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OVERVIEW – I was looking for a replacement for the perfect paper notebook. I’ve also tried a few electronic writing devices and I think I’ve found one I like. I have since been given the opportunity to review the reMarkable 2 paper tablet. Since then, I’ve changed my mind about which device is right for me. The reMarkable 2 tablet knocked my other tablet out of the top spot. If you’re still looking for a paper alternative that feels like paper, read on.
What’s this?
reMarkable 2 is a “paper” tablet that replaces notebooks and printed documents, but retains the feel of writing on paper.
What’s in the box?
- reMarkable 2 tablets
- USB A to USB C cable
- Quick Start Guide
Hardware specifications
- Size – 188.0 x 246.0 x 4.7 mm
- Weight – 403.5 g (0.89 lb)
- Thickness – 4.7 mm (0.19 inches)
- The screen size is 10.3 inches
- Storage – 8 GB internal storage
- The menu language is English
- Operating System – Codex, Linux based custom OS
- RAM – 1 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
- Processor – 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM
- Battery – rechargeable, up to 2 weeks between charges
- Supported file formats are PDF and ePUB
- Charging – USB-C
CANVAS display features
- 3″ monochrome digital paper display (no color)
- 1872 x 1404 resolution (226 DPI)
- Multi-point capacitive touch
- Paper-like surface friction
- Sunlight is read
- Powered by partially E Ink technology
- 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity
Design and features
The reMarkable 2 is an ultra-slim tablet, the thinnest I’ve ever seen and weighs less than a pound.
The tablet itself is a sight to see and feel.
Its silver and white color gives it a clean look in my opinion. It’s simple and clean.
The display is what reMarkable calls its second-generation CANVAS display, which is twice as fast as reMarkable 1 and feels closer to paper. It certainly has some teeth. And with a latency of 21ms, there is no noticeable lag in writing. It feels closer to paper than any other tablet I’ve tried.
The power button is a slightly raised pill in the upper left corner. After opening the box it took me a minute to find it. Admittedly, I don’t have the best eyesight, but it blends in very well with the silver strip on the left side of the tablet.
The same can be said for the USB-C charging port. It is located on the lower left. I mean, the tablet is so thin that it gives the impression that the cable doesn’t actually fit there. reMarkable 2 has no blank space.
The tablet has magnets inside that fold down on either side to attach it to one of the reMarkable folios and hold one of their reMarkable markers. Both are optional extras. I understand the folio is redundant, but I thought there would be a stylus included. Fortunately, there are alternatives to both that can be found online, but I have to say that I really like the Marker Plus included in the review sample.
One thing that surprised me was the 5 brass circles on my spine. They look like pogo pin contacts, but nothing on the folio, what are they for?
Set up
Setting up reMarkable 2 for the first time is easy as the device walks you through it. When turned on for the first time, the OS loads and brings you to a screen that allows you to test the device before continuing. Next, there is a brief blurb describing the CANVAS display screen refresh. After clicking, you will be shown a button to start the installation. After that, you can connect to WiFi or skip it if you really want to. If you do, select a network and enter your password. Once connected, you will see a Success screen and a Continue button. Once I connected, the tablet notified me of an update, so of course I downloaded it.
Next, it’s time to pair the tablet with reMarkable’s cloud service, Connect. With the purchase of a tablet, you get a free 1-year subscription. After that, if you decide to continue using that service, it’s $2.99 per month. Whether or not the service is for you is your decision. While you can still use the tablet without a subscription, you’re limited in what you can do with cloud storage. To pair reMarkable 2, you need to set up a My reMarkable account on their website and pair a Device from Devices and Apps in the menu.
Then you select the language in which you write. They currently have 33 languages.
Then choose left or right hand writing, select continue and you’re done!
Once you’re on the home screen, it takes you through a quick tutorial on how to use the device, what the icons mean, and how to use gestures for navigation. You are now ready to ditch your paper notebooks!
Performance
reMarkable 2 works great for its purpose. It should be a note taking device first and an e-reader second. No app store, no web browser, and no email clients, which suits me just fine. The writing experience feels natural. It feels like paper, not glass like I’ve seen on other tablets. Compared to other tablets I’ve used, I’ve noticed that the nib on my Marker Plus is quite worn. However, I used this tablet more in one month than any other.
The e-ink display looks great, so it’s easy on the eyes to read. There is no backlight, so if you like to read before bed at night, you will need your own light source. This is the only thing I miss about the reMarkable 2, but if they add one, the device should be thicker. I will read with a lamp so that the tablet is thin, thank you very much.
According to the company, the battery life of the reMarkable 2 is up to 2 weeks. I agree with that. I used mine almost every day for a month and only charged it a few times. If WiFi is turned on, the battery will drain sooner, but not noticeably. My Origin battery drains faster.
An e-reader works well enough. It doesn’t have many bells or whistles. You can adjust the font size, line spacing, and page margins, but that’s about it. If my Kindle Paperwhite had a dictionary feature like that, that would be awesome!
reMarkable 2 has a search function, but it doesn’t search handwritten documents like my Mobiscribe Origin does. This was one of the main reasons I bought Origin, but after using reMarkable 2 for a month, I’m not going back. The writing experience is just as valuable as the reading experience.
Another feature on the minus list for reMarkable 2 is handwriting to text. The only way to edit your handwritten notes is to share them with someone or email them. My Origin allows you to create it locally and store it on your device. But reMarkable 2 does a better job of converting text and displaying it in the body of an email that Origin sends as a TXT file. What’s more, with the reMarkable app for your PC and/or phone, you can save it there and it will automatically sync to your tablet.
Gesture navigation is more intuitive. Swipe your finger from right to left to turn the page, or from left to right to go back. If you are starting with a new notebook, scrolling from right to left will add a new page. There’s a side menu that can be hidden or accessed by tapping the circle on the top left of the screen while typing.
It includes a pen menu, stroke size and color, an eraser, and a selection icon used to copy, paste, move, zoom in, or zoom out words. There are icons for undo, redo, and preview the document. You can apply tags to your features to make them easier to find. When you select the Share icon, you can share your screen using the desktop app, email your notes, and convert them to text and then send them. Finally, there is a settings icon for that notebook.
What I like
- Hardware design
- Writing experience
- Battery life
- Navigation
What would I change?
- Search for handwritten text
Final thoughts
I am impressed with the reMarkable 2 paper tablet. It is a decorative structure with a utilitarian purpose. I know I didn’t do it justice. I absolutely love using it and now do it every day. I’ll admit to sticker shock, but it’s comparable to other devices of this size. Some say it doesn’t allow me to check email, browse the web or download apps, but to others, I’d say you’re being overlooked. This is not an electronic ink media consuming device. reMarkable 2 is an e-ink notebook that allows you to read documents and e-books noise-free. This is great.
The price is: $299.00
Where to buy: ReMarkable
a source: This product is sampled by reMarkable.
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