I love writing down notes and scribbles on any piece of paper that I find. The only problem with that is I tend to use a hundred different notebooks and lose track of where my notes actually are. With a digital notebook like the reMarkable Paper Pro, that’s no longer an issue. I can write down all of my to-do lists, meeting notes, and more on the device, as well as doodle and sketch when I’m feeling creative. reMarkable devices help notetakers stay organized, without all the distractions that come with a traditional tablet.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our pros test everything from the best tablets and smart notebooks. We’ve been hands-on with the ReMarkable 2, the Kindle Scribe and, most recently, the ReMarkable Paper Pro.
Here’s everything you need to know before investing in this digital notebook.
Pros
- Feels like writing on real paper
- Slim, portable design
- Large, color screen display with adjustable brightness
- Can convert handwritten notes into text
- Long battery life
- Can sync notes across devices with a subscription
Cons
- Expensive
- Unable to browse the internet or download entertainment
- Subscription required for cross-device syncing and unlimited cloud storage
Features at a Glance
| Size | 10.8 x 7.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.16 lbs |
| Display | 11.8” color display |
| Battery life | Up to 2 weeks |
| Writing latency | 12 milliseconds |
What is the Remarkable Paper Pro?
The reMarkable Paper Pro is the premium version of the reMarkable 2, which is one of the most sought after smart notebooks on the market. Much like the reMarkable 2, the reMarkable Paper Pro is a note-taking device that was designed to recreate the feeling of putting pen to paper, without actually having to use paper. You’re able to take meeting notes, draw doodles, create to-do lists, and even read ebooks on the reMarkable Paper Pro. What you cannot do, however, is browse the internet or stream entertainment like you would with an iPad or another tablet.
Price
The reMarkable Paper Pro doesn’t come cheap. It starts at $629 and includes a marker, charging cable, and six replacement market tips. If you want to upgrade to the Marker Plus, which features an eraser tip and a textured finish, you can pay an extra $50 as part of a bundle. Adding a Book Folio cover starts at $89 and increases in price depending on the material you choose (leather will cost an extra $179). For avid notetakers who want the option of using a keyboard alongside their device, you can choose the Type Folio for a starting price of $229. When selecting all premium options in my bundle (a Marker Plus and Type Folio), my total price went up to $829, excluding tax.
What’s new?
Continued sleek design
The new reMarkable digital notebook features a few design changes while maintaining its slim and portable nature. The device features a large 11.8-inch display, which is an increase from the reMarkable 2’s 10.3-inch screen.
In addition to a larger screen, the digital notebook’s overall size is larger. It’s also slightly heavier at 1.16 pounds (versus 0.89 pounds), but the difference is barely noticeable. When it comes to thinness, the reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro are nearly identical. The reMarkable Paper Pro no longer features a border on the left-hand side like the previous generation, making it have a cleaner, sleeker overall appearance.
Screen technology
The reMarkable Paper Pro is similar in many ways to the reMarkable 2, but this latest generation uses color E ink, so you can now take notes and draw sketches in a variety of different colors. Though I didn’t find the colors as bright as you would on an LCD display, reMarkable's new color display has come in handy when I’ve wanted to highlight some of my notes in yellow. The overall resolution is also better, so you can expect sharper text and clearer images.
The reMarkable Paper Pro also features adjustable screen brightness so it’s easier to use when in low light settings, like when you want to jot down some thoughts in the middle of the night or you’re working in a dark airplane. The reMarkable 2 was only suitable for use in direct sunlight or in a well-lit room, so I’m pretty thrilled that reMarkable finally made this change.
Improved latency
Writing notes and doodling on the reMarkable 2 was already a fluid, seamless experience, but reMarkable went ahead and improved the pen latency with this new generation. That means that the ink response time is faster (at 12 milliseconds versus 9), so it’ll feel even more like you’re writing on physical paper.
Same battery life but faster charging speeds
When it comes to battery life, reMarkable didn’t make any improvements. Battery life continues to be long at up to 2 weeks. It does, however, charge faster than the previous model and you can expect to go from 0 to 90% in 90 minutes as opposed to 120 minutes.
More Storage
If you’re serious about notetaking, you’ll be pleased to hear that the reMarkable Paper Pro offers significantly more storage space. You now have up to 64GB of space, versus the reMarkable 2’s 8GB. That’s like being able to store 810 notebooks in one place, and it certainly helps justify the Paper Pro's higher price tag.
Subscription
Much like its predecessor, you can use the reMarkable Paper Pro without a subscription, but you’ll lose unlimited cloud storage and syncing. Because this premium model has a much larger storage capacity, you may be OK without the subscription. But to sync your notes across reMarkable’s mobile and desktop apps, you’ll need a Connect subscription. Each purchase includes a one‑year free trial; after that, it costs $2.99 per month.
If you’d rather skip another subscription, you still have options. You can email notes to yourself and use reMarkable’s integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. You can also continue to send documents to your reMarkable device, like Word documents or PowerPoint presentations.
What we liked
The reMarkable Paper Pro is like a dream come true for notetakers. Not only does it enable you to decrease paper use, but you can store and organize all your notes in one place. The best part is being able to use a stylus, which does such an impressive job at replicating the pen-to-paper feel.
What’s even more special about it is that you can convert your handwritten notes into text, and this feature works surprisingly well. The reMarkable Paper Pro was able to decipher my terrible handwriting so I could easily share a to-do list with my partner. I also loved being able to send myself my notes via email, as well as being able to access all of my files via the reMarkable app since I have a subscription. This way, I didn’t have to bring the notebook with me wherever I went. I was still able to jot down some thoughts and add items to my grocery list while on the go, and it would sync with the notebook.
On top of being able to take notes, draw sketches, and more, the reMarkable Paper Pro is versatile. Though you can’t surf the web or download TV shows, you can use it to read books, so you don’t have to lug around an e-reader.
Bottom line: Is the ReMarkable Paper Pro worth it?
If you love taking notes and are constantly purchasing new notebooks, then the reMarkable Paper Pro is the device for you. Not only does it enable you to take as many notes as you’d like, thanks to its sizable storage, but it also helps you create notebooks and various folders and tags to stay organized. Plus, I can’t get over how great the stylus feels. The reMarkable Paper Pro does an exceptional job at replicating that beloved pen-to-paper feel.
That all being said, I can’t overlook how expensive the reMarkable Paper Pro is, especially once you start adding accessories and a subscription. With a starting price of over $600, it’s hard to justify, especially when you can get a tablet for a significantly more affordable price. Just keep in mind that with most tablets, you’ll have to sacrifice the impressive paper-like display you get with the reMarkable Paper Pro. The real question comes down to how serious you are about notetaking. If you’re unsure, you could consider the reMarkable 2, which starts at $399 and remains an excellent choice.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Good Housekeeping Institute Senior Reviews Writer and Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from consumer electronics to home, fitness, travel, and more. She has tested and reviewed the latest devices, including smart notebooks and several generations of reMarkable notebooks. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but she's a longtime writer who loves the feel of putting pen to paper.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests and writes about tech, home, travel, fitness, parenting and health products. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
