The cost (and cost) of focus

The Remarkable 2 is not like any other tablet you normally use. Unlike the iPad or Android tablets, it doesn’t have an app store, you can’t play games or watch videos, and it lacks a browser. Its sole purpose is to help you write on a digital notepad without digital distractions, and it’s fantastic at delivering on that promise. I like to write on it. But should you pay attention to a single-feature device that costs more than $400 / INR 40,000?

A remarkable building

The Remarkable 2 is light and feels solid in the hand. It has a frosted glass finish on the back that is non-slip thanks to the four rubber grips on the back corners. With a thickness of 4.7 mm and a weight of 403.5 grams, the tablet is thin and light enough to not feel uncomfortable on the wrist. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking and there are no other sensors, which helps keep it so slim.

I like the leaf-like feel of it – like I’m writing in a thin notebook. The feeling of “writing on paper” is thanks to the display and the Marker 2 (Remarkable 2 stylus). The e-ink display is faster than usual, as I found it better than the Kindle and Boox tablets in terms of responsiveness. I have never experienced such smooth writing on any e-ink tablet.

However, it’s still plagued by e-ink display features such as slower scrolling speed, which is frustrating from a smartphone or laptop display. But you get used to it. In addition, there is no backlight, which bothers me when I want to use it at night. Adding a backlight and ambient light sensor would improve the user experience. The latter would also help turn off the display when I close the cover, which currently doesn’t happen.

However, I don’t think I’d trade it for a slim design, as it’s important to me that my digital diary is thin enough to slip into my travel bag next to my laptop without feeling bulky.

The Marker 2 has a textured surface that helps with grip when writing for long periods of time. A regular pen can sweat and slide in summer, but the Marker 2 doesn’t (tested in 50 degree heat in Delhi).

It attaches to the side of your device and doesn’t need to be charged, meaning you always have a pen with your digital diary. Palm rejection is also top notch. In the last three months, I have not had a single case where I have faced bad input detection.

Marker 2 is pressure sensitive so you can use it for shading in your drawings. The software allows you to use it as a pencil, marker, highlighter, ballpoint pen, calligraphy pen and more. You can also use the back of the Marker 2 as an eraser.

I enjoyed writing about it

Using the Remarkable 2 is unlike using any other device because it does one thing specifically – write, and write brilliantly, without any distractions. I can take notes on my iPad with Focus on, but I have a habit of regularly checking email and communication apps, which doesn’t help with brainstorming. Eliminating these distractions improved my focus on thinking and writing. I don’t feel the need to switch to another app (because there isn’t one), the typing experience is like on paper and the software is well suited for typing.

It’s better than carrying a diary because I can choose the notebook format from different templates (checklists, ruler, grid, etc.), pen type, write on web pages transferred from my Mac, and more. I no longer have to carry my thick diary when I’m on the go. Remarkable 2 is enough. Plus, it lasts for weeks on a single charge, so I always have a display to write on.

The user interface is fairly easy to learn. You press the power button located in the upper left corner and enter your PIN (if you’ve set one) and you’ll be greeted by a home screen made up of your documents, quick sheets and folders. You can adjust the sorting and display (grid or list) as needed. At the top are icons for creating a notebook, folder and quick tables with one tap.

A menu for various options will appear on the left, and after entering a sheet/notebook, a toolbar will remain, allowing you to select brush shape and size, layers, select text, convert font to text, and more. Gestures are also easy to grasp – swipe up to continue a sheet, swipe left to add another page, and so on. The company also provides integration with Google Drive and Microsoft add-ons, so you can access documents stored in these services.

This feature is available without Connect, Remarkable’s $2.99 ​​/ INR 299 monthly subscription. You can use the tablet offline, but its subscription gives you access to unlimited cloud storage (which you’ll need if you use the tablet every day), mobile and desktop note-taking using the app, a protection plan, and access to some exclusive offers. I find it expensive and would like Remarkable to introduce a cheaper tier that only offers unlimited cloud storage for syncing.

The Remarkable 2 is a digital laptop, but with physical limitations

I loved my experience with the Remarkable 2. But a gadget shouldn’t have the limitations of its non-tech counterpart. The Remarkable 2 comes with some laptop limitations.

For example, I’m bad at remembering file names, and I have a running list of a few things: a journal and quick one-liners that I randomly come up with review titles on throughout the day. I’d like the Remarkable 2 to have a universal search feature where when I type a word, it shows sheets highlighting the words – much like Kindle does with its books or like Apple Photos. Otherwise, it remains like browsing the pages of a physical laptop when you’re looking for something. Getting the most out of your Remarkable 2 requires organizational skills.

I would also like better customization of the home screen. For example, let me choose exactly what I want to see after entering my PIN and add widget support. I might want a quick list widget or a to-do list widget at the bottom so I can quickly access information instead of searching for it.

The Remarkable 2 is not a good e-reader. You can transfer files through the app or the website, but the experience isn’t ideal. You can also add a Chrome plug-in to your laptop and get websites to your tablet with one click. However, it has its limitations.

First, it doesn’t import images, which is both good and bad. It’s good because you don’t get any ads, and bad because the formatting is clunky. Additionally, images are often important to the narrative in certain articles. Second, like the journal, it doesn’t support opening backlinks because there is no browser functionality. As a result, I can’t click on a link in an article to read a separate article, which is annoying.

Remarkable 2 Tablet Review: Verdict

I’ve noticed that Remarkable 2 makes me more productive. From taking notes in airports and coffee shops to brainstorming ideas for presentation events, it has helped my brain work more efficiently without distractions. However, it is too expensive for a single-purpose device.

You have to decide if $450 / INR 44,000 is a comfortable price tag for distraction-free typing. If it’s worth the focus price to you, I see no reason not to buy it. It really depends on how much value you place on maintaining focus while writing. That being said, the Remarkable 2 offers the best note-taking experience I’ve had on an e-ink display.