The ReMarkable 2 tablet has been turning heads since its release, thanks to its paper-like writing experience. With a sleek design and cutting-edge features, it’s not hard to see why this device has gained such a loyal following. Indeed, it has quickly become a ‘can’t live without’ of my day-to-day life.
If, like me, your desk is strewn with paper, post-its and wildly incomprehensible touch-typed notes, you certainly need some order in your life. I appreciate a good HB pencil perhaps more than most. Two of the matriarchs in my family worked at one time or another for Japanese stationery specialist Pentel. There were duffel bags of sample pens and every conceivable mug, tankard, jar or drawer in any dresser contained an array of stationery. From the 0.3mm Graph 500 to the Ergonomix 0.5mm, I would arrive at school and college with stationary for all on the first day of each new term.
Whilst I still appreciate fine writing instruments, the endless scribbling during meetings – phone pressed to ear – always ends in the ordering and reordering of countless scraps of A4. At one point, I would scan these documents individually to glean the notes they contained before thinking better of it. After trying a magnetic whiteboard desk overlay I was mildly converted, but I knew that I needed a more permanent solution. I’m not sure when Facebook or Google started listening to my occasional rants and attuned its advertising algorithm accordingly, but it didn’t take the powers that be very long to recommend the ReMarkable 2.
Although the ReMarkable has been on the market for three years, it remains steadfastly a top contender in the E Ink tablet space, thanks to consistent software updates and improvements. The founder and inventor of the ReMarkable 2 is Magnus Wanberg, a Norwegian entrepreneur and technology enthusiast. His vision was to create a device that could replicate the real feel of writing on paper.
The product’s unique selling point is its emphasis on the writing experience. The ReMarkable 2 is designed to elicit the feeling of sketching on paper with a pen or pencil, rather than a typical digital device, which offers very little when it comes to responsive feeling. The ReMarkable 2’s E Ink display and its proprietary pressure-sensitive stylus (Marker) combine to deliver an authentic pen-on-paper feel. With 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, the tablet can precisely capture your strokes and the nuances of your handwriting, making it feel as close to writing on paper as the real thing.
The device boasts a highly responsive E Ink display, perfect for note-taking, sketching, or drawing. The fundamentals are more than adequately covered, too – one of the product’s standout features is its impressive battery life. With up to two weeks of use on a single charge, the ReMarkable 2 is perfect for on-the-go productivity without the need for constant charging. It boasts a 10.3-inch e-paper display, with a resolution of 1872 x 1404 pixels and a high contrast ratio of 226 DPI. This makes for a strong reading experience with crisp, clear text and graphics. The device also features a powerful 1.2 GHz ARM processor and 1 GB of RAM, which ensures speedy performance even with large files.
The ReMarkable 2 is highly customizable, with built-in templates and the ability to import custom ones. From the highly popular Cornell template for note-taking to storyboards, planners, Music tablature, grids, lines, graphs and calligraphy. Not to mention the ability to import whatever wildly niche lined setup you might need.
Its intuitive interface ensures a straightforward user experience, making it particularly appealing for people who want to start using the device immediately like me. The tablet is also durable, with a robust body that can withstand accidental drops and bumps. I refer to it affectionately as an adult Etch-A-Sketch. Though it cannot be shaken to erase the copy and to be frank, that’s not an add on I am looking for.
The ReMarkable 2 has a slim, lightweight design, measuring 7.36 by 9.69 by 0.19 inches and weighing just 14.1 ounces. Its 10.3-inch, 1,872-by-1,404 E Ink Carta display provides a really smooth writing experience. The tablet comes with a matte grey, cylindrical stylus that attaches magnetically to the device and thankfully doesn’t require charging. The ReMarkable 2 connects to the internet via Wi-Fi and offers 6.41GB of usable onboard storage and can be secured with a passcode.
Whilst we’re on the subject of specs, I think it’s pertinent to make it clear what the ReMarkable isn’t. It’s designed to enable focus, so no, it doesn’t have a browser, access to social media, the ability to play video, browse or message or call anyone. Just like paper. That’s a key distinction, as my first concern was the device’s lack of backlight. Again, like paper, there is no backlight. If you’re working under the cover of darkness then you really ought to be sleeping or taking some downtime.
Yes, I had considered an iPad Pro. However, with a stack of the bloody things growing in my desk drawer, many of which are obsolete, it now feels like a wholeheartedly wasteful bandwagon to jump aboard once again. Not to mention, I am now entirely smitten by my ReMarkable 2. Compared to other digital tablets on the market, the ReMarkable 2 is a clear winner in terms of writing experience. While other devices focus on multimedia and entertainment, this product prioritises the writing experience, making it a favourite among writers, artists and students.
The ReMarkable 2’s basic UI is a simple catalogue of files and folders, working with desktop and mobile apps to transfer files wirelessly or via email and organise them into folders. Now you can even type notes with the addition of the Type Folio, a fold-out keyboard embedded into the ReMarkable case.
Overall, the ReMarkable 2 digital tablet is a phenomenal device that offers a unique and deeply satisfying writing or drawing experience. With its sleek design, impressive technical specifications, and emphasis on productivity, this device is a must-have for anyone who values the art of writing.
