reMarkable 2 review: a capable e-ink notebook with one big caveat

The reMarkable 2 can be a useful device for those who love taking notes

The reMarkable 2, to put it simply, is a large Rs 43,799-worth tablet that only lets you read books, review docs (PDFs) and take notes (with a stylus) on an e-ink display. If you’re unfamiliar, e-link technology differs from regular LCDs as it doesn’t rely on backlights to light up the screen. Instead, it offers a paper-like finish (similar to a Kindle), which can be quite pleasing to look at and contribute to less eye fatigue than traditional displays.

All this may seem too over-simplified, but believe me, that can be a blessing in disguise, especially in an age where almost everything feels cluttered and overwhelming. Still, can a tablet that costs Rs 43,799 and does not let you run any popular apps be worthwhile? Let’s see whether the reMarkable 2 can live up to its promises at this hefty price.

Table of Contents

Design and Display

As mentioned, the reMarkable 2 utilises e-ink technology for its large 10.3-inch display. Its box contents include a charging cable and a black stylus alongside the tablet. You can bundle a special folio with a keyboard for an additional price of Rs 19,499. If you choose the official folio without the keyboard, the price goes up to Rs 53,799 (Rs 43,799 + Rs 10,000).


Overall, the reMarkable 2 looks highly attractive. It weighs only 403.5 grams despite its tall build and metal frames. It also means that the reMarkable 2 is lighter than Apple’s ultra-thin iPad Air 10.3-inch 2024 (462 grams). Of course, the latter packs truckloads of features under the hood, but this comparison is only for reference.

Due to its simple and non-distracting design, the reMarkable 2 tablet only includes a power button at the top-left and a Type-C port at the bottom for charging. The design embodies Scandinavian minimalist tones, which makes sense as the maker is based in Norway.

On the left, there are five pins to let users connect the tablet with the official Book Folio. The stylus or Marker Plus, as it’s called, also attaches magnetically and does not require any charging or setup. I will speak more in a dedicated section.


The main display is surrounded by thick bezels to provide a minimal photo frame look. Only the back bears the official logo, while the front remains clean. The entire body has a matte finish, which combines aesthetics with utility. The matte finish helps hide fingerprint marks and reduce screen glare.

The matte display also provides a fairly coarse texture for a paper-like feedback. This is a thoughtful addition, as tablets with regular LCDs can be too smooth for taking notes or drawing. Many creators I know who use an iPad often buy a special film for the display to increase friction while drawing. This may affect colours, but that is not a concern since the reMarkable 2 does not offer a coloured-display.

reMarkable has also deployed a proprietary tech to reduce the lag input on the e-ink display, which has inherently been the biggest pain point of e-ink technology. This is also the reason why e-ink displays aren’t popular on smartphones. The lag is still an issue, though it feels much smoother than any Amazon Kindle or e-readers I’ve used. The large screen offers adequate brightness for indoor and outdoor usage.

reMarkable Marker Plus and Keyboard folio

The coolest part about the stylus or Marker Plus is that there’s no setup or battery required to work. There’s also no Bluetooth pairing to function. In simple words, e-ink devices have grids of coils or an electromagnetic field-generating surface to work. In this case, the Marker Plus has its own coils and draws power from the tablet directly. I can vouch that I faced no problems with the stylus in my long usage.



The writing experience is similar to writing on real paper. Be it the grip or the pressure points, it feels as real as possible. The Marker Plus comes with a built-in eraser, which works accurately. You don’t immediately get a clean sheet after using the in-built eraser, but that’s a drawback of the e-ink technology and not the stylus.

Beyond traditional writing with the pen, you can use the reMarkable keyboard folio to take notes. The keyboard boasts 1.3mm of key travel -similar to many laptops. The cover features an artificial leather finish, which feels quite premium. While using the keyboard has many advantages, I mostly used the tablet with the Marker Plus stylus, and it worked fine.

However, using the keyboard in a dark room could be difficult as there’s no backlight. In a way, the keyboard is a good addition, but I feel it’s not a must-have. Plus, it increases the price of the entire portfolio by a good margin.

Performance and features

reMarkable positions the reMarkable 2 as a distraction-free tablet and you’re never bothered by any notifications or external apps. This also explains its modest technical specifications, such as Wi-Fi support, 8GB internal storage, 1GB LPDDR3 SDRAM, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and no external memory slots.



That does not mean it lacks productivity-focused features to elevate the user experience. You can expect basics such as file search and PDF exports. Apart from that, there are several native templates for taking notes for different work. This includes templates for creative work (music and calligraphy), grids (spreadsheet), life organiser, and lines (quick notes). You can create folders to save different work.


Within a sheet, you can select different types of pens (ballpoint pen, fine liner, pencil, calligraphy pen, and so on). You can adjust the thickness of the Mark tip (thin, medium, and thick) as well. The tablet also offers gesture support to undo/redo, flip pages, and zoom in and out.

reMarkable also provides the option to convert handwriting to text, though it is not always accurate. Also, converted text or text written with the keyboard cannot be erased with the eraser, which is a strange restriction.

Overall, the reMarkable 2 delivers everything it promises. In my long usage, the tablet became a regular companion for jotting quick notes or creating elaborate meeting plans. It can also be a reliable tool for planning your budget, as the device supports passcodes. Even accessing files from your phone or laptop happens seamlessly as long as the main device has internet support. Do note that this requires a reMarkable Connect subscription (free for the first year) for auto-sync, otherwise, you will have to save on Google Drive or Onedrive manually.
reMarkable 2 mobile app interface.

It may take some days to get used to the UI, but it becomes simple and intuitive as you spend more time with it. Another feature I like is that you can export PDFs into reMarkable 2 to make the most accurate signatures on any document. The reading experience on the tall 10.3-inch e-ink display is fully remarkable, no puns there. You can download ebooks from external stores and export them to the tablet.

One thing I feel is missing from the reMarkable 2 is a native Calendar app, which can be highly useful for those (including myself) who like to save birthdays and anniversaries. There’s also no option to create multiple profiles – be it for family or work. Maybe the next iteration can also provide more internal storage (say at least 32GB).

Battery

One of the biggest strengths of e-ink devices is the long battery life. You can easily expect two weeks of battery life on the reMarkable 2, but that’s with daily usage. If the tablet remains idle, you can expect the battery life to go up to three weeks on a single charge. The package does not include a charger, and you get a Type-C to Type-C cable.

I used my 67W OnePlus SuperVOOC adapter and the tablet took nearly an hour to charge, which is pretty good considering its long battery life.

Verdict

Despite its global launch nearly four years ago, the reMarkable remains a highly relevant and useful product for those who wish to declutter their life full of overwhelming gadgets. Like any other device, it may take some time to get used to its features and UI, but in no time, it grows and can become an essential tool of your life, as has happened with me.

That being said, reMarkable can explore adding new features, which many consider non-distracting, such as a calendar or a dedicated To-Do option. If launching a new tablet isn’t on the table, a new stylus with better haptics or a lighter folio will definitely be appreciated by existing users.

The biggest caveat is the price, as reMarkable 2’s Rs 43,799 sticker price puts it in the premium category. Not just the price, but customers in India may also be hesitant about limited service centres.

If those things don’t matter, the reMarkable 2 truly possesses the capabilities to be a solid productivity aid.

Pros:

Cons:

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