The distraction-free device you never knew you needed
Updated
Between constant emails, social media notifications, and the glare of blue-light screens, modern technology has a nasty habit of keeping us always distracted.
If you are looking to rediscover your focus, here’s how the reMarkable Paper Pro can seamlessly fit into your daily routine without you even noticing.
The reMarkable Paper Pro is a minimalist's dream for organising digital notes. Joshua Buchwald
NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.
reMarkable Paper Pro at a glance…
reMarkable paper pro reMarkable
What is it: A digital notebook that you can write or type in.
Pros: Big and colourful e-ink display, satisfying experience, premium accessories, no problem with battery life.
Cons: Size is a bit awkward at times, upfront cost is expensive, subscription required for select features
Who it’s for: Working professionals, creatives and people who like journal or stay organised.
First impressions
Unboxing the device is an experience itself with how intentional the packaging is. Joshua Buchwald
The first thing that struck me when I took the reMarkable Paper Pro out of its packaging was its size and premium design. It feels sleek in the hand at a slim 5.1mm, and features a large 11.8-inch display for note-taking and brainstorming.
Despite its size, the device avoids feeling too hefty thanks to its 512g weight, making it lighter and easier to hold than a laptop.
There are a couple of accessories that also came paired with this testing unit, which can be purchased as a bundle with the Paper Pro. These were Marker Plus, Leather Folio and Type Folio (more on these later).
For readers who haven’t encountered reMarkable before, these aren’t your typical tablets. Instead of bright screens that blast blue light like a smartphone, the reMarkable Paper Pro uses a Canvas Colour display with a subtle, textured finish.
It mimics the look and feel of a physical book page, making it easy on the eyes and a satisfying experience when writing. The benefit is that it’s a digital product that you can organise, search, and store all your notes and documents in one place.
I also tested and used reMarkable’s more portable Paper Pro Move before this review, and was pleasantly surprised by its usability. Especially for something that can be replaced by something as simple as a real notepad.
But going from that smaller, pocket-notebook size to this roughly A4-sized screen felt like it was going to be a massive upgrade for my workflow.
What I liked about the reMarkable Paper Pro
A satisfying tactile experience
Writing, typing, highlighting and erasing all feels satisfying with the tablet. Joshua Buchwald
Writing on a screen has never felt better. If you’re sceptical about how this differs from writing on paper, let me let you in on a secret: it doesn’t really.
The pen glides across the page with the variable tension you apply, providing tactile feedback through a subtle scratch that sounds just like pencil on paper.
Every stroke feels natural thanks to a low latency that lets your writing appear in practically real time. But, oops! Made a mistake? Don’t worry, the eraser tip on the Marker Plus can be used to rub out any spelling errors.
Once you’re done writing, the pen attaches magnetically and charges on the side of the tablet, and you can bookend your experience with a satisfying shut of the Folio Cover.
Thoughtful, premium hardware
There was clearly a lot of thought that went into designing the daily ergonomics of this device. The lightweight design and materials gives it a solid feeling, but a sensible look.
reMarkable paper pro Folio reMarkable
A standout to me was the Leather Folio. It transforms the device aesthetically into a journal that actually makes you want to pick it up and write in it.
When you do write in it, the Canvas Colour display works great in producing a glare-free experience without using bright lights. It makes colour coding notes, highlighting PDFs or sketching out ideas feel oddly soothing with its subtle, pastel colour palette.
Even with the demands of a larger display and colour processing, the 5030mAh battery easily powers the device up for up to two weeks of normal use. Charging it is simple with a USB-C cable that swiftly tops up the battery before you rush off.
A built-in reading light rounds off the device, and it’s one that’s adjustable with five brightness settings, plus an ‘Extra Bright’ toggle for when you really need it. It’s perfect for harsh or low-light conditions, and its more of a soft glow than anything.
Seamless digital organisation
The reMarkable application in use on my MacBook Pro. Joshua Buchwald
The reMarkable Paper Pro lets you organise your notes the way your brain actually works thanks to its operating system. You can neatly categorise notes into folders and subfolders, and filter your view by favourites, notebooks, PDFs and e-book file-types.
When you’re connected to the internet, all your files sync up to your account, which can be accessed via the reMarkable app on PC or mobile. Here you can import files, review your work or use the Screen Share feature to present your sketches live, making it easy to review drafts, and edit your documents if you have the optional Connect subscription.
For $4.99 a month, you also unlock features like unlimited cloud storage, direct Slack and Miro integration, exclusive templates, a device protection plan and a few more perks. While it is not an unreasonable ask for heavy users, it is a fee to keep in mind.
If you also decide to lean heavily into the reMarkable ecosystem, the cross-device usage is great. I found it was always a smooth transition from a larger Paper Pro, to the more pocketable Paper Pro Move when heading to a café or a meeting.
The Type Folio makes it the ultimate focus tool for drafting
As my day-to-day involves writing articles, the addition of the Type Folio keyboard quickly turned the reMarkable Paper Pro into my favourite productivity tool. It’s a simple connection via magnetic pins on the accessory, and your device instantly transforms into a distraction-free laptop.
reMarkable paper pro Type Folio reMarkable
Everything just worked mostly the way I wanted it to. Typing was effortless, albeit with a slight delay. Shortcuts felt familiar, and were functionally the same (though you can’t underline text). Typing and adjusting headers was also made easy, and the keyboard itself is even backlit upon connection.
The best part is the inoffensive screen, as it relies on e-ink technology rather than a traditional digital screen. I felt as though I could work for longer without straining my eyes, and think clearer without the disturbance of the internet.
It’s also an easy toggle between the ‘Refine Key’ mode that lets you draft and edit text with your pen, versus actually scribbling notes and ideas on your draft with the mode turned off.
Once you’re done with the device, the Type Folio folds in on itself, and you get something just as tidy looking as the Leather Folio.
What to consider before buying the Paper Pro
There's a lot to love, but there's also a few compromises to be aware of. Joshua Buchwald
The form factor feels a touch too big
While the 11.8-inch screen is fantastic for reviewing documents and typing out drafts, there are times when I felt the size was a bit too big for me.
Writing notes by hand usually meant I was stretching out across the whole page to get the draft started, though it felt a bit awkward at times as the device doesn’t fold or bend like paper, and it is rigid to rest your hand on.
It wasn’t too much trouble, and I did opt to write with the device placed horizontally at times. Though if you think size will be an issue, the slightly smaller 10.3-inch display from the reMarkable Paper Pure might be better suited for you.
If you’re looking for something more portable, the reMarkable Paper Pro Move is also an easy option if you don’t need the bulk.
It’s an expensive purchase (with an ongoing subscription)
This device is a novelty, there’s no doubt about it.
At a $929 base price, $70 extra for the marker plus, a $149 minimum for the cheapest folio cover, and a staggering $379 for the Type Folio, it is undeniably a big upfront ask.
You have to be committed to using this device to get value (and that’s not even considering the optional Connect subscription).
Final verdict: is the Paper Pro worth it for you?
reMarkable paper pro reMarkable
The reMarkable Paper Pro is a luxury gadget built for focus. It has no interest in competing with a regular tablet; rather, its value is defined by how purposeful you are with its use.
Once you master the art of digital organisation, the device naturally becomes part of your daily routine without you even noticing. If you don’t have the time to do so, it’s difficult to argue its value for you.
Though, if you really do desire a distraction-free environment where you can plan, think, write or type, the reMarkable paper Pro will be one of the most satisfying purchases for you.
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