Review: reMarkable 2, designed to get you writing with a pen again

The paper tablet revolution has been a long time coming. Is this device enough to make you switch?

Is it finally time we ditched paper? The Norwegian company behind the reMarkable 2 tablet certainly thinks so.

The so-called ‘paper tablet’ revolution has been a long time coming.

Microsoft introduced the Surface Pen in 2012; in 2015, Apple followed with Apple Pencil; and reMarkable, the Oslo-based firm behind this device, launched in 2017.

The reMarkable 2 is dubbed the world’s thinnest tablet. And at 4.7mm thick, it just might be.

The reMarkable 2 claims to be the world's thinnest paper tablet.

It weighs just 405 grams, has 8gb of internal storage and has a 300mAh battery which can last 90 days on standby or two weeks of use. It’s charged with a USB-C cable.

ReMarkable pitches its tablet as ”the most paper-like digital device the industry has ever seen.”

While it uses the name tablet, it doesn’t support even half the applications or a software a tablet around the same price of $499 would. But, there is reason for this.

The device does offer something different, something that eBook makers have long leaned into. The reMarkable 2 is meant to be a distraction-free device that allows a user to read, write, draw and mark up documents. You’d be forgiven for likening it to smart paper as opposed to a tablet.

“Today’s world is a frenzied place of ever-evolving technology that increasingly demands more of our time and attention. ReMarkable2 is a step in a more human-friendly direction. It’s designed to help people think,” said chief executive Magnus Wanberg at the time of launch.

In line with the device’s ethos, The Australian wrote this review on the new device using the Marker Plus ($199), one of two digital markers – one includes an eraser – sold separately.

The experience itself was kind of nice and it would have been a legal reporter’s dream prior to the courts allowing laptops inside.

Does it feel like paper? Almost — and the lack of backlight – something most if not all eReaders have, does add to that. The most artificial-like feeling is when erasing your work.

Writing on the reMarkable 2 with an ePen.

What was even more fun than writing, however, was using digital colouring-in books. While the device is black and white, which rendered the colouring part redundant, it was fun to sketch and mark regardless.

One of the real perks of the device is being able to convert handwritten notes into text and have them sent over email. Using this tool to load this review into The Australian’s content management system wasn’t without error, but these mostly came during the conversion and were evident in the email the text arrived in.

Spacing wasn’t perfect and a few typos which didn’t appear in the notebook on the device came through — whether this was due to my messy handwriting or reMarkable’s own system, I’ll never know. So take note and do carefully check over your writing, something readers of this masthead may have said to me before in the comments.

Aside from writing, the reMarkable 2 supports four file types including PDF, JPG, PNG and EPUBS, all of which can be dragged and dropped via reMarkable’s website.

The 9.68" reMarkable 2 allows reading, writing and signing on what it claims to be the world's thinnest paper tablet.

The use of EPUBS and PDFs make the device an ideal tool for academics, those reading large files on the go and the occasional book — although it’s not the most comfortable reading device given the way books display on it.

The lefties and the ambidextrous among us will enjoy the device’s accessibility settings, which cater for people writing from either hand.

For those looking to do a little in-flight reading or writing, the device does have flight mode, however it largely just turns off the Wi-Fi connection.

So, what’s the verdict? At $598 for the device and pen, it is a little pricey. However, if you’re looking for a device that allows you to read, write, study and sketch without feeling your device vibrate, flash or ring, then this might be it. The ability to use all of that work on a computer, mobile or tablet at a later date is handy too.

Originally published as Review: reMarkable 2, designed to get you writing with a pen again