The reMarkable Paper Pro is a digital notebook that strips away apps, streaming services and notifications to focus on writing, drawing, reading and annotating. The key upgrade over earlier reMarkable devices is the addition of colour, along with an adjustable reading light.
Design and display
The Paper Pro features an 11.8-inch Canvas Colour E-ink display capable of rendering up to 20,000 colours. It is 5.1mm thick and weighs around 525g, making it remarkably slim for an 11.8-inch tablet. The large 4:3 display provides plenty of room for handwriting, diagrams and documents.
The textured display is central to the experience. Writing with the included pen offers more resistance than using a conventional stylus, producing a sensation much closer to putting pen to paper.
Colour and reading light
Colour is the Paper Pro's headline feature, and it is more than a cosmetic upgrade. Different colours can be used to organise handwritten notes, highlight important information, annotate documents and make diagrams easier to understand. For students, designers and professionals who regularly mark up PDFs, the ability to use colour can make the Paper Pro a significantly more capable working tool.
The adjustable reading light makes the Paper Pro practical in different environments, particularly when working in the evening or in a dimly lit room. It does not turn the device into a conventional illuminated tablet; instead, the light is subtle and designed to illuminate the E Ink display rather than blast light directly into your eyes.
Software and battery
The software is deliberately restricted. You cannot install the usual collection of apps. Instead, reMarkable OS provides tools for creating notebooks, organising documents, annotating PDFs and reading ebooks - and that's it. For some people, this will seem crazy. For others, it is precisely the reason to buy one.
ReMarkable has added AI-powered features that can convert handwriting into text and help produce summaries, reflections and next steps from annotations. Battery life is another strength. reMarkable rates the Paper Pro for up to two weeks of regular use, with a 5,030mAh battery. It charges via USB-C, and the company quotes 0–90% charging in around 90 minutes.
Verdict and availability
The reMarkable Paper Pro is an exceptional digital notebook and one of the most convincing alternatives to paper. Along with the pen, you get an attractive folio to keep it safe. Its limitations are deliberate, but the price is not insignificant. This is not the tablet to buy if you want entertainment, apps or web browsing. It is for people who want to write, think, read and work without digital distractions.
The reMarkable Paper Pro is available for £699 via Amazon. User feedback notes that the colours are muted if using that option, and it does flicker and can be a bit slow, but one user said this does not bother them as they are only bothered about the writing experience, which is good.
