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 tradeoff is important. Every stroke seems directly connected to the tip of the Marker as a result, making it feel more like you’re using an actual pen on a piece of paper rather than a stylus on a screen. It’s better than anything I’ve tested so far.
So how about that pen? 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 more expensive $449 bundle that also includes a new Sleeve Folio case. Its latency is the same as the Remarkable 2’s stylus and not as responsive as the Apple Pencil Pro, but I think the writing experience with Remarkable’s tablets remains unmatched. It’s nice that the stylus can wirelessly charge when attached to the side of the tablet, like the iPad Pro and Air. It’s no thicker than the Remarkable 2’s stylus and attaches more securely than before.
The Paper Pure (top) uses a powered stylus that recharges while magnetically attached to the side of the tablet with a stronger hold than the Remarkable 2 (bottom) offered.
There are some other upgrades. The Paper Pure has a faster dual-core processor, a bump from 1GB of RAM to 2GB, and a storage increase from 8GB to 32GB. Comparing the two tablets side by side, the Paper Pure is faster when it comes to navigating the UI and opening documents, but not significantly. While large ebooks and PDFs opened about half a second faster on the Paper Pure, the speed improvements were less than that for other documents, including its native notebooks.
Remarkable Paper Pure
$399 at Remarkable | $449 at Remarkable (bundle with Marker Plus and Sleeve Folio)
Remarkable says the Paper Pure’s new third-generation Canvas screen — a customized 10.3-inch version of E Ink’s Carta 1300 panel that’s already in use in many e-readers — offers 20 percent more contrast and a brighter appearance than the Remarkable 2’s second-gen display. There’s a subtle difference between the two, but it’s really only noticeable with both tablets sitting right next to each other.
The upgraded screen contributes to the Paper Pure’s slightly snappier UI performance, but it carries forward the Remarkable 2’s 1,872 x 1,404 resolution and 226PPI, which is less than what you’ll find on many other modern tablets this size, including Remarkable’s color screen devices. Small text still looks crisp and legible, just not as crisp as it would on the latest Kobo and Kindle 300PPI e-readers.
The Paper Pure (right) is smaller than the Remarkable 2 (left) and features an upgraded display with improved contrast.
The Paper Pure (right) has a plastic back panel that may look less premium than the Remarkable 2 (left), but it feels more durable.
What I like most about the Paper Pure is a new design that feels even more durable. I treated the original Remarkable like a paper notebook that I could toss around and cram in my backpack, and it’s survived years of abuse. The Remarkable 2 was more durable with a stiffer design, but the Paper Pure now has a back panel made entirely of plastic that I’m even more confident will easily survive regular use and abuse. It’s a little bit thicker than the Remarkable 2 as a result, but at 44 grams lighter it’s easier to carry.
The Paper Pure (top) is slightly thicker than the Remarkable 2 (bottom) but weighs less.
The Paper Pure (top) lacks the connection points the Remarkable 2 (bottom) uses to connect to Remarkable’s Type Folio keyboard case.
The only disappointing design change is that the Paper Pure doesn’t carry forward the contact pads on the edge of the Remarkable 2 that it uses to connect to the company’s excellent Type Folio keyboard case. The change doesn’t entirely rule out a similar accessory for the Paper Pure, but it will have to connect in a different way.
The Paper Pure’s software experience is identical to the Remarkable 2’s that’s been regularly updated over the years, but the company is introducing some new features that its older tablets will also get. Webpages saved through Remarkable’s Chrome extension or mobile apps and other imported documents can be converted to editable notebooks, allowing their content to be reorganized or reformatted before sharing with others.
When connected to Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook, a new feature will create meeting notes with details pulled from the invite so you have a better idea of what the meeting is about.
The tablets are also getting Google and Microsoft Outlook calendar connectivity for a new meeting notes feature that automatically populates a notebook with details about the agenda pulled from the invite. Additional notes taken during the meeting can be summarized using AI that will highlight important details or action items before sharing.
New software features being introduced with the Paper Pure (but also coming to older Remarkable devices) include converting saved webpages and other documents to editable notebooks.
And while the Paper Pure can be used to read ebooks and PDFs with an adequate amount of formatting options, it still lacks the expanded functionality of other E Ink devices. Amazon’s $429.99 Kindle Scribe (if Amazon ever releases the version without a screen light) doubles as a more capable e-reader with access to a large bookstore, while Boox offers several E Ink tablets under $500 that run Android with access to the Google Play Store, further expanding how you can use them.
The Paper Pure can be purchased as part of a $449 bundle that includes an upgraded stylus and a green, pink, or blue protective Sleeve Folio case.
If your priority is finding a digital replacement to stacks of notebooks, sticky notes, and wherever else you jot down your thoughts, the Remarkable Paper Pure is as close as you’ll get to a pen-on-paper experience minus the cluttered stacks of paper. The Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move might be tempting with their excellent color screens, but the Paper Pure is the better option. However, if you’re already a happy Remarkable 2 user, aside from a slightly larger battery there are few compelling reasons to upgrade given the company’s strong commitment to making new features available on its existing devices.
Expanded Background and Context
Remarkable has been a pioneer in the digital notepad space since its first product launched in 2017. The company’s core philosophy has always been to minimize distractions and maximize the realism of writing on paper. Unlike general-purpose tablets like the iPad that run thousands of apps, Remarkable devices run a custom Linux-based operating system focused solely on note-taking, document annotation, and e-reading. This narrow focus allows Remarkable to optimize every aspect of the user interface for low latency and smooth pen input.
The E Ink technology used in the Paper Pure is a monochrome panel that uses microcapsules filled with charged particles to create text and images. It consumes power only when the display changes, giving Remarkable tablets exceptional battery life measured in weeks rather than days. The lack of a front light is a deliberate choice; it eliminates the backlight that can cause eye strain in dim environments and also reduces the gap between the screen surface and the digitizer layer. This thinner construction is one of the reasons the writing feel is so direct and natural.
The new Carta 1300 panel offers improved contrast and faster refresh rates compared to the Carta 1200 used in the Remarkable 2. However, Remarkable’s custom Canvas screen technology also incorporates a unique texture layer that mimics the friction of writing on paper. This is combined with a Wacom digitizer that captures pressure, tilt, and speed. The result is a writing experience that many users find superior to glass-covered screens like the iPad or even the Kindle Scribe, which uses an older generation of E Ink and lacks the same level of digitizer sensitivity.
In terms of build quality, the Paper Pure represents a shift toward practicality over premium materials. The plastic back panel is less likely to dent or scratch than the metal back of the Remarkable 2, and its lighter weight makes it more portable. The bezels have been slimmed down slightly, and the overall footprint is smaller, though the screen remains the same size. The device is also slightly thicker, which allows for a larger battery without adding excessive weight.
One area where Remarkable continues to lag behind competitors is in its e-reader capabilities. While the Kindle Scribe offers access to Amazon’s massive ebook store and features like a backlight for reading in the dark, the Paper Pure relies on sideloaded content. You can transfer documents via the Remarkable cloud, USB, or email, but there is no built-in bookstore. For users who primarily read within a single ecosystem, the Kindle Scribe or Boox tablets might be more appealing. Boox devices, in particular, run Android, allowing you to install Kindle, Kobo, and many other reading apps directly on the device. However, this freedom comes at the cost of greater complexity and often worse battery life.
The new software features, such as webpage-to-notebook conversion and AI meeting summaries, are part of Remarkable’s strategy to keep the platform fresh. The meeting notes integration with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook is particularly useful for professionals. When you accept a meeting invite, the tablet automatically creates a notebook with the event details, agenda, and attendee list. During the meeting, you can handwrite or type notes, and afterward, the AI feature can generate a summary highlighting decisions and action items. This kind of workflow enhancement makes the Paper Pure not just a writing tool but a productivity hub.
Another notable improvement is the stylus charging. The Marker Plus uses a small internal battery that can be recharged by attaching it to the side of the tablet via magnets. This is similar to the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro and Air. The magnetic hold is stronger than the Remarkable 2’s, reducing the chance of losing the stylus. The basic Marker uses a replaceable battery, which is less convenient but also less expensive. Both styluses offer the same tip texture and pressure sensitivity, so the main difference is the eraser button and charging method.
For users who need to type occasionally, the lack of a keyboard case is a miss. The Remarkable 2’s Type Folio was widely praised for its excellent typing feel and integrated design. Without the contact pads, the Paper Pure cannot use that accessory. However, Remarkable has not ruled out releasing a Bluetooth keyboard case in the future. In the meantime, users can connect any Bluetooth keyboard directly, but that adds bulk and defeats the sleek integrated design.
In summary, the Remarkable Paper Pure refines an already excellent note-taking device. It improves on the Remarkable 2 in several key areas: durability, speed, storage, and software features. The writing feel remains class-leading, and the new design is more practical for daily use. While the lack of a color screen, front light, and keyboard case may deter some users, those who prioritize a distraction-free and authentic pen-on-paper experience will find the Paper Pure to be the best digital notepad on the market.
Source: The Verge News