The reMarkable 2 tablet is an e-ink device designed specifically for handwriting, drawing, and annotating notes, PDFs, and documents. While it shares the e-ink technology found in devices like the Amazon Kindle, the reMarkable 2 is focused less on e-reading and more on serving as a dedicated tool for note-taking and sketching.
Interest Has Been Peaked
I had known about the reMarkable lineup for a while but had mentally categorized it as a niche product meant for hyper-organized individuals—definitely not me. However, while attending the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago, I noticed an audience member using a reMarkable 2 to take notes. I was immediately struck by how much it resembled real paper, and the natural flow of their handwriting on the screen was impressive. Intrigued, I quickly checked the price, only to just as quickly refocus on the session after seeing the hefty price tag.
Weeks later, the idea of a digital note-taking device that wasn’t my iPad, Surface, or another conventional gadget was resurrected . Despite trying various setups—an iPad with an Apple Pencil, a Microsoft Surface with and without the Surface Pen, and even traditional laptop keyboard input—I kept gravitating back to pen and paper. What draws me to analog tools is their speed, accessibility, and tactile experience, none of which I could replicate with my digital devices.
Why not just stick with pens, Post-It notes, or a notebook? Early in 2024, I gave the notebook approach a shot, carrying a small spiral-bound notebook with me to and from the office. I dedicated a page to each meeting or person I met with, and for a while, it worked. But as the pages filled up, my organization fell apart. Eventually, I went back to jotting down notes on small pieces of paper. The nice thing about handwritten notes is that when I’m done with them, I can just toss them—kind of like a checklist. Once the note is gone, the task is complete. Any notes I want to save, I either snap a photo or transcribe them into an email, document, or another digital format for permanence.
Curious about e-ink note-taking devices, I started researching the reMarkable 2, reMarkable Paper Pro, Kindle Scribe, and Boox products. Since this was my first venture into this kind of device, I used price as a deciding factor and ruled out the pricier reMarkable Paper Pro. That left me comparing the reMarkable 2 and the Kindle Scribe. Although the Kindle Scribe had recently been updated, it wasn’t available for another month, and early reviews of the changes were lukewarm. On the other hand, I found a passionate community of users who still loved the over two-year-old reMarkable 2.
It was Black Friday season, but the deals on new tablets weren’t compelling enough for me to take a risk on something so unfamiliar. Instead, I searched the used market and found a gently used reMarkable 2—with a Marker Plus and Book Folio in polymer weave—on Swappa for a reasonable price. I’ve now been using the e-ink tablet for almost two months, and it’s really grown on me. I carry it to the office every day and keep it nearby when working from home. It’s thin and light enough that I barely notice it in my backpack.
reMarkable provides a range of accessories for the reMarkable 2. The Marker and Marker Plus are nearly identical, but the Plus features an eraser on the opposite end. Additional options include sleeves, folios, and keyboards, available in various finishes.
The Writing Experience
Writing on the reMarkable 2 feels remarkably—pun intended—close to writing on paper. The tactile sensation—the drag of the marker, the slight softness of the screen, and the overall texture—captures the essence of using pen and paper. For me, this is the biggest draw. Unlike the iPad, the reMarkable 2 doesn’t have a glass cover, so the writing doesn’t feel slippery or unnatural. The marker tips are consumable, wearing down over time like a pencil, which helps create just the right amount of drag—not too smooth, not too rough. It’s a near-perfect balance.
The Competition
The e-ink tablet market is becoming increasingly competitive, with more devices entering the space. I recently tried the Supernote A6 X2, which is similar to the reMarkable 2 but significantly smaller. The size didn’t bother me since notebooks also come in various dimensions, but the writing feel was a dealbreaker. The Supernote uses a plastic, fine-point tip on a screen with a glass-like cover, which felt closer to writing on an iPad than on paper. While the Supernote offers an impressive set of features, including third-party apps, it loses some of the simplicity and focus that makes the reMarkable special. The reMarkable 2’s minimalist, distraction-free approach remains a major advantage for staying on task.
I also got to test the reMarkable Paper Pro, a larger, color-screen version of the reMarkable 2. While marketed as a “Pro” model, it feels like a completely different product. The writing experience is closer to the Supernote, with a harder, wider marker tip and a glass-like screen. The addition of a front light is helpful in some scenarios, but it likely necessitated the glass cover. While the Paper Pro runs the same software and integrates with the reMarkable ecosystem, the differences in feel and design make it less appealing to me.
Looking Ahead
There are rumors of a reMarkable 3 on the horizon. If it retains the aspects of the reMarkable 2 that I love—its paper-like writing feel, minimalist design, and distraction-free software—it would likely be an instant purchase for me.
The Good
- Excellent battery life, thanks to e-ink technology, which only consumes power when the screen image changes.
- Sleek and modern design.
- Low input lag, making the writing experience responsive and natural.
- Intuitive, distraction-free operating system focused on productivity.
- Any PDF can be imported and notated on. This includes templates such as planners, task lists, and calendars.
The Missed Opportunities
- Available in only one color: silver.
- No support for ePub eBooks.
- The display lacks illumination, making it challenging to use in low-light conditions.
- While the size is generous, there’s no variety—some users may prefer smaller or larger options.
- Handwriting-to-text conversion requires a cloud connection to work.
- Notes are stored in a property file format, not allowing for easy export.
The Bad
- Handwriting with certain tools can appear jagged, lacking anti-aliasing for smoother lines.
- Text input is clunky, with no options for formatting or resizing.
- The price is steep for first-time buyers, with no entry-level model available.
- Marker tips are expensive to replace, especially given how quickly they wear down.
How can the reMarkable 2 get to a 10/10?
- Increase input lag to make handwriting ultra-smooth.
- Reduce gap between marker tip and e-ink even further.
- Integrate illuminated display without any drawbacks.
- Make marker tips cheaper or in larger quantities.
- Fix text input, formatting, and design.
Final Thoughts
The reMarkable 2 isn’t just a gadget—it’s an experience. It combines the simplicity of pen and paper with the convenience of digital tools, making it a unique solution for anyone looking to streamline their note-taking, brainstorming, or creative processes. The tactile feel of writing on the reMarkable 2 is its standout feature, striking an almost perfect balance that’s hard to find elsewhere in the e-ink tablet market. Its minimalist design and distraction-free software reinforce its purpose as a focused, productivity-oriented device.
That said, it’s not without its shortcomings. The lack of illumination, limited text input capabilities, and reliance on the cloud for handwriting-to-text conversion may leave some users wanting more. The hefty price tag and ongoing expense of marker tip replacements can also be a barrier for newcomers. And while the competition is heating up with new features and designs, none of them quite capture the balance of simplicity and functionality that the reMarkable 2 offers.
For me, the reMarkable 2 has proven to be an invaluable tool that fits seamlessly into my workflow. It’s light, portable, and keeps me organized in ways that traditional notebooks and even other digital devices couldn’t. While it’s not perfect, it delivers on its core promise: providing a natural, paper-like experience in a digital format. If the rumored reMarkable 3 builds on what the 2 has perfected, I can already see it becoming my next must-have device.
For anyone considering the leap into the world of e-ink tablets, the reMarkable 2 is worth the investment—especially if you value simplicity, focus, and a premium writing experience.
