reMarkable Paper Pure GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://remarkable.com/products/remarkable-paper/pure
reMarkable has made a name for itself in the e-ink tablet industry for its minimalist and premium take on its products. This approach likely alienated potential budget-conscious customers, but the company has released a new, full-sized tablet that is relatively affordable, especially in comparison with its previous offerings. I was curious about the hype around their products, so when the opportunity presented to test the reMarkable Paper Pure, I did not hesitate. Let’s take a closer look at what it has to offer.
reMarkable Paper Pure contents and specs
The reMarkable Paper Pure starts at £359/$399/€399 for the Paper Pure and Marker bundle. The reMarkable Paper Pure, Marker Plus, and Sleeve Folio option will set you back £399/$449/€469. The latter is under review and comes with the following items:
- reMarkable Paper Pure
- Marker Plus
- Sleeve Folio
- Instruction manuals
Specs of the reMarkable Paper Pure are as follows:
Hardware
- Size and weight
- 228.1 x 187.1 x 6.0 mm (8.9 x 7.4 x 0.24 inches)
- Approximately 360 g (0.79 lb)
- Display
- Canvas display (based on E Ink Carta™ 1300)
- 10.3” (4:3 aspect ratio)
- 1872 x 1404 resolution (226 pixels per inch)
- Palm rejection
- Processor: 1.7 GHz dual core Cortex-A55
- Storage and RAM
- 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 32 GB internal storage
- Battery
- Built-in rechargeable / replaceable (Li-ion) battery
- USB-C charging
- 3820 mAh
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- USB-C port
- Auto-wake/sleep
- Sensors detect when device is placed inside Sleeve Folio
Software
- Operating system: reMarkable OS (a custom, Linux-based operating system for digital paper displays)
- Document support
- PDF, EPUB (importing)
- PDF, PNG, SVG (exporting)
- System language: English, German, French, Spanish
- Handwriting conversion
- Feature powered by MyScript
- Apps and extensions
- reMarkable apps available for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android
- Read on reMarkable extensions available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Office
- Cloud storage: Sync files with the reMarkable cloud. Upgrade to unlimited cloud storage with Connect
- Connect: Get exclusive templates, store all your work in the cloud, and edit from your phone or laptop with a Connect subscription
- Security
- Data encryption on device, at rest, and in transit
- Multifactor authentication
- Secure boot
- Developer mode
- Optional passcode
- Device locks automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity
Maintaining premium hardware on a budget
While being the most affordable product in reMarkable’s current lineup, the company did not skimp on the hardware quality. Its unibody chassis packs a slim profile at 6mm thick and is surprisingly lightweight at 360g. Having a side chunk that is not part of the screen doubles as a holding area. It works for both right-handed and left-handed users, as the screen orientation can automatically rotate.
The brand’s minimalist ethos is on display, with no buttons except for a power button at the top and a single USB-C port at the bottom of the device. The back panel has rubberised feet, highlighting the Paper Pure’s use as a notepad to be used (mostly) on a flat surface.
Another interesting aspect of the back panel is the inclusion of screws. The Paper Pure is advertised as “repair ready”, being held together with screws and snaps instead of glue. However, the company notes that most components can be easily changed by a repair specialist, rather than by the owner directly. The screws themselves are not regular ones but rather Torx head screws with a six-pointed star shape. It’s not exactly common, but a corresponding screwdriver isn’t impossible to find either. Personally, I would prefer easier access to the innards or at least an easily swappable battery. But having access to the Paper Pure internal components without messing with a glued chassis is a step in the right direction already.
The Marker pen attaches magnetically to the upper right side of the device. Doing so will also charge the Marker. reMarkable offers the option for a Marker Plus, which, compared to the regular variant, comes with a subtly textured surface and a built-in eraser. The latter makes writing and erasing more intuitive, but you can still stick with the base model if you are on a budget.
It’s recommended to get the Sleeve Folio as it provides padded protection for the reMarkable Paper Pure and Marker. This adds peace of mind as well as convenience to carry the device around. There’s a handy feature where opening the Folio wakes up the tablet and closing it locks the device. I did note that getting the Paper Pure out of the Folio can be a bit finicky. Due to the snug fit, I find myself letting gravity slide the device out of the cover, as trying to pick it out requires more effort. It’s not exactly elegant, and I wish more thought was put in the design of the Sleeve Folio.
The paper tablet experience
reMarkable isn’t calling the Paper Pure an “e-reader” but rather terms it as a “black and white paper tablet”. Unlike other current devices from the company, the Paper Pure has a monochrome display. This alone fuels the digital note-taking device experience they are shooting for with this device.
From this narrow perspective, the Paper Pure performs very well. Simply unlock the device, and you will be able to scribble with the Marker pen within seconds. Contrary to what one might think, the canvas display (based on E Ink Carta 1300) is noticeably fast and responsive. This allows for quick note-taking and easy navigation across saved documents. The dimensions are smaller than those of an A4 paper, but are comparable to a large notebook, and it is very comfortable to use and operate with the touchscreen panel.
The interface itself is very decluttered, allowing for quick use and emphasising the minimalist, distraction-free appeal. You won’t be installing apps or checking notifications here, as there are none. This helps in offering a more focused experience without the usual distractions that other, arguably more convenient and feature-rich, tablets offer.
The Paper Pure can be considered as an incrementally upgraded variant of the reMarkable 2 as it is 50% faster, has 20% higher contrast and boasts 30% longer battery life (3,820 mAh), with up to 3 weeks on one charge. The impressive battery life and lightweight aspect are my favourite features, allowing me to take notes, jot down ideas and even doodle wherever I am with the Paper Pure, without having to have battery anxiety.
reMarkable claims a “paper-like feel” with the Paper Pure’s matte glass surface and the texture of real paper. I wouldn’t go as far as that, but using the Marker does provide a satisfying feel. reMarkable’s custom OS provides a range of pen/pencil styles and strokes, layers, and even colours (even on the black/white screen). These offer the user a range of options to take notes and even draft designs with the pressure-sensitive input. That said, the lack of front light is noticeable, especially in low-light conditions. It is a missed opportunity to make the device more versatile, but light has likely been omitted to keep costs low.
As a digital device, there is more to be done than scribbling on the Paper Pure. With a reMarkable account, you can convert handwritten text to typed text, access files in Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive, read and organise notes, share the tablet’s screen to a bigger one and import web pages to read. I was particularly impressed by the handwritten text to typed text conversion due to its accuracy.
However, there are layers to this. While you can make use of these features from the get-go, reMarkable offers optional £3.99/$3.99 per month Connect subscriptions to get access to more features. These include unlimited cloud storage and sync, converting webpages to notebooks for annotation, access to templates and much more. I’m not a fan of subscription services on dedicated hardware, in particular, not-so-cheap ones. reMarkable does offer a 50-day trial for the Connect subscription so you can see if these features are helpful.
Nevertheless, I’ll admit that I am fond of being able to send web pages and documents directly to the Paper Pure and get on to read with them on the e-ink screen that is easier on the eyes, while also being able to easily annotate the documents. I just wish that these features were more accessible to owners of the tablet without requiring a subscription. The process is a bit finicky, with web pages requiring a browser extension and documents requiring a specific app to be sent to the device. The mobile app version also cannot send web pages, so you’ll have to rely on a desktop/laptop to make use of this feature. Being able to do all of these from a single point of entry would be more handy and streamlined.
reMarkable Paper Pure: the paper tablet for the masses?
As reMarkable’s most affordable paper tablet in its current lineup, the Paper Pure clearly aims to appeal to a wider audience. Being very responsive and distraction-free are indeed appealing factors of the device. However, it hasn’t done things that I haven’t seen on other e-ink tablets, such as the (relatively) recent iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2. Devices like the latter can be more appealing as they run on a full-fledged Android OS, allowing users to install apps and use them as any other Android device, but with the advantage of an e-ink display. However, these also tend to be pricey, with the iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2 costing a few hundred more and they are also prone to notifications and corresponding distractions. This makes the reMarkable Paper Pure a more attractive and streamlined option, despite its limitations.
Indeed, I still have some gripes with this paper table as it doesn’t do everything that I wish it could. As a note-taking-focused device, I wish it could take snippets or screenshots from documents (especially PDFs/web pages) and paste them into a separate notebook. Support for more file formats would definitely be more welcome on a paper tablet. While I don’t mind the monochrome display, the lack of keyboard support limits its potential and you'll have to rely on using the virtual keyboard to edit typed notes. I’m still not a fan of subscriptions, even if they offer compelling extras, nor am I fond of the finicky process of relying on an app and browser extensions to transfer documents.
These limitations can feel restrictive to potential users, and they can indeed frustrate. However, the aim is to create a distraction-free experience, even if some aspects could be more streamlined.
The reMarkable Paper Pure remains the niche, focused paper tablet that reMarkable’s other devices have been. This model offers all that in a more affordable package. If you’ve been waiting for a budget-friendly reMarkable device, this is the one to get. It won’t do what competitors won’t, but it offers a decent, streamlined package all around.
As a first-time reMarkable user, I wasn't blown away by the Paper Pure, but I was generally satisfied by the focused note-taking experience it offers at its pricepoint. Perhaps this is all that you need in such a tablet.
Verdict
- Distraction-free paper tablet emphasis
- Fast and feature-rich note-taking features
- Lightweight and sleek design
- Repairable aspect
- reMarkable’s most affordable tablet yet
- Finicky process of uploading files and webpages to tablet
- Some helpful features locked behind subscription
- No keyboard support
- Lack of front light
- Nonstandard screws, despite repairablity focus
