Remarkable Paper Pro is defined by Kindle. Not because it competes with the Kindle, the world’s most popular e-reader, but because it can’t and isn’t trying to compete.
This isn’t because the Kindle is a great product, but rather that the Kindle isn’t a “product” in the full sense of the word. If so, Amazon would have to charge more and make a profit on every unit. But since it’s not a product – it’s an onboarding device for the Kindle store – Amazon can lose money on every unit it sells. And they do. Kindles cost more to manufacture than their list price.
In other words, you can’t compete with that. So Remarkable doesn’t even try. Their trick is to take the Kindle compromise and turn it on its head. To create an anti-Kindle.
For example, Amazon doesn’t have a single good Kindle model because it loses money on every unit. As I wrote recently on these pages, each Kindle model is built around a single feature, such as note-taking or a color screen, but you can use it to get the most out of them or use a single It cannot be integrated into a device. There is a limit to how much it costs to make these things. Amazon should also lock down your devices and force you to buy products from the Kindle store instead of elsewhere. Because that’s the only way these make money.
However, Remarkable charges for the hardware, so you don’t have to do that.
Remarkable has been around since 2013, making small e-ink tablets that have brought a more premium feel to the e-reader market. Load your PDFs and eBooks from anywhere. It had a beautiful leather case, but more importantly, it had the best handwriting experience on the screen. The combination of beautiful tactility, thin hardware, and smooth, easy-to-use software is unmatched, and the previous generation Remarkable 2 was an incredibly small device. It’s still being sold as an entry called “Remarkable” and my review of it will be published soon, but an 11-year effort in software and hardware is now complete with its new flagship tablet, the Paper Pro. was rewarded. And it really is an incredibly small device.
It has beautiful machined metal edges, a great pen, a beautiful thin design, and the best software available on an e-reader that updates the screen locally and only when you need it, and updates quickly. Add a keyboard cover (the best tablet keyboard on the market) and you’ve got a versatile device that’s always fun to use. Great for reading, whether it’s an e-book in Google Drive or OneDrive, or an article instantly sent to Remarkable from your browser. It’s also great for writing notes by hand, or I use it with Type Folio. You can also easily export the text to email or document.
At its heart, though, is the new screen. When you write on it, it feels similar to paper. It has a beautiful adjustable backlight. It’s even larger at 11.8 inches in diameter, and it’s colored so you can highlight and write notes in different colors. And with the possible exception of Daylight Computer, which I haven’t tried, it’s the best on the market. Because it uses gallery display technology, the colors are more vibrant than the Kaleido displays of other color E-ink units. The downside to Gallery is that updates are usually frustratingly slow. But not here. It’s crisp, clear, and quick, and you can write just as quickly and fluidly as when using the black and white version.
The only downside to backlighting is that it significantly reduces battery life (from weeks to days on a single charge), but that’s also because I use the Paper Pro all the time, and sometimes There is almost no consumption when connected to a power source. problem. It would also have been nice if it came with a Qi2 wireless charging coil, like the new Kindle Paperwhite, for convenience.
Paper Pro isn’t cheap. The tablet alone costs $579 with basic markers. But it would be a shame to use this without a better pen. Also, if you don’t buy a Type Folio, you’re missing out on the best writing instruments on the market. Trust me, once you use it to write something important and see how great it is, you’ll be glad you bought it.
But those add up to $829, plus the optional $3 per month Remarkable Connect subscription. This provides unlimited cloud storage, better warranty support, and access to edit and adjust documents in the application. If you get Remarkable, you have to pay a fee.
As a Kindle competitor, that’s a lot of money. But it’s not a Kindle competitor.
I never liked the Kindle because of its cheap build quality, ugly software full of ads, and constant focus on sales. I didn’t want to read too much about them and that’s what they were perfect for. In contrast, Remarkable is irresistible. I use it to record my workouts. I write notes on it. I’ll send you an article to read in bed. I annotate documents and PowerPoints. And I based this article and the first draft of many of the articles you’ve read on it. It’s a rare piece of technology that’s light, elegant, easy to use, and never distracting. You can’t browse the web or read email, but that’s great.
Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s worth every penny. Along with the Oura Ring 3 and the clear Meta Ray Ban, this is my favorite new product I’ve used this year.
