I’ve spent a couple of weeks with the reMarkable Paper Pro and I’m still surprised when I take it out of its case. It is curious how a device that aspires to replicate something as analog as paper generates that permanent feeling of newness.
Maybe it’s the color –yes, reMarkable has made the leap to color–, perhaps because of the somewhat larger screen size, which is close to 12 inches. Or perhaps because of the reduced thickness and the sum of everything else, which invites you to write and draw on it without distractions. That last nuance is key.
It is a device that has something special.
ReMarkable Paper Pro technical sheet
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reMarkable Paper Pro |
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|---|---|
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Dimensions and weight |
274,1 X 196,6 x 5,1 mm 525 g |
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screen |
Canvas Color (E Ink Gallery 3) 11,8″ 2.160 x 1.620 px (4:3) |
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processor |
Quad-Core A53 1,8 GHz |
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ram memory |
2 GB LPDDR4 |
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storage |
64 GB |
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battery |
5.030 mAh USB-C |
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operating system |
reMarkable OS (Linux based) |
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formats |
PDF, EPUB PDF, PNG, SVG |
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others |
Compatible con macOS, Windows, IOS y Android MyScript handwriting recognition Pencil holder |
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precio |
649 euros |
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
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Advice offered by the brand
The first contact
When I took it out of its box upon receiving it, the first thing that caught my attention was its lightness and how fine it looks. It is not small, but it barely weighs more than half a kilo. It’s slim, it’s elegant. From behind it is not very pretty, but it does transmit a feeling of quality that helps to begin to justify its high Price: 649 euros to start talking. There are usually more, then they will understand.
The thickness of the reMarkable Paper Pro. Spectacularly thin. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The cover of the reMarkable Paper Pro. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The cover again. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
Macro photo of the case. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The initial configuration is very simple, as expected in a device with limited uses. In less than five minutes I was starting to write, trying out the different brushes and tools available.
And here comes the first surprise. It may be obvious, but with use one realizes: The colors of the reMarkable Paper Pro have nothing to do with those of a regular tablet. They are soft, muted, like painting with watercolor on recycled paper. There are those who say they love it. It’s not my case, I hope for some more life. A matter of taste, I guess.
writing by hand
Writing on the reMarkable Paper Pro is… different. It is neither better nor worse than its predecessor, the reMarkable 2just different. The new Marker, the pencil, has a slightly harder tip and slides more easily on the screen. There will be those who miss the resistance of the previous model, since it simulated better friction, like on real paper. In my case, I think I prefer this one, softer.
It is addictive to write here, the effects of the ink crystallizing or finishing expanding its liquid depending on the selected brush are very successful. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
What has convinced me completely from the beginning is the effect of colors when writing. They do not appear immediately, but there is a small delay between the moment we draw a line and the moment the color finishes settling on the screen.
Detail of the panel and the stroke. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
At first I thought it was just lagthen I understood that it is an animation that simulates the effect of ink drying before our eyes, or graphite finishing settling. It’s quite hypnotic and adds a certain naturalness to writing compared to the immediacy of an iPad Pro, for example.
The pleasant surprises…
The front backlighting is an addition that was much needed. There are those who argued that the reMarkable 2 was fine without light, I honestly couldn’t understand it. The reMarkable Paper Pro It does have backlighting, although intentionally dim: just enough to be able to take notes in low light conditions.
It’s not that I take the reMarkable Paper Pro to bed to write anything down, but there are rare scenarios where that backlight makes the difference between it being usable or not. It happened to me on a plane where I was flying at night, most of them were asleep, the lights went out and you could barely see anything. Without the illuminated screen I would not have been able to use it in a time that was ideal for what I wanted to do with it.
Macro photo of the panel. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The great autonomy of the reMarkable Paper Pro is not exactly a surprise, but accustomed to devices with mandatory overnight charging, an autonomy of days and days of use is always appreciated.
The new Marker needs charging, of course, but it receives it magnetically, in a bezel, like the Apple Pencil, so it will never be a problem to find it without a battery.
…and commitments
Not everything is perfect, of course. The reMarkable Paper Pro It is a specialized tool, not an all-terrain tablet. Its price, on the other hand, competes against the second ones, which can do something similar to what it does… and much more.
Additionally, the e-ink screen has its limitations: there is some delay when turning pages or loading documents, and the colors, although useful, are very limited – and dull – compared to those of any LCD or OLED panel.
The only interface of the reMarkable Paper Pro in the sidebar while we write or trace. The background pattern can also be modified (grids of different sizes, dots, blocks…). Image: WorldOfSoftware.
And we return to the issue of price. For 649 euros (and more if you want to add the Marker Plus, the official case or the Type Folio keyboard) you can more or less get an iPad Air or a similar tablet with Android.
But that is precisely the question: The reMarkable Paper Pro does not aim to do everything, but to do one thing well. And by the way, save you the distractions that a tablet represents. In that sense it also wants to be as close to paper as possible.
in the routine
In my usual day to day life I don’t usually write manually so I had to create a new routine to test reMarkable:
- A friend asked me to read his yet to be published book to give him feedbackit was great for me to take notes on it.
- Draw long article outlines or points to touch on in the podcast script on it.
- Taking notes in meetings before later synthesizing the content of each one in my Notion.
The absence of distractions (no notifications, no apps, nor the sum of both: temptations) makes it much easier to stay focused on the task at hand.
Its rear appearance. It is very reminiscent of a MacBook Pro underneath. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
An outline in reMarkable Paper Pro. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The lines of the scheme, more in detail. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
Detail of the Marker Plus. Image: WorldOfSoftware.
Image: WorldOfSoftware.
The organization of the documents is very intuitive, although I miss some more advanced functions. For example, being able to create subcollections within folders, or link notes together, something that would be very useful and that any notes application already includes (Notion, Craft, Notes…).
Synchronization with other devices works great through the reMarkable app, and makes it very easy to both access notes from your phone or computer and send files immediately to the device. Even taking a photo of a paper document so that it appears as just another PDF. And then we can even work on it thanks to the use of layers. It’s fantastic.
Who is it for and who is not?
After this time of use, it is very clear to me that the reMarkable Paper Pro is not for everyone.
❌ If you are looking for something to take notes on and you prefer versatility, there are dozens of great options to take notes on, but also watch movies and series, access websites, check email, listen to music, read, etc. Even cheaper.
✅ If you take a lot of notes by hand, need to read and annotate documents on a regular basis, and value the experience of distraction-free writing in as close to a traditional notebook as possible… then the reMarkable Paper Pro may be a worthwhile investment. worth considering.
reMarkable Paper Pro, WorldOfSoftware’s opinion
El reMarkable Paper Pro It is a fascinating device. It occupies a very very specific niche in the market. It’s not perfect – what a price, the delay of electronic ink is sometimes frustrating – but it’s extraordinarily good at what it does… and accurate at what it doesn’t: it’s impossible to get distracted working with it.
What impressed me most is not any specific function, but how the whole creates a coherent, satisfying experience. It is a device that makes you want to use it, it is magnetic, it invites you to write and it invites you to think.. In a world where technology is often a distraction rather than a thoughtful aid, it is something to celebrate and recognize.
Is reMarkable Paper Pro the future of digital writing? Probably not, laptops and tablets are too convenient. But it’s a very interesting look at how technology can preserve and enhance such an analog experience as handwriting rather than simply replacing it.
It will not be a massive device, but it masterfully executes the vocation of the niche it is aimed at. I’m not part of it, but in some ways I will miss it.
In WorldOfSoftware | There is a superpower that improves memory and learning ability: writing by hand
Featured image | WorldOfSoftware
This device has been provided for testing by reMarkable. You can consult how we do reviews in WorldOfSoftware and our business relations policy.
