The Remarkable Paper Pure is the best digital notepad I’ve ever used

Source: The Verge

Overview

Was I writing with pen and paper, or a stylus on a tablet? It’s getting more difficult than ever to tell.

The Remarkable Paper Pure is a follow‑up to 2020’s Remarkable 2 and a couple of premium color E‑Ink tablets. As with Remarkable’s first two digital notepads, the Paper Pure features a black‑and‑white E‑Ink screen that sacrifices lighting for writing. The screen’s textured finish feels more like writing on actual paper than a tablet with a smooth glass screen. Without lighting, you can’t use it everywhere, but that trade‑off is important: every stroke seems directly connected to the tip of the Marker, making it feel more like an actual pen on paper rather than a stylus on a screen. It’s better than anything I’ve tested so far.

Stylus

The Pure comes with a basic battery‑powered stylus called the Marker, but I tested the more expensive Marker Plus that adds a dedicated eraser button and is available as part of a $449 bundle that also includes a new Sleeve Folio case. Its latency matches the Remarkable 2’s stylus and isn’t as responsive as the Apple Pencil Pro, but the overall writing experience remains unmatched. The stylus can wirelessly charge when attached to the side of the tablet, similar to the iPad Pro and Air. It’s no thicker than the Remarkable 2’s stylus and attaches more securely than before.

Hardware Upgrades

• Processor: Faster dual‑core CPU.
• Memory: 2 GB RAM (up from 1 GB).
• Storage: 32 GB internal (up from 8 GB).

In side‑by‑side tests, the Paper Pure feels quicker when navigating the UI and opening documents, though the gains are modest. Large e‑books and PDFs open about half a second faster; other documents see smaller improvements.

Screen

Remarkable says the Paper Pure’s new third‑generation Canvas screen—a customized 10.3‑inch version of E‑Ink’s Carta 1300 panel—offers 20 % more contrast and a brighter appearance than the Remarkable 2’s second‑gen display. The resolution remains 1,872 × 1,404 (226 PPI), which is lower than many modern tablets and color‑screen devices, but small text stays crisp and legible.

Pricing

• $399 – Paper Pure alone (directly from Remarkable)
• $449 – Paper Pure bundle (includes Marker Plus and Sleeve Folio)

Design

Durability

The Paper Pure introduces a back panel made entirely of plastic, which feels even more robust than the original Remarkable’s notebook‑like chassis. It’s a bit thicker than the Remarkable 2, but at 44 g lighter it’s easier to carry.

Keyboard Compatibility

The only disappointing design change is the removal of the contact pads on the edge that connected the Remarkable 2 to the Type Folio keyboard case. While a similar accessory may still be possible, it will need a different connection method.

Software Experience

The software is identical to the Remarkable 2’s, with regular updates. New features rolling out to older devices include:

• Conversion of saved webpages (via Chrome extension or mobile apps) and imported documents into editable notebooks.
• Google and Microsoft Outlook calendar connectivity for a “meeting notes” feature that auto‑populates a notebook with agenda details.
• AI‑powered summarization of meeting notes, highlighting important details or action items before sharing.

Comparison with Competitors

• Amazon Kindle Scribe ($429.99) – Offers a backlit screen (if Amazon ever releases a non‑lit version) and a larger e‑book ecosystem.
• Onyx Boox tablets (< $500) – Run Android with access to the Google Play Store, providing far more flexibility than the closed Remarkable ecosystem.

Verdict

If your priority is a digital replacement for stacks of notebooks, sticky notes, and ad‑hoc scribbles, the Remarkable Paper Pure delivers the closest pen‑on‑paper experience while eliminating paper clutter. The Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move have excellent color screens, but the Pure remains the better choice for pure writing. Existing Remarkable 2 users may find few compelling reasons to upgrade, aside from a slightly larger battery, given Remarkable’s commitment to back‑porting new features.

Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge