Remarkable 2 Tablet Review: The Price (and Prize) Of Focus

The Remarkable 2 is not like any other tablet that you might typically use. Unlike the iPad or Android tablets, it doesn’t have an app store, you can’t play games or watch videos, and there’s no browser. Its sole purpose is to help you write on a digital notepad without digital distractions, and it’s fantastic at delivering on that promise. I love writing on it. But should you pay attention to a single-feature-focused device that costs over $400 / 40,000 Indian Rupees?

A Remarkable Build

The Remarkable 2 is light and feels solid in the hand. It features a frosted glass finish on the back, which isn’t slippery courtesy of the four rubber grips on the back corners. At 4.7mm thick and 403.5 grams, the tablet is thin and light enough to not feel uncomfortable on the wrist. It doesn’t do anything fancy, and there are no extra sensors, which helps keep it so thin.

I like the sheet-like feel to it – as if I’m writing in a thin notebook. The feeling of “writing on paper” is thanks to the display and the Marker 2 (Remarkable 2’s stylus). The e-ink display is faster than usual, as I found it better than Kindle and Boox tablets in terms of responsiveness. I haven’t had such a smooth writing experience on any e-ink tablet yet.

However, it is still plagued by e-ink display traits like slower scrolling speeds, which feels frustrating coming from a smartphone or laptop display. But you get used to it. Plus, there’s no backlight, which bugs me if I want to use it at night. Adding a backlight and ambient light sensor would improve the user experience. The latter would also help turn off the display when I close the cover, which doesn’t happen currently.

But I don’t think I would trade it for the thin design because it’s important for me that my digital diary is thin enough to slide into my travel backpack alongside my laptop without feeling bulky.

The Marker 2 features a textured finish that helps with grip during long writing sessions. A mainstream pen could get sweaty and slippery in summer, but the Marker 2 doesn’t (tested in 50-degree Celsius Delhi heat).

It attaches to the side of the device and doesn’t need to be charged, which means you always have a pen with your digital diary. The palm rejection is top-notch, too. I haven’t had a single instance in the past three months where I faced wrong input detection.

The Marker 2 is pressure-sensitive, so you can use it for shading in your drawings. The software allows you to use it as a pencil, marker, highlighter, ballpoint pen, calligraphy pen, and more. You can also use the back of the Marker 2 as an eraser.

I’ve Loved Writing On It

Using the Remarkable 2 is unlike using any other device because it does specifically one thing – write, and it does so brilliantly, without any distractions. I can take notes on my iPad with the Focus mode on, but I’m in the habit of checking emails and communication apps regularly, which doesn’t help while brainstorming ideas. Removing these distractions has improved my focus on thinking and writing. I don’t feel the need to switch to another app (because there are none), the writing experience is paper-like, and the software is well-customized for writing.

It is better than carrying a diary because I can choose my notebook format from different templates (checklists, ruled pages, grid, etc.), pen type, write on webpages transferred from my Mac, and more. I no longer need to carry my thick diary when I’m traveling. The Remarkable 2 is enough. Plus, it lasts for weeks on a single charge, so I always have a screen to write on.

The user interface is fairly easy to learn. You press the power button located on the top-left corner and enter the PIN (if you have set one), and you are greeted with a home screen made up of your documents, quick sheets, and folders. You can modify the sorting and view (grid or list), as per your convenience. At the top, there are icons to create Notebook, Folder, and Quick Sheets with a single tap.

On the left, you get a menu for various options, and the toolbar remains when you enter a sheet/notebook to let you select your brush shape and size, layers, select text, convert writing into text, and more. The gestures are easy to grasp too – swipe up to continue the sheet, swipe left to add another page, and the like. The company also provides integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft add-ins, so you can access documents stored on these services.

This feature is available without Connect, Remarkable’s $2.99 / 299 Indian Rupees monthly subscription. You can use the tablet without Connect, but subscribing to it will give you access to unlimited cloud storage (which you’ll need if you use the tablet every day), mobile and desktop note-taking with the app, a protection plan, and access to some exclusive offers. I find it expensive and would like Remarkable to introduce a cheaper tier that only offers unlimited cloud storage for sync.

The Remarkable 2 Is A Digital Notebook But With Physical Notebook Limitations

I’ve loved my experience with the Remarkable 2. But a gadget should not have the limitations of its non-tech counterpart. The Remarkable 2 carries some limitations of a notebook.

For instance, I’m bad at remembering file names and have a running list of a few things: a journal and quick sheets for one-liner sentences that I think of randomly during the day for review headlines. I would like the Remarkable 2 to have a universal search feature, where if I type a word, it brings up the sheets highlighting the words – much like Kindle does with its books or like Apple Photos. Otherwise, it remains like skimming through pages of a physical notebook when looking for something. You need to have organization skills to make the most of your Remarkable 2.

I would also like better customization of the home screen. For example, let me choose exactly what I want to see after I enter my PIN, and add widget support. I might want a widget for a quick listicle or a to-do list widget at the bottom so I have access to information at a glance instead of searching for it.

The Remarkable 2 isn’t a good e-reader. You can transfer files through the app or website, but the experience isn’t ideal. You can also add a Chrome plug-in on your laptop, and with a single click, get web pages on your tablet. However, it has its limitations.

First, it doesn’t import images, which is both good and bad. It’s good because you don’t get any ads and bad because the formatting is wonky. Plus, more often than not, images are important for storytelling in certain articles. Second, like a diary, it doesn’t support opening backlinks because there’s no browser capability. As a result, I can’t tap on an in-article link to read a separate article, which is bothersome.

Remarkable 2 Tablet Review: Verdict

I’ve noticed myself becoming more productive with the Remarkable 2. From taking notes at airports and cafes to brainstorming ideas for pitches, it has helped my brain work more efficiently without distractions. However, it’s too expensive for a single-task device.

You need to decide if $450 / 44,000 Indian Rupees is a comfortable price tag for a distraction-free writing experience. If that price is worth the prize of focus for you, I see no reason not to buy it. It really depends on how much value you place on maintaining focus while writing. That being said, the Remarkable 2 offers the best note-taking experience I’ve had on an e-ink display.