable is heavier than a e-reader but lighter than a heavy book. It’s fairly light and also very thin and is easy to carry it around in a bag or around the house. The screen is light grey and onscreen text usually appears in black, which provides good contrast and makes things very readable. Also, if you are viewing an e-book that has colour, it may display in different shades of grey or black. Overall, the screen is very gentle on the eyes and makes for a great reading experience.

And what about outdoor viewing? Traditionally that’s been something that other tablet devices (and laptops) have struggled with. Is the screen easier to see outside?

Text and sketches are easy to see when outside, especially during sunny or even cloudy conditions. However, when it’s dark you will need a light source, otherwise it’s difficult or even impossible to see, as the device itself has no backlight. If you want to read or take notes at night, before bed, or when you are indoors on a dark, cloudy day without suitable lighting, the contrast of the text is not as high and therefore it may be tiring on the eyes.

What’s it like to read on the device?

It’s a similar experience to reading from an e-reader, with the difference that the device is bigger. Also when taking notes or making highlights, it feels similar to performing those activities in a physical book.

Overall, how does it stack up against other e-readers, like your Tolino?

I prefer reading a book on the reMarkable as it has a bigger screen. Additionally, you can highlight text or take notes at the same time. It feels a bit gentler on the eyes too. The only downside is, when reading while you are laying down it is a much larger device. A Tolino can be a bit easier to hold because of its size and weight.

Much has been made about the reMarkable’s “paper-like” experience. Is it really as good as they claim? How is it any different to other devices, like a Surface or an iPad?

The screen has a slight texture, which is different in comparison to other tablets which have a smooth surface. The reMarkable feels a bit different than paper but when using the Marker it reminds of writing on a slight textured paper.

Does it actually feel like writing on paper?

From all the other digital devices I’ve used take notes and sketch, this feels the closest to paper. When I write on it, the feeling is more authentically like when I write on paper. My writing feels more natural on the reMarkable than on a tablet. However, when I use it to convert my handwriting to a PDF, it does look slightly different and “wobblier”, if that makes sense, especially when zooming in on the file. I’m still very impressed with the overall conversion and how close it looks to writing on paper.

Do you find yourself using less paper because of the device?

Since using the reMarkable, I have definitely reduced my paper usage, which was big for me, as I prefer to take handwritten notes, rather than typing them on a laptop. With the reMarkable I know I can quickly take notes and enjoy having them available digitally. When I’m done I can archive them or erase them with ease. So, I barley use any additional paper anymore, besides my physical planner and a notebook on occasion.

How often did you use the reMarkable? What do you normally do with it?

I use it almost every single day. I either read an e-book and highlight important sections which I want to revisit, or I take notes, sketch and work on to-do lists. For me, it’s something I continuously come back to, in order to stay up to date with my tasks.

How does the device fit into your workflow?

I always keep the reMarkable in my workspace. It’s handy to take quick notes, write ideas down, and other important things, without getting distracted. It also helps me to stay on track with my to-do lists, which I can edit any time, if needed.

When learning something new, I often take handwritten notes, so I can revisit it any time. Also, by writing it by hand, it helps me to remember the information better.

What’s it like to take notes and markup e-books?

It’s very handy being able to take notes while reading a book. Not only can you highlight words or sentences, but you can also take handwritten notes and sketch. With everything being digital, it certainly helps if you later have to revisit certain pages as you can find it quicker that way.

What’s it like to sketch on the device?

I’ve used it plenty of times to sketch ideas. You can erase and redraw as often as you want, which is very useful. Also, being able to change the style of pen helps to provide different shades and texture to the sketch. And you can also control the stroke weight with certain pens, depending on the pressure applied while drawing.

Personally, I’ve used the drawings as sketches and not as final pieces of art, because when it gets converted to an SVG or PNG the sketch does look somewhat jittery. Not sure if there is some sort of local smoothing going on, or if something is lost when exporting the sketches. So, I’ll sketch with the reMarkable, then redraw and create the final piece on my computer.

How good is the onscreen keyboard and hand-writing to text conversion?

If you write with the keyboard there is no need to convert it into text. However, when you take notes by hand with the Marker, it does a pretty good job converting it to text. Even if the handwriting is a bit messy, small or very large. That said, it can sometimes get confused about which lines belong together.

What about the screen refresh rate and UI? Is it snappy or slow?

The onscreen buttons are easy to push, sometimes it may take a few milliseconds until it responds. Things like zooming in and out, or scrolling down the side, changing pages and writing with the screen keyboard can have a slight delay too.

The screen refresh is not so noticeable. It may happen once in a while or when an action has been performed, like pasting text. When using it, the screen seems to refresh after about 30 seconds. When using the Marker and erasing parts of a sketch, the deleted part will disappear immediately, so the refresh is not needed as often. If at some point, you really want it to refresh the screen, you can force it by simply exiting the notebook or changing the page you are on.

Tell me about the Marker. What’s it like to use?

The Marker has a slight textured surface, which reminds of fine sand; it feels nice in the hand. It’s about the length of a regular pencil and looks elegant and minimal. There is nothing that I would change about how it looks or feels.

How long before the Marker nib wore down?

I’ve been using the reMarkable nearly daily and have written quite a lot on it over the last six months. I changed the pen nib after over half a year for the first time, as it was quite worn down. When it’s all the way worn down, it still writes well, and I don’t feel that it impacted any of my writing or sketching.

How easy is it to replace them?

It’s very easy to replace them. You can either do it by hand, by gently pulling it out and putting the new pen nib in. Or you can also easily also do it with the provided “pen nib card replacer”.

What is the Marker like compared to a Surface Pen, Apple Pencil or similar?

The reMarkable pen feels more natural, like an actual pencil. Whereas the Surface Pen doesn’t accurately replace the feeling of a pencil. It’s its own style of stylus.

Also, when sketching or writing I have a more control over my movement with the Marker. It feels more organic, just like when you use a pencil (or pen) and paper.

How much battery do you get on average? And how long does it take to charge?

Most days I use the reMarkable for several hours, and from that I get about two to three weeks of use. Also, whenever the screen isn’t used for some time, it will automatically go into sleep mode, which helps extend the battery life.

There is also a setting that you can turn on and it will put the reMarkable into sleep mode after 20 minutes of inactivity. Charging the device takes only about one hour to reach 100%, and that’s if you start at around 10% battery.

What was it like to set up the reMarkable? Do you still receive software updates?

When I received the reMarkable, I was able to use it immediately. I began by testing out the sketching and then connected it to OneDrive. Overall, the interface/software is easy to use. That said, it may take a few minutes to check everything out, but then you are good to go.

Every few months there is a new software update, which runs automatically in the background. Sometimes it may requires a restart, which takes only a few minutes. You can also manually check for updates. Each update seems to improve the overall user experience and improve certain features, which are provided via an onscreen document, so you can see what changes have been made.

Did you run into any issues with file types not opening? And what types were they?

Viewing documents like e-books (EPUB) and PDFs work fine and of course the files that were created on the reMarkable itself. Files like JPEG, PNG and SVG are not compatible to view, only export. Also, e-books in MOBI format are also unsupported. You can also view Word documents via the optional integrations, which is handy.

Any issues with syncing, etc? Is it difficult to set up?

Whilst reMarkable offers its own subscription “Connect” to do backups (sync), I have never used it and the device works just fine for me. I recommend connecting it to a cloud storage in order to see your files elsewhere. Mine is connected to OneDrive and whenever I’m connected to the Wi-Fi I have access to it. You can simply copy over whichever supported files you need. It will add the file to ‘My Files’ section with the current file version. However, if changes are made on the original file on another device, it will not update the copied file that is saved “offline” on the reMarkable.

If you make changes to a file on the reMarkable and would like to access via the laptop or OneDrive, you have to export the file back to OneDrive. Or you can also send the file via email as a PDF, PNG, SVG or text via email.

It was easy to set up the integration with the cloud. Sometimes it may take a few moments until the file is available and exporting is possible.

Also, if you don’t subscribe to Connect, a message may pop up that the “cloud limit is reached” and that documents will stop syncing after 50 days of inactivity. As long as you have the files on the reMarkable you can use them whenever – they won’t be deleted. And if you are integrating with another cloud storage service (like OneDrive) you can manually import and export files just fine.

Have you noticed any software glitches or issues?

So far, I haven’t come across any software issues. Since using the reMarkable the user experience has continuously improved with each feature update. I’m hopeful that they will keep continuing this trend.

What is it like to use the screensharing via the desktop app?

So far, I have used it once or twice, just to try it out. I was impressed with how responsive it was. It could be very handy if you don’t have a touchscreen computer as it can show in real-time your sketches and note-taking. Or, if you are using the integrated camera on your laptop/tablet and prefer to keep your device in a dock or certain position, and instead use the reMarkable to draw and write on whilst connected to your computer.

Is it easy/hard to organise files on the device?

You can create multiple folders, and nest them, which helps with organisation and keeping things tidy. This way, you can sort all the different files on the device, like notebooks, e-books and PDFs. You can also move files to another folder, delete files or even duplicate them. Plus, there are options to favourite files or give them individual tags, so you can search them by your preferences.

Do you usually rest it on a surface or your own lap when in use?

When I’m indoors I mostly rest it on the table as I may be sitting at a desk. Though, when I’m sitting on the couch, in bed or I’m outside it’s also fine to rest on the lap. Sometimes, I may also just hold it with one hand or against my leg, as this works fine for casual reading or note-taking too.

Are you a long or shortform note-taker?

I’ve been taking both short and long notes. Sometimes when I have to do focus work, and there are still some thoughts/ideas floating around in my mind, I will write them down, so I can revisit it them later and it helps clear the mind.

However, I also prefer to use the reMarkable when I join an online course and take detailed notes about things I’ve learned. It’s also helpful to use for journaling, keeping a dairy or writing an email.

Can you tell me anything else from your time with the reMarkable?

The device has around 6.57GB of actual storage. Mine currently has 24 e-books and over 40 notebooks (with multiple pages) on it, which is using 1.14GB of the total storage capacity.

You have the option to set which side the navigation/tool bar appears (left or right) and set different system font sizes, which is great for accessibility.

I’ve also used the reMarkable to fill out forms and sign them too. This is especially useful if you don’t have a printer at home or want to avoid printing paper.

What would you change about the device? How could it improve?

I’m overall very happy with it. If I could change anything, it would be that it may recognise grammar errors when writing with the keyboard and have a slight quicker response when changing pages and zooming in or out. Also, I’d love to see improvements of how digital ink looks when exporting files.

UI wise, when you choose to write with the keyboard it would be great if you could select entire sentences, or paragraphs. Basically, make a selection from point-A to point-B, like how you do on other mobile devices.

Lastly, it would be great if you could automatically sync files with your own cloud storage service, as this is only possible with their “Connect” subscription. Instead, you have to manually import and export files, which always creates copies of each file.

Is it a good value for money?

I think it’s a good value for the money, if you intend to use it long term and use the device daily or at least frequently. However, I think with their Connect subscription it would be a bit pricy over the long term. Thankfully that is optional.

Do you think you need a folio cover or the keyboard?

Not necessarily. Especially since I use the pen more than the keyboard when writing. I do however recommend protecting the reMarkable with a cover when travelling – there are lots of cases available online.

What’s your long-term impression of the device?

The reMarkable 2 is already a fantastic starting point and I’m confident that the next generation will be even better. I love that it’s a multifunctional device that can fit in nicely with your workflow and it also looks cool, stylish and is minimalistic.

Do you think it would be better to use for certain functions than a Surface or iPad?

I personally think the reMarkable is not a substitution of a tablet but rather of paper, with the benefit that it has extra features (which paper doesn’t have!).

At the same time, the reMarkable is designed to take notes, sketch, read and write whenever and wherever you are. It does all of that without notifications, apps or other things that might distract you. When you use it, you are fully immersed in what you are doing. This is where reMarkable truly shines, as you can just connect with your thoughts, without surfing on the internet, checking socials etc.

Would you recommend the reMarkable?

I was impressed with this device since the very beginning and really came to love it even more after weeks and months of using it. It is suitable for people who generally prefer to take notes, sketch etc. on paper rather than on a device like a tablet or laptop. It really helps to cut down on using paper, which is great for those interested in a sustainable lifestyle. And best of all, unlike traditional notebooks and post-it’s you can save and reuse all your digital notes and sketches.

It is also easy to carry around and take out and about. It’s suitable to use in meetings, during work, journaling, taking to a coffee shop, on travels etc. I can really recommend it for anyone who wants to regularly immerse themselves with their thoughts and work distraction free. And also for people who normally love to use paper when writing or sketching.

Productivity, sustainability and value for money

Early on I noted that the benefits of this device were hiding in plain sight. And that’s true from the moment you receive the device, with the words “better paper, better thinking” emblazoned across the packaging. Paper and thinking, or rather, sustainability and focus, are two of the three big points to consider when thinking about buying this device. The third, value for money, can only be truly understood after examining the first two.

Let’s unpack sustainability first. After over six months of testing, it’s clear that this device can reasonably replace a bunch of other devices and paper-based products. By using the reMarkable, you could opt to forgo a dedicated e-reader, notebook, sketchpad, journal and untold reams of looseleaf paper. You’d also not need to print out forms to sign or make photocopies of books to take notes on (or risk vandalising your own).

That all helps cutdown your environmental footprint and help reduce your impact, thanks to not having to buy as many physical paper products or technology. Unfortunately, the device’s own repairability is not as user-friendly. You’d still need to have it sent away for repairs or roll the dice on a third party repair shop for any hardware issues you may come across. That said, the company admits it could be doing a better job and is working toward making future products more sustainable. You can already purchase refurbished models (like our review unit), and they claim that nearly two thirds of their overall returns are then re-sold as refurbished devices. Of this, 38% percent are also repaired – so it’s good to see efforts occurring toward achieving a more circular economy here.

You can be much more mindful and intentional with what you are doing with the device.

Next, lets talk about productivity. I’ve seen some reviewers complain about the minimalistic software and lack of “apps”, but that is missing the point. This device, just like the Light Phone 2, is designed to keep you immersed in your work. In this way, you actually unlock a hidden feature – being able to control time (see, told you we’d come back to this!). Now, you can’t actually blast yourself back in time, but you can be much more mindful and intentional with what you are doing with the device.

That means getting stuff done sooner and to a higher level of quality, thanks to the deliberately sparse interface. There’s no apps or notifications to pull away your attention, no noise to mute or multi-tasking to juggle. Your cognitive efforts are rewarded with a simple, intuitive UI that lets you get your work done, distraction free. And the sooner your work is done, the sooner you can get back to life, with more energy and clarity to take with you into the real world. In that way, the reMarkable 2 actually pays you back with time savings. It’s also a minimalists delight not to have to deal with apps, icons and notification badges all vying for your precious attention.

And that brings us to the value for money aspect. Is the reMarkable worth your hard-earned? Yes – I believe it is, but only if you know what you are buying here. If you are prepared to drop a few hundred dollars and are expecting a full-featured e-Ink device with all the bells and whistles of a leading tablet then you will be disappointed. The same can be said if you aren’t interested in using this on the daily or as a replacement for all the other devices and paper-based products in your life. Otherwise, you’re basically buying a large screen that you will hardly interact with, and if there is something you probably have enough of right now, it’s screens.

reMarkable 3 wish list

Here’s what we’d like to see for the next version:

Backlight: Adding an option to illuminate the screen would be hugely beneficial for night time/dark day reading and sketching. Yes, paper itself doesn’t have a backlight, but it would also help to cut-down on electricity too.

Improved sync: The Connect subscription is likely an integral part of reMarkable’s business, but it can lead to frustration and confusion when it comes to syncing for those who don’t want to pay a monthly fee for the service. We’d love to see true, real-time syncing for non-Connect users, instead of having to send files all over the place. It’s something we’ve all come to expect from other devices and services, and if reMarkable doesn’t do it, someone else will.

Waterproofing: It’s a small request, but it would be great to see some improvements to durability in the form of waterproofing the device. Again, paper isn’t waterproof, but if the reMarkable wants to one-up trees, this would be a welcomed feature.

Repairability: As mentioned, making the device more repairable for end-users would greatly add to the sustainability of the device. This might mean slight changes to the hardware profile, but if a slightly bulkier build meant I could replace the batter or upgrade the storage, I’m all for it.

Durable Nibs: And speaking of, the paper-like feel is a both a plus and a problem. The textured-screen seems to wear down the Marker nibs – something I’ve seen in many reviews. The company appears to be aware, as they provide nine spare nibs with the device. Improving the longevity here would again cut down on (plastic) waste.

Final thoughts

For what it does, this is a great product. The reMarkable is sleek and stylish tablet, with a premium fit and finish, that not only helps you be more sustainable, but productive too. It can easily fit into your workflows and allow you to get more done, sooner. With a few tweaks to the hardware and a streamlined sync experience, this would be an invaluable piece of tech for anyone who likes to sketch or take notes by hand.

Until then, we recommend saying goodbye to scraps of paper and hello to digital note-taking with this remarkable device.

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