# One month with the reMarkable Paper Pro Apr 11, 2025 #review I've always been caught between two worlds, the tactile satisfaction of pen and paper versus the organizational efficiency of digital tools. Years ago I filled notebooks with ideas, only to lose them in stacks on my shelf. I switched over to using Obsidian which has been an insanely big unlock but I only find myself distracted by notifications or overcomplicating my vault structure. I started looking into tablets to hit that hybrid mark but was skeptical on the promise that it feels just like paper. I found the reMarkable Paper Pro that included the color display, paper-like writing experience, and the singular focus on reading and writing, without the distractions of a full tablet which was enough for me to try it out. ## First impressions The tablet arrived in minimalist packaging that felt appropriately premium and almost Apple-like. The tablet itself has a substantial weight, not heavy enough to be cumbersome, but enough to feel significant when you hold it which I like. What struck me first was the thinness, despite housing the color e-ink display it's surprisingly sleek and low-profile which definitely makes it feel more like a notebook than a tech device. The magnetic attachment for the marker was also one of those small design details that makes the overall experience feel considered. It snaps to the side of the device strong enough to be sturdy, but not annoying to actually use. I bought a 3rd party case from Amazon rather than buying theirs, purely because I saved $130 doing it. I'm not sure if the original is much better, but I won't be using this much outside, and it'll rarely not be in a bag when travelling so it didn't feel necessary at the time. ## The writing experience This is the question everyone asks, and after a month of daily use, I can give a nuanced answer. Does it feel exactly like writing on paper? No. Does it feel closer than any other digital writing experience I've tried? Absolutely. The combination of the textured screen and the marker creates a friction that mimics paper remarkably well. There's a subtle resistance as you write that glass screens simply can't replicate. The latency is nearly instant, writing actually appears as you write, not a fraction of a second later which was a big reason I steered the reMarkable route compared to other tablets. What I appreciate most is how the writing experience encourages me to slow down and think. My handwriting, which has deteriorated through years of keyboard use, has actually improved since using the Paper Pro regularly. There's something about the tactile feedback that makes me more deliberate. ## Color that actually matters I was initially skeptical about color on an e-ink display. I've seen previous attempts where the color was washed out and that felt like a compromise. It definitely seems that they weren't trying to compete with something like the vibrance of color on an iPad but rather adding color in a way that mattered. I primarily use the coloring in 3 ways: - Highlighting research papers with different colors for different types of information - Creating visual hierarchies in my notes with colored headings and subheadings - Sketching diagrams where colors adds meaningful distinction The muted, paper-like quality of the colors actually works in its favor. It's enough color to add dimension to your work without becoming a distraction. Apparently it can render 20,000+ colors, but I typically stick to the basic writing colors that are already presets. ## Research paper deep dive This is where the Paper Pro has fundamentally changed my workflow. I used to print research papers, annotate them by hand, and then struggle to find them later. Or I'd read them on my PC/laptop, but the annotations never felt natural. The tablet hits a sweet spot for this, the bigger screen size which I initially thought might be a mistake turned out to mean that the majority of paper formats were easily readable without excessive zooming. The ability to write and draw directly on PDFs with the precision of a pen feels natural and you can do this while zoomed in or out which is great. The highlight and shape snapping are also awesome for keeping them neat. You can also zoom out and write margin notes without worrying about hitting the edge like normal paper. ## Organization without distraction Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the Paper Pro for me is what it doesn't do. There are no notifications or email alerts. When I'm working with it, I'm just thinking and writing. The folder system is straightforward and basic but effective. I keep separate notebooks for different projects, research areas, and personal notes. The search functionality which can somehow recognize my handwriting surprisingly well, means that I can find notes from when I started in a couple of seconds. This focused environment has made a noticeable difference in my ability to synthesize complex information. Without the constant pull of distractions I find myself making connections between ideas that might otherwise have remained separate. ## The night owl factor As someone who often does their best thinking late at night, the built-in reading light has been unexpectedly useful. It illuminates across the screen without the eye strain of a backlit display and the light distribution feels natural like reading a paper book under a good reading lamp rather than staring at a screen. At the maximum brightness, the screen transforms from a darkish-yellow to a cooler white which does get uncomfortable after long-periods of using it but I don't think there's any way around that. ## Where it falls short No device is perfect, and the Paper Pro does have its limitations. The software, while focused, does sometimes feel too minimal. Basic features like table creation or more advanced text formatting would be welcome additions. Performance can feel sluggish at times, especially when using color, it does also seem to introduce some refresh delays (maybe an e-ink thing), which can ghost text over each other, although quite rare. The export options while functional could be more flexible, getting notes into other systems requires a few more steps than I'd like, but once setup it is easy. So far I've charged the tablet 2-3 times as it does seem to last close to the 2-weeks as advertised, but I think this is behind some of its competitors (Kindle Scribe). I don't find this a problem as it's USB-C like my other devices and only takes a short-time to charge. The price point also places it firmly in premium territory at over £550. This isn't a casual purchase, and the value proposition depends heavily on how central reading and note-taking are to your daily work. ## How it fits into my workflow The Paper Pro has found a specific place in my work pattern. I use it primarily for three activities: - Deep reading sessions with research papers and reports - Meeting notes and idea development - First-draft thinking for complex problems I recently went through a couple of exams where I also moved all of the learning material into PDF and used the tablet to read through in the evenings and take notes. The physical separation creates a cognitive separation that helps me maintain focus on the task at hand while still having reference materials readily available. ## Worth the investment? After a month with the tablet I can confidently say it's been worth the investment for my specific needs. It hasn't replaced my other devices, but it has created a space for a type of thinking and working that wasn't well-served by anything else I had. The value comes not from what it can do, but from what it doesn't do. By creating a focused environment for reading and writing, it carves out a digital space that encourages depth rather than breadth. For anyone whose work involves deep reading, careful note-taking, and the synthesis of complex information, it offers something unique. It's not trying to be everything to everyone and that's precisely its strength and why I'm glad I picked it.